tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72788072024-03-08T00:07:00.410-05:00Pulling Weeds out of PotholesRegan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comBlogger1417125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-40149623018726330802022-09-12T09:33:00.002-04:002022-09-19T14:44:39.870-04:00Christians Should Reject Christian Nationalism<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr2DPDc-gzBaYCiXjSCl_9XuanTSYK3qqO5a02Lr1rSwnVziJS1DjIuV5x3J9zm9Feopi6ovKE4pt-UMMLOEB3Tw3rd_W3KTr9xWQYaRR1IVTTdhqQX0EcXx_9eetHSZQMeF2c68aKR3rA6gTbQrTtWiabss56l7ER4BXmaT-jwmzcYVFhTQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr2DPDc-gzBaYCiXjSCl_9XuanTSYK3qqO5a02Lr1rSwnVziJS1DjIuV5x3J9zm9Feopi6ovKE4pt-UMMLOEB3Tw3rd_W3KTr9xWQYaRR1IVTTdhqQX0EcXx_9eetHSZQMeF2c68aKR3rA6gTbQrTtWiabss56l7ER4BXmaT-jwmzcYVFhTQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /> You ever notice when you have the right passion but you unleash it in the wrong direction.<p></p><p>C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity:</p><p></p><blockquote>Wickedness, when you examine it, turns out to be the pursuit of some good in the wrong way. … Goodness is, so to speak, itself: badness is only spoiled goodness. And there must be something good first before it can be spoiled.</blockquote><p></p><p>This is a key point. Wickedness - or sin - is only the morphing of something good. It’s just the pursuit of some good in the wrong way or too much. Every evil that can be done is just a twisted version of something good. So when we talk about passion, God has a plan for us. This plan of God's will be pushed and prodded against until you compromise away God's plan for your life or remain firmly planted in his plan for your life.</p><p>Let’s set some framework. </p><p>First, our big commandment. This is what we are to have passion for. </p><p></p><blockquote><p>“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”</p><p>Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:35-40 (NLT)</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Love. An invisible thing but the most important idea. Paul tries to give a good definition to the intangible in his letter to the church in Corinth.</p><p></p><blockquote><p>If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.</p><p>Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! </p><p>Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. </p><p>When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.</p><p>Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13 (NLT)</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Now, I want to spring with this foundation of love already established into a current news story that holds an idea that I see many falling prey to: Christian Nationalism. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicTAEQJHar62rPuO4vHNZlzVhfQ3NBWJ-wG1O3x5l0MAP-u4n3svF23Zxqic5ughOfP1CYtaojMpuYn0go1Qnr0UYkxBjCibKuNAkzui7O1AvEHPk9ggv034leSI_EpnD7S7D6qDj8CKZaV_7S94Jx5w8EcnvwWHpFyLzwMStpVRpJXbSWgQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="769" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicTAEQJHar62rPuO4vHNZlzVhfQ3NBWJ-wG1O3x5l0MAP-u4n3svF23Zxqic5ughOfP1CYtaojMpuYn0go1Qnr0UYkxBjCibKuNAkzui7O1AvEHPk9ggv034leSI_EpnD7S7D6qDj8CKZaV_7S94Jx5w8EcnvwWHpFyLzwMStpVRpJXbSWgQ=w640-h290" width="640" /></a></div><br />The headline reads: “Michael Flynn: From government insider to holy warrior" (https://apnews.com/article/michael-flynn-christian-nationalism-investigation-50fa5dcff7f99cf93409fcd6c1357bee)<p></p><p>He's quoted as saying, “If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion. One nation under God, and one religion under God, right?”</p><p>Then it goes on to define Christian Nationalism: “Christian nationalism seeks to merge the identity of Christians and Americans, so that to be a ‘true” American is to be Christian – and a certain type of Christian. The ideology pushes the idea that the United States was founded on biblical principles [which I have no doubt it mostly was] and has a favored relationship with a Christian God, said Samuel Perry, a sociologist at the University of Oklahoma who studies conservative Christianity and politics. </p><p>I’ll be honest. When I think of what I could compromise to grow my local church, adopting Christian Nationalism would be it. </p><p>Now I find the next sentence to line up with my observations too. “It is distinct from the practice of Christianity, and Perry’s research has found that many Americans who are inclined toward Christian nationalism don’t go to church.”</p><p>Perry goes on to say: “This has nothing to do with Christian orthodoxy. It has nothing to do with loving Jesus or wanting to be a good disciple or loving your neighbor or self-sacrifice or anything like that. It has everything to do with Christian ethno-culture and specifically whit Christian ethno-culture.”</p><p>Some big ideas there. But the cliff note version. It has nothing to do with following Jesus – loving God and loving neighbor. Instead, it’s a mixed up identity of white and Christian culture. </p><p>Christian Nationalism is something to be avoided.</p><p>When we become more passionate for political power and having society shaped the way that we want, when we give up love for that, we are left with a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. In the end, pursuing that over following Jesus results in nothing. Or maybe even something worse than nothing. The destruction of all things God calls us to do as well as His Kingdom being neglected. For if we don’t focus on God and His kingdom, nobody will. </p><p>I have no problem if you think the election was fraudulent. People have thought that my whole life. It's as if we don't remember 2000 or 2016 and now it's wrong to feel that way.</p><p>But Christian nationalism is where I draw the line. I will adamantly oppose it.</p><p>I get it. I really, sincerely, at the core of my heart do. We all want to be around like-minded people. We want to quit fighting battles with the world. We want to raise our kids around people who share our values.</p><p>The place for that isn't the United States though. That’s a misdirected passion. A passion for things that are good invested in the wrong place, which I think is always the source of the greatest atrocities. The place for that passion is following Jesus in your church with your church family. Then letting that love overflow into the relationships around you.</p><p>Now, you'll notice the sentence in the articles that says most Christian Nationalists don't go to church. That’s been my observation too. This is where the passion to build a better world gets messed up in practice. That passion to build a better nation, detached from church, produces Christian Nationalism. </p><p>The kingdom of God needs passionate people serving Jesus together. But history shows us that trying to make the nation Christian doesn't work out well. Let's not repeat those mistakes. </p><p>So if you’re flirting with the idea of being a Christian Nationalist, I encourage you to get involved in a church and serve the Kingdom of God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And together, we'll love and help our neighbors to make this world a better place.</p><p>You do rightly feel a call to invest your life in something bigger. It's just misdirected if you unleash that passion on Christian Nationalism. Take the humble and serving path modeled by Jesus over the path of the sword and power.</p><p>Now, if I was talking to you as a person in a position of authority in the State, my message would be different. I would be telling you to align the state as much as possible to the kingdom of God without oppressing people. Work for the poor. Work for the powerless. Bring about justice. Live in righteousness. And as much as we can do that in our lives, we must. But I’m not addressing this message here to the people who control this land. Instead, in a way, we are the poor and powerless. None of us has the power to get any law changed beyond locally and even then we struggle. We barely have a voice.</p><p>But we must recognize that we, as people who have surrendered our lives to Jesus and His will, will sometimes face a state that is opposed to the will of God. And generally, when it does that, it will proclaim that it is doing the will of God. And when that happens, we still do God’s will, and not what the state wants. We see this in the life of Corrie Ten Boom. The Germans were rounding up Jews to put them in concentration camps after conquering the Netherlands. And what did she do? She and her sister rebelled against the authorities and helped the Jews. This is living out the loyalty above all other loyalties.</p><p>And resistance to the evil German state was widespread among the Christians in Nazi Germany. Jews weren’t the only people killed in the Holocaust despite that being what we think of when we think of the Holocaust. It is estimated that 3 million Christians were killed in the Holocaust, but it’s hard to find an accurate number, as it is also hard to tell who was executed just because of their nationality regardless of their religion. But they also spied on and targeted priests and pastors. At Dachau, the Germans held 2,720 priests and pastors in the concentration camp. One of them is one of my heroes, Pastor Martin Niemoller. A hero because of his boldness that caused him to be sent away to that concentration camp.</p><p>As Dr. Laurence White described it in a message I heard him give:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>In 1934, during his second year as chancellor of the German Reich, Adolf Hitler invited the leaders of the evangelical churches of Germany to a meeting in Berlin. His goal was to quell mounting criticism from the Christian community of the Nazi regime and its attempts to subvert the churches. Among those present at that meeting was a fiery young Lutheran pastor from a Berlin suburb…named Martin Niemoller. Niemoller would later recall this encounter as the moment from which he knew that Germany was doomed. Hitler was amiable and deliberately reassuring as he sought the support of these prominent churchmen. He promised the pastors that the position of the church in Germany was safe and secure - that its legal protections, its tax exemptions, and state support would remain unchanged under the Nazi government. Niemoller pushed to the front of the group to confront the chancellor directly and reject his casual consignment of Christians to social irrelevance. Standing face to face with Germany's ruler, the brash young pastor asserted: "Our concern, Herr Hitler, is not for the church. Our concern is for the soul of our country." An embarrassed silence followed his remark and it was immediately evident that Niemoller spoke only for himself. [He, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, stood alone.] His chagrined colleagues quickly shuffled him away from the front of the room. Noting their timid reaction, the dictator smiled as he replied, "The soul of Germany, you can leave that to me."”</p><p>And so they did -- Christians looked the other way while innocent people were slaughtered and a nation was led down the path to destruction. (source: http://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF16H41.pdf)</p></blockquote><p></p><p>For many of them, their loyalty to God was not above their loyalty to the state. They just went along with Hitler. They didn’t want to rock the boat. They didn’t want to cause any outrage. They didn’t want to sacrifice like Niemoller and find themselves also in a concentration camp. They just conformed to the State rather than Jesus. And atrocity followed. That is the end result of the church conforming to the state. It is never good. It empowers the powers and principalities of this world to unleash hell on earth unhindered. When we cave to the pressure to give blind obedience to the state, we become a tool for evil rather than a vessel for the beauty and way of God to flow through. We lose our prophetic voice as we become an example of conformity rather than the countercultural revolution of Jesus.</p><p>I propose that loyalty to Biden (or Democrats) or loyalty to Trump is just as spiritually damaging. We shouldn’t give loyalty to anyone above Jesus. </p><p>Martin Niemoller gave the famous quote, which I’m sure that you know even if you don’t know Niemoller:</p><p></p><blockquote>In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me--and by that time no one was left to speak up.</blockquote><p></p><p>This wasn’t some abstract concept for Niemoller. He was then imprisoned by Hitler and served at concentration camps for eight years. He wasn’t released until he was freed by the allies in 1945. Unlike his famous peer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Niemoller made it out alive grew old, and eventually died in 1984, spending his life going around the world giving a warning such as this sermon serves here today.</p><p>We can easily point the fingers at Christians who compromised the gospel in Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany, but we have to be careful to not do the same thing here in America.</p><p>We have to keep focused on God. And the scary thing is that evil will disguise itself in Scripture, in God language, in sheep’s clothing.</p><p>Remember when the devil tried to trick Jesus. The story goes….</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.</p><p>During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”</p><p>But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”</p><p>Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”</p><p>Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’”</p><p>Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”</p><p>Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,</p><p>You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’”</p><p>Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. Matthew 4:1-11 (NLT)</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Disguising evil into something that seems good. Satan is a master of that craft. </p><p>And we have one right here in front of us. A very similar temptation to the last temptation given to Jesus here. A temptation to control the governments of this world. </p><p>The siren call of the American culture and nationalism is alluring and tough to resist. Where have we compromised? </p><p>We can just say that the battle of loyalties is a thing of the past and deceive ourselves. All eras seem to have moments where the state strives to pull us away from our ultimate loyalty to God.</p><p>But no matter the situation, we must always choose faithfulness to God. A loyalty above all other loyalties. We always choose love.</p><p>Dirk Willems was one of many fugitive Christians because his doctrine didn’t jive with the Catholics or Protestants during the reformation. Back when churches had control of the states. Eventually, he was arrested and imprisoned for his faith. </p><p>Unlike many others, Dirk escaped from the prison tower he was locked in. He tied together strips of cloth to make a rope, which he used to slide down the prison wall. He set out across the countryside, when a guard spotted him and started chasing him. In Dirk's path of escape was an ice-covered pond. He took the risk and crossed the thin ice safely. The guard – who wasn’t on a prisoner’s malnutrition diet - was substantially heavier. When he crossed the lake after Dirk, he fell through the ice into the freezing water.</p><p>[My own thoughts: Yes, Dirk was freed. His pursuer fell into the water! I would take that moment and run to freedom, but Dirk had other thoughts.]</p><p>Dirk asked himself, “Was this God's rescue? Has God saved me from my enemies?” Dirk realized the answer was, “no.” For Dirk, this was a call to help someone in need. He believed in Jesus's teaching to love even our enemies. So Dirk turned back and rescued the guard. Dirk saved his enemy. </p><p>Afterward, Dirk was arrested again, placed in a more secure prison, and was burned at the stake. (source: https://izbicki.me/public/youth-group-questions/dirkwillems.pdf)</p><p>How is that for a happy ending? Dirk gave up his life to love his enemy. A loyalty above all other loyalties.</p><p>We’re called to place loving God and loving others above all else. No matter the cost. Avoid Christian Nationalism. Use that passion we have for creating a better world to be a better people, loving God and loving one another. </p>Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-48130949280106772372022-01-26T12:08:00.006-05:002022-01-26T12:09:53.707-05:00No Room For Let's Go Brandon In The Church<p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0gimmhiz1ko/YfF__Ykg5xI/AAAAAAAAJNo/IExqQesseKMDkVA_k52mwa9JPXb3tL4HgCNcBGAsYHQ/55826179_10156178192257844_8327189413616418816_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0gimmhiz1ko/YfF__Ykg5xI/AAAAAAAAJNo/IExqQesseKMDkVA_k52mwa9JPXb3tL4HgCNcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/55826179_10156178192257844_8327189413616418816_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br /><span>I don’t know if you saw the video that happened in
a church in Texas a few month’s back. I had multiple people bring it up with me
in conversations, so I thought it may be worth addressing here. I originally
started this that week, but I wanted to give time to distance my thoughts from
that moment and to see if I really felt led to preach it. It’s such a touchy
subject, but I think that we can and must enter into it with a Jesus
perspective. That is sort of what we do in all issues. We enter into them
without taking the us versus them views of the world. We refuse to adopt or
identify primarily with a worldly tribe. Our tribe is the Jesus tribe, and in
that tribe, we passionately view everyone as made in the image of God.</span></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">I debated on showing the video and decided not to because it crosses a line for
what should happen </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">in a church despite it being a video of something happening
in a church. The video itself shows a worship leader encouraging a church to
chant “Let’s Go Brandon!” And briefly, for those who don’t know the phrase, a
NASCAR racer named Brandon Brown won a race. The crowd started a vulgar chant
directed at Joe Biden. It was coming through during the interview and the NBC
interviewer said that the crowd was chanting “Let’s Go Brandon!” And so the
more socially acceptable chant replaced the vulgar one within days.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
So that’s the background.<br />
<br />
Now to look at our local context here in the middle of rural Midwest America. I
know that if I wanted to grow a club in the disguise of the church, I would
preach gun rights, Trumpism, sports, rugged individualism, and, in this case,
the idea of Let’s Go Brandon every week. That would grow a church in our
community. I see pastors doing that in some places to much success.<br />
<br />
But that is not the kingdom of God. It isn’t even close. It’s folk American
religion. <br />
<br />
As Christians, we often speak truths – we have an obligation to speak truths – always
in love - that the community we live in doesn’t want to hear. That is how we
change things. We can’t change things for the better by just conforming. We are
different than the world around us and one of those ways is shown in how we
enter into the politics of the day.<o:p></o:p></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Jesus offers an alternative way to live in this
world. We will get to that more in just a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">I enter into this knowing that Christians can be
Biden or Trump supporters. They can be for or against the vaccination. I
personally do struggle with whether a Christian can be for the mandates, but I
will offer grace and love to those that disagree with me on that subject. But it
makes no sense to me that a Christian would make someone lose their livelihood
and ability to provide housing and feed their family, but I talked about that a
few months back. <br />
<br />
It has always been my goal, whether it has been realized or not, to have a
church filled with Democrats and Republicans. Socialists and Libertarians. Even
Buckeyes and Wolverines fans. I find in this world of divisiveness that this
goal being realized is very hard because everyone wants you to agree 100% with
their views or they won’t respect you. And so they’ll go find a church that
doesn’t challenge them on an issue or that just agrees with them on it.<br />
<br />
Our approach to interacting with the world – as it gets more heated and more
full of hate toward people in other tribes has to be different than the way
people who don’t know Jesus interact with those that disagree with them. The
way we express our feelings about political leaders on the other side of the
aisle, whether that’s Trump or Biden – Pelosi, McConnell, DeWine, Holcomb,
Whitmer or even local opposition has to be different than the way the world
interacts with their opposition. <br />
<br />
So let’s look back 2,000 years to Scripture and see if we can get some timeless
truths that we can apply today to show how we are supposed to behave in this
environment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">In the time that Paul wrote his letters, the world
wasn’t a big fan of Christians either. In this passage we are going to read,
Paul is writing his young protégé, Timothy, to teach him how to interact with
the world as a follower of Christ. <br />
<br />"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to
help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way
for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet
lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior,
who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, He gave his
life to purchase freedom for everyone." 1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NLT)<br />
<br />
Pray for all people. Give thanks for them. Pray for kings and all who are in
authority. This seems to be the exact opposite from what was going on in the
church that I’m not showing the clip of. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">It’s hard when specific issues are on the line -
when we feel that our rights are being violated – to be loving toward the
people who we may feel are wronging us or even oppressing us. Yet even in that
case, Jesus told us to love our enemies. Bless those who persecute you. <br />
<br />
The Jesus way isn’t our normal instincts. It isn’t the way of this world. But
it must be the way we handle ourselves in this world. <br />
<br />
This doesn’t mean that you can’t call out a lie. This doesn’t mean to blindly
follow. This doesn’t mean that you can’t disagree, but it does mean that when
you call out a lie, that when you rebel, that when you disagree, you will do it
in love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Another thought that is expressed in Scripture is
that we are taught that the prosperity of bad leaders leads to even our
prosperity.<br />
<br />
Jeremiah wrote:<br />"This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,
says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: “Build homes,
and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have
children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren.
Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the
city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will
determine your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:4-7 (NLT)<br />
<br />
Again, it’s noted that we should pray for those who harm us. <br />
<br />
But this passage provides further clarity. <br />
<br />
In a world that may cause us to be disillusioned, we’re called to continue on
living. Plant gardens and eat their produce. Marry and have children. Then
encourage them to have children.<br />
<br />
I like the idea that we are to live in such a way that those around will still
believe this world is worth bringing children into. I fear so many are living
in such fear, hate, and isolation, that nobody would want to bring children
into their world. But we are called to be different.<br />
<br />
We live – like Jeremiah said to live in those times – for the prosperity of the
evil nation around us. For Babylon. <br />
<br />
We are called to be a blessing, even when we feel that the world around us may
be opposing us. That’s the Jesus way. A way of not conforming with the
oppression of the governments around us. But also seeking for the welfare of
the nation we find ourselves in. <br />
<br />
We pray for our leaders. We seek their blessing. For in them being blessed, we
will also be blessed. <br />
<br />
Jesus taught,<br />“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate
your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In
that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he
gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just
and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there
for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to
your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But
you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” </span><span>Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Love your enemies. That’s one of Jesus’ more
radical teachings, yet it is one we must exemplify. We must be different than
the world around us. We cannot join in on the divisiveness and hate. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">It’s easy to love those who love us. It’s easy to
love those who are on our side. But Jesus wants us to love all – even those who
persecute you. And when we do this, Jesus says that we “will be acting as true
children of your Father in heaven.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">We as the people who follow Jesus are to be
identified by our love. Chanting “Let’s Go Brandon” in a church would tell
people who are Democrats that we don’t love them. And we need to not do that. It
would say that we are not welcoming. Not loving. And political affiliation is
not what we should alienate people with. There may be certain political issues
we have stances on that will naturally alienate people just by having our
convictions, but the celebrity of politics and attacking an individual should
not be one of them.<br />
<br />
Personally, I dropped my affiliation with a political party in the last few
years. That doesn’t mean that is the right or wrong approach. It’s just how I
figured out how to navigate these times. I stand up for issues and don’t have a
loyalty to political people or a party. I have found this liberating. It may
look different for you as you learn to navigate these times. That’s okay, but your
political life needs to be defined by love. Love for the person attacking you.
Love for the person opposing you. Love as a root of the views you have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">If we were a massive congregation, I would get us
all to start chanting, “Bless Joe Biden.” Then we could put that up on Youtube
for the world to see. For that is what the sentiment of the church should be
toward our President and all other political leaders, whether they are on the
side of the issues we want them to be or not. For as Jeremiah noted regarding
Babylon, “For its welfare will determine your welfare.”<br />
<br />
Following Jesus really isn’t about getting a counter video on Youtube though.
It’s about us living this Jesus life when it’s hard. In our daily lives. And
it’s so different than the world around us.<br />
<br />
Muhammad Ali said in The Greatest: My Own Story:</span><span> “I'm a fighter. I believe in the
eye-for-an-eye business. I'm no cheek turner. I got no respect for a man who
won't hit back. You kill my dog, you better hide your cat.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">And that sentiment resonates with us. Vengeance is
really a carnal instinct. It comes naturally. But forgiveness and love of enemy,
like Jesus shared on the cross, is so difficult yet so divine. Redemptive and
healing. Kingdom bringing.<br />
<br />The world says vengeance. And then I hear the whispering voice
of God telling us this is why I call you to love your enemies. To bless those
who persecute you. To pray for those who wrong you. To forgive those who need
forgiven. We are called to break the cycle of violence and hate. When Jesus,
hanging on the cross and dying, can declare, "Father, forgive them for
they know not what they do", I can do the same. I can forgive the monsters
who seem unforgivable. I can forgive those who want to or have wronged me. Who
oppose me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can live in this kingdom of
faith. I can be an exile in this sad, foreign land bringing light and hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are, as the Barbara Johnson first said,
Easter people living in a Good Friday world.<br />
<br />
So when it comes down to it, even when we are going through the worst
circumstances, we are called to remain loving and forgiving. Because we know
that following the death of Jesus on Friday comes the resurrection on Sunday.
We know that God is at work turning what is meant for bad into good. God brings
that about through us living in the land of faith as Jesus did. As exiles in
our materialistic world. And living to bring about things that are better than
the current reality shows us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Eugene Peterson wrote: "Believing without loving is what gives religion a bad
name. Believing without loving destroys lives. Believing without loving turns
the best of creeds into a weapon of oppression. A community that believes but
does not love or marginalizes love, regardless of its belief system or
doctrinal orthodoxy or “vision statement,” soon, very soon, becomes a “synagogue
of Satan” (page 261 of Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places.)<br />
<br />
Our belief, when mixed with love, brings about the will of God even in the
darkest of situations. Our lives aren't typically as dramatic as Jesus' life.
We probably won't be executed by society like Jesus was for not conforming to
their standards, living differently, and teaching revolutionary ideas. But the
call to love in all situations is still there. We will be wronged. We will have
people hurt us, intentionally and unintentionally. We need to still echo those
words of the perfect exile, who while be murdered on a cross said,
"Father, forgive them." We can forgive those who seem unforgivable.
Even when they know not what they do. We must forgive those who seem
unforgivable. We must love our enemies. We must bring a different flavor into
this world. We are the ones to stop the cycle of hate in personal relationships
and in the world at large. If not me, then who? If not you, then who?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Yet to do that, I think there is one point we must
grasp: We are all sinners. And Jesus has died for and loves us all. We may
individualize the death of Jesus a little too much in saying that Jesus loves
me. It's true that Jesus loves me, but he also loves the people we love the
least. He didn't just die for you and me; He died for everyone. This means that
the person who you aren't forgiving is worthy of forgiveness just as much as
you are worthy of it. They are also loved by God.<br />
<br />
CS Lewis taught, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God
has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”<br />
<br />
This is the route to a better world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Jesus is teaching an exile way of living. It's
different than the ways of the world. Praying for leaders we don’t like and
asking God to bless them when the world around us is saying the exact opposite
is hard. Loving our enemies does not come naturally to us, but many of the
exile things don't. Many things in the way of Jesus don’t. That's part of being
an exile. We're in a culture that teaches us incorrectly on how to deal with
being wronged. But Jesus is God in the flesh. And I concede that the creator of
all of us knows the best way that we should live. And that is to love our
enemies. To pray for those who lead us – even if we feel that they persecute
us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;"><br />
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-53454515019797235812021-11-12T20:22:00.000-05:002021-11-12T20:22:28.525-05:00The Most Countercultural Action We Can Do - Love The Other<p><br /><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IaQHc4icICM/YY8RgTxTgzI/AAAAAAAAI-Y/gyBZqOdZrrQZzkrU0CHBAZyq1X7BkfkMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211028_204824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IaQHc4icICM/YY8RgTxTgzI/AAAAAAAAI-Y/gyBZqOdZrrQZzkrU0CHBAZyq1X7BkfkMwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/20211028_204824.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Despondent times. Whether it’s the news or just
life in our community at the moment. I know through conversations that we flirt
with despondency and hopelessness these days and then hopefulness returns when
we get our thinking in check. It may fluctuate every ten minutes. It may be a swing
of days.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In wrestling with this, I found this quote that really spoke to me.<br />
<br />
Ronald Wallace, back in in 1999, in Elijah and Elisha describes our situation
with the following: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><blockquote>We need not despair when we
see great movements of evil achieving spectacular success on this earth, for we
may be sure that God, in unexpected places, has already secretly prepared His
counter-movement...Therefore the situation is never hopeless where God is
concerned. Whenever evil flourishes, it is always a superficial flourish, for
at the height of the triumph of evil God will be there, ready with His man and
His movement and His plans to ensure that His own cause will never fail.</blockquote><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When everything looks dark; when all hope seems to
be lost; when the plan of God in this world seems almost forgotten, God steps
in.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This was the example we see in Jesus.<br />
<br />The Apostle Paul wrote that at just the right time, God sent his
Son. God’s solution was wrapping his divinity with humanity in the person of
Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God knew humanity had strayed. He wanted us back.
God wanted to restore things to the way they used to be. When God created, God
loved it all. He declared it good. Life was perfect in the Garden
of Eden. We were in a perfect relationship with God and one another. We had
perfect purpose. Perfect provision. Perfect protection from anything bad. It
was even perfect in that we had a choice to keep it that way. <br /><br />But humanity
chose poorly then, and we continue to choose poorly now. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At this moment, we're starting from a fallen state,
yet God still wants to set it right. That’s the process of restoration. And
that is the goal of God coming in the flesh through Jesus—for God to reconcile
people back to Himself. To take us out of the darkness. To show us what it
means to really live—free from fear, free from slavery to sin, free from hate. God
coming in the flesh is a story of suffering and hope. <br /><br />Jesus took on flesh so
that people could see God as he really is and see how God wants us to live.</span><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God is still doing the same thing through you,
through me, and through all who believe and follow the divine story. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And this happens through us living differently than
the world around us.<br />
<br />
Let me repeat that because I think it is important for these times. God wants
to show all of humanity how he wants us to live and this happens through us
living differently than the world around us. This can only happen when we live
differently than the world around us. <br />
<br />
Love the other. The person who disagrees with you. The person who opposes you.
