Chatty Christians . . .

It is never wrong to remain silent when you have nothing to say, particularly, if what you are about to say is not constructive. Idle chit-chat has got many a soul in trouble. That is not to say that we Christians must be dull and lethargic saps, a conversational drag; it does say, however, that our speech must be circumspect, Godly and appropriate. Paul calls this “edification” which, incidentally, is an old-fashioned word seldom heard these days. Interestingly enough, this advice is also in order for us “tongue speakers” (1 Corinthians 14:1-40). Even tongues should build up, rather than just become so much “spiritual” chatter. Paul called such public chatter a “sounding brass or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13: 1).”

God never promised to bless hot air, even if it does sound like a foreign language and comes out of the mouth of a TV preacher. Even if such is really tongues (and I doubt that it is) at best it only blesses the preacher; at worst, however, it is like casting pearls before swine, as it were. Why give a critical public fodder for their criticism? It just doesn't make sense.

I've never been ashamed of my Pentecostal  heritage. I have, however, never felt the urge to rub the truth of my experience in the face of those that may disagree. We must remember that "it is God who works in us to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose (Philippians 2:13)." He'll do the work, not us. We'll only muddle things up in most cases.

 Keep looking up, for our redemption is near,

 JimR_/

Jesus: a friend for life . . .

Jesus is most certainly a friend that sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24). This friendship however comes with a price tag—that is, we must also obey him (John 15:14,15). We do not deserve this friendship; yet Christ has chosen to become our friend. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer pointed out so many years ago, this grace (unmerited favor) does not come cheaply. It costs. It cost Christ’s life; it cost our loyal obedience.

Protestants, of the Reformation sort, insist that our friendship with Christ—that relationship, is entirely by faith; that there are no conditions. Well, yes and no. Yes, if such faith has content. No, if it is without content that includes works of charity and obedience.  Even the simplest faith goes beyond a cursory belief that Jesus is Lord, and as such must be obeyed. Otherwise, Old Scratch himself would qualify (James 2:14-25).

Flesh, the future, and hope in God —

There is nothing inherently wrong with flesh—that is, creation; for when God created man, 

“And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31; 1 Timothy 2:4).”

The same cannot be said of fallen flesh which has been marred, and full of all kinds of evil desires. Our new creation is God’s way of turning back the clock on this—as it were, and to rebirth us to our pristine condition. Jesus is the new Adam, and we, too, are in the germinal stages of becoming just like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). So, it is a reality based on hope. Not hope without substance, however. We know on whom we believe and are persuaded that he is able to keep us safe (Jude 1:24) as we grow.

First, we are babes, then, as healthy Christians, we continue on to maturity in Christ. To be precise, as Paul writes, that we are “being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).” Amazing, isn’t it? You and I who were once nothing, are now new creatures in Christ, sons and daughters of the Most High.

Central to our vocation as sons and daughters of God is that also each of us has been called to be a royal priesthood—kings and priest, as it were (1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2: 9; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10). That too is part of the process.

Most understand kingship in a rudimentary way. Kingship to them is based on a vivid imagination, like you would find in a fairytale. No so with Christlikeness—that requires blood, sweat and toil. Blood in the sense that if he died for us, we too must offer ourselves as a living sacrifice for Him, also. Thankfully not always in death, but when necessary, yes. This I believe is what prompted Paul to say,

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

And, in another place he writes,

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him (Philippians 1:29).

That, too, can be, and most often is, our opportunity to suffer like any benevolent king on the battle field of life. Christ, our eternal mentor, did, so why shouldn’t we be willing to also? No, servant is greater than his master (John 13:16). Why should we expect any less?

Triumphalism simply does not work in our Christian walk—as Young's Literal Translation of 2 Timothy 3:12, translate it:

“… and all also who will to live piously in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted. “

True, Paul did say,

But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him (2 Corinthians 2:14).

In this case, however, God is the triumphant one, we are simply His captives. No wiggle room for self-aggrandizement here.

Further, John reminds us that Jesus once said,

These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

However, true … but that is part of the hope we have in Christ. So, in a sense have a King with a kingdom that unfolded in stages.

For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

And as Paul says, in support of this concept, that:

Not that [we] have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but [we] press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Philippians 3:12).

Such faith is not irrational—that is, beneath reason or sub-rational, it is reasonable; and reason dictates that we embrace all that He embraced. He suffered, so must we. He was acquainted with grief. What exempts us from that also? He was bruised for our iniquity—should we not also be ready to die with Christ if we are to live with him? For,

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:10)

Keep looking up, for our redemption is near,

 JimR_/

What feelings has to do with it . . .

