Sharing Means Giving

Meditate: Acts 2:44

This also isn’t an image of what we now call socialism. (Stand by-a pastor’s going to try and explain economics and political science in a 300 word blog post.) Socialism calls for cooperation between individuals and expects everyone to suck it up for the greater good of the community.

And you may read that and think, “So far, so good.”

But the image the Bible gives here is not truly socialist. Socialism isn’t content to sit back and wait for people’s hearts to be changed so that they willingly cooperate. (These are the same people that can’t sleep at night thinking that somewhere, someone might have painted their front door the wrong color.)

And don’t worry; they’ll decide for you what your “contribution” to “cooperation” needs to look like. We spent several years living in a socialist country and it never once made me think of Acts chapter 2.

In this early Church, cooperation came out of the individual believers’ changed hearts flowing into the entire congregation. It wasn’t imposed. There were no assessments. No one decided how much was “enough” for you and your family to have.

And there was no tax system to ensure that anything more than “enough” went to the “greater good.”

And this is the lesson for us:
Where people are determined to follow God, they will find a way to cooperate. And, as they cooperate, the whole Church will be well served.

Do I cooperate in a way that contributes to the good of the Church?

Any contributions I should be making?

Pray:
Praise: You are the Everlasting Father. You give good gifts to Your children.
Confess: In my heart I have held back from Your Church.
Thank: You have given Your Church to strengthen, encourage, and teach.
Ask: Show me my part in Your Church. Give me Your generous Spirit.

Digging Deeper: II Thessalonians 3

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Experiencing Miracles

Facebook friend and church planter Shaun King wrote today about his miraculous experience in the aftermath of a horrific car accident back in 2003. He went face-first through the windshield — and lived! But that’s not the miraculous part. You’ll want to read his post “I Experienced a Miracle and I’m Not a Loon.”

That’s the news, now here’s the commentary…

What does it say about the state of the American Church that a man feels the need to add “and I’m Not a Loon” to this testimony to God’s amazing power?

Does our faith suffer from “the soft bigotry of low expectations?”  When did our Lord’s arm become too short to save? Why do we expect so little from the One we claim can do so much?

Just wondering…

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Tipping Sacred Cows

Meditate: Acts 2:44

It’s difficult to talk about what “All the believers…shared everything they had” means because of some of our assumptions. So let’s talk about what it’s not and see what that leaves us:

This wasn’t some utopian community where everyone had some kind of holy “fire sale” to liquidate all their assets. They didn’t cash in all their personal property and dump the proceeds in a common account. They didn’t go sit out on a mountainside waiting for the world to end and only come back to reality when the money ran out.

In fact, when you read this in light of what other parts of the Bible say about generosity this all looks very normal. Some of our core ideas about charity are captured here.

A Christian’s first responsibility is to their own family. To neglect your own is to “deny the faith” and be “worse than an unbeliever.”

After family, the priority was to those who were least able to help themselves. In ancient cultures that meant “widows and orphans.” Widows, because economic opportunities for women were extremely limited. And orphans because there weren’t any social services available to care for children. Our principle of helping the helpless originated here.

Also, it wasn’t acceptable to stop working just because you knew all those good Christians wouldn’t let you starve. In fact their approach can be summarized as “no work, no eat.” The Church didn’t feel that it owed anyone a living just because they claimed to be a Christian. Sharing “everything they had” wasn’t an excuse to freeload.

• Does my behavior toward my family “deny the faith?”
• Who are the helpless people in my reach?
• Any areas where I’m freeloading off the Church?

Pray:
Praise: You are the Lord of all; Everything is at Your command.
Confess: I have not always been faithful to You or Your family.
Thank: Your love never fails. I still find my hope in You.
Ask: Show me how to serve my brothers and sisters.

Digging Deeper: I Timothy 5

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Not Mine, Not Mine to Keep

Meditate: Acts 2:44

That brings up the third point (and possibly the most foreign to us):
For the believers to live this way also meant that they got it that individual prosperity is a whole family issue.

Allow me to explain. See, when I get a promotion, my entire household gets a raise. I’m the “breadwinner,” the “provider,” for my family and, as I said yesterday, they know where my money goes.

Whatever the provider provides benefits the entire family, right? If more comes in, then we all have more. If income takes a dive, we all adjust. It wouldn’t occur to me to hold out on my family. To tighten my grip and say, “Mine!” while they do without. Say it with me, “Real families don’t act that way.“

Now we’re fine with this so far. But this is usually as far as we want to go with this. See, if you’re a good, Bible-quoting Christian and I ask you if God’s your provider, chances are pretty high you’ll say yes.

But if I’m really tricky and, just out of the blue, I walk up and ask you how you get your grocery money, there’s an even better chance your answer will be about a paycheck (and not about our Lord).

And the truth is that you wouldn’t really be wrong (but I could sure make you feel guilty for leaving God out of it…)

The difficulty here is how we look at what God provides. God does provide for us but it usually doesn’t fall out of heaven like manna. But even knowing that, we’ve drifted into the notion that maybe God’s not directly connected to income from a “regular job.”

I mean, if you’ve been unemployed then you might look at a paycheck and sincerely say, “Thank God.” But most of us don’t think at all about God when we’re looking at our name on that check.