The person who hates you. <br />
<br />
That is about the most countercultural, radical yet totally faithful thing we
can do right now as followers of Jesus. It is how we join in on Jesus’ great
work.<br />
<br />
Jesus taught:<br /></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate
your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In
that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he
gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just
and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there
for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to
your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But
you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That’s about as clear as a biblical teaching can
get. <br />
<br />
And that is how we will be a witness – a sweet alluring aroma to a different
way of living. We can choose to live a life that goes against the grain of hate
in our society. A life of love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As AW Tozer said,<br /></span></p><blockquote>We cannot pray
in love and live in hate and still think we are worshipping God.</blockquote>Now, I want to move this idea into how we are living. Possibly a dangerous
thought, but I’m not going to apologize for going here. I feel it is my
responsibility to address this. Probably one of the more prevailing fights in
our society at the moment.<br />
<br />
The conversation in our society has moved beyond whether one should get
vaccinated or not. I want to be 100% clear. I would never speak from pulpit to
give anyone medical advice because that is not my field. That’s a conversation
for you to have with your doctor. So this is not me talking about whether you
should or shouldn’t get vaccinated. I am deeply convicted addressing that is
not my role as a pastor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
conversation in society around us has shifted beyond that to now be about whether
we will oppress those who disagree with us. <br />
<br />
Now it doesn’t have to just be this issue. We can be filled with hate towards
others on a lot of different views. It’s just that this one is new and vastly
prevalent at the moment. So prevalent that hate in this context has almost
become okay in our society. <br />
<br />
As a pastor, I do have a role here. To teach that as Christians we should
adamantly oppose oppression - people losing their livelihoods and means to
support their family over a personal medical decision. Even if we disagree
adamantly with people not being vaccinated, which we are all at liberty to do,
we are called to love our enemies. That is one of the key elements that make us
who we are as followers of Jesus. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jesus taught:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just
as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will
prove to the world that you are my disciples. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook", serif; font-size: 14pt;">John 13:34-35 (NLT)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love. <br /><br />Love should be our defining trait. And that
love will make us so much different than the world around us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We may not be sure of the science - although maybe
some are - but the idea that we are to love the downtrodden and oppressed is
something that we can be assured of. That is in our field. That should be one
of our specialties. That should be what we are known for. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So now is the time. Speak up for the people around
us who are at risk of losing their livelihoods. Even if it means you will lose friends
or influence. You were called to your role for this time. To be a voice for
love in the wilderness of hate. <br />
<br />
I have heard friends couch the whole medical choice issue in the language of you need
to do it my way or you’re not loving others. Even if that is the truth, we are
still left with this. <br />
<br />
What do you do to people who choose to not love you or others the way you think
they should love you or others? Do we make them lose their livelihoods,
careers, and ability to feed their family? Or do we take a different approach?<br />
<br />
There are so many things in the current situation, but in life in general too,
that we are probably wrong on. This should free us up to being gracious to one
another. But I propose this idea. We should not go along with our society
taking away people’s livelihoods or ability to feed their family. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Look at it this way. I can’t control whether
someone is vaccinated or unvaccinated. No matter how passionate on the subject I
am, I cannot control that. You cannot either. <br />
<br />
But we can control whether we love people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated. We
can always control that. We can always choose love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What is more obvious than ever is that many people
are following the wrong story at a crucial time in our history. Let that not be
us. Let’s follow the right story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We have this story of love and redemption that
Jesus brought. A story we are called to live – to play our part in. And then opposing
this story is a story of hatred and death. Division and destruction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I see it any time there is a great act of evil, an attack,
or the like. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram reveal the true nature of
people’s hearts and shows me that many are filled with hate. People are
selling out the true story—the story of God coming in the flesh—God restoring
us and this world. Instead, they are buying into some tall tale, some fable,
some flight of fancy that somehow takes the divine image away and replaces it
with the idol of self. A story where it is more appealing to be practical than
faithful. Like Adam and Eve, we also at times buy into a story of lies causing
us to have these destructive yet timeless thoughts: “Did God really say that?
You can’t be serious. God can’t be serious. Love your enemies? Pray for those
who persecute you? That’s stupid. It won't work.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From the beginning of time, there has been a little
voice in our head that whispers the wrong story: "You don't really need to
be holy - to be like Jesus. You actually don't have the time, and it won't work
anyway. So just go back to your own life and try to survive as best as you
can." And even when we fall prey and believe this lie at times, God is faithful
when we are not and continues to seek restoration with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We need to reclaim God’s story - our ultimate
story. In the midst of all that is going on, this is what will bring a better
world. The story of God coming in the flesh. The story of God in us. The story
of God coming into the world, bringing light, bringing hope, and bringing
restoration. If our story is anything other than that, if we let anything else
other than that dictate our thoughts and actions – if we join in on the hatred
of the moment, then we’ve been deceived. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We need more people like Antoine Leiris – If you
remember back to November 2015, there was a terrible terrorist attack in Paris
that killed 130 people. Antoine lost his wife Helene in the violence that shook
Paris. He penned a poignant tribute to his wife, publishing it on his Facebook
page:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><blockquote>On Friday night you stole the life of an exceptional being, the love of
my life, the mother of my son, but you won't have my hatred. If this God for
which you kill indiscriminately made us in his own image, every bullet in the
body of my wife will have been a wound in his heart.<br />
<br />
So no, I don't give you the gift of hating you. You are asking for it but
responding to hatred with anger would be giving in to the same ignorance that
made you what you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want me to be
afraid, to view my fellow countrymen with mistrust, to sacrifice my freedom for
security. You have lost.</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It seems that after almost any great
tragedy, we see this same beautiful story. It resonates in our souls. The story
of forgiveness. Of redemption. Of loving one’s enemies. It is these stories
that make our world better and prevent us from falling down the neverending
downward spiral of hate which leads only to destruction and hell. <br />
<br />
Antoine modeled for us taking seriously Jesus’ call to love our enemies. That
is a love that goes countercultural to the way of this world. It may be the
responsibility of the elected leaders to figure out solutions, enforce laws,
keep order, and look out for the general welfare of the constituents. But it is
my job, your job, and every Christian’s job to bring the love of God to people.
To be God in the flesh to all we encounter. To love people. To pray for people.
To stand up for the oppressed and powerless. To be a light in the darkness. <br /><br />Our
world desperately needs to come out of its dark thinking and neverending cycle
of hatred and violence. In this depressing, dark existence, our world needs
light--the same light that entered our world some 2000 years ago. The words of
Isaiah can be repeated about our generation: "They have no dawn." Yet
Jesus came into the world to shine a light, to bring the dawn, and he continues
to shine His light through us because we are made in the image of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus became flesh to add
an exclamation point to His perfect, divine story that we are called to join in
on. He came to kickstart the process of reconciliation. <br /><br />We have a tendency to
think of change through a top-down approach. In that framework, it is believed
that the politicians or the powers that be need to be convinced of the
change that needs to happen in our society for it to come about. But Jesus had
a different story. He brought change from a bottom-up approach. Through
humility rather the worldly instruments of power. He never once tried to grasp
earthly reins of power. Instead, he tried to change the hearts and the minds of
the people around Him.<br />
<br />
It is all too easy to make laws or mandates and force people to be the way you
want them to be. It’s much harder to set an example of love and give the rest
up to God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But if this world is going to be reconciled with
God. If it is going to have its heart changed, that reconciliation must start
with us. In us. The way we live. The way we express ourselves. Loving our
enemies. <br />
<br />
Following Jesus isn't easy. Sometimes it is really difficult because the
current of the world's story is trying to pull us under. But Jesus wants us to
give Him our all. God wants to change the world and He does that by changing
the way we live our life day in and day out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God became flesh and came to dwell among us as a
baby in a manger. God is the master of creating compelling story. Eventually
this led to the cross. He was willing to go through all of the pain and
suffering of life to reconcile this world to Himself. He was telling a
different story. Because God turns crucifixions into a resurrections. Darkness
into light. Hopelessness into hope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Restoration is the goal of the God coming in the
flesh. Jesus wrapped himself in flesh to put an exclamation point on the story
of restoration. We then turn around and do the same in our world. To our
neighbors, to strangers, even to enemies. We let transform us. And through us,
God wraps His love around others. We exemplify a different story by the way we
live. Our humility and living the way God wants us to live is the way God
coming in the flesh becomes real today and changes our world. It's light in the
darkness. It's the broken being repaired. It's restoration. This is our story,
and the next chapter isn’t written yet! Is it going to be about faithfulness to
God or living like the world? That’s up to you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-7965755281611323102021-02-10T09:53:00.004-05:002021-02-10T09:53:28.245-05:00You Are A Child Of God or What Does It Mean When God Doesn't Answer My Prayers<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNSymnF09Bw/YCPzV1EyPxI/AAAAAAAAIcE/8keYWj0YcxUOz_zWIk1nuj7HC6QH-UwSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/146443830_10157897525972844_4221295218182533263_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNSymnF09Bw/YCPzV1EyPxI/AAAAAAAAIcE/8keYWj0YcxUOz_zWIk1nuj7HC6QH-UwSwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/146443830_10157897525972844_4221295218182533263_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Y<span style="font-size: 14pt;">ou are a child of God.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">An old preacher named Fred Craddock used to tell a story about vacationing with
his wife in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. One night they found a quiet little
restaurant, where they looked forward to a private meal. While they were
waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man
moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. [It wasn’t Colonel
Sanders. That would be Kentucky] Craddock leaned over and whispered to his
wife, “I hope he doesn’t come over here.” He didn’t want anyone intruding on
their privacy. But sure enough, the man did come over to their table. “Where
you folks from?” he asked in a friendly voice. “Oklahoma,” Craddock answered.
“Splendid state, I hear, although I’ve never been there,” the stranger said.
“What do you do for a living?” “I teach homiletics at the graduate seminary of
Phillips University,” Craddock replied. “Oh, so you teach preachers how to
preach, do you? Well, I’ve got a story to tell you.” And with that, the
gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with Craddock and his
wife. Dr. Craddock said he groaned inwardly and thought to himself, “Oh, no!
Here comes another preacher story! It seems like everybody has at least one.”<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The man stuck out his hand.
“I’m Ben Hooper,” he said. “I was born not far from here across the mountains.
My mother wasn’t married when I was born, so I had a pretty hard time. When I
started to school, my classmates had a name for me, and it wasn’t a very nice
name. I used to go off by myself at recess and lunch time because the things
they said to me cut me so deep. What was worse was going to town on Saturday
afternoons and feeling like every eye was burning a hole through me, wondering
just who my father was. “When I was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to
our church. I would always go in late and slip out early. But one day the
preacher said the benediction so fast I got caught and to walk out with the
crowd. I could feel every eye in the church on me. Just about the time I got to
the door I felt a big hand on my shoulder. I looked up and the preacher was
looking right at me. ‘Who are you, son? Whose boy are you?’ he asked. I felt
this big weight coming down on me. It was like a big black cloud. Even the
preacher was putting me down. But as he looked down at me, studying my face, he
began to smile a big smile of recognition. ‘Wait a minute!’ he said. ‘I know
who you are. I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God.’ With
that he slapped me across the rump and said, ‘Boy, you’ve got a great
inheritance. Go and claim it.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The old man looked across the
table at Fred Craddock and said, “Those were the most important words anybody
ever said to me, and I’ve never forgotten them.” With that, he smiled shook hands with Craddock and his wife, and moved on to
another table to greet old friends. And as he walked away, Craddock – a native
Tennessean himself – remembered from his studies of Tennessee history that on
two occasions the people of Tennessee had elected to the office of governor men
who had been born out of wedlock. One of them was a man named Ben Hooper. (Source: http://www.calvaryfullerton.org/Bstudy/49%20Eph/2005/49Eph01e.htm)</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You are a child of God. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And once we realize that, we can live free. As Jesus taught here. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“That is
why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food
and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body
more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store
food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more
valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your
life?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“And why worry about your
clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or
make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as
beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that
are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for
you. Why do you have so little faith?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“So don’t worry about these
things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father
already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of Godabove all else, and live
righteously, and he will give you everything you need.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“So don’t worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough
for today.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT)</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And then I want to pull in another passage.<br />
<br /></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for
them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son.
He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the
water. So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jesus said, “You faithless
and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with
you? Bring the boy here to me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it
left him. From that moment the boy was well.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Afterward the disciples asked
Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“You don’t have enough
faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small
as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’
and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 17:15-20 (NLT)</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But you know what he follows that story up with, a story that bad things are
going to happen. <br />
<br /></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son
of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be
killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the
disciples were filled with grief. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Matthew 17:21-23 (NLT)</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Despite being a child of God, bad things happened. He’s warning them, but he
also just gave them the teaching of having a mustard seed faith that is linked
to God working in that teaching of Jesus.<br />
<br />Mustard seed faith. I want to propose one thing. That
size of faith is just the request. Our faith isn’t magical. Just necessary. But
it doesn’t have to be giant.<br />
<br />
I can’t tell you why God doesn’t just always automatically heal. I think in the
world where we have two competing sides in Christianity – one that seems to
oppose healing and one that seems to have a God that just heals quickly and
automatically – we struggle to make sense of the struggle. Neither camp
provides a way of thinking to carry us through that time in between asking and
receiving. That time of the valley. I can’t tell you why you sometimes suffer
despite being a child of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">But What if just praying is
enough faith? What if that is the mustard seed? And then how do we deal with
not receiving the healing? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In the end, we have to just continue pushing in. Our faith isn’t dependent upon
a healing. Maybe today is the day for the miracle you’ve bene seeking. And then
that is where we feel like we have to stop because talking about how today may
not be the day goes against the grain. It goes against the false name and claim
it way of thinking. But I want to tell you today that learning to cope and grow
with the struggle does not mean that you are lacking faith. You are a child of
God whether you get the healing or not.<br />
<br />
You don’t need Superman faith. You don’t need a rambunctious, flamboyant,
exuberant faith. Just faith like a mustard seed. A faith that is willing to
just come to God and ask him what you desire. Just a faith that is enough that
leads you to God’s throne room in prayer. <br />
<br />
Just enough faith to pray. Now is the time for simple prayers. Like a child can
pray. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
things you care about but feel stupid praying about. God wants to hear about
them. God wants to have a vibrant conversation with you about those things. And
that won't happen if you think they are just too stupid to bring up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Because in the end, God cares
about you and the things you care for. As we grow closer to him and allow the
restoration of our broken places to happen, the things we care for will shift
closer to the things that he cares for. But until then, we are who we are right
now. So feel free to pray what is on your heart. Don't be fake with God. He
won't think you're stupid. He loves you. He can handle your request. He can
handle your disappointment. He can handle reality. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In the end, it’s God’s responsibility. If you have asked, you have exhibited
the mustard seed faith. And if he doesn’t heal, discouragement often sets in.<br />
<br />
I remember the night our twins died. We came home from the hospital, with the
dead babies still inside Lindsay. And we anointed her with oil and prayed for
healing. I wanted God to give me a miracle story to tell the world. And I had
the faith that he could do it. Lindsay had more faith. The next morning, we
arrived at the hospital and asked them to do another ultrasound because we were
wanting to see the miracle that I would tell the whole world about. My dead
twins would be alive….They humored us with another ultrasound, but they were
still dead. And instead of a miracle story to tell the world, God gave me this
story. And as we wept throughout the delivery and the day with them in our room,
as we held our dead babies, we were left wondering why God didn’t give the
miracle we desired. The miracle we had faith for. <br />
<br />
We are God’s children. Why did this happen to us?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And in some circles, people
would tell me that I didn’t have enough faith. In other circles, they would
tell me that it was unrealistic to expect the miracle. And yet, I’m somewhere
in the uncomfortable mystery without an easy answer. God could heal but didn’t.
I had faith but God didn’t respond with healing. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But then we come face to face with the story of Job. It’s Job ranting and
raving and arguing with friends for page after page about a tragedy that
happened to Job. <br />
<br />
God answers all the bickering in the conversation between Job and his friends.<br /></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Who is this that questions my wisdom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">with such ignorant words?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Brace yourself like a man,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">because I have some questions
for you,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">and you must answer them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Where were you when I laid
the foundations of the earth?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Tell me, if you know so much.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Who determined its dimensions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">and stretched out the
surveying line?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What supports its
foundations,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">and who laid its cornerstone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">as the morning stars sang
together<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">and all the angels shouted
for joy?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Who kept the sea inside its
boundaries<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">as it burst from the womb,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">and as I clothed it with
clouds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">and wrapped it in thick
darkness?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">For I locked it behind barred
gates,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">limiting its shores.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I said, ‘This far and no
farther will you come.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Here your proud waves must
stop!’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Have you ever commanded the
morning to appear<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">and caused the dawn to rise
in the east?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Have you made daylight spread
to the ends of the earth,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">to bring an end to the
night’s wickedness?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">As the light approaches,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">the earth takes shape like
clay pressed beneath a seal;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">it is robed in brilliant
colors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The light disturbs the wicked<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">and stops the arm that is
raised in violence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Job 38:2-15 (NLT)</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It goes on and we won’t read it all here, but God concludes his first rebuke
with this.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then the LORD said to Job,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Do you still want to argue
with the Almighty?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">You are God’s critic, but do
you have the answers?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Then Job replied to the LORD,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“I am nothing—how could I
ever find the answers?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I will cover my mouth with my
hand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I have said too much already.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I have nothing more to say.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Job 40:1-5 (NLT)</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So we enter into this age old struggle. A struggle shown in the ancient
book of Job. A struggle where we could cite so many stories in our days,
whether friends dying way too young or other tragedies and disease. We have
these promises from Jesus that God will take care of us. We know we are
children of God, yet we find ourselves at times in unresolved valleys. We have
faith. We have asked, yet it doesn’t seem that God has delivered. The healing,
the deliverance, the blessing that we want – still not realized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I want that realized for all of us. It starts with a faith like a mustard seed.
A willingness to pray. To be honest with God about your feelings and ask. The
simple prayer that you feel foolish praying. Ask it. <br />
<br />
And then it continues by not giving up. I picture Job just saying, “Screw it,
God. I’m out.” I’m the type that would do that three chapters in to his
forty-two chapter story. And then the blessing, the true realization, would
never come. Instead, Job wrestled with it. And the blessing eventually came. <br />
<br />
But we need a belief system that can get us through those days where the healing
doesn’t come. And in many instances, like the instance with my twins, there is
no waiting for a deliverance or healing. The moment is gone. <br />
<br />
But what do we do with all of this? Thankfully, Scripture gives us that too.<br />
<br /></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by
faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done
for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of
undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look
forward to sharing God’s glory. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We can rejoice, too, when we
run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our
confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For
we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to
fill our hearts with his love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So drop the empty platitudes. Don’t tell someone who has prayed in faith that
they don’t have enough faith for a healing. Don’t tell them to find the sin in
their life as if Jesus’ blood doesn’t cover all our sins. Jesus has already
brought victory. They have already exhibited the mustard seed faith in prayer.
Don’t tell someone to just deny their illness as if lying to themselves is a
way to manufacture faith. Laying claim to a miracle is not denial and lying. Lies
never produce faith. Faith must stand up to the reality we find ourselves in
and go to God to fix this broken place. <br />
<br />And then continue to push in toward God. You are his
child after all.<br />
<br />
Suffering does produce hope. We must allow ourselves to grow closer to God in all
things. Grow in hope. Learn to “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” in all
situations. Be the opposite of the world. Instead of despair, hope. And keep
pushing on. That opportunity, God will deliver. That healing, God will bring. God
doesn’t cause bad things, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t happen,
although we can be assured that he will use them for good. In all things grow
closer to your Father. <br />
<br />
And live in the truth that God will provide and what he provides is sufficient.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Push into God. And he will give you the
strength you need. You are a child of God. No matter what happens.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-33300384685309671302020-09-15T18:37:00.002-04:002020-09-15T18:37:25.643-04:00Gen X Core Values (as described by Adam Curry on Joe Rogan)<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDbPD1mUep8/X2FB4LvC_BI/AAAAAAAAIXM/4ARWMaLPS5ENizlrcihi7EiHdCz0WhKrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/55924240_10217130311502634_4922446302660263936_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDbPD1mUep8/X2FB4LvC_BI/AAAAAAAAIXM/4ARWMaLPS5ENizlrcihi7EiHdCz0WhKrgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/55924240_10217130311502634_4922446302660263936_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two Gen </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">X cor</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">e values (as explained by Adam Curry on the recent Joe Rogan show.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">):</span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">1. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">2. I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As a whole, Gen X has tried to stay under the radar in the fight between Baby Boomers and Millennials over what dogma has to be essential to be a person in society because we adamantly believed there should be no dogma one has to hold and live to be loved, accepted, and protected. Despite a group's toxic dogma, a Gen Xer would fight for your right to party and hold that dogma. Just don't hurt others. Everybody hurts, sometime, but we just shouldn't add to that hurt. We should help alleviate that hurt. Just don't stop others from being able to say what they believe.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Then the hate and intolerance came back disguised as diversity and tolerance. Such an orwellian trick of words. The red, red wine spilled all over the dance floor. Dogma switched from religious views to "science" as it seemed like the world was trying to keep us separated. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This new framework was just as toxic as the one we Gen Xers rebelled against. We tore down the dogma of division to only have it replaced by a different dogma of division. The winds of change were only temporary. The better world we dreamed of and seemed to experience for a while never totally manifested. Racism switched from something to oppose, work on in ourselves, and work against to something we all inherently are. An evil accepted in people who aren't white. We apparently couldn't all just get along. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And that's just one issue. On an on. The culture switched to a new toxic dogma of hate orwellianingly disguised as love. We wanted to heal the world and make it a better place. But hate just kept springing up and we stopped resisting it. If you don't think this is true, think of the group that doesn't conform to your views. Are they accepted? Or are they snowflakes? Are they deplorable? Are they rednecks? Are they thugs?</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I feel like I'm an old curmudgeon, but I want love and peace. I want tolerance and acceptance. I want us to be one people, not at odds. We are stronger with real diversity - not conformity disguised as diversity. We can get there, but it takes changing course. Right now, we are not on the way.<br /></div></div>Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-22385125706866833312020-02-26T02:19:00.002-05:002020-02-26T02:55:24.588-05:00What The Church Can Learn From A Bunch Of Comic Retailers Getting Together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So this last week, I flew off to Portland for a ComicsPRO meeting. It's the only comics meeting put on by comic book retailers. Publishers come. Distributors come. Creators come. And it has a purpose: to create better brick and mortar comic retail stores. You know those friendly, neighborhood stores that sell comics every day of the week and help people find a story that they can love. Stores like the two that I own with my brother.</div>
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I wear these two hats in life: Being a pastor and being a comic book retailer. Once in a rare moon they seem to ruffle against one another, but most of the time they make things better and give me a perspective that pastors don't have and comic book retailers don't have. So those two hats intermingle in my mind all the time, hopefully, making me better.</div>
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With people at the meeting knowing my day job as a pastor, I get some interesting conversations. People share with me their faith journey. Some have grown up in religious families and rejected that life. Others share how they still go to church. And others share how they never did and don't even believe in God.</div>
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I realized this though. The church doesn't have the corner on making lives better. People like you do that where you work. Do you love others? Do you try to make this world a better place? When Jesus taught that the greatest commandments were to love God and love one another, he was tearing down religious precepts that we think make us right with God. And when the church becomes about something other than Jesus' greatest commandment, people start, justifiably so, hating the church. They'll go to their comic shop to find love. They'll go to the bar to find love. They will go wherever love is to be found.</div>
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I had this strange conversation with a homeless guy who meandered into the hotel lobby. He was once in law enforcement. He then was heartbroken by a lover who cheated on him. He was craving a fix of some sort. He didn't make the most sense, but he still needed to feel loved.</div>
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In a way, we're no better. We may have reached that point of brokenness and had someone around to help us through. Or maybe we haven't reached that point yet. But I was reminded in that conversation that we all need love. We need to be surrounded in love. We need communities of love. Without a community of love, that homeless person is what we all become. I understand the issue of homelessness is extremely complex, but in the midst of it is this desire to be loved. We are all made to be loved and belong.</div>
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This is what I liked about the meeting of retailers. Whether it was guests or retailers ourselves, we all shared a common mission, we all knew that we went through the same trenches together, we all knew that we are the fortunate ones whose businesses are still open. And we get to do this selling what we love. We all have stories of how comic books made us better. How we explored ideas while thinking about Genosha. Traveled to other worlds on a silver surfboard. Dreamed of community like the Bones shared. Desired to be teammates like the Justice League. Explored the atrocity of the holocaust through a tale of mice. We have seen heroes live and heroes die. We've learned to be empathetic through living hundreds of different lives vicariously. But we sort of share this common bond. Knowing that the thing we sell made us better. And we want to pass that along.</div>
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My friends in comic retailing weren't just discussing how to sell more comics although that is essential for us to stay in business and prosper. We were exploring how to sell more comics so that our stores can get books into people's hands that will help them connect with one another and dream of a better tomorrow. And we aren't shy about our different views, but we are optimistic that we can be this retail outlier in a world of so many brick and mortar stores closing. Through it all, we connect with other people who share common interests and dream of a better future together.</div>
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True, Walking Dead doesn't quite do that. Or does it in some way? Does it, through exploring the monstrosities we can become, show us what really matters in life? In looking at monsters and villains, do we truly see how to live?</div>
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Then I think of the church. Preferences can't be catered to in a church like they can in a comic shop, but people expect that. The church should be a place of refocus and hope. A place where all can feel loved. It should be a group of people on such a common and passionate mission together because we have been transformed in a way far greater than any comic book can achieve. We have surrender our lives to a loving and sacrificial king. That's not everyone's experience though. It's often just smoke and mirrors, hypocrisy and disguised hate. It's heartbreaking rather than life giving.</div>
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Do we love people unconditionally? Or do they have to meet a criteria to be loved? Do we offer hope to the hopeless? Or do they have to conform to have hope? Do we offer friendship? Or is that thrown away at the first disagreement? How did we mess it up so much?</div>
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In a world where the church should be a beacon of the things of God, the church messes it up so much at times that people go elsewhere to feel loved. It baffles me - and I'm still trying to digest how I felt that more at a comic retailers get together than I often do at church. It may not be comic retailers for you. It may be some other group. No matter what group it is, this is messed up. Although I'm thankful to experience it with my retailing peers</div>
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Love God. Love one another. Unconditionally. With every part of my being. The church should be living that everywhere. But this week I saw the comic retail community living it while in the church I feel attacked and hated at times. That may be your experience too.</div>
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We were all made to feel loved. The church was made to love people. Let's get to doing that no matter what our day job is.</div>
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Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-89482734454971644042020-02-18T13:42:00.000-05:002020-02-18T13:55:16.344-05:00An Attempt at a Theologically Conservative yet Compassionate Take on the Issue of Homosexuality<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When young outsiders are asked their perception of Christians, the top two thoughts are that Christians are judgmental and that we are anti-homosexual. Interestingly, these are the same perceptions that young churchgoers have of Christians as well (unChristian 28, 34). I don't think these views are unwarranted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So I think this, like the issue last week – maybe even moreso with this one – needs to be thought through and dealt with truthfully and kindly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The issue is nothing new. Unlike some issues that the Bible doesn’t address, this is one that the Bible clearly addresses. As it was a prevalent practice in the Roman Empire, the early church wrestled with the issue of homosexuality too. We see Paul write about it in three separate places. The first that we will look at is in his setup to his letter to the church at the heart of the empire of the day, the church in Rome.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Romans 1:18-28 (NLT)<o:p></o:p></div>
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What we see here is a common, rhetorical approach. A way to give a speech that is convincing. Paul is building up in this letter to the church in Rome to a point where he declares us all sinners (Romans 3:23) and to explain that God is transitioning His chosen people from being the nation of Israel to being the church (Romans 9:6-7, 30-31). Yet Paul doesn't start with the lead. He is trying to persuade people. In doing so, he starts with something that they all would view as a sin, homosexuality. That's his lead. From there he goes on to expand the list of sins. What we can conclude here is that Paul felt that people would agree with homosexuality being a sin. That issue was the gimme that the crowd would all go “yep” on. It was the easy agreement before the hard stuff. That was what Paul was trying to do. He's trying to bring them along to his conclusion. But then he hits the hammer down and tells them that they are also all sinners. We're all sinners, and we can't just point our finger at others and declare them sinners.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In another letter, Paul includes homosexuality in his list of sins to the church in Corinth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 Corinthians 6:9 (NLT)<o:p></o:p></div>
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And here it is mentioned in his letter to his young protégé, Timothy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We know that the law is good when used correctly. For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders,liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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These are the verses you should go to if someone wants to know the church’s stance because using the Old Testament story of Sodom, despite its prevalence in discussions about this, is not a great analogy against homosexuality. The prophet Ezekiel gives that story a different meaning and says Sodom was punished because they didn’t help the poor and needy. Nor is it a good approach to pull out the Old Testament law as <a href="https://regansravings.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-law-was-guardian-look-at-old.html">we talked about last week</a>. Because then you’re left with why did you choose to pick this one out while eating a shrimp or crab dinner with them. Awkward. There is no reason to stretch and include those sections because there is enough biblical evidence in other places without the baggage. People can't relegate the teachings of Paul to being in the Old Testament Law. Paul’s teachings that we read earlier are clear teachings in the New Testament.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nowhere in the Bible is homosexuality shown as being okay. The argument to make homosexuality biblically permissible has to start by saying that the authors of Scripture don't say what they are clearly saying. The authority of Scripture and the historical methods of interpretation have to be attacked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a method that some are willing to use. William M. Kent, at one time a member of a committee assigned by United Methodists, who are now going through a split over this very subject, to study homosexuality, declared that “the scriptural texts in the Old and New Testaments condemning homosexual practice are neither inspired by God nor otherwise of enduring Christian value. Considered in the light of the best biblical, theological, scientific, and social knowledge, the biblical condemnation of homosexual practice is better understood as representing time and place bound cultural prejudice.” (http://www.albertmohler.com/documents/homosexualitybible.pdf)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The debate over this particular issue goes much deeper than the issue at hand as it attacks the inspiration of all of Scripture to get to the point. To go down that road, we can then make the Bible say whatever we want it to say. Critics may claim that Christians already do that, but I would argue that we don't. We have methods of interpretation that are generally accepted across denominational divides, and we try to follow the Bible’s teachings as best as we can, even when we don’t like what it is teaching.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are certain issues in the modern church where we wrestle with Scripture (like women's role in the church for instance) and people can come to different conclusions based upon what verse and concept they choose as their starting point. Homosexuality really isn't an issue like this. The view in our society is changing; the view in Scripture isn’t.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another approach people take is to say the Jesus himself never dealt with the issue of homosexuality. My friend, Samuel Long, who is the academic dean at Great Lakes, my alma mater, and has spoken here, wrote this: "Although Jesus does not discuss homosexuality, and it does not come up in the New Testament with any regularity, when it does, it is clearly done so in a negative way. If God had intended homosexuality to be a viable sexual alternative for some people, He would not have condemned it as an abomination. It is never mentioned in Scripture in anything but negative terms, and nowhere does the Bible even hint at approving or giving instruction for homosexual relationships. Proponents of homosexuality have to start by saying that the Scripture doesn’t say what it clearly says. They have to start attacking the authority of Scripture. And while we can interpret and apply passages differently, discounting clear teachings out of hand make the Bible less than what it is."<o:p></o:p></div>