Personally, I would not give you a plug nickel for a religion that was all head and no heart. Philosophy and science have their place, but if forced to choose I would rather have the “joy unspeakable” (1 Peter 1:8) that Peter talks about, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that I may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19) of which Paul writes.

Theology to have any meaningful value must speak to the heart, or it doesn’t really speak at all. What lasting good can any belief have unless it draws us actively into the circle of God’s everlasting love and purposes for us? There is none. The Scripture puts it this way:

“[T]he letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).”

St. Thomas a’ Kempis once remarked, “I would rather feel regret than to be able to define it.” He also writes in another place: “What if you knew the whole Bible outwardly, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what would it all profit you without charity and the grace of God?” In both of these choice statements he is reminding us that Godliness affects the heart—the emotions of man, rather than just the head.

I remind us of this because we sometimes get so tied up in witnessing or educating others that we forget that knowing God, really knowing Him, is more than what we see printed in black and white on the pages of a book, even if that book is the Bible. God wants to get beyond that:

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires (Hebrews 4:12).”

Thus, we can say that it is one thing to see the light; yet, quite another to walk in it

[For] if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7).”

And, my friend, when Jesus purifies us from sin, we are at peace with God, ourselves and our neighbors.

 Keep looking up, for our redemption is near,

 JimR_/

Transparency, worry, trust and hope in God . . .

Worry, when you stop and think about it, never accomplishes anything. It is one of the most destructive forces in the universe. “Which of you by worry,” Christ asks, “can add a single hour to your life (Matthew 26:7 NASB)?”

So, “Why worry? Be happy!” as the song goes. That may not be Bible but it is good advice, and illustrates that even commonsense dictates that worry is a useless enterprise. So, again, why worry?

Worry, for the Christian, is a sure sign of mistrust. What it says in acts speak louder than words is that God is not to be trusted. His grace, of course, depends on you doing your part. We cannot blame God for our foibles, nor our lack of faith. Yet, some do. “Why me, God?” is the usual mantra. This you hear over and over again when around a doubter. It’s their comfort food, mentally. They nourish on it. The problem is, it’s poison to the soul.

Doubts are like a secret whisper campaign put on by the Devil, and when that takes full effect a crippling worry sets in. It weakens us until we become so lethargic spiritually that we are a drag not only on ourselves, but on others as well. No one likes to be around a grump, even the grump himself.

Like Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh nothing is ever right, or at least not up to his expectations. Doubters slump around second guessing, everything and anybody, including God. The glass is never half-full, and what little water that is left in it is slowly leaking out through some imaginary hole.

Now, I am not talking about reality here, it all imagination. We must be realist. Realists, however, take positive steps to remedy the problem. When that is not possible, then they stand on the promises of God. Paul in that vein said, “after you have done everything to overcome, to stand firm (Ephesians 6:13).” Nothing wrong with that kind of stubbornness. It beats doubt and worry any day.

One may look at a rose bush and see roses, another the thorns only. The choice is ours. As Chuck Swindoll once said, “Life is all about attitudes. Pick a good one!” The beautiful part about an attitude is that a choice is always there, even for a crusty old codger or a persnickety old lady. The choice is there. The spiritual whines are not the answer—that’s for sure!

To cloak doubt and worry in a prayerful whine will only acerbate the problem. God’s not really interested in your whines. He much prefers your worship. As a matter of fact, worship will generally take care of the whines.

Worship is therapeutic. It cleanses the soul. Washes the dirt of doubt and worry away. Refreshes us in ways that really, as Paul said, are beyond our comprehension. So, pray. Pray in the spirit. Such prayer is medicine for the soul (Romans 8:26-27).

So, may I encourage us, as Paul encouraged Timothy, to not neglect the gift that is within us (Ephesians 4:14). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit was given to us primarily for just this purpose.

Transparency is good, so in light of this I must say that this was written in the middle of a good cry—yes, nothing unmanly about crying, standing vulnerable before God. Old age is not a game for sissies, and when you get my age and look the grim reaper in the face of that prospect as you struggle through the snares of old age, helplessness can set in. That’s a fact. His promises, however, are for strength for the day, and hope in the face of uncertainty.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad therein.

Now, have a blessed and cheerful day!

 JimR_/