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Approving homosexuality, biblically speaking, always comes back to disregarding Scripture and reading it in ways that are not good Bible study methods. I have read the most prominent books pushing a pro-homosexuality reading of the Bible. I have read articles doing the same. In the end, it always comes back to this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So biblically speaking, I do not think we can make a case using historical Bible study methods that homosexuality is not a sin. Yet that still doesn't make it an easy issue.<br />
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Now, if I lost you during the Bible study portion or have upset you, please give this message another chance from this point forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Issues like homosexuality prove extremely difficult. Because we don’t want an issue like this to keep people away from Jesus or church. I even fear that preaching this sermon could stop my ability to minister to some of you by you withdrawing from the church because you adamantly disagree.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I get it. First, it does hurt a person with any sort of empathy to tell people who disagree or are kind, loving, and monogamous homosexuals that homosexuality is a sin. It hurts to alienate them over this issue. It just hurts to be what comes across as mean. I wish I could just tell people that homosexuality is okay for them if that is what they want. But that just isn’t what the Scriptures teach. I surmise that the Scriptures don’t teach it is okay because homosexuality, like all sins, is not what is best for a person’s life. Can I explain why that is? Nope. I wish I could explain it convincingly, but I can't.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Second, saying that homosexuality is a sin goes straight in the face of what we are taught by our society to teach. And wrestling with our society is difficult on any issue.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is a tide that we are swimming against when we teach that the Bible teaches homosexuality is a sin. A tide that I would rather not swim against because swimming against the tide is never fun or easy, but I can't if I still hold that the Bible is the inspired word of God. For some, they will just reject the Bible. Others, may just reject God. I am not comfortable rejecting either.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But even if homosexuality is a sin, does that mean that we automatically leap to wanting our earthly nation to legislate our morality. This seems to be where a lot of the conflict in our society over the issue comes from. For many American Christians, the United States has almost become synonymous with the church. This is dangerous and heresy of the greatest sort, but in making this mistake a lot of missteps are made.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I want to propose a different approach for the church. What if we focused on God’s kingdom rather than the kingdom of the United States? Now if you were an elected official making legislation at the state or federal level, this conversation would be different. None of us are in that position, so I’m not going to explore the role of a Christian in those position. Instead, let’s focus on our role in society.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our teaching that homosexuality is a sin yet we love all sinners becomes a problem in our mainstream culture when we try to make our moral stance a political position, so we have to be very careful when we decide that we should become politically active on any issue, not just this one. Is it possible that in trying to push Christian living onto nonChristians through using the power of the State we are hampering the cause of Jesus?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Politics and our faith can get sticky. Often people just make the leap from "that's wrong" to "we must legislate our position." This ignores a whole discussion that must happen in the middle of those two questions. We must really ask ourselves whether our position is helping the oppressed and those who can't use the instruments of power to help themselves. In those cases, I believe we should pursue helping those who can't help themselves, but I also know good Christians who disagree with me on this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is really an issue that I don’t feel we can win in our current society. I still call homosexuality a sin because the Bible clearly teaches that. And that doesn't make one of the sides in our society happy. They want to me to affirm that homosexuality is not a sin, not just accept a homosexual as a fellow sinner. They want me to promote it as just one of many valid lifestyle choices.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nor do I make the religious crowd happy with my approach. They seem to want to bash homosexuals. The religious don't want to recognize that their lives are lived in such a way that they are equally separated from God and are only able to have a right relationship with God because of His grace. This is the point of Paul in Romans.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have a NOT SO SATISFYING SOLUTION. It’s the only approach I can come up with that has both truth and love.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What if Christians and local churches became places known for their grace and love and not for their judgment? Do you think that would be attractive?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Years ago, when we passed the communion trays, I had a gay friend coming to church. He has since moved away. He wanted to help serve the Lord's Supper. At that time, the trays holding the emblems of the body and blood of Jesus were carried by four people and passed among the congregation. My gay friend became one of those guys. And one person became upset because a gay person was handing out the Lord's Supper. He told me, “I don’t want us to be known as the gay church.” I told him that I want our church to be a place where gays, whores, drunks, and sinners like me are welcome. He didn't like my reply because there is this tendency to make homosexuality a greater sin than other sins. Here is the thing. As a pastor, I have sacred knowledge of a lot of your sins. And I also know my own sins. We are committed to loving you despite your sins, and I hope you are committed to loving me despite my sins.<br />
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Homosexuality is not an issue I like to address regularly. It’s not beneficial. It has been years since I have talked about this from the pulpit. But if you are interacting with nonChristians this will come up in conversation, and I want you to be prepared and have a grasp on the issue. If we have homosexuals who come to our church (and I hope homosexuals feel comfortable coming to our church), then that is an issue we will discuss in relationships and counseling, not bash them on the issue from the pulpit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If we have a proper understanding of the role of the church and the role of the state, we will realize that we do not have to relegate our moral thinking to the State. Just because the State says something is right or wrong, doesn't make it right or wrong. Likewise, just because we firmly believe something is right or wrong doesn't mean that we should automatically move to legislate it. So we shouldn't spend our time fighting the political battles of our day. Instead, we should lead out in our society through love. We should focus on the things of eternity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What happens when the church gets hung up in trying to change the state is that the purpose of the church gets neglected. The mission of the church will not get done if the people of the church don't do it. We have a finite amount of time and we have finite energy. Do we spend it fighting gay marriage or world hunger? Do we spend it outlawing homosexuality or spreading the gospel and love of Jesus?<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I think we all recognize, the recorded teachings of Jesus and the life of the early church show that oppressing others isn't why the church was established. It was established to love others and be a place for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This mission cannot be neglected to win the game of politics, no matter how alluring that power may be.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unfortunately, oppression seems to be the magnetic pull of any organized beast or collective group. Most groups -- from Communists to Libertarian, from Republican to Democrat, from black to white, from atheist to Christian, from American to North Korean -- want to denigrate those who disagree with them. Jesus taught an alternative way to the sectarianism of the world. I can understand the desire to ignore His teachings because His followers are ridiculously bad at actually living out this radical life that we are called to live.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What Jesus taught was countercultural, in His time and ours. We can see beautiful reflections of His teachings throughout the church's existence. People loving where there is no love. People helping in the midst of situations that inspire selfishness. People being fed where there is no food. People being giving light in the midst of great darkness, hope in the midst of hopelessness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, one doesn't have to throw out believing in right teachings to still be the church. It's those right teachings that should lead us to freedom and empower us to be loving. People who claim to follow Jesus just have to love those who we believe are misguided. There is no us and them. Only people like us who need the grace of God to be right with Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All of this does not ignore the complex issues surrounding such topics as homosexuality. But it does mean that we have a new and different starting point for our attitudes and actions: love and grace. Why? Because “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). Are we willing to follow his example? Are we willing to live for others while they are still sinners? Are we willing to love and eat with sinners? A person stopping to sin is never a prerequisite for us to love them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We need to have a biblical stance on homosexuality, but we also must realize that this is not one of the large issues. It’s only an issue we are talking about here today because this will be a subject you get challenged on time and time again when talking with nonChristians. Even so, we need to figure out how to never let the biblical stance on homosexuality overshadow our call to love one another, to love the poor, to share the message of Jesus with the world. Unfortunately, with homosexuality, we do disagree with the world. We have to if we are going to take the Bible seriously. But that doesn’t mean we have to be obnoxious or hateful over the issue. Even in our disagreements, we need to always show love.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-39917968727470149302020-02-09T13:57:00.002-05:002020-02-09T13:57:32.103-05:00The Law WAS a Guardian - A look at the Old Testament without unhitching it. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In
talking with people who aren’t Christian or are moderately Christian, I get
asked some strange questions, but there are some regular questions that pop up
over and over. One of them happened again this week. It’s a strange but regular
one. “What about clothes of different fibers? Or shell fish?”<br />
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This is a common attack that people use on Christianity. It stems from, what I
feel, is an inappropriate explanation of the <a href="https://regansravings.blogspot.com/2015/06/an-attempt-at-compassionate-yet.html">issue of homosexuality</a> – same
conclusion just the wrong approach, but I wanted to lay the foundation for the way that is explained. <br />
<br />I want us to be armed with a defense to the concerns that seem to come up the
most when talking to nonChristians about Jesus because we don’t want them to
get hung up on any of the lesser issues. We want to get them to Jesus, and then
Jesus will help them through their questions. <br />
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So what about clothes of different fibers? Or shell fish? It seems like a silly
question but it is a crafty, insidious attack.<br />
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The Law says:<br />“You must obey all my decrees. Do not mate two different kinds
of animals. Do not plant your field with two different kinds of seed. Do not
wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread. Leviticus 19:19 (NLT)<br />
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Now, if you look into the clothing you are wearing today, you are probably
breaking this law.<br />
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And the shell fish one:<br />“Of all the marine animals, these are ones you may use for
food. You may eat anything from the water if it has both fins and scales,
whether taken from salt water or from streams. But you must never eat animals
from the sea or from rivers that do not have both fins and scales. They are
detestable to you. This applies both to little creatures that live in shallow
water and to all creatures that live in deep water. They will always be
detestable to you. You must never eat their meat or even touch their dead
bodies. Any marine animal that does not have both fins and scales is detestable
to you." Leviticus 11:9 (NLT)<br />
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So if you ever eat crab, lobster, of shrimp – to name some popular ones, you
are disobeying the Law.<br />
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And we are fine with disobeying these laws. I doubt you have ever heard a
sermon against wearing clothing woven from two different fibers or eating
shrimp. We don’t think that matters with us being right with God.<br />
<br />Often, we, as Christians, just ignore that the Old
Testament has these weird and crazy laws. But you know what? Atheists don't
ignore them. Nonbelievers don't ignore them. Typically, when you are talking
with them about Christianity, these ridiculous laws from the Old Testament are
things that come up. They come at us with an opinion on how we should be
reading them. So I think it is useful to have a good understanding of how we
deal with the Law. For you to know and to explain to them.<br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
could take the approach of the Seventh Day Adventists or similar groups in
Christianity who still believe that we should hold to the law. You will notice
that they still honor the Sabbath, literally, as the Old Testament taught and
the rest of us don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some Christians still believe that we should celebrate the Old
Testament festivals. I see some benefit in doing this. I spent one year here
celebrating each one, yet Christians are under no obligation to do this. It can
be a good learning tool, but it’s not a biblical mandate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The most popular method, one of which we are more likely guilty of,
is that we pick and choose which laws we want to keep and which laws we want to
ignore. We disregard the laws we think are silly like the ones on shellfish and
different materials in our clothing. Then we keep the laws we like. But this is
really a totally intellectually dishonest way to deal with the law. What is the process for
picking and choosing anyway?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This arbitrary method doesn't really make any sense. We
accept the laws we like and reject the ones that seem a little weird. This also
isn't the way we should go about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In all this talk about the law, I want us to understand that
the law was very important. <br />
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Paul taught:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"So then, the law was our guardian until
Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now that faith has come, we are no longer
under a guardian,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for in Christ Jesus
you are all sons of God, through faith." Galatians 3:24-26 (ESV)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The law was the guardian until Christ came. It played an
important role.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you were living in the world before the Hebrews were
brought out of Egypt and Moses was given the law, you would recognize that it
was a vicious world. Maybe no more vicious than some of the places in our world
today. Places that would benefit from the law just like the Hebrews benefitted
from the law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When you encounter a teaching like "an eye for an eye,
and a tooth for a tooth," which goes against Jesus and Paul’s teaching to
love our enemies; it helps to understand the world that teaching was given to.
[As an aside, last week we talk about Jesus’ teaching of obeying the commandments.
And then we used local context to understand that. Key Bible Study principle.
Reading something through the context of the original audience is also another
one of those key principles.] God works with people where they are at, and God
gave that teaching to prevent people from chopping off someone's head for
stealing. It was a step in the right direction, limiting retaliation and implementing
this would stop the process of escalating violence. The maximum punishment for
a crime could not be greater than the crime. This was a law of restraint, not a
law of violence – although an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth feels that
way these days among a people who have a Christian foundation and have been
practicing enemy love and forgiveness for millennium - although poorly at times.
This teaching’s purpose, at the time it was given, was reining in a chaotic
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Law was intended to shape the people into who God wanted
them to be, but it didn't always work. The people didn't follow the law the way
God intended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Jesus taught:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did
not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. [And that’s
where most people like to stop] No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell
you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail
of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. [and it’s purpose was
achiveved, as it says Jesus was going to do, in Jesus on the cross. When he
says, “It is finished,” I feel it is fair, in light of this teaching, to apply
that to the Law and the fulfilling of it.] So if you ignore the least
commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in
the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be
called great in the Kingdom of Heaven."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the
righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will
never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!" Matthew 5:17-20 (NLT)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus is teaching that the law will end when all is
accomplished. But it's ending with its intended completion. He’s also pointing
out that our righteousness, if we are living by the Law, must exceed the righteousness
of the most righteous people of the day if we are to enter the Kingdom of
Heaven. In other words, the Law cannot get us into the Kingdom of Heaven. We
cannot be more righteous than the most righteous, but there is hope in Jesus.<br />
<br />Other translations will use the word “fulfill” here where it
says “accomplish their purpose.” It’s not ending abruptly or prematurely. The "all
is accomplished" in Jesus. The law is fulfilled. The word in the Greek is typically
used for reaching one’s desired destination. The law was just a guardian to get
us to the point where Jesus fulfilled it. Jesus was the Law’s destination.
Because the law could never totally fulfill its own purpose. It needed Jesus to
do that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christianity is not a bunch of laws. Jesus came to fulfill
the law and bring the law to its intended ending. He came to bring something
better. As we talked last week, the commandment we are supposed to obey if we
love Jesus is to love one another. Jesus transitioned the Law to this.<br />
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But there is an allure to and a problem with laws. If we think Christianity is
a group of laws that we must follow, then we will figure out ways to legally
get around those laws. What is the minimum that I must do to get saved? Is it
law that I must be part of a church? Who do I have to love? How many times must
I forgive? That minimal approach to Christianity, despite being prevalent, is
so wrong.<br />
<br />
As the writer of Hebrews says:<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">"</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When God
speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is
now out of date and will soon disappear. Hebrews 8:13 (NLT)<br />
<br />
According to the writer of Hebrews, the Old Testament law is obsolete, out of
date, and is disappearing. But the prevailing thought of modern Christianity
makes us feel uncomfortable saying exactly this. The writer of Hebrews is
stating that we don't have to follow the law any more. We are no longer under
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Law is needed when there isn’t love. We wouldn't need laws
in our society if everyone loved each other. Nearly every law is there to
prevent people from behaving in ways that are not loving to each other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So when a nonbeliever asks me about the
Old Testament Law and tries to hold me to them. I explain how I am not a Jew
following Torah. If I was, I would have to defend those laws. I serve a Jewish
revolutionary named Jesus who fulfilled the Law of the Old Testament,
revolutionized the Jewish faith, and has given us the Holy Spirit in its place.
<br />
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Paul described it as:<br />
"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ
Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has
freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was
unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what
the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners
have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving
his Son as a sacrifice for our sins." </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Romans 8:1-3 (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We now have the Holy Spirit guiding our life. What we should
and shouldn’t do now comes through a relationship based on love, learning to
listen to God’s guidance. <br />
<br />
The Holy Spirit knows what you should be doing this afternoon, and He is going
to prompt you. You need to obey that prompting. The Holy Spirit knows what you
should say to encourage your friend, and He is going to prompt you. You need to
follow through on that. The Holy Spirit knows what you should tell your spouse,
and He is going to prompt you. We must ask ourselves, "Are we willing to
listen?" "Are we willing to follow?" “Are we willing to put our
own desires aside and do what God wants?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A wife posted on Facebook, "Made
honey-do list for my hubby today to accomplish after his dentist appointment
this morning. And he did everything on the list and more."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To-do lists are good. The husband excelled with the to-do
list from his wife. He jokingly responded that he did it because he just wanted
to eat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Likewise, we often want to follow the law just to get the
benefits that the law brings. The Pharisees followed the law because they
wanted to be God's people. We sometimes follow the law to prevent ourselves
from going to hell. We want benefits. And when we are just looking for
benefits, we miss out on the blessing of being God's children. Of living a life
guided by the Holy Spirit, dwelling in the presence and work of God all the
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God wants us to be more than just people who follow the law.
He wants us to be in a relationship with Him. He wants to dwell in us and guide
us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The gospel can only bring life - its
benefits - when you truly surrender your life to Jesus. <br />
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It's like when you love your wife. If you bring home flowers for some
manipulative reason and she found it out, the flowers wouldn't count. But if
you brought flowers home just to show her that you love her - not for any
ulterior motives whatsoever, then they have their worth. Or chocolates. Or
jewelry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's the same thing with God, except He knows our heart and can't
be deceived. If we do what the law teaches and don't give Him our heart, it
doesn't work. Being right with God is not about checking off a list. It’s about
being in a relationship with Him and letting Him guide you. Letting Him live
through and transform the world through you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had a great high school baseball coach. He
would take time to correct me when I would be doing something wrong. He would
see my mistakes and take me aside to teach me how to improve. I would be pitching
and do something wrong; he would tell me what to change. One of those times
that he pulled me aside he said, "You know, I spend a lot of time
correcting you, Regan, because I believe that you can be better. I don't spend
time correcting [and he pointed at a teammate] because he's not going to be
better." God spends a lot of time prompting us because he knows we can be
better. And unlike my coach, he thinks we all can be better. Our lives. Our
family. Our church. Our town. Our world. He’s prompting us all. Are we
listening? If we aren't listening, we will not become any better. Things will
not be transformed and improve. We believe in a God who does not force His will
but waits on the faithful to transform the world. <br />
<br />
The great danger is that the less we listen to the promptings we hear, the more
we shut off the pathways to hearing God. It's like a person who has had a
stroke. They have to work on rewiring everything so that they can once again do
all the things that they previously did. They have to develop different neural
pathways to laboriously do the things that once came easily to them. Sometimes
we are like that with God. We have hardened ourselves to His promptings so much
that we no longer hear His voice. He doesn't give up on us though. He will
continually try to get past the hardness of our hearts. He is always willing to
guide us, but it is up to us to listen to God and be the people that He wants
us to be. So pick those callouses off your heart that life has given you and
open yourself up to God’s leading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be all that God has destined you to be. It
is up to you to live the life that God wants you to live. Nobody else can live
it for you. No amount of listening to teaching will do that. No amount of
singing songs in worship will suffice. You have to be the one listening to His
voice, and then acting on it. God is going to tell you what He wants you to do
with your life. My role as a pastor is to encourage you to listen to God, help
you to test your promptings with Scripture, use Scripture to open your hearts, pray
for you, and challenge you to be who God wants you to be with your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No church will be a healthy church unless the people in the
church are focused on listening to the Holy Spirit and doing what the Spirit
wants them to do with their lives. A church will not receive the blessing that
God wants to give it unless it is filled with people who are trying to be who
God wants them to be. Likewise, a person will not receive the blessing that God
wants to give them unless that person is trying to be who God wants them to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your relationship with God matters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The desire to know
God rather than adhere to the law. Those are all things we would benefit from
having more of. The question we are all faced with is whether we are going to
continue to grow closer to God throughout our lives or are we going to drift
away. The choice is ours. Whether we will replace relationship with legalism. We
can cling to the Law and die – and our Law can be some other law than even the
Old Testament Law, or we can grow closer to God, learn to listen to the Spirit,
and act upon who He is guiding us to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Christian culture will
continue to try and convince us that the way to do that is through following
laws. It's wrong. Laws are not going to get you closer to God. You could be the
most moral person around, yet you could be just as far away from God as the
most immoral person you know. God wants you to be close to Him. He wants you to
acknowledge Him as Lord of your life. There are no laws that if we followed
would bring that about. It only comes through a willing heart, a willingness to
listen, a willingness to let that Spirit lead you, a willingness to act on His
promptings, and a willingness to be different when God wants you to be
different. That's what God wants in our lives. He wants you to say yes to Him.<br />
<br />
The law has been fulfilled. The law has been made obsolete. The Holy Spirit has
been given to us in its place. May we grow closer to God through our lives. May
we not stray into an unhealthy dependence upon laws. May we learn to listen to
Him every day of our life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-41472711444585308062019-12-02T08:53:00.001-05:002019-12-02T08:53:20.340-05:00Is there grace for wrong beliefs?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /><br />Is there grace for wrong beliefs?</div>
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I asked that question last week with a purpose in mind. I was working on a sermon where a Roman officer came to Jesus. This officer misunderstands what Jesus would like, but he understands that Jesus is the one to go to. Despite the officer's flawed thoughts, Jesus worked. This was contrasted in the section of Scripture with the religious people of the day missing out on Jesus. They had religion down, but missed Jesus. Do we have all our "rig<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">ht beliefs" and miss out on Jesus? The opportunity is there for all of us who are willing to come to Jesus and let him improve our lives. We need to just come to him. Jesus doesn't expect perfect behavior or perfect beliefs. If he did, we would all be screwed. Instead, he desires relationship. He wants us to know him and his father who sent him.</span></div>
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The purpose of the question has both a political and spiritual ramification. I would love for people to be a little more loving toward those they disagree with. The way to bring someone to right belief is through love, not dogmatic statements. Not from being demeaning and the loudest. Not from being the best debater. Love. This is true in the political world and the spiritual world. Telling someone they are a libtard, a snowflake, a heretic, a nazi, deplorable, or any other demeaning label because they have a different belief is the path of self-righteousness.</div>
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Our world is overdosing on self-righteousness. It may make the person labeling someone feel lofty, but it is only a temporary high and actually destroys. We are called to teach the truth in gentleness and love. In that framework, there is grace. Without grace, there is no gentleness and love.</div>
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As our society has moved away from God, it seems that we are also moving away from speaking with love to those we disagree with. Although we Christians have failed at that way too often in the past and continue to fail at it, there is a clear correction in the teachings of Jesus. We are challenged to be loving to our enemies. We need to grasp hold of that and walk that less traveled path with that principle at the forefront. With Jesus at the forefront. Come to Jesus. It means more than just theology and doctrine; it means a life of love. Loving God and loving our neighbor. A life of joining in on Jesus' work of restoring this world to what God intended it to be. A beautiful calling.</div>
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It's the Christmas season. Spread Jesus and his love, not more hate. If God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous, we can at least be loving to those we disagree with.</div>
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Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-76630697681472603732019-10-13T13:07:00.000-04:002019-10-13T13:13:14.550-04:00Freedom Is Messy - Church, State, and Beto<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So I've been thinking more about Beto, taxing the churches, and all that jazz.</div>
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Made me think of Roger Williams. He spoke up in Massachusetts Bay Colony that they should treat the Indians better. That they were stealing land and mistreating them. This isn't me projecting my 21st century sensibilities on a colony in the 1600s. This was a Christian in tune with God in the 1600s proclaiming the truth to the powerful. He spoke as a pastor. And just about as effective as speaking the truth to the powerful these days, on October 9, 1645, he was banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony.</div>
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Roger Williams went on to start Providence as a place where people could have religious freedom. Puritans came. Jews came. Quakers came. The first Baptist church was started there. Religious people of different orientations could live together in peace and not be banned for disagreeing with the state.</div>
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What Beto and others are asking for, without maybe even recognizing it in themselves, is a return to the totalitarian ways of Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Europe our American predecessors fled from. In this particular instance, Beto is encouraging taxing churches who don't agree with him on gay marriage. But that is giving control of church teaching over to the state. Either you conform, or you pay. This is a dangerous change.</div>
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This seems to be the toxic fruit of an idea that I hear regularly: Religion should have no influence on the state. The idea goes on to say that separation of church and state flows both ways. The state can't influence the church. And the church can't influence the state. As seen in Beto, they would rather err on the side of the state forcing the church to do things.</div>
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This concept holds that religious principles that shape a religious person's worldview are inferior to secular principles. Due to this, religious principles have no room in the public arena. Do you realize that this approach would have made Martin Luther King Jr. not happen? One of our national heroes could not have done what he did in this hostile toward religion framework. He was a pastor, emboldened by his religious convictions, trying to change the state. Christians throughout history have spoken truth to the power of the state, and I don't want that principle to end to this new totalitarian view that the religious should be silent in regard to the state.</div>
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If Beto's proposal or any like it were to move forward, the secular victory would be weak anyway. The church would just move to house churches that aren't legally churches so the state can't say what we can and can't say because I, and I believe most remaining Christians, would never let the state tell us what we can and cannot teach. We have a good, solid history and lots of examples to inspire and encourage us to not conform to the state. Whether that be heroes like Martin Niemoller in Germany, Corrie Ten Boom in Denmark, Dirk WIllems in the Netherlands, Telemachus in Rome, or these other people - Jesus, Peter, and Paul in the early church era. Conforming to society goes against a core principle of the church: The church is to be a separate kingdom with an alternative way of living. If we just conform to the wishes of society, what are we? We definitely aren't the church.</div>
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Freedom of speech and religion are principles that we should still enshrine as an Americans. Principles that goes back the early days of Roger Williams in Rhode Island and of William Penn in Pennsylvania, which we didn't really get into here. Principles that our founding fathers enshrined in the Bill of Rights because they knew that the tendency, as exhibited even these days, of the state is to take them away. Principles that have made the world better. Principles we shouldn't dispose of just to get the political outcome we want.</div>
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Conformity is not freedom. Freedom is messy.</div>
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Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-11084611230528086222019-07-13T12:23:00.003-04:002019-07-13T12:23:45.590-04:00Peace and Pretend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /><br />Peace is a particularly tough idea for me to write about. I struggle with having peace in my heart. We all have areas to grow in; this is definitely mine. So I’m not writing here as a master of peace and contentment. Instead, I’m on the journey toward it and am writing as a sojourner. I follow the Prince of Peace while just trying to experience some peace.</div>
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Have you ever sat near a lake at sunrise? There is a stillness there. A wonderful, calming silence. The boats haven’t started stirring. The waves are non existent. A quiet, serene stillness. Water like a sheet of reflective glass mirroring the sky and the soul.</div>
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“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (ESV)</div>
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It’s in those moments of stillness that we can totally reflect on God, uninterrupted by the busyness of the world. We can be enveloped by his presence. Transformed. Prompted. Encouraged. Now, you may not have a lake, but you need to nurture that still place. A place where God's presence can feel real to you.</div>
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This is nice and all - essential for spiritual development, but what do we do when the waves are there? When the stillness eludes us? Because life sure seems more like the lake with raging waves than the calm stillness that is briefly there in the morning. There are storms. There are boaters. There are waves crashing into the shore slowly eroding it. What do we do in the midst of the waves?</div>
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There is a particular fascinating story of Jesus with his main followers. They were traveling together across the sea of Galilee when a storm arose. They were all freaking out. Kind of like we do when storms arise in our life. They should have got it. Jesus wasn't going to let them die in a storm. We should get it to, but we don't. Here's the key part of the story.</div>
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“'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' And Jesus awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:38b-41 (ESV)</div>
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Jesus, do you not care that we are perishing? I like the normal language that Eugene Peterson used in the Message. "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?"</div>
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I'm sure if we are honest with ourselves that we have prayed that way ourselves at time.</div>
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Jesus can rebuke the waves. Literal waves. So he can also bring stillness to our souls. The sad reality is that we don't always experience that. So what do we do until that truth becomes our reality?</div>
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Pretend. That’s right. Totally fake it. As a GenXer, we value authenticity. It's like our generation's rallying cry in the midst of untucked flannels while wrapping ourselves in a smothering and debilitating blanket of cynicism. Valuing authenticity is great and all. It really is, but there are times when we need to let our beliefs override our natural desires and start pretending in order to shape our heart into what God wants it to be. Pretending is actually training. So let’s start pretending. When the waves are crashing and we don't just feel like it, let's start pretending. When we the boat is rocking and Jesus is asleep, let's start pretending instead of freaking out.</div>
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We pastors do this all the time. We have a grumpy Sunday morning. Maybe a fight with our loved one. Maybe struggles with our kids in getting them loaded into the van. But then we have to get up there and give a sermon like we are in a good mood. And there is nothing wrong with that. We pretend because we know that we need to do what God wants us to do. The pulpit isn’t the time or the place for me to not be outwardly grumpy despite feeling grumpy inside.</div>
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Pretending isn’t only for pastors. All of us have to pretend at times too.</div>
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The odd thing about pretending is that when we acknowledge that we pretend, we are acknowledging that we are not perfect on the inside. We are acknowledging that our belief in how we are to behave is important. We are acknowledging that we are going to be faithful to what God wants over our feelings.</div>
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So start pretending. It’s liberating in a way. It’s not like you have to be perfect to start behaving in the right way. You don’t have to have perfect desires or perfect thoughts. Just enough of a belief about how you should love your neighbor, your enemy, or whatever else it is that you are putting off doing because your heart isn’t in the right place. You have to believe that what you should do or what you shouldn’t do is more important than what you feel like doing or not doing. Pretending allows you to do what’s right even when you're not feeling it. Pretending is being.</div>
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Here is the thing. When you pretend to be that which you want to be but don’t really feel like being, you are actually being the thing that you know you should be. Pretending is actually being. I often get told by people that they have trouble believing in God but want to. They can't figure out what that looks like. Well, just go love someone you wouldn't love. That is a way to believe in God. Just pretend and it will be.</div>
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Now, it is best to have our heart match up to our actions. I get that. This isn't a conversation about what is best. It's about when we don't really feel like it. When we are scared, discouraged, or destroyed. What do we do when our heart isn't in the best place? Until that perfect happens, I propose that we just pretend and do the right things. Pretend and avoid the wrong things. Your heart may not be into helping that person you're feeling tugged to help, do it anyway. Pretend to love them and do it. Your heart may not be into praying today. Pretend to want to do it and pray. Your heart may want to just lash out at someone. Pretend and be nice to them anyway. If you don't want to go to work tomorrow and do your job, pretend you want to anyway. Do the good that you know you should do even when your heart isn't into it. Do the good with a smile. Pretend.</div>
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To act like we are always in the mood to do what is right seems sort of foolish to me. We're not. Nobody is. But doing what is right is important enough that we should do it even when we aren't in the mood. If we do the good that we know we should with a grumpy face, it will nullify the good. So put the pretend face on and do the good.</div>
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When we deliberately choose to pretend (act in a way that our heart doesn't want), we are practicing a sincere faith. It takes a lot of faith to pretend. It takes a lot of faith to do what we know we should do even when we don't want to do it. In our insincerity our faith is sincere.</div>
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So take the step that you know you need to take, even if you don’t feel like taking it. You may have to pretend for a while. That’s okay. For some reason, we have been taught to stop pretending as we grow up. Instead, I think we would all be better off pretending a lot more. And as we pretend to love our enemies, we will actually start loving them internally. As we pretend to enjoy our job, we will actually start loving our job. As we pretend to spend time with God, we will actually be spending time with God. It’s time to recapture the abandoned childhood art of pretending.</div>
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Jesus taught, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3 ESV)</div>
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So let’s be like little children and enter into the kingdom of heaven. Now. If it takes a little pretending for a while before we see the things of God popping up all around us, well, let’s pretend. In the end, it will be worth it.</div>
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Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-31178298132990787082019-04-25T17:25:00.003-04:002019-04-25T17:25:33.389-04:00We Fix The Church By Fixing Our Number One Problem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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Read the news. The church is in decline. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How do we fix it?<br />
<br />
I don't quite know the answer to that problem. I don’t know how to fix the
church in your community. I don’t know how to fix the church in America. I don’t
even know how to fix the church across town if it even needs fixed.<br />
<br />
But I do know what we need to do in our church. We need to be living out our
lives loving God and one another. Together. That looks like church for some.
For others it doesn't although it still is church. But when that “together”
part disappears - when we start loving God alone and not loving one another, we
mess it all up. That push toward an individual spirituality to the exclusion of
the collective spirituality is what got us to this point. The church in
decline. </div>
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<br /></div>
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These days with our new technology, we have the option of
digital church experiences. We can turn on the radio, head to a website,
download a podcast, or just hop on over to Youtube and watch the best speaker
in the nation give an amazing sermon. It will be way better than all of the
sermons that we can possibly hear in a local church near us unless that amazing
speaker’s local church is our local church. The same with worship songs. We can
worship to whatever style we prefer with whatever leader we prefer – all with
just the click of a button. And there are advantages. You don’t need to give.
You don’t need to serve. You don’t need to deal with people who may frustrate
you. You don’t need to compromise or live in community with anyone else. It’s
the perfect individual spiritual experience. Spirituality, your way. Who could
ask for anything more?<br />
<br />
We, church leaders, feed it. Maybe we even should, for it isn’t wrong to help
people grow spiritually. I don’t have it totally figured out, but it makes me
question things. We want to reach out more and minister more, so we put our
messages online (I get the irony of sharing this online too). We want people to
encounter God because we know that encountering God changes us. One cannot encounter
God and remain unchanged. <br />
<br />
But in doing ministry this way, are we feeding the beast? </div>
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<br /></div>
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Is physical interaction necessary in a digital world? Are in
real life relationships necessary for us to follow Jesus? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think so. There are elements of following
Jesus that just can’t be done alone. We won't have people alongside of us when
we serve. We won't have that someone to love and to be loved by in return.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Then there are benefits to being part of this community of
people meeting together in real, physical space. One big benefit of faith is
its ability to carry us through crisis. This doesn’t happen in isolation; it
happens with encouragement from others. Without a faith family (or a healthy biological
family), we won't have someone to just be with us when things are tough. </div>
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<br /></div>
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This is where the faith family is superior even to the
biological family. It’s the place where Jesus’ radical teachings to abandon
biological family for spiritual family comes together. A brief disclaimer: This
doesn’t make sense if you aren’t coming at it from a place where you have surrendered
your life to the leadership of Jesus. Biological family is great. It is a foundation
to support and success in the world. But for those who don’t have that
biological family to support them, the spiritual family is there for them. The dilemma
is that the spiritual family is not there for the outsider if people are just
focused on their biological family. Some get the benefit of both families being
intermingled, but others don’t. For those who don’t, the spiritual family can
only be a benefit if the person who claims to follow Jesus takes Jesus’ family
seriously -- if they are willing to make their spiritual family more important
than their biological family. That’s a radical calling. Probably just as
radical today as when Jesus challenged people with it back before his death on
the cross.<br />
<br />
If we disconnect from Jesus’ family, the church, the body of Christ won’t be
there for others when they seek out its support. For the seeker when they seek
a church for spiritual answers. </div>
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<br />
We have done a disservice to the kingdom of God when we have made it all about
individual spirituality rather than a spirituality we share together. It is
true that we must be growing individually to be a help to the group. We need to
be part of the local body of Jesus from a place of overflowing in our relationship
with God. Where just being around us is refreshing as the love of God overflows
from us. But that won’t always be the case. There will be days, months, maybe
even years, where we are the empty ones. Where we will need to be carried
along. This is where a selfish, individualistic approach fails. It’s not enough
to carry us through, except for the strong, super spiritual people in our
midst. But even for them, they are strong and super spiritual -- if that sort
of person even exists -- to help out others on their spiritual journey too. They
are not strong and super spiritual to be proud of how far along they are. They
are there to help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The news and policies percolating through the media should
convince all of us that we are not a Christian nation. That view should be easily
discarded at this point. Discarding it isn't such a bad thing. Let me explain because
you may think that being a Christian nation is an extremely important goal. If
we accept that we are not a Christian nation and recognize that making our
nation Christian is even a worthwhile goal (as if a nation can ever be Christian),
we can just focus on living out radical lives together, devoted to God fully,
rather than try to win a political battle. This is sort of a new era for the
church in America. Or maybe we just deceived ourselves in the past by believing
we are more Christian than we actually were.<br />
<br />
As Martin Luther King Jr. said: “The church must be reminded that it’s not the
master or the servant of the state but rather the conscience of the state. It
must be the guide and the critic of the state and never its tool. If the church
does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club
without moral or spiritual authority” (A Knock at Midnight, June 11, 1967).<br />
<br />
This starts with us being that spiritual kingdom together. Living out the
kingdom realities in a way that we are an expression of God’s kingdom as much
as we possibly can here on earth. Taking seriously our prayer that God’s
kingdom will come here on earth as it is in heaven. And then, like our individual
spiritual life overflows into our spiritual family, the life of the kingdom
will overflow into the community, state, and nation around us. <br />
<br />
We get it all wrong when we make that end result our goal and not the process
though. Our goal is not a perfect America. Our goal is to love God and to love
our neighbor.</div>
</div>
Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-82863667504852005982019-03-13T08:13:00.001-04:002019-03-13T10:52:15.225-04:00Springtime<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g2m-VtQbP6A/XIjzzIuiXeI/AAAAAAAAHnI/1OTwJrKmHA8YgBugM6uzp69TYgedeQs8gCLcBGAs/s1600/WP_20161008_13_45_04_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g2m-VtQbP6A/XIjzzIuiXeI/AAAAAAAAHnI/1OTwJrKmHA8YgBugM6uzp69TYgedeQs8gCLcBGAs/s640/WP_20161008_13_45_04_Pro__highres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I sit here. Waiting. Looking out the window at the barren
earth. The leafless trees. The cloudy sky. The biting cold. Springtime is
coming. I know. It’s never failed me yet.<br />
<br />
But at this point, it’s not here. It never helps to just sit and wait. It won’t
come faster just staring out this aged glass, longing. With the way time seems
to move, lingering idly will cause it to arrive slower. <br />
<br />
There are things that I need to do for spring to come.<br />
<br />
So I do what I’m supposed to do now. Remembering that the world around me always
flourishes into something beautiful, eventually. I seek the things that God
wants me to accomplish. To change. Convinced by reflection that it is never
fruitless to pursue the way of God, not just in the world around me but
especially in my own heart.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span><span data-offset-key="6vjo0-0-0"><span data-text="true">The path to spring. Planting seeds of peace. Tilling up mercy to give out. Resting through the night by being humble and living meekly. Working to be pure in heart. Sweating. Effort. Prayer. Grace. Work. For a better world. For a better me. <br /></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
I look out the wavy glass and know that springtime is coming
for our souls. It doesn’t matter the way the world looks out there this moment.
Springtime is coming. It always has. It always does.</div>
</div>
Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-84323594093268627852019-01-18T16:15:00.001-05:002019-01-18T16:31:04.500-05:00A Conversation With Doubt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"></span></span><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"></span></span><br />
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"></span></div>
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http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"></span></span><br /></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
So
I had this conversation recently. I just thought I would share because
this isn't the first time these questions have been asked of me.</div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<br />
The Inquisitive Friend: I have been reading some books and I have been thinking about free will. Do we have free will?<br />
<br />
Me:
Well, I don't think we can prove that we have free will or not, but I
think it is useful to live as if you have free will. Does that make
sense? The Bible seems to imply that we have free will in multiple
sections - where God responds to the actions of people.<br />
<br />
The
Inquisitive Friend: Yes, that makes sense. I guess it came to mind
because of the omni traits of god. Which conflicts with that idea.<br />
<br />
Me:
Theologically, I'm a proponent of the idea of open theism. That God is
going through time with us and that the future hasn't happened yet. You
can see in Revelation that it talks about how God is blotting out names
in the book of life. Why would they have to be blotted out if he already
knew for sure? He's blotting them out based on our decision.<br />
<br />
The Inquisitive Friend: That is an interesting thought. So he is confined by our time?<br />
<br />
Me:
God is not confined. He chooses to go through time with us. He is still
all powerful. Take prophecy for instance. A prophecy isn't about having
seen the future. Instead, it's about him knowing what he is going to
do. He is all powerful and will bring about what he says will happen. He
has the power to do that. It isn't like he has seen what he will do; he
knows what he wants to happen.<br />
<br />
I wrote this a while back: <a href="http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html">http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html</a></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
The Inquisitive Friend: So then he isn't omniscient?<br />
<br />
Me:
Depends on how you unpack omniscience.I think God knows everything that
is to be known. He knows every potential outcome for the future, but
the future hasn't happened yet. So it isn't a concrete knowing, but he
knows all the possibilities. He created us as free will creatures for
some reason, and this was part of what he did.</div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"></span></span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">The
Inquisitive Friend (with some serious comic book knowledge): So it is
kind of like in Civil War 2 for Marvel. The prediction is a percentage,
but there is always a chance to change it. </span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><br /></span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Me:
Right. God is a God of hope trying to always steer us to the better. He
knows the possibilities. He is trying to steer us in the right
direction. But our choices influence the outcome. </span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">The world is the way it is - not because God wants it this way - but because this is the world we wanted. </span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">He's prompting us and guiding us to a better world all the time. </span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">But we say no way too often. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">The Inquisitive Friend: </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">So is god good? Like morally.<br /><br />Me: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I would say totally. He is the measuring stick of good. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">But how would we evaluate that? We would come to conversation with our own moral values. A</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">s a Christian, I have decided to surrender my moral values to God's moral values.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">The Inquisitive Friend: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Why would he not directly intercede on our behalf? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I have trouble in that regard. My brain doesn't work right to believe in god.</span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Me: </span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I
believe he interacts with us much more than we recognize. And when we
get in tune with god, it happens even more on a personal level. </span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I totally understand doubting. I think we all have programmed in us certain ideas. Like good. Like beauty.</span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">The Inquisitive Friend: </span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I
can't remember the name of the guy. But one philosophy dude said that
regardless of morality it is best to believe in god, tp hedge your bet.
Even if it is hollow faith to start. </span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I struggle with the idea of something I can't comprehend. As i got older i felt like praying was just talking to myself.</span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Me: </span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I
wouldn't say it's about hedging a bet. That makes it all about
eternity. I honestly think it is about living the fulfilled life now.
It's better to live the life following Jesus. At least that is what I
have decided. </span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I
would be a follower of Jesus even if there wasn't an eternity because I
like the world his views tries to bring about. I like the life of true
followers of Jesus.</span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">The Inquisitive Friend: </span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Faith, as you are stating in your answers, seems more like an active decision rather than a compulsion.</span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Me: </span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Well, Jesus taught that the greatest commandment was to love God and love your neighbor. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I'm
sort of rejecting the experiential thing these days more and more. So
it isn't about whether I experience God or whether I feel my prayer is
being heard. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">It's about the good that Jesus wants us to bring into this world. Am I doing that?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">The Inquisitive Friend: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I think so. I whole heartedly agree.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Me: </span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">That's
really what following Jesus is about. Literally following him in the
path of bringing good into the world. Literally following him in helping
the world became what it is intended to be. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">So whether you get an emotional experience or an inspirational high, I don't care.Let's get to following Jesus.</span></span></span></span> </span></span> </span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><br /></span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">The Inquisitive Friend: </span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I wonder how that sets with the common good. </span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Jesus said to be in the world but not of it.<br /><br />Me: </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">he idea that there is even a common good seems to be a philosophical tenet that there is a God who prompts us to what is good.<br /><br />The Inquisitive Friend: </span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Is man capable of that revelation on its own?<br /><br />Me: </span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">I
would say that no man is. But that is an irrelevant question. Because I
believe in a God who is prompting every person all the time. We just
don't notice it because we are living like zombies, aren't
self-reflecting, and aren't examing our lives.</span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">But
again, that prompting comes, not as some supernatural force. It is
something that has been happening to us our whole lives. We may call it
our conscience. It may be that or something slightly different. But the
idea is that when facing a decision, we generally can tell the wrong and
right action. We will often choose the wrong though because we want
that which the wrong provides. To our detriment.</span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">The Inquisitive Friend: </span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Does intent matter? </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">Like if I give 1 million to charity but I do it for my public image. Does that negate the good?<br /><br />Me: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">It
doesn't negate the good it does for others. But it does negate the good
it would do for you.
I'm reminded of Karl Meninger who taught that the greatest way to get
over depression is to love others. But if you are doing it for selfish
reasons, then it won't probably provide the benefit to yourself.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">And that's it for now. </span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span> </span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><br /></span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><br /></span></span></div>
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"></span></span><br />
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae">
</span></span><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"></span></span>
<br />
<div aria-label="I wrote this a while back:
http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-does-not-know-future.html" class="_aok" tabindex="0">
<span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f312c08e68042ae"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"></span></span></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-84530768028111209312018-09-06T12:17:00.001-04:002018-09-06T12:17:07.760-04:00Awake, O Sleeper<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div data-contents="true">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1xrbJohtAcw/W5FS7fG-AoI/AAAAAAAAHYc/4kPSglI9nFMMxOPm5fFDcpfQmj5I1Wk3ACLcBGAs/s1600/20180508_083511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1xrbJohtAcw/W5FS7fG-AoI/AAAAAAAAHYc/4kPSglI9nFMMxOPm5fFDcpfQmj5I1Wk3ACLcBGAs/s640/20180508_083511.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6prl7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6prl7-0-0"><span data-text="true"> </span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6prl7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6prl7-0-0"><span data-text="true">And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 (ESV) </span></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bkoj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bkoj-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="asgc6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="asgc6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="asgc6-0-0"><span data-text="true">Here am I. Send me. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="5ib5u-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5ib5u-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5ib5u-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bu3nv-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bu3nv-0-0"><span data-text="true">Dangerous words.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="811jk-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="811jk-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="bf1fk-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bf1fk-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bf1fk-0-0"><span data-text="true">Then the message was a discouraging one to share. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="6ti1i-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6ti1i-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6ti1i-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="8pldc-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8pldc-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8pldc-0-0"><span data-text="true">And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Isaiah 6:9-10 (ESV)</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="7bms2-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7bms2-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7bms2-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="ace2e-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ace2e-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ace2e-0-0"><span data-text="true">It was a message of judgment. They hear the message but refuse to understand. They see God at work but they don’t perceive His guiding hand. Their hearts are calloused. Their ears are deaf. It would be rather rude to say that about the people in my community, but is it true?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="e774l-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e774l-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e774l-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="9nli4-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9nli4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9nli4-0-0"><span data-text="true">Our logic doesn’t work. It’s foolish in their sight. Our reason is befuddling and seems like gibberish. Our morals are viewed as hate. Our efforts seem to be wasted.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="ie7p-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ie7p-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ie7p-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="1scta-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1scta-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1scta-0-0"><span data-text="true">On the bad days, I feel that is my role in the ministry. Called to preach amongst a people who won’t listen and won’t commit to the kingdom. Among the ones who the world has labeled the “deplorables.” The ones who church planting organizations overlook as they make their plans to reach the wealthy through their demographic studies of population growth and income. The ones who are ignored by the same people who get psyched up with mission trips to the inner city. The ones who are mocked, denigrated, and despised. The ones who Jesus loves. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="24pra-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="24pra-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="24pra-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="9i4ce-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9i4ce-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9i4ce-0-0"><span data-text="true">On the real bad days, I worry that I am the blind, deaf, obstinate one. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="5f0sd-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5f0sd-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5f0sd-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="am861-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="am861-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="am861-0-0"><span data-text="true">**</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="fi2qr-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fi2qr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fi2qr-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="ab7i5-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ab7i5-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ab7i5-0-0"><span data-text="true">Paul gave a chunk of advice in his letter to the church in Ephesus.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="db74u-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="db74u-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="5eijh-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5eijh-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5eijh-0-0"><span data-text="true">Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:1-21 (ESV)</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="53aj0-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="53aj0-0-0"><span data-text="true">Awake, O sleeper. </span></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="302mn-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="302mn-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="64cp-0-0"><span data-text="true">Who wakes the sleeper? All I can figure out is that I’m not the one that does that. It may be the sleeper. It may be God. I’m guessing by it being a command, the responsibility of waking is on the sleepers themselves. Awake, O sleeper. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="nos-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="nos-0-0">
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<span data-offset-key="47p5t-0-0"><span data-text="true">Those things are out of my hands. I can choose how to walk. I can strive to be awake. I can be an imitator of God to the best of my ability. I can walk in love that comes from a place overflowing from the love I receive from the Messiah. I can to refrain from sin. On and on, I can try. But for that to happen in others, I need a move of God. I need others to feel his presence and change. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8t1dr-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7ps1u-0-0"><span data-text="true">A church cannot grow without sleepers waking. A church cannot grow without people choosing to be called. A church cannot grow without people responding to that call with total abandon. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="fgk49-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fgk49-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fgk49-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="3r5bc-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3r5bc-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3r5bc-0-0"><span data-text="true">Awake, O sleeper. What if I am sleeping?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="eih3b-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eih3b-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="eih3b-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="1f598-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1f598-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1f598-0-0"><span data-text="true">**</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="jh3n-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="jh3n-0-0">
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2er35-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2er35-0-0"><span data-text="true">If I don’t care about showing Jesus to the people around here, who will? If you don’t, who will?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="9qs4g" data-offset-key="bv41i-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bv41i-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bv41i-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-40440638564683873932018-08-28T07:26:00.000-04:002018-08-28T07:26:15.631-04:00Revisiting Women's Role in the Church and in the Family<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6gGiAiJOYdo/W4UxOaSEgOI/AAAAAAAAHXs/s9ujh7zbmzoBl658BKkjQvUPxMwkYFloQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180401_113803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6gGiAiJOYdo/W4UxOaSEgOI/AAAAAAAAHXs/s9ujh7zbmzoBl658BKkjQvUPxMwkYFloQCLcBGAs/s400/20180401_113803.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /><br />Women. <br />
<br />
Sadly, the church has been on the side of oppressing women and telling their
daughters, “You can be anything but not a preacher or a leader in the church.”
“Be confident. Work hard. But make sure that you always do what your husband
says.” Even in our town, these views are still prevalent. And you may think
that view is the right one, but let me give you a different perspective today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So today’s message is going
to be a little different than one where I motivate you to change. It’s going to
be much more of a study and explanation of women’s role in the church and in
the home. But this truth can be more liberating than any motivational sermon if
lived out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Wrapped up in this issue is
part of how we interpret the Bible. Do we take one verse and run with it or do
we understand it in the context of the whole?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Proponents of both sides of
the issue like to explain away passages that disagree with their viewpoint. But
there is something to be said in reading the Bible in context and in light of the
overarching themes of the rest of the Bible. There are also special contextual
issues to consider when reading Paul’s writings since he is writing to address
specific issues in specific churches, of which we can only surmise the context
because we only have Paul’s reply. This understating and appreciation of what
Paul is doing makes the application for us more refined than simply reading and
then doing. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So let’s start at the
beginning. In Genesis 1 and 2, man and woman were equal in God’s sight and complimented
one another. In fact, the woman is called a “helper” (ezer) – the same word
used in the Psalms to describe divine help. One would have a difficult time
casting God as a subordinate. <br />
<br />
So in the first chapter of Genesis, we have women created to be a helper just
as God’s help given to us is described in the Psalms. But only a chapter later,
things change – there is a division between man and woman as a result of sin entering
the world, but we must note that this is the result of sin, not the desired
relationship that God had in mind. The effects of the fall have impacted
cultural perceptions and expectations between men and women negatively ever
since. From the treatment of women as second class citizens, to a view of women
as property, to a denial of certain rights to women, varying cultures have
diminished the value of women ever since. These were not God’s intention but a
result of sin among us and the fall having happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If we view the role of women
through the idea of the kingdom of God, we see that God is restoring all
things. So God’s original intention as described in Genesis 1-2, not in the
post-fall Genesis 3, is the ideal of the relationship between men and women in
God’s kingdom. And through the ministry of Jesus, God is now restoring all
things to their intended purpose through the church. The church should be an
example of God’s restored purpose for humanity as much as we can possibly make
it. Not an example of the fallen world. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In addition, Paul restates
this same idea to the church in Galatia: </span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no
male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28 ESV).”</span><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
Paul echoes this sentiment in In 1 Corinthians 12 where he states that we are
one body with many members and each performs different functions. There is no
delineation between men and women – no assigning the teaching or leading duties
to men while relegating women to other duties.<br />
<br />
But Paul is also the source of the two difficult passages where women should be
silent and where women should not teach or have authority over a man. Throughout
his writings, Paul describes a unity and equality that exists between the
spiritually reborn living in God’s restored kingdom. On the other hand, Paul
backs off and defers to cultural norms in these instances. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The clearest mention of a
woman in leadership is at the end of Romans where Phoebe is called a
deaconess/servant/minister (diakonos). Granted, this word can mean all of those
things in the Greek, but in Paul’s writings when he is speaking of the office
of “deacon” he uses this word. When he speaks of servants he uses other words
(doulos, oiketes, pais, etc.). We have Priscilla and Aquilla, and word order
was used in Greek language to show prominence, making Priscilla the prominent
teacher in this couple. You even have an apostle named Junia. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So when Paul gave his lists
that people use to exclude women, Paul was not providing a comprehensive list
of qualifications but a general understanding of what would make a good leader.
This list is used so legalistically at times that it fails to see the point --
leaders should have leadership qualities and be actual leaders. Gender, if the
practice of the early church as seen in Scripture is to be given weight, is not
one. The same book that commands women to be silent (1 Cor. 14:33-35) gives
instructions for women praying and prophesying in the public assembly (1 Cor.
11:2-16). This role of prophet and praying in public indicates some level of
authority and leadership in the church given to women, even over men.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The notion that men have the
corner market on wisdom, knowledge and teaching ability is pure arrogance. And
relegating women to teaching only children and other women is not only
demeaning but fails to see the fulfillment of the Kingdom. Yes, women can be
homemakers – my family life is a testament to the idea that I like that concept
- but so can men. In the same way men can lead the church, but so can women.
Only by working together, making up for one another’s deficiencies, and
carrying one another’s burdens do we see the Kingdom come.<br />
<br />
As for qualifications of leaders, obviously we don’t want some hot headed drunk
leading the church. But as I mentioned, I think these are general principles based
on observation, experience, and wisdom as opposed to clearly delineated
“qualifications.” The two lists in the two different letters of Paul’s where he
mentions it aren’t even the same. In other words, each candidate should be
evaluated individually. Maybe the person is divorced because the spouse had an
affair and left him or her. Maybe the person brought their child up in the
church and did all he or she could but the child still is wayward. Perhaps the
recovering alcoholic has controlled the addiction. The point is that I don’t
think that a candidate should be dismissed out of hand because he or she doesn’t
meet the qualifications without examining the reasons behind their
circumstances. And I don’t think they should be disqualified for something that
happened in their lives fifteen years ago. Again, this reasoning is based on my
understanding that Paul offers a general list of leadership qualities, not a law
of leadership qualifications.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Not all of us will be elders
or teachers. Each of us performs different functions and roles within the body.
But that does not disqualify women from fulfilling these functions. Nowhere in
Paul’s discussion on giftedness does he single out men for the “leadership”
type gifts or roles. I agree that not every woman should be a leader in the
church. Just like every man should not be one. I have heard dynamite women
teachers and awful male ones (and vice versa). We are who God empowers us to
be, regardless of gender. And the only sin here is if we don’t operate in our
giftedness or don’t allow others to operate in their giftedness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What it comes down to in the
Kingdom of God is to be a community that rises above the “-isms” that have
plagued our society and churches. It is time to do away with chauvinism,
feminism, racism and return to seeing each other as created equally loved in
God’s sight and empowered differently but living unified to do the work of the
Kingdom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, that is church life. But
I think if we go to the same passages regarding family life with the same
attitude and understanding the same principles, we will see a similar stance. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A study was released a while
back that described three types of families. One happy, termed cohesive. Two
unhappy, termed disengaged and enmeshed.</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Typically cohesive families
are characterized by harmonious interactions, emotional warmth, and firm but
flexible roles for parents and children. "Think the Cosby family,"
says Sturge-Apple, offering an example from the popular TV series about the
affable Huxtable family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Enmeshed families, by
contrast, appears to be emotionally involved and display modest amounts of
warmth, but they struggle with high levels of hostility, destructive meddling,
and a limited sense of the family as a team. Sturge-Apple points to the emotionally
messy Barone family in the family sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond as a good
example of an enmeshed family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Finally, disengaged families,
as the name implies, are marked by cold, controlling, and withdrawn
relationships. [With help from my Facebook friends, think All In The Family,
Married With Children, or National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. ] The seemingly
pleasant suburban family in the movie Ordinary People provides a classic
illustration of a disengaged family, as per the authors. Reacting to the death
of their oldest son, the parents in the film retreat emotionally, creating a
barren home environment in which feelings cannot be discussed.”<br />
</span><a href="https://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07/16/family-problems-harm-young-children/15684.html"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">https://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07/16/family-problems-harm-young-children/15684.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What we see in Paul's passage
on the household in Colossians on how to have the family God desires is similar
to what the scientists in the studies mentioned earlier would describe as a
cohesive family. Paul wrapped up telling us about the new self with instruction
about the household. The new self should permeate every area of our lives. The
old self is lying, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk while the new self
is compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, thankfulness,
forgiveness, and love. But then he follows this with explicit instructions on
family life (see Colossians 3:12-14). </span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Wives, submit to your
husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be
harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases
the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Slaves,
obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of
eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that
from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving
the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done,
and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly,
knowing that you also have a Master in heaven (Colossians 3:18-4:1 ESV).”</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, let’s deal with the
elephant in the room first. The big, hot button issue is that first sentence. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">"Wives, submit to your
husbands." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">An exercise that is useful in
discovering the meaning of a word is to examine what it meant in the original
language through a Greek word study. One of the biggest mistakes typically done
is to just look the word up in an English dictionary and call it good from
there. The problem with our understanding "hupotasso" is that we
don't use the word "submit" much in our normal conversations. The
only places I hear it is in wrestling/mma and in a classroom environment where
a student submits a paper to their teacher. In doing a word study, we can see
how the word was used in other sections of Scripture. So let's look at some of
those verses.</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“And he went down with them
and came to Nazareth and was submissive (hupotasso) to them. And his mother
treasured up all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51 ESV).”</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus was hupotasso to his
parents.</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Let every person be subject
(hupotasso) to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from
God, and those that exist have been instituted by God ( Romans 13:1 ESV).”</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We need to hupotasso
governing authorities.</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Now I urge you, brothers—you
know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and
that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—be subject
(hupotasso) to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer (1
Corinthians 16:15-16 ESV).”</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We need to hupotasso to every
fellow worker and laborer like those of the household of Stephanas.</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Submit (hupotasso)
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James
4:7 ESV).”</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We need to hupotasso to God.</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“And do not get drunk with
wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to
the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting (hupotasso) to one
another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:18-21 ESV).”</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We need to hupotasso to one
another as brothers and sisters in Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We could get a grand and
deeply authoritarian view of submission from the verses that teach us to submit
to governing authorities and God, but there are uses of "submit" that
throw a kink into that definition. We see that submitting to one another is
something that we are all called to do as believers to each other. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So the word
"submit" has to fit these passages. And sadly, the concept,
especially in regards to the role of a woman with her husband when viewed as a
subordinate role, has been misunderstood and doesn’t fit. This teaching of
womanly submission has tragically been abused by the patriarchal society of the
past and is still being abused in sexist settings today, to the detriment of
everyone involved. I have heard of tragic stories of abuse in which a woman has
been told to submit to her husband and remain in an abusive relationship. I
have heard stories of women having to go along with things they seriously disagree
with. That is not what this verse in Colossians is implying.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Submit (hupotasso) is
voluntarily placing ourselves under someone in order to support them and help
them achieve the dreams they have. When Paul wrote that a wife should submit to
her husband he was stating that a wife needs to be a person who is voluntarily
supportive of their husband, but that is nothing more than what Paul said we
need to be to one another as brothers and sisters in Jesus. It is nothing more
than the husband should also be to the wife.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Submitting does not mean that
we don’t speak up, that we don’t ever disobey. It does not mean that we endure
torture or abuse under another. It means that we know the dreams of the other
person, we put ourselves voluntarily under them to help them achieve those
dreams. We become a support to lift them up and help them achieve their goals. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A domineering man might then
ask, "What does authority matter if it does not mean blind obedience by
those under authority?" It’s mean Christian authority. If you are over
someone in Christ, then you are their servant leader. Jesus does not force His
will to be done through taking away free will. He leads out of submission and
love. We are to do likewise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
Jesus taught:</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">"You know that the
rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise
authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great
among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be
your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to
give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:25-28 ESV).”</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus also taught that
leadership in the church and in Christian relationships is upside-down. </span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“The greatest among you shall
be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles
himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:11-12 ESV).”</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Servant leadership is what
Christian leadership is all about. As a pastor, I am in this position to serve
the people – you - in this church, the community around here, and world abroad.
The other leaders in a church are there to do likewise. If you are living out
the life of Jesus in your workplace, then you should be about serving those
around you. Christian leadership, whether it is the role of a husband in the
house, parents to their children, a teacher to their students, a law
enforcement officer to the citizens, is one of sacrifice and service when done
well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We all know in the core of
our being what good leadership is. What kind of cowardly father would flee if
his family was endangered? What kind of corrupt politician would seek to gain
personally from their position as a representative of the people? What kind of
shameful law enforcement officer would abandon people in need of help? And that
is what Paul is laying out here because, so often, men can create a destructive
family environment from their unhealthy leadership. The leadership trap for a
husband, as Paul warns, is to become harsh with their wives and provoke and
discourage their children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But a healthy family is not
one of selfish and personal ambition. It’s one of compassion, patience,
meekness, humility, forgiveness, and love. It is the new self lived out in
unison one with another. A healthy family is the most basic example of the love
of Jesus lived in community. The family is designed to be a place where people
are encouraged and built up to be who Jesus wants them to be rather than a
place of manipulation and selfish ambition. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In the healthy family,
telling a wife that she is to submit to her husband, as long as we are using it
with the biblical idea of hupataso, is also proclaiming that the husband must
serve his wife. We must never separate a wife submitting with the love of the
husband that is alsoconnected with that command to submit. <br />
<br />
Submit does not mean that someone should be silent, obedient at all times, or a
slave. Actually, if submit means to support someone to achieve their dreams,
then speaking up and telling the other person where they need to improve would
be needed at times. So submit, in Paul's command for a wife to submit to her
husband, just means that the woman will help the man achieve the dreams he is
trying to achieve. She will be his support. From other verses, we see that a
man should be just as supportive of his wife. It’s the same concept we are to
do to one another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The main crux of the
argument, as Paul described the way the household should function is that the
man should no longer abuse his position. At the time this letter was written to
church in Colossae, the man was very domineering over the family in that
culture. Paul gave three warnings to the man. One, he is not to be harsh with
his wife. Two, he is not to provoke and discourage their children. And three,
he is to treat his slaves justly and fairly. This was a radical teaching that
would be liberating to wives, children, and slaves at that time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Roman society was
patriarchal and vicious. Babies would be presented to the father after birth at
which he could decide to let the baby not enter the family by forcing the baby
to just be abandoned and die from exposure. No property was allowed to be owned
in a Roman family except for the father owning it; this even included grown
men. All children were to be under the authority of their father until his
passing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Like modern sitcoms jokingly
show the faults in the American family, Roman theater did the same for their
audience. And we can see in the family comedies of Plautus and Terrence that
the Roman family could devolve into manipulation and greed. With such a
patriarchal structure, the wife, children, and slaves would all try to
manipulate the father to get their will done. Paul's writings were a direct
assault on the Roman family structure and would have transformed a Roman family
that lived selfishly into one that would be a witness for Jesus. The Christian
family is to be a model of God’s plan for us in right relationship with each
other. The church is to be the same.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If the man is the head of the
house, it is not as a domineering head. Christian leadership is the exact
opposite of being domineering. If anyone is the head of anything in Christian
thinking, then that person is to be the servant of those he is the head of. True
Christian leadership is serving, not domineering. We will wrongly take the
headship idea that we get from the Bible and then apply a worldly definition to
it, but it is to be viewed through the lens of a sacrificial Jesus who, as the
head, gave up his life so that those like you and me – under him – could live.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Genesis, humanity fell and
there were consequences:</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
“To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in
pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and
he shall rule over you (Genesis 3:16 ESV).”</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
That’s the fall. That’s what Jesus came to reverse. That’s not the reality we
are called to live in.<br />
<br />
As Paul explains it:</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one
man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to
increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so
that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness
leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:19-21 ESV).”</span><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
In the perfect world before the fall, women were not ruled over by men; that
was a consequence of sin. As Christians, if we are forgiven of our sins and are
striving to live in perfection, then we should treat women as they were treated
before the punishment of sin. As much as is possible by us, we should live as
the restored people of God, letting the kingdom be realized as much as it
possibly can in the here and now through us. That would include women not being
ruled over by men, both in the home and in the church, but being treated as
equals as they were before the fall.<br />
<br />
Let’s live in God’s restored kingdom reality.</span></div>
</div>
Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-31653402138542555992018-04-29T14:34:00.001-04:002018-04-29T14:34:56.880-04:00Time To Give Up On Church or Time to Be The Church<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />There are lots of things that make people stop going to church. And
there are other things that make people really not want to go at all. I bet you’ve
had Sundays where you dread going to church. Like it was the furthest thing
from what you wanted to do. Maybe it’s because you didn’t want to see someone
or a group of people. Maybe you just had something else that you wanted to do.
Whatever the case, you just dreaded going to church. </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If you’ve had those days – if
today is even one of those days, you aren’t alone. We’ve probably all been
there at some point. And the statistics show that more and more people are not
interested in church. A recent Barna Survey said church attendance has been
declining nationwide over the past 20 years. The Barna and Gallup polls show a
decline from 40 to 36% of Americans who attend church regularly—once every 4-6
weeks. One more sad statistic: In a 2002 survey of almost 1200 U.S. churches,
Thom Rainer’s research team found that only 6 percent of the churches were
growing. Stated inversely, 94% of our churches are losing ground in the
communities they serve. Thankfully, we are one of the 6%.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">That might not be the worst
of it. Of those that do come, I wonder how many are being dragged to church.
How many are coming because a spouse guilts them into it? How many are coming
because it’s tradition or habit, but who really would rather just stay home? I
fear it is a large percentage. Lots of reasons could be given for this decline
and this apathetic attitude. We could blame everything from busyness to
technology to secular world views to churches just not keeping up with the
culture. And while those things may be contributing, we also need to take a
look at ourselves. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">One of the greatest lies of our
time is that one can church alone. I constantly hear the idea of being church or
of being a Christian without actually being part of a church. I’m not buying
the idea that anybody is doing this or can actually do this well. For if you
are actually a Christian without a church, you will naturally start a church. A
church is the natural result of radically following Jesus. If you are following
Jesus and living out the Jesus life in your neighborhood and workplace, you
will start mentoring others. You will start teaching them. You will start praying
with them. You will find ways to serve alongside them. This is the result of
following Jesus. You may not sing songs together because that isn’t essential
to church. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Church, at its essence, is
just a disciple-making machine, an example of the kingdom – God’s people living
the way they were designed to live together. So if you just use the excuse of
being a church wherever you are without actually being the church – if you use
that as an excuse to just be an isolated, selfish Christian, you aren’t being a
Christian at all, let alone being the church. For if you are actually being a Christian
without church, you will naturally start a church. But that isn’t going to stop
people using the “I’m a Christian without church” saying as an excuse to just
be selfish, maybe nationalistic, individualistic, possibly new agey, follower
of yourself disguised as God. <br />
<br />
I get it. Church is hard. And we would much rather do what will make us more money,
give us more pleasure, or entertain us. There are struggles, sacrifices, and
difficulties in having the relationship were are called to have. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Each one of us has been made
for community. It’s in our DNA. God created life to be lived in community.
There have been scientific studies that have shown the importance of human
touch. We write books about friendships and companionship. Popular TV shows show
us the community we long for. But we don’t experience it because we don’t make decisions
in life by considering what will make our community better. Instead, we just ask
what do I want. All through the bible you have examples of people in community
with each other. Life wasn’t meant to be lived isolated from others. I’m
reminded of the quote from Into The Wild: Happiness is only real when shared.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If you
have ever used charcoal on a grill you see a very vivid picture of this
concept. Coals need to be near one another, to feed off each other. If you move
one coal over to the side, eventually it starts to die out and cool off. But
when you put that dying coal back into the rest of the coals and stir it up, it
begins to get hot again and glow. That’s us. We function better when we are
part of a community. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The beautiful thing is that God established the church to be that place of
community. That place where people wanted to go to and be a part of because
they were accepted, loved, made to feel like they had worth. In our world, true
community is hard to come by and the church is to be a place where people who
have different interests, hobbies, and are from different walks of life can
still have community with each other because we share the same Lord and Savior.
Gluten lovers and Gluten free people can be brothers and sisters. Vegetarians and
carnivores. Ford drivers and GM drivers. iPhone users and Android users. Democrats
and Republicans can worship together as fellow citizens in the kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Listen to what Paul wrote the church in Corinth: </span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But God has so composed the
body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that there may be no division in the body,
but that the members may have the same care for one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one member suffers, all suffer together;
if one member is honored, all rejoice together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1
Corinthians 12:24b-27 (ESV) </span><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
Paul says that we are all part of the same body. There’s no division. There’s
no classes or castes. One group—one community—that is concerned for each other.
Who are there to laugh with one another. To cry with one another. To celebrate
with one another. To do life with one another. See, the goal of a healthy
church is to provide the opportunity to be part of a healthy community to
everyone, regardless of wealth, social status, or biological family. Blut we have
to be that healthy community to have people join it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In order for that to happen
we must cultivate an atmosphere of being focused on one another, not just on Sundays
but all through the week. Because if the church becomes all about me, and what
I like, and what I prefer, and what I want to see happen, then true community
does not happen. If I neglect coming regularly, it becomes about me and not
what I can do for others. And we see the effects of that attitude. People leave
churches all the time because either their preferences aren’t being met.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">See the church is not
supposed to be a place where everyone looks alike, acts alike, or even agrees
about every single thing. But it must be a place devoid of selfishness and full
of putting one another first. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Peter wrote:</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of
sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Show hospitality to one another
without grumbling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As each has received
a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of
God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in
order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him
belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:8-11 (ESV)</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Peter makes it clear the sort
of qualities that epitomize healthy churches—love, hospitality, service. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">As a church, we need to love
one another. Peter draws on Proverbs 10:12 to affirm the power of Christian
love. <br />
<br />Early Christianity regarded love as the foundational ethic
for the community of believers. In other words, the easiest way to tell if
someone was a believer was to see how they loved. Because their world was like
our world—full of selfish, unloving people. But as redeemed, forgiven people we
are called to be different. And love has profound effects. It can result in
forgiveness and reconciliation when people have been harmed or wronged. In this
way, love overcomes sin. So even though someone commits an offense against you,
love bears it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Peter
mentions hospitality also. Hospitality without grumbling. But this is more than
taking someone’s coat or setting out a platter of crackers and cheese. In the
ancient world, hospitality was one of the most important things one could do.
Basically hospitality is the generous and gracious treatment of guests. Hospitality
should be part of our life day in and day out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Love. Hospitality. Serving one
another. Peter ends with serving. We all have gifts from God. Some are
spiritual. Some are just tangible, material things. And healthy, attractive
churches that are functioning properly are full of people who are serving each
other. Are you putting what you are good at to use for the betterment of the
church? Being different parts of the body, we all bring different gifts and
abilities to the church. I love the way Peter describes service—good stewards
of God’s grace. In other words, God has poured out grace on us and now God
expects us to share that same grace. We serve with the abilities God has
provided us without any expectation in return.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Love, hospitality, and serving
one another—churches that do these things are growing. Churches that are doing
these things are attractional as we live missional lives. But the reality is
that we won’t do these things when we are livings selfishly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living this sort of life—a life of love,
hospitality, and service to one another is radicial in today’s culture. Cultivating
this sort of environment at church—is costly. It’s not easy, by any means. It
requires us to give of selves in significant ways. It requires sacrificing of
what we want and what is easy for a harder, but more satisfying option. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In his book,
Dissident Discipleship, David Augsburger tells this parable about cost and
sacrifice:</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Long ago in a distant land, a
prince dreamed of creating more than a geographical or political kingdom. He
dreamed of establishing a community in which all persons were committed to each
other in loyalty and equality, where every person sought the welfare of the
neighbor even at a cost to the self. So the prince called a great meeting of
all the heads of clans, all the wise and trusted people of the land, and dared
to tell his dream. Each chieftain and his clan were invited to join in the
foundation of a new society. As part of the community's inauguration, each was
requested to search his cellar for the best wine produced from his ancestral
vines. These treasured bottles would be uncorked, poured into a great communal
vat, and blended, as the true community it represented, into a common vintage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">"How can I mix my
exquisite wine with that of my neighbors?" asked one of the winegrowers
invited to this covenanting. "I would sacrifice the unique variety of
grape, the special climate of the year, the sweetness of a late harvest, the indefinable
magic of bouquet, and I would violate my art as a winemaker. Impossible! Give
up my distinct variety? Lose my separate self? I will not be adulterated in
such a common cup."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So he corked a bottle of tap
water, affixed his most beautiful label to the bottle, and at the time of the
ritual poured the water ceremoniously into the vat, thinking that nobody would
notice one bottle of water mixed in with all the other bottles of wine. When
the covenanting was solemnized, all filled their glasses for the communal
draft, the toast that would seal commitment to community. As the cups touched
their lips, all knew the truth. It was not wine. It was water. No one had been
willing to pay the cost of community.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
I fear we have been pouring water into our church rather than our treasure. Pouring
only that which is no sacrifice. Jesus is Lord and we seek his kingdom only when
it’s convenient. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Good, loving, serving,
irresistible communities don’t just happen. It requires work. It requires
sacrifice. It requires paying the cost. Because from what I see as I read the
New Testament, I see that Christianity is many things. But one thing it is not:
a weekend option between all the things we could fill our time with. If you are
serious about building a community in this church, then you need to invest in
the people and ministries of this church. Not just showing up sporadically on
Sunday mornings. Not just giving a cursory greeting to people as you pass by.
But investing in them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Church is not just about
gathering together at a certain time on Sunday morning. Irresistible churches
are more than that. Love, hospitality, and serving one another. And it starts
with us—how we view ourselves. How we view others. How we steward the grace we
have been given. How we sacrifice and invest in one another. That’s how
communities are built and are sustained. That’s how churches go from an
optional weekend activity to the most irresistible force in the world. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">King David wrote:</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Behold, how good and pleasant
it is when brothers dwell in unity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard
of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on
the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life
forevermore. Psalm 133:1-3 (ESV)</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It is pleasant to live
together in unity. Unity is like oil that heals rifts. It is a symbol of God’s
presence. It is the cure for what ails our world. So may we be the balm that
this world and our churches desperately need. I know we are called to much more
than we’re currently experiencing, but we have to change to get that. May we
pray, and love, and show hospitality and serve one another and become a place
where no one must be dragged to. But that we all eagerly join and invest in. Whether
you’re young or old, you have a place in this church. A role to play. An important
piece of our puzzle. Loving, showing hospitality, and serving one another begins
with you.<br /><br />co-written with Sam Long.</span></div>
Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-23960762992956496932017-11-20T07:42:00.004-05:002017-11-20T07:42:59.109-05:00More On Women Leading In The Church - Addressing 1 Timothy 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCKDBOI-_PQ/WhLK1lL_pPI/AAAAAAAAGQ4/8LdiBHLDAVsUAlnGYYWLghiU3kGMfOgZgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170606_140004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCKDBOI-_PQ/WhLK1lL_pPI/AAAAAAAAGQ4/8LdiBHLDAVsUAlnGYYWLghiU3kGMfOgZgCLcBGAs/s640/20170606_140004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
So my previous post on <a href="http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2017/10/women-church-and-you.html">Women. The Church. The Family. And You.</a> didn't quite satisfy some. That is to be expected. The issue of concern centers around how does that view explicitly deal with Paul's teaching in 1 Timothy. So I am going to address that here today.<br /><br />Paul wrote:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise
authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 1 Timothy 2:11-12 (ESV)</blockquote>
1 Timothy definitely gives the harshest perspective against the view that women should be able to serve in whatever way they are gifted as I expressed in my previous article. <br /><br />I would point out that Paul contradicts this teaching in his letter to the Christians in Corinth where he gives instructions on women prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5). So the issue comes down to which passage supersedes the other. I would go with the one where he tells a woman to prophesy means that women can speak. So that makes me view 1 Timothy 2:12 as a command specific to something that was happening in Ephesus. They may have had unruly women or something of that sort. We honestly don't know. <br /><br />But what we do know for sure is that we have examples of Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, leading in the Old Testament.<br /><br />In the New Testament, you have the examples of Phoebe, Euodia, Syntyche, Junia, and Priscilla leading.<br /><br />Every one of these people would appear to be violators of the teaching of Paul to Timothy to be silent. So those examples tell me that what we had going on in the letter to Timothy was something different.<br /><br />So we have this letter to Timothy in Ephesus that is difficult. I get that. <br /><br />But I find the story of Jesus restoring all things to be more compelling. Our salvation has already begun. The church is the restored community of God. In that light, we should live like it. That's why we strive for holiness, etc. We are an example to the world of what God intends for the world to be like.<br /><br />Now, moving on to the childbearing one passage that follows.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and
Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
Yet she will be saved through
childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
1 Timothy 2:13-15 (ESV) </blockquote>
Again, we are obviously dealing with a church community that has some problem among the women where they were supposed to stay silent. We aren't given an understanding of what that problem is though. <br /><br />Paul is emphasizing that women are saved through Jesus like any of us are saved in case people in the audience were confused, which may have been in doubt since there seemed to have been some sort of crisis among the women. But women, like anyone else, are saved through faith and love and holiness, with self-control. <br /><br />But the sticky part is that childbearing word in the passage. To accept this just without thinking deeply about it, we would have to say that women who can't have babies are going to hell. That doesn't seem to jive with the rest of the teaching of Scripture, so maybe this passage carries a different meaning than women without childbearing are doomed.<br /><br />What if the imagery here is pertinent? He's talking about how through Eve, one woman, sin came into the world. But also through the childbrith of Mary, one woman, Jesus came into the world. So it is through the childbirth of a woman that salvation comes just like through the sin of Eve, sin came. <br /><br />From <a href="https://www.biblicalfoundations.org/will-women-be-saved-by-childbearing/#comment-22">Ben Witherington</a>: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"There are these further problems with your interpretation of 1 Tim. 2.8-15: 1) why exactly do you ignore the fact that vs. 15 speaks of ‘the child bearing’ with the definite article? Do you really think that the definite article has no weight here? Paul is surely referring to one specific childbearing, not the act of childbearing in general, for which we would have expected a different grammatical construction. The church fathers often recognized an Eve — Mary contrast here, as I am sure you know. If this is right, then it is not a comment on women in general and their roles, it is telling us that just as the fall came through Eve, so redemption came through Mary. The curse was reversed through Mary. 3) Paul says nothing here about women being in submission to men. The submission referred to in vs. 11 is coupled with the learning in quietness that they must do. It has to do with submission to the teaching of authorized teachers, whoever they may be. BTW Genesis while speaking of an order to creation does not connect this with the submission of women to men; 4) obviously 1 Tim.2.12 is the big bone of contention— I would have thought that with the ‘not…. nor’ construction here and the fact that Paul is correcting problems caused by both men and women in 2.8-15 that these facts would have favored a negative reading of both infinitives here— referring to unauthorized teaching and the usurping of authority. ‘Authentein’ in a pejorative context like this where abuses are being dealt with can certainly refer to the heavy handed use or abuse of authority or power or privilege."<br /><br />"I recognize that other readings of this text are possible, but there is no knock down argument which rules out the possibilities I have outlined above and will present at length in my commentary on the Pastorals coming out this fall. In other words, you can’t rule out my interpretation and I cannot definitively rule out yours. This being the case, it would be better to recognize and accept this fact while we agree to disagree as brothers in Christ."</blockquote>
This echoes the idea that Paul expressed in Romans, "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:18-21 (ESV) Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-64081695391592093202017-10-17T10:40:00.000-04:002017-10-17T11:29:51.165-04:00Women. The Church. The Family. And You.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9dcN2ue68TY/WeYF7ORbx4I/AAAAAAAAF0o/uDbtexfHWW81jHhHJnRifChT0r6Hn15TwCLcBGAs/s1600/20170302_170950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9dcN2ue68TY/WeYF7ORbx4I/AAAAAAAAF0o/uDbtexfHWW81jHhHJnRifChT0r6Hn15TwCLcBGAs/s640/20170302_170950.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An off-centered picture of three of the most important women of my childhood.<br />
Aunt Rita. Grandma Jessie. And Mom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Women. <br />
<br />
Sadly, the church has been on the side of telling their
daughters, “You can be anything but not a preacher or a leader in the church.”
“Be confident. Work hard. But make sure that you always do what your husband
says.” Even in our town, these views are still prevalent. And you may think
those views are the right ones, but let me challenge you with a different perspective today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So today’s article is going
to be a little different than one where I try to motivate you to change. It’s going to
be much more of a study and explanation of women’s role in the church and in
the home. But this truth can be more liberating than any motivational sermon if
lived out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Wrapped up in this issue is
part of how we interpret the Bible. Do we take one verse and run with it, or do
we understand it in the context of the whole?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Proponents of both sides of
the issue like to explain away passages that disagree with their viewpoint. But
there is something to be said in reading the Bible in context and in light of
the overarching themes of the rest of the Bible. There are also special
contextual issues to consider when reading Paul’s writings since he is writing
to address specific issues in specific churches, of which we can only surmise
the context because we only have Paul’s reply. This understating and
appreciation of what Paul is doing makes the application for us more refined
than simply reading and then doing. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</b></span></div>
<b>
</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>THE BEGINNING IN GENESIS</b><br /><br />So let’s start at the
beginning. In Genesis 1 and 2, man and woman were equal in God’s sight and
complimented one another. In fact, the woman is called a “helper” (ezer) – the
same word used in the Psalms to describe divine help (<a href="http://biblehub.com/hebrew/5828.htm">Psalm 20:2, 70:5</a>). One would have a
difficult time casting God as a subordinate. <br />
<br />
So in the first chapter of Genesis, we have women created to
be a helper just as God’s help given to us is described in the Psalms. But only
a chapter later, things change – there is a division between man and woman as a
result of sin entering the world. We must note that this is the result of
sin. It is not the desired relationship that God had in mind between a man and a woman. The effects of the fall
have impacted cultural perceptions and expectations between men and women
negatively ever since. From the treatment of women as second class citizens, to
a view of women as property, to a denial of certain rights to women, varying
cultures have diminished the value of women ever since. These were not God’s
intention but a result of sin among us and the fall having happened. They were a consequence. <br /><br /><b> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>JESUS IS RESTORING ALL THINGS</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But God is in the process of removing the consequences of sin and restoring all things. This is the idea of the kingdom breaking through into the here and now. So if we view the role of women
through the idea of the kingdom of God, we see that God is restoring all
things. So God’s original intention as described in Genesis 1-2, not the consequence laid out in the
post-fall Genesis 3, is the idea of the relationship between men and women in
God’s kingdom. And through the ministry of Jesus, God is now restoring all
things to their intended purpose through the church. </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span class="_mh6 _wsc" id="cch_f1a312011798366"><span class="_3oh- _58nk">That means that women will are not inferior. Now, I can't do everything to bring about God's perfect kingdom now, but treating women equally is something that I can do. So as much as I possibly can, I live under the principle of bringing about God's perfect kingdom now. </span></span>The church should be an
example of God’s restored purpose for humanity, not a reflection of the world post-fall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In addition, Paul restates
this same idea to the church in Galatia:</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor
free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28 (ESV)</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul echoes this sentiment in In 1 Corinthians 12 where he states that we are
one body with many members where each part performs different functions. There is no
delineation between men and women. There is no<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>assigning the teaching or leading duties to men while relegating women
to other duties.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>PAUL'S DIFFICULT PASSAGES</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But Paul is also the source of the two difficult passages where women should be
silent and where women should not teach or have authority over a man. Throughout
his writings, Paul describes a unity and equality that exists between the
spiritually reborn living in God’s restored kingdom. On the other hand, Paul
backs off in these sections and defer to cultural norms. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The clearest mention of a
woman in leadership is at the end of Romans where Phoebe is called a
deaconess/servant/minister (diakonos). Granted, this word can mean all of those
things in the Greek, but in Paul’s writings when he is speaking of the office
of "deacon," he uses this word. When he speaks of servants he uses other words
(doulos, oiketes, pais, etc.). We also have Priscilla and Aquilla. Word order
was used in Greek language to show prominence, making Priscilla the prominent
teacher in this couple. You even have an apostle named Junia. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So when Paul gave his lists
that people use to exclude women, Paul was not providing a comprehensive list
of qualifications but a general understanding of what would make a good leader (see <a href="http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2006/11/biblical-requirements-of-elders.html">The Biblical Requirements for Elders</a>).
This list is used so legalistically at times that it fails to see the point --
leaders should have leadership qualities and be actual spiritual leaders. Gender, if the
practice of the early church as seen in Scripture is to be given weight, is not necessary to be a spiritual leader. The same book that commands women to be silent (1 Cor. 14:33-35) gives
instructions for women praying and prophesying in the public assembly (1 Cor.
11:2-16). This role of prophet and praying in public indicates some level of
authority and leadership in the church given to women, even over men.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The notion that men have the
corner on wisdom, knowledge and teaching ability is pure arrogance. And
relegating women to teaching only children and other women is not only
demeaning but fails to see the fulfillment of the Kingdom. Yes, women can be
homemakers – my family life is a testament to the idea that I like that concept
- but so can men. In the same way men can lead the church, but so can women.
Only by working together, making up for one another’s deficiencies, and
carrying one another’s burdens do we see the Kingdom come.<br />
<br />
As for qualifications of leaders, obviously we don’t want some hot head drunk
leading the church. But as I mentioned, I think these are general principles
based on observation, experience, and wisdom as opposed to a clearly delineated list to treat like law. The two lists in the two different Pauline letters aren’t even the same. In other words, each candidate should be
evaluated individually. Maybe the person is divorced because the spouse had an
affair and left him or her. Maybe the person brought their child up in the
church and did all he or she could but the child still is wayward. Perhaps the
recovering alcoholic has controlled the addiction. The point is that I don’t
think that a candidate should be dismissed out of hand because he or she doesn’t
meet the qualifications without examining the reasons behind their
circumstances and where that individual is today. They should not be disqualified for something that
happened in their lives fifteen years ago if they have conquered the cause of whatever that sin was. Again, this reasoning is based on my
understanding that Paul offers a general list of leadership qualities, not a law
of leadership qualifications.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Not all of us will be elders
or teachers. Each of us performs different functions and roles within the body.
But that does not disqualify women from fulfilling these functions. Nowhere in
Paul’s discussion on giftedness does he single out men for the “leadership”
type gifts or roles. I agree that not every woman should be a leader in the
church. Just like every man should not be one. I have heard dynamite women
teachers and awful male ones (and vice versa). We are who God empowers us to
be, regardless of gender. And the only sin here is if we don’t operate in our
giftedness or don’t allow others to operate in their giftedness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What it comes down to in the
Kingdom of God is to be a community that rises above the “-isms” that have
plagued our society and churches. It is time to do away with chauvinism,
feminism, racism and return to seeing each other as created equally loved in
God’s sight and empowered differently but living unified to do the work of the
Kingdom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE FAMILY? </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, that is church life. But
I think if we go to the same passages regarding family life with the same
attitude and understanding the same principles, we will see a similar stance. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A study was released a while
back that described three types of families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One happy, termed cohesive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
unhappy, termed disengaged and enmeshed.</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Typically cohesive families
are characterized by harmonious interactions, emotional warmth, and firm but
flexible roles for parents and children. "Think the Cosby family,"
says Sturge-Apple, offering an example from the popular TV series about the
affable Huxtable family.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Enmeshed families, by
contrast, appears to be emotionally involved and display modest amounts of
warmth, but they struggle with high levels of hostility, destructive meddling,
and a limited sense of the family as a team. Sturge-Apple points to the emotionally
messy Barone family in the family sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond as a good
example of an enmeshed family.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Finally, disengaged families,
as the name implies, are marked by cold, controlling, and withdrawn
relationships. [With help from my Facebook friends, think All In The Family,
Married With Children, or National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. ] The seemingly
pleasant suburban family in the movie Ordinary People provides a classic
illustration of a disengaged family, as per the authors. Reacting to the death
of their oldest son, the parents in the film retreat emotionally, creating a
barren home environment in which feelings cannot be discussed.”<br />
</span><a href="https://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07/16/family-problems-harm-young-children/15684.html"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">https://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07/16/family-problems-harm-young-children/15684.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What we see in Paul's passage on the household in Colossians on how to
have a godly family is similar to what the scientists in the study
mentioned above would describe as a cohesive family. Paul wrapped up telling
us about the new self with instruction about the household. The new self should
permeate every area of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
old self is lying, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk while the new self
is compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, thankfulness,
forgiveness, and love. But then he follows this with explicit instructions on
family life.</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Put on then, as
God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility,
meekness, and patience,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bearing with one
another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as
the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And above all these put on love, which binds
everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul then goes on to one of the more controversial sections:</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Wives,
submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives,
and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for
this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become
discouraged. Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not
by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing
the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever you do, work
heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will
receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For
the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no
partiality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Masters, treat your slaves
justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Colossians
3:18-4:1 (ESV).</span>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>A STUDY ON SUBMISSION </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, let’s deal with the
elephant in the room first. The big, hot button issue is that first
sentence: "Wives,
submit to your husbands."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">An exercise that is useful in
discovering the meaning of a word is to examine what it meant in the original
language through a Greek word study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
of the biggest mistakes typically done is to just look the word up in an
English dictionary and call it good from there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The problem with our understanding "hupotasso", the word translated "submit" here, is that we
don't use the word "submit" much in our normal conversations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only places I hear it is in wrestling/mma
where the fighter gives up due to excessive pain or in a classroom environment where a student hands in a paper to their
teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing a word study, we can
see how the word was used in other sections of Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So let's look at some of those verses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus was hupotasso to his
parents.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And he went
down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive (hupotasso) to them. And
his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke 2:51 (ESV)</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We need to hupotasso
governing authorities.</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Let every
person be subject (hupotasso) to the governing authorities. For there is no
authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 13:1 (ESV).</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We need to hupotasso to every
fellow worker and laborer like those of the household of Stephanas.</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Now I urge
you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts
in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the
saints—be subject (hupotasso) to such as these, and to every fellow worker and
laborer. 1 Corinthians 16:15-16 (ESV).</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We need to hupotasso to God.</span> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Submit
(hupotasso) yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James 4:7 (ESV).</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We need to hupotasso to one
another as brothers and sisters in Jesus.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And do not
get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for
everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting
(hupotasso) to one another out of reverence for Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ephesians 5:18-21 (ESV).</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We could get a grand and
deeply authoritarian view of submission from the verses that teach us to submit
to governing authorities and God, but there are also uses of "submit" that
throw a wrench into that definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
see that submitting to one another is something that we are all called to do as
believers to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So the word
"submit" has to fit these passages. And sadly, the concept,
especially in regards to the role of a woman with her husband when viewed as a
subordinate role, has been misunderstood and doesn’t fit. This teaching of
womanly submission has tragically been abused by the patriarchal society of the
past and is still being abused in sexist settings today, to the detriment of
everyone involved. I have heard of tragic stories of abuse in which a woman has
been told to submit to her husband and remain in an abusive relationship. I
have heard stories of women having to go along with things they seriously disagree
with. That is not what this Paul is teaching in this section in his letter to the Colossians.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Submit
(hupotasso) is voluntarily placing ourselves under someone in order to support
them and help them achieve the dreams they have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Paul wrote that a wife should submit to
her husband, he was stating that a wife needs to be a person who is voluntarily
supportive of their husband, but that is nothing more than what Paul said we
need to be to one another as brothers and sisters in Jesus. It is nothing more
than the husband should also be to the wife.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Submitting does not mean that
we don’t speak up. Submitting doesn't mean that we don’t ever disobey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not mean that we endure torture or abuse under another. It's actually a beautiful concept that translating it into a negative word like "submit" misses. It means
that we know the dreams of the other person, and we put ourselves voluntarily under
them to help them achieve those dreams. We become a support to lift them up and
help them achieve their goals. I feel like breaking out into Josh Groban here. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>ON TOWARD TRUE JESUS-LIKE LEADERSHIP</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A domineering man might then
ask, "What does authority matter if it does not mean blind obedience by
those under authority?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s mean
Christian authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are over
someone in Christ, then you are their servant leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is our Lord and does not force His will to be done by taking away our free will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He leads
out of submission, example, and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are to do
likewise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
Jesus taught:</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">You
know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones
exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would
be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you
must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:25-28 (ESV).</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus also taught that
leadership in the church and in Christian relationships is upside-down.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The greatest
among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and
whoever humbles himself will be exalted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Matthew 23:11-12 (ESV).</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Servant leadership is what
Christian leadership is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
pastor, I am in this position to serve the people in the church I am part of, the
community I live in and interact with, and the world abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not about me getting special treatment; it's about serving
people through calling on them, meeting their needs, praying for them, and listening to God and proclaiming what He wants us to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what all church leaders are called to do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>If you are living out the life
of Jesus in your workplace, then you should be about serving those around you. Christian
leadership, whether it is the role of a husband in the house, parents to their
children, a teacher to their students, a law enforcement officer to the citizens,
is one of sacrifice and service when done well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We all know in the core of
our being what good leadership is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
kind of cowardly father would flee if his family was endangered?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind of corrupt politician would seek to
gain personally from their position as a representative of the people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind of shameful law enforcement officer
would abandon people in need of help?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
all know, in the core of our being, what good leadership is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is what Paul is laying out here
because, so often, men can create a destructive family environment from their
unhealthy leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leadership
trap for a husband, as Paul warns, is to become harsh with their wives and
provoke and discourage their children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But a healthy family is not
one of selfish and personal ambition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s one of compassion, patience, love, humility, forgiveness, and
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the new self lived out in
unison one with another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A healthy
family is the most basic example of the love of Jesus lived in community. The
family is designed to be a place where people are encouraged and built up to be
who Jesus wants them to be rather than a place of manipulation and selfish
ambition. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In the healthy family,
telling a wife that she is to submit to her husband, as long as we are using it
with the biblical idea of hupataso, is also proclaiming that the husband must
serve his wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must never separate a
wife submitting with the love of the husband that is always connected with that
command to submit. <br />
<br />
Submit does not mean that someone should be silent, obedient at all times, or a
slave. Actually, if submit means to support someone to achieve their dreams,
then speaking up and telling the other person where they need to improve would
be needed at times. So submit, in Paul's command for a wife to submit to her
husband, just means that the woman will help the man achieve the dreams he is
trying to achieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She will be his
support. From other verses, we see that a man should be just as supportive of
his wife. It’s the same concept we are to do to one another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The main crux of the
argument, as Paul described the way the household should function, is that the
man should no longer abuse his position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time this letter was written to church in Colossae, the man was
very domineering over the family. Paul gave three warnings to
the man. One, he is not to be harsh with his wife. Two, he is not to provoke
and discourage their children. And three, he is to treat his slaves justly and
fairly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a radical teaching that
would be liberating to wives, children, and slaves at that time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>REVEALING A DIFFERENT KINGDOM </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Roman society was
patriarchal and vicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Babies would be
presented to the father after birth at which point he could decide to let the baby
not enter the family by forcing the baby to just be abandoned and die from
exposure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No property was allowed to be
owned in a Roman family except for the father owning it; this even included
grown men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All children were to be under
the authority of their father until his passing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Like modern sitcoms jokingly
show the faults in the American family, Roman theater did the same for their
audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we can see in the family
comedies of Plautus and Terrence that the Roman family could devolve into manipulation
and greed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With such a patriarchal
structure, the wife, children, and slaves would all try to manipulate the
father to get their will done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul's
writings were a direct assault on the Roman family structure and would have
transformed a Roman family that lived selfishly into one that would be a
witness for Jesus. The Christian family is to be a model of God’s plan for us
in right relationship with each other. The church is to be the same.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If the man is the head of the
house, it is not as a domineering head. Christian leadership is the exact
opposite of being domineering. If anyone is the head of anything in Christian
thinking, then that person is to be the servant of those in their charge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True Christian leadership is
serving, not domineering. We will wrongly take the headship idea that we get
from the Bible and then apply a worldly definition to it, but it is to be
viewed through the lens of a sacrificial Jesus who, as the head, gave up his
life so that those like you and me – under him – could live.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Genesis, humanity fell and
there were consequences:</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in
childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for
your husband, and he shall rule over you.” Genesis 3:16 (ESV) </span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
That’s the fall. That’s what Jesus came to reverse. That’s not the reality we
are called to live in.<br />
<br />
As Paul explains it:</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made
sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the law came in to increase the trespass,
but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also
might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Romans 5:19-21 (ESV)</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
In the perfect world before the fall, women were not ruled over by men; that
was a consequence of sin. As Christians, if we are forgiven of our sins and are
striving to live in perfection, then we should treat women as they were treated
before the punishment of sin. As much as is possible by us, we should live as
the restored people of God, letting the kingdom be realized in the here and now through us. That would include women not being
ruled over by men, both in the home and in the church, but, instead, women being treated as
equals as they were before the fall.<br />
<br />
Let’s live in God’s restored kingdom reality.</span></div>
Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-27819361660266421412017-10-17T09:46:00.000-04:002017-10-17T09:46:13.361-04:00A nonPauline letter to DC3<br />
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<br /><br />This week, I was asked to write a letter to the church that I planted in Lansing. So I did my best Paul impersonation, and this is what came out.<br /><br />********<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Hi friends – brothers and sisters in Jesus. I’m no Apostle
Paul, but I was asked to write you this letter.<br />
<br />
Your love for one another is always a blessing to hear about. I feel that I
left the church there just as it was entering its glory days. I know that is
probably too broad of a brush, but as someone from afar, I am envious of the
community you experience and the love you share for one another. I pray for
that love to continue to flourish. <br />
<br />
I remember an early church gathering where there was just three of us. My wife,
Dan Harris, and I. And I’ve thought about that moment a lot lately for some
reason. Because I think that it was the moment where I was the closest to just
giving up before the church really even came to be. <br />
<br />
And then I think about what would have happened if I had just thrown in the
towel. You wouldn’t be where you are tonight gathered together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it amazes me. Humbles me. How just
deciding to persevere in something God has called us to is somehow so
important. <br />
<br />
Now, I’m a little detached from your community there these days. I did watch
the Yankees last week with John and still chat with Tom. Because of that
distance, I can’t speak directly to anything going on there. But I want to
offer this word of encouragement. <br />
<br />
Don’t give up on the thing that you feel God is calling you to. Whether that is
in your personal life or whether that is as a church. God has a mission for
you. And we often have this idea of God being a god who forces His will. But He
doesn’t. He waits for faithful people like you and me. People who will continue
on even when they don’t feel that what God is calling them will ever
materialize.<br />
<br />
Because here is the bold truth of our faith. If God has called us to it, He
will complete it. We just have to remain faithful and not give up. So remain
faithful. God’s work through you all is just beginning. Be faithful even when
it feels impossible. Love one another. Love your neighbors. <br />
<br />
It was always my passion that the church there would be a church that would
reach people who weren’t being reached by the church as it normally functions. That
community would flourish. So may God bring more and more of those people in
your path and continue to build your community. <br />
<br />
Grace and peace to you all. You really hold a special place in my heart. And
may that grow and grow as you continue to serve our same Lord and Savior. May
God bless you as you pursue Him and His will together. And may you always have
the boldness, courage, and bravery to remain faithful to His calling no matter
what the circumstances.</div>
Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-16377380252181382812017-10-01T13:32:00.002-04:002017-10-01T16:01:53.765-04:00A Loyalty Above All Other Loyalties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t3Z2PAJAPmI/WdEkEu-u_QI/AAAAAAAAFuE/x22lcm4g5HQL-RLfchhFFUgqWZ-fu8jBACLcBGAs/s1600/10-01-17%2BSermon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t3Z2PAJAPmI/WdEkEu-u_QI/AAAAAAAAFuE/x22lcm4g5HQL-RLfchhFFUgqWZ-fu8jBACLcBGAs/s640/10-01-17%2BSermon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Disclaimer: This sermon (now an article) was really laid on my heart. So I hope that if you find it offensive, that you would consider the message deeply and not just find another church that won't challenge you on this. Looking across the church landscape in our town, I believe you are the only church in our town where this message could be preached and you won't have a meeting afterward to consider firing me and dealing with a bunch of negative criticism. Because of that, we have an extra important job of living faithfully to this message.<br />
<br />
<b>THE STRUGGLE IN MASSACHUSETTS</b><br />
<br />
In history, we see the tendency of societies to demonize other societies and then to treat them like they are dogs. “Christian” societies like Spain and England, when they discovered America, treated the Indians like they were a sub-species because they had not discovered, adopted, or were even wanting to adopt the “superior” technologies of Europe. And this isn’t just me projecting my 21st century sensibilities onto the past. Roger Williams was a minister in Massachusetts Bay Colony who spoke out against the treatment of Indians. And others from the time also wrote about the Europeans abhorrent treatment of the Indians. But the powers that be wanted them to stop because it was not in their best financial interest to treat the Indians well. The were getting land and resources all at the expense of the Indians. <br />
<br />
On October 9, 1635, the Massachusetts Bay Colony by the General Court of Massachusetts banished Pastor Roger Williams because he was outspoken against the rights of the civil authorities to punish religious dissension and to confiscate the land of the Indians. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“After leaving Massachusetts, Williams…. established a settlement at the junction of two rivers … located in present-day Rhode Island. He declared the settlement open to all those seeking freedom of conscience and the removal of the church from civil matters, [meaning that you would not be punished from being on the wrong side of a religious debate,] and many dissatisfied Puritans came. Taking the success of the venture as a sign from God, Williams named the community ‘Providence.’”<br />
<br />
“Among those who found a haven in the religious and political refuge of the Rhode Island Colony were Anne Hutchinson–…[another religious leader who]…had been exiled from Massachusetts for religious reasons–some of the first Jews to settle in North America, and the Quakers. In Providence, Roger Williams also founded the first Baptist church. (source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rhode-island-founder-banished-from-massachusetts)</blockquote>
This happened all because Roger Williams place his loyalty to God and His ways above the state. A loyalty above all other loyalties. <br />
<br />
And he is not alone in that. We come from a long line of dissidents. People who had one loyalty above all other loyalties.<br />
<br />
<b>THE STRUGGLE IN BABYLON</b><br />
<br />
Let’s go back a little further even, from Massachuesetts in 1635 all the way back to around 600 BC. The Jews had been conquered and the best of the Jews were taken back to Babylon to help the empire. So, as servants in the great empire of Babylon, we see the story of Jews trying to remain faithful in a pagan land. And the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, made a giant statue and proclaimed that people must fall down and worship it or be thrown into a fiery furnace. <br />
<br />
So the moment came. And the sound to worship was made. And three Jews refused to bow. I can imagine the thinking and arguments. You should just submit to the State. Really, you can just bow and not mean it. Instead, with all the pressure to bow and worship the state in order to avoid punishment, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to join in.<br />
<br />
The story goes:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Daniel 3:8-21 (ESV)</blockquote>
We, those who claim to follow Jesus, come from a long line of people who have had one loyalty above all other loyalties and honored that loyalty at great cost.<br />
<br />
<b>THE STRUGGLE IN THE EARLY CHURCH</b><br />
<br />
Let’s look at another story. <br />
<br />
Let me set up the context here. Jesus had just been killed by the state. Hung on the cross and humiliated. Forty days after his death and resurrection, his followers received the Holy Spirit, God’s power moved, and the church was established and flourishing. The Jewish leaders thought they had won the battle against the Jesus movement by cutting off the head, but the movement just flourished because they didn’t know that when they killed Jesus, the Holy Spirit would come. God was at work. They could kill Jesus, but death couldn’t keep him down. And when He rose again and ascended into heaven, and he imbued His followers with the Holy Spirit. God worked. But the state didn’t want to see this religion grow. <br />
<br />
Acts tells the story:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:27-29 (ESV)</blockquote>
One loyalty above all other loyalties.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. Acts 5:40-42 (ESV)</blockquote>
They continued doing the will of God, despite being beaten, because they had one loyalty above all other loyalties.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>THE STRUGGLE WITH OUR LOYALTY</b><br />
<br />
We share that conviction. When we became Christians, we expressed one loyalty above all other loyalties. A loyalty to God who came to earth and dwelt among us as Jesus and now lives in us through the Holy Spirit. That is where our loyalty lies. For them, that meant they would honor their loyalty to the kingdom of God when it contradicted with loyalty to Babylon or Rome. And so, when it comes to allegiance to our nation, as long as our nation isn’t going against the things of God, we can be loyal to America. But we have one loyalty above all other loyalties as people who have surrendered our lives to the will of God. And it is an easy decision for someone who has surrendered their life to the will of God and service to His kingdom to choose loyalty to God over any other earthly loyalty when they conflict.<br />
<br />
So your workplace may tell you to do something unethical. If they do, you refuse to do it because your loyalty is to God and not to that workplace. Your spouse or family may encourage wrong actions, again the same. If any group encourages something that goes contrary to the will of God, we choose disloyalty to that group and loyalty to God. The church is a radical group of rebels following Jesus, the ultimate revolutionary, refusing to bow down to any of the power structures of this world. When we are living His way, obediently, as God intends for us, we conform only to God.<br />
<br />
But let’s be honest, the biggest challenge to our faith can come at times from a contrary state. Historically, this has always been the case for people who place an unyielding loyalty to God above all other loyalties.<br />
<br />
The State, although a different state, tried to stop Roger Williams in Massachusetts and he remained loyal to God. The State, again a different one, tried to make Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bow, yet they remained loyal to God. And the same with the early church. Loyalty to God above loyalty to the State. It’s as if the State has this evil tendency that regularly springs up throughout history to try and stop people who are loyal to God.<br />
<br />
Maybe there is something to Paul’s teaching to the church in Ephesus where he tells us to prepare ourselves for these sort of evil days where the state is out of step with God.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:11-13 (ESV)</blockquote>
Our nation has some policies that conflict with the teachings of Scripture; when that happens we don’t concede our ethics to the State. What is right and wrong is never decided by the majority or by who has the most earthly power. It’s always decided by sovereignty. The sovereignty of God. We have one loyalty above all other loyalties and that loyalty is reserved for God.<b> </b><br />
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<b>WE SERVE ONLY ONE KING</b><br />
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The early Christians lived with an obvious rebellious idea that we now sanitize. They called Jesus “king.” King Jesus. The authorities of that day even mockingly put that label above the cross as they executed Jesus. And in labeling Jesus king, the earthly Caesar understood this to be an attack on his authority, as it rightly was. Throughout history, from the beginnings of the church, Christians have had one loyalty above all other loyalties. When they said that Jesus was their king, they really meant it. They had one loyalty above all others. King above all kings. Lord of lords. They would serve Jesus over the state if the two would ever get at odds, which they most assuredly do at times. <br />
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Jesus taught at the end of the Parable of the Dishonest Manager.<br />
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No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Luke 16:13 (ESV)</blockquote>
In this specific case, he was talking about money, but that principle can apply to anything, although money will often be the idea that we cut corners on and serve rather than God. But we can’t serve God and sport. We can’t serve God and entertainment. We can’t serve God and work. We can’t serve God and family. We can’t serve God and our state. We have one loyalty above all other loyalties. We serve God. And when we have that loyalty right, the other things will fall into proper perspective. Money will be used to further God’s kingdom. Sport will be used to build discipline and responsibility. Entertainment will be used to foster community. Work will be used as a mission field and an opportunity to better things. Family will be used as a fountain for which God’s love can overflow. The state is to bring peace and prosperity. We can even be a good citizen, although, inevitably, our loyalty to God will cause us to be a bad citizen at times and live in rebellion to the ideas expressed by the state when they collide with the way of God. And let’s not deceive ourselves, the state does conflict with the way of God on certain issues right now and, most likely, always will. I’m not specifically addressing or mentioning the hot button political issues of our time, but I challenge you to filter them through the teachings here.<br />
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But we must never concede the ideas that the state is the hope of mankind, the salt of the earth, the city on a hill, the light of the world. That’s the church when it is properly reflecting God’s kingdom. <br />
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Now, if I was talking to you as a person in a position of authority in the State, my message would be different. I would be telling you to align the state as much as possible to the kingdom of God without oppressing people. Work for the poor. Work for the powerless. Bring about justice. Live in righteousness. And as much as we can do that in our lives, we must. But I’m not addressing a message here to the people who control this land. Instead, in a way, we are the poor and powerless. None of us here has the power to get any law changed. We barely have a voice despite the color of our skin supposedly giving us some privileges. <br />
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<b>THE STRUGGLE IN NAZI GERMANY</b><br />
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But we must recognize that we, as people who have surrendered our lives to Jesus and His will, will sometimes face a state that is opposed to the will of God. And when that happens, we still do God’s will. We see this in the life of Corrie Ten Boom. The Germans were rounding up Jews to put them in concentration camps after conquering the Netherlands. And what did she do? She and her sister rebelled against the authorities and helped the Jews. This is living out the loyalty above all other loyalties. <br />
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And resistance to the evil German state was widespread among the Christians in the Nazi Germany. Jews weren’t the only people killed in the Holocaust despite that being what we think of when we think of the Holocaust. It is estimated that 3 million Christians were killed in the Holocaust, but it’s hard to find an accurate number, as it is also hard to tell who was executed just because of their nationality regardless of their religion. But they also spied on and targeted priests and pastors. At Dachau, the Germans held 2,720 priests and pastors in the concentration camp. One of them is one of my heroes, Pastor Martin Niemoller because of his boldness that caused him to be sent away to the concentration camp.<br />
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As Dr. Laurence White described it in a message I heard him give:<br />
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“In 1934, during his second year as chancellor of the German Reich, Adolf Hitler invited the leaders of the evangelical churches of Germany to a meeting in Berlin. His goal was to quell mounting criticism from the Christian community of the Nazi regime and its attempts to subvert the churches. Among those present at that meeting was a fiery young Lutheran pastor from the Berlin suburb of Dahlem named Martin Niemoller. Niemoller would later recall this encounter as the moment from which he knew that Germany was doomed. Hitler was amiable and deliberately reassuring as he sought the support of these prominent churchmen. He promised the pastors that the position of the church in Germany was safe and secure - that its legal protections, its tax exemptions, and state support would remain unchanged under the Nazi government. Niemoller pushed to the front of the group to confront the chancellor directly and reject his casual consignment of Christians to social irrelevance. Standing face to face with Germany's ruler, the brash young pastor asserted: "Our concern, Herr Hitler, is not for the church. Our concern is for the soul of our country." An embarrassed silence followed his remark and it was immediately evident that Niemoller spoke only for himself. [He, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, stood alone.] His chagrined colleagues quickly shuffled him away from the front of the room. Noting their timid reaction, the dictator smiled as he replied, "The soul of Germany, you can leave that to me."” <br />
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“And so they did -- Christians looked the other way while innocent people were slaughtered and a nation was led down the path to destruction.” (source: http://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF16H41.pdf)</blockquote>
For many of them, their loyalty to God was not above their loyalty to the state. They just went along with Nazi Germany. They didn’t want to rock the boat. They didn’t want to cause any outrage. They didn’t want to sacrifice like Niemoller and find themselves in a concentration camp. They just conformed to the State rather than Jesus. And atrocity followed. That is the end result of the church conforming to the state. It empowers the powers and principalities of this world to unleash hell on earth unhindered. When we cave to the pressure to give blind obedience to the state, we become a tool for evil rather than a vessel for the beauty and way of God to flow through. We lose our prophetic voice as we become an example of conformity rather than the countercultural revolution of Jesus. <br />
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Martin Niemoller gave the famous quote, which I’m sure that you know even if you don’t know Niemoller:<br />
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“In Germany they came first for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me--and by that time no one was left to speak up.”</blockquote>
This wasn’t some abstract concept for Niemoller. He was then imprisoned by Hitler and served at concentration camps for eight years. He wasn’t released until he was freed by the allies in 1945. Unlike his famous peer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Niemoller made it out alive and died in the 1980s.<br />
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<b>THE STRUGGLE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</b><br />
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But we can easily point the fingers at Christians who compromised the gospel in Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany, but we have to be careful to not do the same thing here in America.<br />
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The siren call of the American culture and nationalism is alluring and tough to resist. Where have we compromised? Do we go along with our culture of waste? Do we go along with war drums and violence? Do we buy into the idea of keeping our faith personal and out of our public life? Do we cave and not stand up when it is difficult?<br />
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[slide – one loyalty] We can just say that battle of loyalties is a thing of the past and deceive ourselves. Beacause it is obvious when we look at the faithful in Babylon, the early church in the Roman Empire, the early days of the American frontier, Nazi Germany – All eras seem to have moments where the state strives to pull us away from our ultimate loyalty to God. <br />
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So I will give you a present example. I hope It encourages us to live more radically in Jesus’ revolution. In their words from The Simple Way’s website.<br />
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“In 1995, dozens of homeless families had moved into an abandoned Catholic church building in North Philadelphia. They were told by the Archdiocese that they had 48 hours to move out, or they could be arrested. With nowhere to go, these courageous mothers and children hung a banner on the front of the building that said, “How can we worship a homeless man on Sunday, and ignore one on Monday?” The families held their own press conference and announced that they had talked with the real “Owner” of the building (the Lord Almighty!) – and God said they could stay until they found somewhere else to go.”<br />
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“That’s was the spark that lit the fire of The Simple Way.” Their church in Philadelaphia.<br />
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“A few years after the takeover of the church ended -- in January 1998 -- some of the students who had been a part of that movement pooled their money together and bought 3234 Potter Street. They took an old shoe repair store and made it their home. Before long they grew into other abandoned houses on the block…And now – after over two decades -- an intentional community has turned into a little village.” (source: https://www.thesimpleway.org/about/) </blockquote>
And through their life together, standing in loyalty to the kingdom of God over any other loyalty, the community is being transformed. People’s lives are changing. God’s kingdom is being realized here on earth as it is in heaven. <br />
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Christians should be different than the world around us. We live in rebellion to the state at times. We come from a long tradition of people who have placed loyalty to God and his kingdom above the State. The State killed our Lord and Savior, but they couldn’t keep Him down. Likewise, we are called to live with this ultimate loyalty to God in our lives. This means that we won’t look just like and behave just like our nonChristian neighbors. We will invest in and create a community of encouragement and support, the church, as we go out into the world that will try to get us to compromise our faith and, yet, we will always choose to be a blessing. Loving those who oppose us. We will stop our world's downward spiral of hate. Loving our enemies. Loving strangers. We are called to be bringers of a different way of living. A different kingdom. We will place our loyalty to God above all other loyalties no matter what the cost. You are part of the greatest revolution the world has ever known. Live it. <br />
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<br />Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-29956211254777992422017-09-05T09:01:00.000-04:002017-09-05T09:01:17.570-04:00Can I Be A Christian Without Church?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />Have you ever stopped to think about the makeup of your average church? I mean think about it—the church is made up of a bunch of people who under normal circumstances probably would not hang out. Different backgrounds, interests, places in life. In fact, the church is made up of a bunch of people who probably wouldn’t even like each other if we met in a different social setting. But we make it work. Because these aren’t normal circumstances. We are unified by something so much bigger than ourselves. The King of the Universe has brought us together to perform a monumental task. And unless we can overcome our pettiness, our selfishness, our pride, and be unified, we will not succeed. We will not be strong enough to make a difference. <br /><br />It’s trendy these days to be spiritual but not religious. To be a Christian and not go to church. To say that my faith is a personal mater. To attack church itself. But in pursuing those dangerous trends, we miss out on God’s purpose for our lives. The unity we are to have with other believers. Although I understand that sometimes the negative view of church comes from a place of hurt. <br /><br /><br /><b>THE ONE THING I WANT TO CONVINCE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS OF</b><br /><br />But If I could convince the people who claim to follow Jesus in our church and in this community anything, <br /><br />I would convince them that the local church matters. The local church is important. The local church is the vessel through which Jesus has chosen to continue transforming the world with. I’ve yet to see any revival anywhere happen outside of a community of faithful believers. And yet, the local church is so often neglected by the very people who claim to love Jesus. And in the process of neglecting the local church, our personal ministries that we are called to wanes. Our influence wanes. And God’s kingdom doesn’t manifest itself here as it is in heaven. All because we neglect the bride of Jesus whom Jesus loves. This bride imagery is given in multiple places in the New Testament. Can you imagine being part of someone's life in a meaningful manner if you hate their spouse? Because to take the local church seriously in today’s age and have a commitment to Jesus through being part of His body, you not only have to have the gumption to go against the grain of secular society, you have to be strong and go against this prevailing trend among many Christians. <br /><br />I'm currently reading through a book called the Word and Power Church. It's about how great churches can be if they are focused on the word of God and experiencing the power of God. But there is one underlying given that I think is often ignored despite even being in the title. It's a church. It's a group of people experiencing fellowship with one another, living life together, sharing a mission together, and serving together. They study the word together and experience God's power together. These things were designed to be experienced while doing church together.<br /><br />There are so many different imageries given in the New Testament for the church – the bride as I mentioned earlier, a priesthood, his people, but today, we are going to focus on one that I hope will convince everyone here that church is important. And if you are already convinced, it will hopefully give you a better understanding for when you encounter that person who says, “I don’t need church to follow God.” Because you will.<br /><br /><b><br />MANY MEMBERS OF THE SAME BODY</b><br /><br />Paul wrote:<br />
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For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8 (ESV) </blockquote>
Paul is describing how the church should work. He is talking about a strength that comes from being united despite everyone being skilled and gifted at different things. But in order for there to be unity, a few things have to be in place. First he mentions humility. It should be easy to be humble when we properly view ourselves through a lens of being a saved sinner. As redeemed children of God who have been blessed in so many ways. And Paul returns to those thoughts here. He says, "Don't think more highly of yourself than you should." <br /><br />But we often lack humility. For many, they think they can do it on their own. For others, they want to use church to control others. But neither is a proper course of action. We need to view ourselves in the proper light to have a right relationship with others and with God. <br /><br />In order for us to get the strength that comes from being unified, humility is required. The Christian life, the church, and our faith are not about us. They are about God—his plan, his kingdom, his glory. Yes, we have a part to play. We each have something to contribute. We will in fact be better at something than someone else. But we have to work together. If you think you're better because others don't have the same gifts that you have – whether that is serving in some capacity, some manifestation of some spiritual gift, or some other ability, then you are going to miss out on working together and we’re all going to miss out on receiving the blessings of all our gifts working together. Because of this arrogance, people become Lone Ranger Christians and leave church. Church unity is tough for a person who thinks their giftedness is the giftedness that matters while everyone else is less faithful or useful than them because they don’t have the gift that the arrogant one has and values. And having a healthy church is impossible if we try to shoehorn everyone into having the same gifts and expression of the faith.<br /><br /><br /><b>THESE DAYS, CHURCHES ARE FRAGMENTED ON GIFTEDNESS NOT DOCTRINE</b><br /><br />What I see, sadly, in the church today is that churches seem to be fragmented less on doctrine and more upon the lines of giftedness because the more charismatic feel the less charismatic are dead spiritually and those less charismatic think the more charismatic are crazy. Those interested in social justice think that the intellectually minded have a stale faith while those who are into study think the social justice people are ungrounded. On and on, people surround themselves with people of like passions and giftedness resulting in a lot of unhealthy churches. The church has an arrogance problem. And everyone just goes off and does church in a church, if they even do church, that has the same passion for their giftedness, but, in the process, the churches are all just hopping around on one leg rather than being the body of Christ -- living, being, and working together to be God’s kingdom. There is no unity. There isn’t something better coming about from everyone doing different things working toward a shared vision. This isn’t happening in most churches.<br /><br />Paul kind of gives us a check that we can use to inspect ourselves to examine whether we are part of the problem or part of the solution.<br />
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Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (ESV)</blockquote>
The test is whether you are using the gifts and passions you have for the common good of the Body of Christ. The manifestations of the Spirit are given to be shared – for the common good. It’s not about me just growing spiritually. It’s not about me having more spiritual knowledge or spiritual power.<br /><br />It’s not about me enjoying an encounter with God at an awesome service or retreat and continually pursuing another while measuring church by whether I had another high this week or not. Not every week will have the Spirit move like it did two weeks ago when so many of you publicly confessed your struggles. It’s not about me at all. It’s not about you at all. We’re just a vessel that the manifestations of the Spirit flow through for the common good. So whatever gift you have, use it for the common good.<br />
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<b>ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION</b> <br />
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And people will be saved without church. I assume that is true because we serve a gracious God, but asking if we can be saved without being part of a church is asking the wrong question. Being a Christian isn’t about the minimum that I must do to be saved. It’s about total surrender to King Jesus. About living out His will totally. About His kingdom and His ways. We don’t ask what is the minimum to be saved. We ask what do I get to do because I am saved. And being part of the church and serving the common good are some of those things. <br />
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Pediatrician David Cerqueira shares a story of how a little girl showed his church the honor of serving God. David shares: One Sunday my wife had prepared a lesson on being useful. She taught the children that everyone can be useful—that usefulness is serving God, and that doing so is worthy of honor. The kids quietly soaked up my wife's words, and as the lesson ended, there was a short moment of silence. [A little girl named] Sarah spoke up. "Teacher, what can I do? I don't know how do to many useful things."<br /><br />Not anticipating that kind of response, my wife quickly looked around and spotted an empty flower vase on the windowsill. "Sarah, you can bring in a flower and put it in the vase. That would be a useful thing."<br /><br />Sarah frowned. "But that's not important."<br /><br />"It is," replied my wife, "if you are helping someone."<br /><br />Sure enough, the next Sunday Sarah brought in a dandelion and placed it in the vase. In fact, she continued to do so each week. Without reminders or help, she made sure the vase was filled with a bright yellow flower, Sunday after Sunday. When my wife told our pastor about Sarah's faithfulness, he placed the vase upstairs in the main sanctuary next to the pulpit. That Sunday he gave a sermon on the honor of serving others, using Sarah's vase as an example. The congregation was touched by the message, and the week started on a good note.<br /><br />During that same week I (that’s David the pediatrician) got a call from Sarah's mother. She worried that Sarah seemed to have less energy than usual and that she didn't have an appetite. Offering her some reassurances, I made room in my schedule to see Sarah the following day. After Sarah had a battery of tests and days of examinations, I sat numbly in my office, Sarah's paperwork on my lap. The results were tragic. <br /><br />On the way home, I stopped to see Sarah's parents so that I could personally give them the sad news. Sarah's genetics and the leukemia that was attacking her small body were a horrible mix. Sitting at their kitchen table, I did my best to explain to Sarah's parents that nothing could be done to save her life. I don't think I have ever had a more difficult conversation than the one that night. …<br /><br />Time pressed on. Sarah became confined to bed and to the visits that many people gave her. She lost her smile. She lost most of her weight. And then it came: another telephone call. Sarah's mother asked me to come see her. I dropped everything and ran to the house. There she was, a small bundle that barely moved. After a short examination, I knew that Sarah would soon be leaving this world. I urged her parents to spend as much time as possible with her.<br /><br />That was a Friday afternoon. On Sunday morning church started as usual. The singing, the sermon—it all seemed meaningless when I thought of Sarah. I felt enveloped in sadness. At the end of the sermon, the pastor suddenly stopped speaking. His eyes wide, he stared at the back of the church with utter amazement. Everyone turned to see what he was looking at. It was Sarah! Her parents had brought her for one last visit. She was bundled in a blanket, a dandelion in one little hand.<br /><br />She didn't sit in the back row. Instead she slowly walked to the front of the church where her vase still perched by the pulpit. She put her flower in the vase and a piece of paper beside it. Then she returned to her parents. Seeing little Sarah place her flower in the vase for the last time moved everyone. At the end of the service, people gathered around Sarah and her parents, trying to offer as much love and support as possible. I could hardly bear to watch.<br /><br />Four days later, Sarah died. I cancelled my morning appointments and sat at my desk, thinking about her and her parents, hurting. I remember the funny stories that my wife told about Sarah. I remembered the sweet sound of her laughter. I remembered that telephone call that brought the sadness.<br /><br />Tears filled my eyes as once again I struggled not to question the goodness of God in allowing Sarah’s life to end in such a horrible way.<br /><br />I wasn’t expecting it, but our pastor asked to see me after the funeral. We stood at the cemetery near our cars as people walked past us. In a low voice he said, “Dave, I’ve got something you ought to see.” He pulled out of his pocket the piece of paper that Sarah had left by the vase. Holding it out to me, he said, “You’d better keep this; it may help you in your line of work.”<br /><br />I opened the folded paper to read, in pink crayon, what Sarah had written:<br /><br />Dear God,<br /><br />This vase has been the biggest honor of my life. <br /><br />Sarah<br /><br />Sarah’s note and her vase have helped me to understand. I now realize in a new way that life is an opportunity to serve God by serving people. And, as Sarah put it, that is the biggest honor of all. (source: (source: David Cerqueira, "Sarah's Vase," Today's Christian, March/April 2008, adapted from Evangel magazine, December 2005. From a sermon by C. Philip Green, We Want To See Jesus, 4/14/2011))</blockquote>
<b><br />OUR CALLING</b><br /><br />We can’t encourage one another, serve each other, and serve together if we aren’t meeting together. We are called to be the church. The light of the world. The city on the hill. To serve one another for the common good. Paul illustrates the concept of the body which should combat the idea of Lone Ranger Christianity; it should combat the idea that the local church is useless. He used the metaphor of the body to illustrate God’s intention. He says that we, the church, are one body. And just as the body has many different and unique parts, a church has different members who contribute different things. We have different gifts, talents, abilities and passions—which are gifts of grace, given to us from God. But here's what we often fail to grasp—we extol individuality while failing to see that these individual blessings are supposed to work with one another. To be put together to form the body, so that people see the body without noticing the individual parts.<br /><br />We aren’t called to be the same. We’re called to be united in mission through our diversity. We’re called to be the church. <br /><br />
Each one must be put into the body and work with other organs to function. And according to Paul, these organs represent each of us. We are different. We all bring different things to the church. We all function differently. But the thing that unites us, is the church – God’s kingdom and His mission. What is best for us, for our talents and abilities, for the church, and for the world is coming together in our strengths so we can become the best body possible. <br /><br />Because it would be stupid for the liver, the brain, the heart, and the lung to argue about which one is most important to the body. They should work together.<br />The church is called to be a body on a mission. We’re called to be an example of the kingdom of God. Think about that. The purpose of the church, of the body of Christ, is to be an example of God’s perfect plan for humanity. <br /><br />Our mission is so big that it requires all the parts working together. The body needs the individual parts. And if we let pride get in the way, or we choose not to do our part, then our mission will continue to be a failure. Evil will continue to win. The brokenness of the world will spread like a virus and overtake our lives.<br /><br />Paul instructs us on how to live saved lives.. If you can contribute something, then by all means do! If you can prophesy (which actually means proclaiming truth rather than telling the future) then do it with the faith that God will use it. If you serve, teach, encourage, give, lead, show mercy or anything else, then do it! This section of Scripture is sponsored by Nike—Just do it! Don't worry about accolades, about failure, about anything except making the body function at 100%. Otherwise, it's just a waste. Do your part. We need each other. We can't do this without each other. Don't expect others to do the same things you're gifted at and don't neglect to just do it. Don’t look down on others for not sharing the same passion that you have. You have been given that passion to bring about service to others in the church and have it overflow into the world. For this whole church thing to work, we have to be united in effort—all doing our part, filling our role to make it work. <br /><br />Imagine a church where you and you and you – all of us together – were investing in making church great. Then we would see the kingdom of God here on earth as it is in heaven. I am certain that is what each one of us is called toward.Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-23253475933599426122017-09-04T08:36:00.000-04:002017-09-04T08:47:33.504-04:00Give Me Law. Give Me Torah. Or Maybe There Is A Better Way.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have a tendency to want law.<br /><br />Let's start this article with some devotional thoughts from the Law.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (ESV)</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So the law clearly teaches that if you have a disobedient child, you should just take them to the elders of the city and kill them. In reading the Old Testament laws, we encounter a lot of strange laws like this one. Often, we, as Christians, like to ignore that the Old Testament has these weird and crazy laws. But you know what? Atheists don't ignore them. Nonbelievers don't ignore them. Typically, when you are talking with them about Christianity, these ridiculous laws from the Old Testament are things that come up. The number one thing that people bring up to me when I’m talking about Jesus with them is these laws. So I think it is useful to have a good understanding of how we deal with the Law.<br /><br />Here’s another one:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles. Leviticus 21:18-20 (ESV)</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">None of those people are allowed in the assembly of the Lord. If we still followed this principle, we would exclude people with those issues from coming to church. But we don't do that. We wouldn’t want to do that, and I wouldn’t want to be the person that has to check on the latter either.<br /><br />The Old Testament has a lot of laws that seem bizarre, so we are left asking how do we deal with them.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><b>DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THE LAW</b><br /><br />We could take the approach of the Seventh Day Adventists or lesser groups in Christianity who still believe that we should hold to the Law. You will notice that they still honor the Sabbath, literally, as the Old Testament taught and the rest of us don’t do.<br /><br />Some Christians still believe that we should celebrate the Old Testament festivals. I see some benefit in doing that. I spent one year celebrating each one, yet Christians are under no obligation to do this. It was a good learning tool.<br /><br />The most popular method, that we are more likely guilty of, is that we pick and choose which laws we want to keep and which laws we want to ignore. We disregard those laws we think are silly. We keep those laws we like. But this is really an intellectually dishonest way to deal with the Law. What is the process for picking and choosing anyway?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><b>THE LAW WAS A GUARDIAN</b><br /><br />In all this talk about the Law, I want us to understand that the Law was very important.<br /><br />Paul taught:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Galatians 3:24-26 (ESV)</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Law was the guardian until Christ came. It played an important role.<br /><br />If you were living in the world before the Hebrews were brought out of Egypt and Moses was given the Law, you would recognize that it was a vicious world. Maybe no more vicious than some of the places in our world today. Places that would benefit from the law just like the Hebrews benefited from the law.<br /><br />When you encounter a teaching like "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth," it helps to understand the world that teaching was given to. God gave them that teaching to prevent people from chopping off someone's head for stealing something. It was limiting retaliation and would stop the process of escalating violence. The maximum punishment for a crime could not be greater than the crime. This was a law of restraint, not a law of violence.<br /><br />The Law played this role of guarding society until Christ came. The Law was important. It kept humanity in check. It was intended to shape the people into being the people God wanted them to be, but it didn't always work. The people didn't follow the Law the way God intended.<br /><b><br /><br />JESUS FULFILLED THE LAW</b><br /><br />Jesus taught:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV)</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is teaching that the Law will end when all is accomplished. But it's ending with its intended completion. He uses the word “fulfill.” It’s not ending abruptly or prematurely. The "all is accomplished" in Jesus. The Law is fulfilled. The Law was just a guardian to get us to the point where Jesus fulfilled it. Because the Law could never totally fulfill its own purpose. It needed Jesus to do that.<br /><br />For instance, the Scribes and Pharisees were people really good at following the Law. They would seek to adhere to the letter of the Law while ignoring the spirit of the Law. That isn't just something unique to their times; we see it a lot in our society. We write law after law to create a just society, but we cannot prevent evil people from circumventing the law. Evil people will abuse the law while good people will honor the spirit of the law.<br /><br />This is what we see with the Pharisees and the Scribes. They would follow the letter of the Law. When the Law told them to honor their parents, they would claim that they have fulfilled that law without honoring their parents because the honor due to their parents was been given to God. (Matthew 15:1-9). There are always ways for people with corrupt hearts to avoid following the spirit of laws they don't want to follow. The Pharisees and Scribes found legal ways around all the things they didn’t like that God intended for them to do.<br /><br />We're not really all that different.<br /><br />That's the problem with laws. If we think Christianity is a group of laws that we have to follow, then we will figure out ways to legally get around those laws. What is the minimum that I have to do to get saved? Is it law that I have to be part of a church? Who do I have to love? We will fulfill the law to the minimum to enable ourselves to do whatever we want to do with the rest of our lives. That approach to Christianity, despite being prevalent, is so wrong.<br /><br />Christianity is not a bunch of laws. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and bring the Law to its intended ending. He came to bring something better.<br /><br /><br /><b>THE LAW IS OBSOLETE</b><br /><br />As the writer of Hebrews says:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13 (ESV) </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to the writer of Hebrews, the Old Testament Law is obsolete. But the zeitgeist of modern Christendom makes us feel uncomfortable saying exactly this. The writer of Hebrews is stating that we don't have to follow the Law any more. Repeating this Scripture in the wrong circles will get you strange looks. I once had someone get very stern and irate with me over stating this very thing, although I think they now believe it as a result of that conversation and further study of the Bible. There is something in our American Christian culture that makes us not want to be freed from the Law. Due to this, we are uncomfortable saying exactly what Scripture says. The Law is obsolete. We are no longer under it.<br /><br />We wouldn't need laws in our society if everyone loved each other. Nearly every law is there to prevent people from behaving in ways that are not loving to each other.<br /><br /><br /><b>WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SOMETHING BETTER</b><br /><br />So when a nonbeliever asks me about the Old Testament Law and tries to hold me to them. I explain how I am not a Jew. If I was, I would have to defend those laws. I serve a Jewish revolutionary named Jesus who fulfilled the Law of the Old Testament, revolutionized the Jewish faith, and has given us the Holy Spirit in its place.</span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, Romans 8:2-3 (ESV)</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We now have the Holy Spirit guiding our life. In some morphed, albeit true, sense this means that we have more laws to follow, but it’s different now and comes through a relationship based on love and learning to listen to God’s guidance.<br /><br />The Holy Spirit knows what you should be doing this afternoon, and He is going to prompt you. You need to obey that prompting. The Holy Spirit knows what you should say to encourage your friend, and He is going to prompt you. You need to follow through on that. The Holy Spirit knows what you should tell your spouse, and He is going to prompt you. We must ask ourselves, "Are we willing to listen?" "Are we willing to follow?"<br /><br />A wife posted on Facebook, "Made honey-do list for my hubby today to accomplish after his dentist appointment this morning. And he did everything on the list and more."<br /><br />To-do lists are good. The husband excelled with the to-do list from his wife. He jokingly said that he did it because he just wanted to eat.<br /><br />Likewise, we often want to follow the Law just to get the benefits that the Law brings. The Pharisees followed the Law because they wanted to be God's people. Some seem to follow the Law to prevent under the idea that doing so prevents them from going to hell. We want benefits. And because we are just looking for benefits, we miss out on the blessing of actually being God's children. Of living a life guided by the Holy Spirit, dwelling in the presence and work of God all the time.<br /><br />God wants us to be more than just people who follow the law. He wants us to be in a relationship with Him. He wants to dwell in us and guide us.<br /><br />I can't give you a list of things to do to please God like the woman gave to her husband. Many denominations make handbooks with lists of do's and don'ts. But there is always another thing that could be added to their books because we are unable make a conclusive and authoritative list of do's and don'ts. If that is what God wanted, He would have given us a handbook Himself. Instead, he gave us the Spirit.<br /><br />The gospel can only bring its benefits when you truly surrender your life to Jesus. It's not a benefit if you just want benefits. It is a benefit when you truly surrender.<br /><b><br /><br />LAW IS INFERIOR TO TRUE LOVE</b><br /><br />It's like when you love your wife. If you bring home flowers for some manipulative reason and she found it out, the flowers wouldn't count. But if you brought flowers home just to show her that you love her - not for any ulterior motives whatsoever - then they have their worth.<br /><br />It's the same thing with God, except He knows our heart and can't be deceived. If we do what the law teaches and don't give Him our heart, it doesn't work. We may want the blessings of being God's children, but if we don't give Him our heart, then those blessing will not come.<br /><br />Be<span style="font-family: inherit;">i</span>ng right with God is not about checking off a list. It’s about being in a relationship with Him and letting Him guide you. Letting Him live through and transform the world through you.<br /><br />I had a great high school baseball coach. He would take time to correct me when I would be doing something wrong. He would see my mistakes and take me aside to tell me how to improve. I would be pitching and do something wrong, so he would tell me what to change. One of those times that he pulled me aside he said, "You know, I spend a lot of time correcting you because I believe that you can be better. I don't spend time correcting [and he pointed at a teammate] because he's not going to be better." God spends a lot of time prompting us because he knows we can better. Our lives. Our church. Our towns. Our world. But if we aren't listening, it will be as if He isn't prompting us. We will not become any better. Things will not transform and improve. We believe in a God who does not force His will but waits on the faithful to transform the world through.<br /><br />And the great danger is that the less we listen to the promptings we hear, the more we shut off the pathways to hearing Him. It's like a person who has had a stroke. They have to work on rewiring everything so that they can once again do all the things that they previously did. They have to develop different neural pathways to laboriously do the things that once came easily to them. Sometimes we are like that with God. We have hardened ourselves to His promptings so much that we no longer hear His voice. He doesn't give up on us though. He will continually try to get past the hardness of our hearts. He is always willing to guide us, but it is up to us to listen to God and be the people that He wants us to be. So pick those scabs off your heart that life has given you and open yourself up to God’s leading.<br /><br />Be all that God has destined you to be. It is up to you to live the life that God wants you to live. Nobody else can live it for you. No amount of listening to teaching will do that. No amount of singing songs in worship will suffice. You have to be the one listening to His voice, and then acting on it. God is going to tell you what He wants you to do with your life. My role as a pastor is to encourage you to listen to God, help you to test your promptings with Scripture, use Scripture to open your hearts, and challenge you to be who God wants you to be with your life.<br /><br />No church will be a healthy church unless the people in the church are focused on listening to the Holy Spirit and doing what the Spirit wants them to do with their lives. A church will not receive the blessing that God wants to give it unless it is filled with people who are trying to be who God wants them to be. Likewise, a person will not receive the blessing that God wants to give them unless that person is trying to be who God wants them to be.<br /><br />Your relationship with God matters.<br /><br /><b><br />BRING BACK A SENSE OF MAJESTY AND WONDER</b><br /><br />There is a story from a guy named Parker Palmer as told by Dr. Marcus Borg.<br /><br />It's a story about a three-year-old girl who was the only child in her family. But now her mom is pregnant, and this three-year-old girl is very excited about having a baby in the house. The day comes where the mother-to-be delivered, and the mom and dad go off to the hospital. A couple of days later come home with a new baby brother. And the little girl is just delighted.<br /><br />But after they've been home for a couple of hours, the little girl tells her parents that she wants to be with the baby in the baby's room, alone, with the door shut. She's absolutely insistent about the door being shut. It kind of gives her folks the willies, you know? They know she's a good little girl, but they've heard about sibling rivalry and all of this.<br /><br />Then they remember that they've recently installed an intercom system [think of an old-style monitor if you don't know what an intercom system is] in preparation for the arrival of the new baby, and they realize that they can let their little girl do this, and if they hear the slightest weird thing happening, they can be in there in a flash.<br /><br />So they let their little girl go into the room. They close the door behind her. They race to the listening post. They hear her footsteps move across the room. They imagine her now standing over the baby's crib, and then they hear her say to her two-day-old baby brother, "Tell me about God. I've almost forgotten."<br /><br />Now, that’s just a story, and I don’t know if there is truth in a newborn knowing God in that way. But the sense of wonder. The desire to know God rather than adhere to the law. Those are all things we would benefit from having more of. The question we are all faced with is whether we are going to continue to grow closer to God throughout our lives or are we going to drift away. The choice is ours. We can cling to the Law and die – and our Law can be some other law than even the Old Testament Law, or we can grow closer to God, learn to listen to the Spirit, and act upon who He is guiding us to be.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Christian culture will continue to try and convince us that the way to do that is through following laws. It's wrong. Laws are not going to get you closer to God. You could be the most moral person around, yet you could be just as far away from God as the most immoral person you know. God wants you to be close to Him. He wants you to be in a relationship with Him. He wants you to be His. There are no laws that if we followed would bring that about. It only comes through a willing heart, a willingness to listen, a willingness to let that Spirit lead you, a willingness to act on His promptings, and a willingness to be different when God wants you to be different. That's what God wants in our lives. He wants you to say yes to Him.<br /><br />May we grow closer to God through our lives. May we not stray into an unhealthy dependence upon laws. May we learn to listen to Him every day of our life.<br /><br />The law has been fulfilled. The law has been made obsolete. The Holy Spirit has been given to us in its place. May we learn to listen to Him. May we learn to live in this new life He has planned for us.</span></span>Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-89557692639678377422017-08-27T13:02:00.001-04:002017-08-27T13:08:58.612-04:00Kingdom First. Rethinking Our Approach as a Church to Changing the World<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Au75EWuhJI4/WaL5GyFmr4I/AAAAAAAAFj0/TQqhp4EQKJMVK7Vdq7iNgNkNYpt8EUvbgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170827_125103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Au75EWuhJI4/WaL5GyFmr4I/AAAAAAAAFj0/TQqhp4EQKJMVK7Vdq7iNgNkNYpt8EUvbgCLcBGAs/s640/20170827_125103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br />A TIME OF CRISIS</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b> </b><br />Charlottesville. <br />
North Korea. <br />
NFL players protesting.<br /><br />
America seems to be in crisis. And people are starting to act a little
passionate or crazy, depending on your perspective.<br />
<br />
You know what happens at a time like this? The church is tempted to act like we
are supposed to solve the world's problems. Like I want to fix all those
things. I want the pain, oppression, and hurt to end. But here is the hard
teaching I want us to consider today. That's not our calling. It’s not our
calling to solve the world’s problems. Our calling is to be an example of the
Kingdom. Doing that effectively will often overflow into the world and
transform it as we live it out, but changing the world is not our goal.
Changing ourselves is. Striving to be a community committed to following God no
matter the cost without hate, violence, racism, or bigotry. A community filled
with love toward one another, strangers, and enemies. A community that prays
for those who persecute us and prays for those who oppress. The light of the
world in the midst of darkness. That’s our calling. And we ask others to
abandon their loyalty to the kingdoms of this world and join this better
Kingdom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Is this a cop out? I don't
think so. It's focus is on that which we can change and be a part of. It's
striving to be an example of a better alternative than what we see around us. <br />
<br />
We are to be a kingdom without any forms of oppression where any
person can come and experience God. We are called to right the wrongs of
oppression in a better way. A way where the means are the end and not justified
away to get to the end. A way where we sacrifice to bring it about rather than
try to force others to bring it about.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus lived in a time where
he could have just done what we see going on in the world today. He could have
protested loudly and violently. He could have tried to have the best marketing,
the most violent and effective soldiers, and the most political clout to
transform Rome. But he didn’t. <br />
<br />Instead, we can look at what Jesus did do. Here is what he said:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who
planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and
built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the season for fruit drew near, he sent
his servants to the tenants to get his fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and
stoned another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again he sent other
servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They
will respect my son.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when the
tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us
kill him and have his inheritance.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When therefore the owner of the vineyard
comes, what will he do to those tenants?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and
let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their
seasons.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said to them, “Have you
never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become
the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our
eyes’?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore I tell you, the kingdom
of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its
fruits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the one who falls on this
stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush
him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the chief priests and the
Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although they were seeking to arrest him,
they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet. Matthew 21:33-46
(ESV)</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
You see, Israel, the kingdom of God in the Old Testament, was failing to live
up to what God had called them to be. So Jesus explained the plan. "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away
from you and given to a people producing its fruits."<br />
<br />
And this wasn’t anything new. Back in the time of Jeremiah, the prophet, six
hundred years before Jesus, expected the same thing.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not like the covenant that I made with their
fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land
of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the
LORD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this is the covenant that I
will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will
put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be
their God, and they shall be my people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother,
saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to
the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will
remember their sin no more.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus says
the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon
and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
the LORD of hosts is his name:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If this
fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring
of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus says the LORD: “If the heavens above can
be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I
will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares
the LORD.” Jeremiah 31:31-37 (ESV)</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
What we see throughout the Old Testament is the failure of Israel to actually
be the people of God. A covenant is an agreement, and Israel broke their side
of the covenant with God. Yet God's purpose in creating the covenant was so important that he
wasn't going to let Israel's obstinance and disobedience stop Him from bringing
about His will. God was patient, and time and time again he waited on them to
come around. But, as we see in what Jesus taught, the time was up. The time of
a new covenant had arrived. As Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom
of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.”
600 years from the time of Jeremiah, and the people of Israel still hadn’t got
their act together. There were glimpses here and there, but, overall, they were
not being the people God wanted. <br /><b><br />A DIFFERENT APPROACH</b><br />
<br />
So God came down to earth as Jesus and took a different approach. He assembled
a group of disciples and mentored them. Teaching them how to live the life He
wanted them to live through example. And this group, guided by the Holy Spirit,
did the same to others. On and on, through the ages, until it gets to you and
me. People who have been discipled by people who have been discipled in a line
that goes all the way back to Jesus. We, the church of today, are part of this
community that Jesus established to transfer the kingdom of God to.<br />
<br />
Jesus was assembling a group of people who would be who God always intended
Israel to be, a better alternative than what we see around us. So when the
world says protest and tear down, Jesus gave a different alternative.<br />
<br />
I am glad that Jesus didn’t try to change the world through protest and killer
memes. Although I do enjoy a funny meme. Instead he chose love, sacrifice, and
investing in an alternative community. That radical example is still the call
for us today. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Being
right with God isn’t about just having the right belief statements; nor the
right heritage as the nation of Israel mistook it for at times; it’s about
walking the same path that Jesus walked while being guided by the Holy Spirit
that Jesus gives. It’s about being God’s hands and feet in a world that
desperately needs them. It’s about modeling an alternative way of living in a
world filled with selfishness and hate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This kingdom revolution that
Jesus started continues today. It’s not a matter of whether it is happening or
not. It’s about whether we are going to be part of it or not. Are we going to
live our lives actively participating in God’s kingdom? Are we going to choose
the kingdom ways that are countercultural to American ways? Are we going to
love our enemies? Are we going to bless those who persecute us and pray for
them? Are we going to honor our leaders even when they are on the opposing
side? Are we willing to be different?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus didn’t stand up and
attack the oppressors. He didn’t argue that his hate is legitimate and then
harm the people who opposed him to get rid of their hate. Instead, he said,
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" as he hung on
the cross being murdered due to their hate. And that radical forgiveness was
given to the people who literally nailed him to a cross and mocked him. Jesus
modeled love even in the midst of the greatest form of hate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And I’m not neglecting the
story of him driving out the profiteers in the temple. But that was in the
temple, the one place on earth out of all places that should have been
exemplifying his kingdom. This was aimed at religious people not acting like
they were supposed to. They were desecrating that which should have been holy.
Jesus had all authority in the Temple to do what he did. It was His place. His
house, but it wasn’t modeling His way. Now they didn’t see it that way, and
that was actually part of the problem. The temple where Jesus drove out the
profiteers wasn't an example of what God’s kingdom was supposed to look like,
just like some churches aren't a good example of God’s kingdom today. Maybe
they are also dangerously close to receiving the treatment that the nation of
Israel received. Revelation has a lot of threats about removing His
candlestick, his light, out of churches. Just because we are in the church
doesn’t mean that we’re right with God. And likewise, if we are outside of the
church, the physical manifestation of God’s kingdom – the outpost, the embassy
of God’s kingdom here on earth - we aren’t right with God either.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Instead of being like the
world and fighting the battles of the world, Jesus taught an alternative
kingdom and an alternative way to live in community with our fellow sojourners.
He didn’t try to transform Rome. Instead, He encouraged people to not accept
the emperor as their emperor and instead allow Him to be their king. King
Jesus. <br />
<br />
Jesus transitioned the kingdom of God in the form of Israel to being the
kingdom of God in the form of the church. He was shaping a community under the
authority of God that exemplified people living in right relationship with one
another and with God. This is what we are supposed to be doing. This is how we
change the world. This is the vessel through which God’s power flows. Being an
active part of the community of God, the church, is our calling. <br />
<br />
And it calls for an alternative lifestyle than what we often see around us. I
serve a King who tells me to bless those who persecute me, love my enemies, and
pray for them. Nowhere does Jesus tell me to try to make them conform to my
beliefs or that I should oppress them.<br /><br /><b>AN EXAMPLE OF AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO CHANGE</b><br />
<br />
We can look around at Christianity and find people taking this alternative approach. <br />
<br />
Mother Teresa was one of those. She began her ministry
in Calcutta, India in 1950 with 13 people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By 1996, she was operating 610 missions in 123 countries with 4,000
sisters, 300 brothers, and 100,000 lay volunteers. This wasn’t through
government support but through the support of the church.<br />
<br />
She exemplified change through church. The world only knows how to bring about
change the way they are trying. So, in a way, we can’t blame them for the chaos
we are seeing. We know a different way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
Shane Claiborne was being interviewed about her death because he was an
American voice to her story as he had done an internship under her. He shared
in his book Irresistible Revolution, "To be honest, Mother Teresa died a long time ago, when she
gave her life to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The joy and
compassion and love that the world finds so magnetic are only Jesus, and that
is eternal.” <br />
<br />
Claiborne goes on:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Mother
Teresa was one of those people who sacrificed great privilege because she
encountered such great need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People
often ask me what Mother Teresa was like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes it’s like they wonder if she glowed in the dark or had a
halo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was short, wrinkled, and
precious, maybe even a little ornery, like a beautiful wise old granny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is one thing I will never
forget—her feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her feet were
deformed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each morning in Mass, I would
stare at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
“I wondered if she had contracted leprosy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I wasn’t going to ask, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Hey Mother, what’s wrong with your feet?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day a sister said to us, “Have you
noticed her feet?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We nodded, curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “Her feet are deformed because we
get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to
get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And years of doing that have deformed her
feet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years of loving her neighbor as
herself deformed her feet. (Shane
Claiborne’s Irresistible Revolution 167-168).</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
Sacrifice rather than power. Love over hate. Service instead of selfishness.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This is what we are called
to. Suffering to make things better. She could have protested and boycotted,
but instead she chose love. She started to just solve the problem that she saw
rather than expected others to.<br /><br /><b>THE KINGDOM ISN'T JUST INVISIBLE</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But, and here is the
dangerous truth today, I think we mess up being an example of God’s kingdom
because we think the kingdom of America is more important than the kingdom of
God. We may not say it verbally, but we say it with our actions. <br />
<br />
If you can recite the pledge of allegiance more easily than the Lord's prayer,
you might have an idolatry problem.<br />
<br />
If you are more concerned with someone's posture during the National Anthem
than their posture during worship or whether they even attend church, you might
have an idolatry problem.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
Because saying Jesus is Lord is actually a rallying
cry in a real, material sense. We are proclaimint that we are leaving the kingdoms of this world
and being part of the kingdom of God. Whether you’re an Iraqi, Chinese,
Russian, German, or American, calling Jesus King means placing loyalty to the
kingdom of God above any other loyalty. It means, when we truly mean it, that
God’s kingdom becomes our focus. We will seek it first. I have to make sure
God's kingdom is doing things right – not America. I do not have to focus on
Caesar's kingdom or Babylon. Instead, I seek the kingdom of God. His place and
His ways.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus’ kingdom is both
political and spiritual. It’s tangible and invisible. Although we have been
struggling against the idea that it is only invisible since the Reformation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We are still in the world and
do not disobey the state except for where it conflicts the teachings of the
kingdom. But to then jump and say that we are to try and force the world to
adhere to Christian ethics goes beyond our calling. We are not called to force
the world to behave like Jesus wants. Instead, we are to spend our times
investing in God’s kingdom, the church, so that it models to the world what
Jesus wants.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The church is more materially
meaningful than most give it credit for. Even Christians.<br />
<br />
Together, we are supposed to be the change we want to see happen in the world.
We are to live it out. Blacks need to be treated equal, so we treat them equal.
The poor need fed, so we feed them. If the education system was bad in our
community, I would say that we should start a school. We are called to be used
by God to create His kingdom in the church and model His perfect will here on
earth. We are to be a place where the wrongs are righted. A kingdom that shows
the world what we were created to live for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /><b>THE BELIEF THAT MAKES THIS MAKE SENSE</b><br /> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, that may seem off a
little. If so, it’s because we don’t share the core convictions that shape this
idea.<br />
<br />
And it starts with the idea that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
kingdom of God has transitioned from the nation of Israel to the Church. America
is not God’s new kingdom; the church is. This is why I like to view Jesus’ role
here on earth as being a Jewish revolutionary. He took the ideas from the old covenant,
that we have in our old testament, and transitioned them into a new covenant,
the ideas that we have in the New Testament. The promises that applied to the
nation of Israel in the old covenant have transitioned to applying to the new
Israel, the church. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">As Paul wrote:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">For no one
is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and
physical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But a Jew is one inwardly, and
circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His
praise is not from man but from God. Romans 2:28-29 (ESV)</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
</span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are
descended from Israel belong to Israel,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but
“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children
of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. Romans 9:6-8
(ESV)</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
And then he went on to explain in Galatians:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to
promise. Galatians 3:29 (ESV)</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
</span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new
creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as for all who walk by
this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians
6:15-16 (ESV)</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
</span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would
justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham,
saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So then, those who are of faith are blessed
along with Abraham, the man of faith. Galatians 3:7-9 (ESV)</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
Paul is clarifying that the people who are now Israel, God’s kingdom, are no
longer included in God’s kingdom based upon whether they are the biological
offspring of Abraham. Instead, they are now the people who are the faith
offspring of Abraham. People who follow in His faith are the people of Israel
now. <br />
<br />
Circumcision was the mark of the Old Covenant, and it was an issue of
contention in the early church. Paul wrote Galatians to deal with that. People
were still arguing that the nation of Israel was the kingdom of God and that
people needed to follow the laws of Israel to be right with God. It was
necessary to be circumcised to be a Jew, part of Israel. But Paul, in arguing
against that point, is also making the point that being part of Israel isn’t
based upon the old covenant any longer. It’s no longer about being circumcised.
It’s about faith in the heart. It was that time where Jesus mentioned where <br />“the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a
people producing its fruits.” It’s the realization of the day Jeremiah foretold
of where God said he would establish a new covenant and said, “I will put my
law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.” Being a citizen of God’s kingdom is about the
Spirit living in us. Being the people together who God wanted humanity to always
be.<br />
<br />
Paul is pointing out that Jesus was a Jewish revolutionary who brought about
the transition of the Kingdom of God from being the nation of Israel to being
the new people of Israel, the Church. And this truth, when truly held changes
our actions.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</b></span></div>
<b>
</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>RATHER THAN EXPECT OTHER TO CHANGE, WE CHANGE</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">For
no longer do we think the world needs to change. We change. And if it means
that we suffer for bringing about good, we do that. And this isn’t just
something for the rockstars of the faith like Mother Teresa. It’s for people
like you and me.<br />
<br />
I think of my friends in Hope 2 Liberia, who were on a mission trip in Liberia
and were convicted that this can’t be just a one-off thing. Since then, 1000s
of Liberians have been given access to clean drinking water. And they have also
started a school that 100s of Liberian children are already getting a better
future from. Kingdom living spinning out of their church in Muncie, Indiana,
changing the world.<br />
<br />
This isn’t the approach of making the world bring about justice. Of us
protesting loudly and making the powers that be provide us with the solution. This
is the approach of having justice just overflow from who we are as followers of
Jesus. We bring about the right through being the right ourselves.<br />
<br />
Even little things we have done. When I was at Antwerp Community Church, I had
the dream of a soccer league in Antwerp as I felt it was a need that wasn’t
being met to provide some community and fun. I left the church, but the league
was already a plan and it happened. It still happens to this day.<br />
<br />
We started the Kid’s Clothes Closet years back. But a volunteer sort of adopted
it a few years into it. And she just ran with it making it a better thing than
we dreamed of. So the dream of the Kid’s Clothes Closet providing clothing for
people in need in our area is still flourishing.<br />
<br />
And the School Supply Project was actually birthed through a book study when we
were reading Irresistible Revolution, the book the Mother Teresa story I shared
earlier came from. And we still help kids in community with it. Would I prefer
the school just provide supplies for kids in need? Absolutely. But they don’t.
And we don’t protest or try to make the school or the government provide the
things that are needed for all students. Instead, we just do it.<br />
<br />
Have their been failures? Yes. The youth center is the most daunting one in my
mind, but that doesn’t make us stop just trying to be a better example of the
kingdom of God. A place where God’s will materializes in our midst. <br />
<br />
We can’t do everything. We’re a small group with limited resources. But we
serve a God who sees the big picture and has unlimited resources. So we just need
to faithfully be who He is calling us to be. And working together here in the
church doing that, we will make a difference by just being the Kingdom of God.
And together, churches who respond faithfully to this call in our community, throughout
our State, and around the world, we give us glimpses of God’s kingdom making an
impact everywhere.<br />
<br />
And that’s our calling. To be the better place – the kingdom of God – in the
midst of the world. We really already are the kingdom; we just need to live in
that truth. We change instead of expecting others to change. We sacrifice
instead of protesting. We love even in the midst of hate. We are the new
creation Paul was talking about. We are called to produce fruits of the kingdom
as Jesus taught. We are living in the new covenant Jeremiah dreamed about.
Let’s focus on that rather than the chaos around us. Let us strive to be the
community God has called us to be. Let us be the kingdom.
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278807.post-23757946230410967622017-07-18T11:11:00.000-04:002017-07-18T11:12:54.886-04:00Rethinking Church's Relationship To State<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-gY4pFT0Y8/WW4hVLRqlLI/AAAAAAAAFbA/N5ILU26RCMM-Vln7m8dttZuVx6z_2liHACLcBGAs/s1600/Jeremiahs%2BWatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="553" height="444" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-gY4pFT0Y8/WW4hVLRqlLI/AAAAAAAAFbA/N5ILU26RCMM-Vln7m8dttZuVx6z_2liHACLcBGAs/s640/Jeremiahs%2BWatch.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Throughout much of the history
of the Church, the Church has just followed society hook, line and sinker. From
the time of Jesus until 313 AD the Church had an on and off again relationship
with the State. On again meaning that the State was persecuting and killing
them; off again, meaning that the State would leave them alone despite
Christianity still being illegal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In 313,
that all changed. Constantine issued the edict of Milan making it legal to be a
Christian. Throughout the 4th century, laws were passed until Christianity
became the State religion and all other religions were made illegal, and, with
that, a dark era for the Church was initiated. Instead of loving the lost, some
Christians started persecuting the lost and, in the worse cases, killing them.
As if you should die if you don't agree with what we believe. When given the power of the State, Christians throughout history have shown
that they often behave no better and sometimes worse than those who don't know
God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">No longer was the Church viewed by Christians as a kingdom without
borders, colonies of God’s kingdom here on earth, ambassadors not of this world who live in the truth of God's otherworldly kingdom bringing its beauty into our world; Christians began to
confuse the State with God’s kingdom, melding the two, and the State and the
Church had an affair while Christ waited for His Bride to come back home. It
wasn’t until recently, that this hold of the State on the Church and the lust
of the Church to control the State has waned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Stanley
Hauerwas shares this watershed moment by telling a story of his childhood in
Greenville, South Carolina. On one Sunday night in the summer of 1963, as
Hauerwas writes:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In defiance of the state’s time-honored blue laws, the Fox
Theater opened on Sunday. Seven of us—regular attenders of the Methodist Youth
Fellowship at Buncombe Street Church—made a pact to enter the front door of the
church, be seen, then quietly slip out the back door and join John Wayne at the
Fox…On that night, Greenville, South Carolina—the last pocket of resistance to
secularity in the Western world—served notice that it would no longer be a prop
for the church. There would be no more free passes for the church, no more free
rides. The Fox Theater went head to head with the church over who would provide
the world view for the young. That night in 1963, the Fox Theater won the
opening skirmish (Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon,
15-16).</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And the
church has been reeling ever since. We seem to be finding our legs these days.
We are not in cahoots with the State any more. We understand that our culture
is not Christian or God honoring. There is now a great divide between the
Church and the world. The seductive siren call of popularity, power, law, and
control never fit well with the call of Christ to be a self-sacrificing servant
to others, to love our enemies, and to go the extra mile even when we don't
want to go the first. The State no longer wants us. The world no longer wants
us, and we should be comfortable not wanting what they have instead of
conforming to what they want us to be. Jesus never meant for His Church to
wield the power of the State nor worry about being accepted and popular.
We are to be an irresistible alternative from the world for those who seek God.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Instead of being the bride of
Christ throughout the centuries, the Church has been dating Themis, the Greek goddess
of Law. And the breakup has been tough. During this fifteen century affair, the
Church forgot its purpose and how to function. Thankfully, there have been
faithful remnants and glimmers of God's Kingdom that we can look to in
relearning our role as the Bride of Christ in a post-Christian society. But
since breaking up with Themis, the Church has gone through a deep depression,
tried dating around, but now we’re finally getting back to Jesus. And dating
Jesus doesn’t look like the way the Church has been since the time of
Constantine, but it’s the way that Jesus has designed us to be. We're learning
how to love again. We're learning how to passionately follow God again. We’re
learning to fully live in grace and truth. These are good times to be following
Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And the same thing that
happened to the church over the centuries may be true in our own personal
lives. We might be listening to the siren call of false god of America, Hollywood, Sports, or to any of the other idols of our culture that should never be
listened to above the voice of God. We might have hardened to God like Playdoh
hardens, but, like Playdoh, it’s never too late. God is the master heart shaper,
and, as long as we have life left in us, he can pour the water on us and shape
our heart again if we are willing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Now,
more than ever, many are awakening to the idea that America isn't exactly a
Christian nation. It's baffling to me that this wasn't already self-evident
with our nation's stance on abortion, attitude toward the poor, aggressive
military action around the world, and many other issues. But now, it is
ingrained in our laws that homosexuality is just as valid as heterosexuality.
Maybe we, the church, the body of Jesus, have been going about it all wrong for
the last few decades. We have been obsessing with how to make our nation more
Christian, which leads to us putting law forward instead of love, and in focusing
on the State and what it should do, we have neglected how we can be better
Christians - better followers of Jesus in our everyday lives and together as the church. We have a
dangerous and terrible tendency to focus on others who we can't change rather
than ourselves who we can.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />Our
government is not, despite the rhetoric of Ronald Reagan, the "shining
city on a hill." We are not "the hope of the earth" (as Mitt
Romney said in the presidential debate, October 22, 2012., but a sentiment also
said by Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln). Nor are we "the one indispensable nation" (as Barack
Obama said in that same presidential debate). Our nation is not the salt of the
earth or the light of the world. Those are prideful misappropriations of
phrases that are reserved for the kingdom of God. The local church is the city on a hill, the salt of the
earth, and the light of the world. The local church is the answer for the
problems of the world, and yet we neglect the bride of Christ time and time
again for all the whimsical allures of the world. And I think things are
crumbling around us because I don’t even know if the church believes in our
special place anymore. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I hope that we can give up
fighting the cultural battles of our day on a political level because they have
already been lost and have hurt the cause of the gospel. But that doesn’t
change what is right or wrong; it just changes our approach. The Bible gives us
no hint that Jesus was concerned about changing the laws in the Roman Empire.
Instead, we see him establishing an alternative kingdom where he is the King. Let’s follow suit. Instead of attempting to change American laws, let's focus
on changing our lives to be more like what God wants them to be and shower our
community and the world with the love of God. We can't make a nation Christian
through legislation. But that shouldn’t bother us. We live as citizens in God’s
kingdom under the authority of a perfect King. </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This is the one indispensable nation.
</span>The foot we put forward
shouldn’t be homosexuality is a sin, although if people ask, they do deserve
and honest, biblical answer. But we should be focused on working through our
local churches to win the hearts of people to Jesus. We must set an example of
kingdom living that is irresistible to those seeking God. Through that, our
nation will have more Christians.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">James described true spirituality
as loving orphans and widows while keeping ourselves unstained from the world
(James 1:27), Jesus described true spirituality as loving God and loving our
neighbors (Matthew 22:36-40). Paul taught us that the pinnacle of the spiritual
life is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). John taught us that if we don't love our
brothers and sisters, then we don't love God (1 John 4:20).We don't have to
agree with people to love them. And that is true religion. That is the positive
message and life that we must focus on and live for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But here is the truth that we
must realize, we never let our State or the world dictate to us what is right
and wrong. Society dictates morality in a secular state. But we operate differently. We allow God to
dictate to us what is right or wrong. That is why, historically, dictators have
always attacked the church, whether that was in early Communist China, Soviet
Russia, or Nazi Germany. We, followers of Jesus, are like herding cats. The
faithful cannot be manipulated. Our nation may be hardened to the will of God,
but we don't have to follow suit. We must always remain faithful to our
understanding of God’s word in Scripture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">No matter what the State
says, our beliefs hold true. We don't conform to the world; we allow God to
transform us. The Church and the State were never meant to be bedmates. Our
state is secular; it's not Christian. It can allow gay marriage. That is not
our domain. We don’t even need to invest our energy opposing it in the
legislative arena. Our domain is here: The church, the kingdom of God. And I
think Christians have spent a lot of energy and effort trying to fix the State
while we have let the church crumble. Our priorities and energy have been misdirected.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The church was always meant
to be countercultural. That should be evident now. We shouldn't spend our time
being overly concerned with the State because we can't control it. But you know
who we can control? Ourselves. We can strive to be more loving. We can strive
to help the poor. We can strive to bring peace into our circle of
relationships. We can strive to stand on truth and exude grace. We can be
humble and full of forgiveness. All too often we get hung up on the wrong
things and miss out on working on our own spiritual lives. We get distracted,
preventing ourselves from drawing closer to God and learning to listen to the
Holy Spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Let us take this moment in
history and allow it to spur us all closer to Jesus. Let it not cause us to be
disillusioned but to regain focus. Let us strive to be the church filled with
people in community with one another. People who seek to live in the kingdom of
God here on earth as it is in heaven. Let us focus on ourselves and
our sin rather than the sin of others. Let us revel in the grace of God and
live in such a way that others want to join us in giving glory to our Father in
heaven. This is the time for the church to be the church and live up to its
calling to be the hope of the word. The time is now.</span></div>
Regan Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014028966438806678noreply@blogger.com