And if you’re paid via an electronic funds transfer where you just see a certain amount credited to your account from time to time, the odds get even slimmer. (That’s how I get my pay, so I know what I’m talking about here.)

And when we see it on the bank statement, it becomes all too easy to think “mine!” After all, it has my name on it.

And, speaking for myself at least (it may be different at your house), since that statement never reflects an unlimited supply, it’s almost impossible to take any part of that amount lightly because I’m sure “there’s plenty more where that came from…” And that makes it that much harder to let any of it go. “What if I don’t have enough?“

The challenge here is to become thoroughly aware that no matter whose name is on the check, it’s always God providing for me.

And He deserves my thanks for all He provides. There is plenty more where that came from.

And He’ll see that I’ll always have “enough.”

• Who’s really providing for me?

Pray:
Praise: You are my Provider. In You I lack no good thing.
Confess: I like to think that I’m in charge, that I’m the provider.
Thank: You are the faithful Father who knows my needs.
Ask: Help me to focus on You, to see what You’re doing in my life.

Digging Deeper: Psalm 37

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Trusting Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

The Bible makes it clear that God isn’t at all pleased when His people sit around occupied with what they don’t have. Come to think of it, many of the greatest miracles in the Bible involve God taking the little that someone has and transforming it.

Remember Jesus feeding the 5000? When Jesus told His disciples to feed the crowd, they honestly said they didn’t have the needed resources. Jesus more or less answered, “Well then, what do you have?”

They gave him all they had, a “sack lunch” borrowed from a boy, and He fed 5000 men plus women and children with 12 baskets of leftovers to spare.

And that’s just one example. Go through the Bible and, for example, you’ll read where enemies are defeated, water flows, food doesn’t run out, an ax head floats, fire falls from heaven, water is turned to wine, a temple is built.

This is an easily discerned principle: “Where God guides, He provides.”

But God’s most overwhelming responses often involve sacrificial trust. Sometimes it’s a symbolic act, “strike the rock,” and sometimes it’s more tangible, “Never mind the famine, I’ll be eating at your house.”

The common denominator is that God hands someone a saw and leads them out on what looks an awful lot like a limb and they go.

And you know what they learn out there on that limb? (Brace yourself. Major truth’s about to be shared…) God is faithful. Really, truly faithful.

And that’s what this is all about: God’s faithfulness.

If God is faithful then we can dare to have everything in common, to share. If we understand that ultimately it’s God who’s providing everything anyway, then what’s the big deal when He asks us to share (or to tithe on it, for that matter?) So do we believe that God is faithful? Do we truly believe the Bible?

Or are those examples just Sunday School stories we use to entertain the kids while we adults talk about the really important stuff?

See, real trust means “trusting with” something.

• Am I really trusting God?

Pray:
Praise: You are the same, yesterday, today, and forever. My trust in You will never be disappointed.
Confess: I often trust myself more than I trust You.
Thank: You have never failed me or left me comfortless.
Ask: Teach me to trust You with all of my life.

Digging Deeper: Genesis 22:1-19

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Everything

Meditate: Acts 2:44

See, a lot of our hesitation here comes with understanding just what having everything in common involves.

First of all, it means we recognize that we are, in fact, God’s gift to one another. (Did you ever think someone would describe you as “God’s gift” with a straight face?) God in His grace, love, and wisdom has brought us together as His Church in this place.

Another way to think of it is that the All-Wise, All-Knowing God hand-picked this team. If we give Him credit that He really knows what He’s doing (and you know He does), then we have to trust that everything this crew needs right now to follow where God is leading us is mystically, wonderfully right around here somewhere. These needs may develop over time; people and resources and plans may change; but I’m pretty sure our best course is to offer up all that we have and are to God, knowing that ultimately our success is in His hands anyway.

Second, because what God thinks we need right now is here already, we can leave behind the idea that we’re impoverished and Father isn’t paying attention. My wife doesn’t stand there on payday asking, “Where’s the rest of it?” She makes me aware of the household’s needs but she trusts that I’m pouring my full resources into the family. We need to trust that God’s doing the same for His family.

• What’s my place on this team that God’s assembled?

Pray:
Praise: You know the end from the beginning. Your plan will never fail.
Confess: Even though You’ve welcomed me in Your family, I’ve tried to live on my own.
Thank: You have given gifts, talents and special abilities, to enable me for my place in Your family.
Ask: Show me my place. Teach me my gifts. Fill me with that sense of belonging, of confidence, that belongs to any true member of a family.

Digging Deeper: Isaiah 46

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Sharing

Meditate: Acts 2:44

Look what happens in genuine, Spirit-infused togetherness. They shared.

Now this isn’t one of those “Everything I needed to know, I learned in kindergarten” kind of platitudes or some cheesy kind of convenience store greeting card sentiment. One translation says it this way: “everything they had was for the use of all.”

This is about family. Real, God-inspired family. Not to be confused with sappy “brotherhood of man” thinking.

Back in the school chorus they had us sing, “Let There Be Peace On Earth.” The song includes the lines, “With God as our Father,/brothers all are we./Let me walk with my brother/in perfect harmony…” Think of young male voices cracking under the strain and it’ll all come back to you. (And, of course, once it’s in your head you’ll think of me with thanks for the next several hours…)

That’s all fine right up to the point where you realize “perfect harmony” can only come between people who are being led by the Spirit as they follow Jesus in God’s ways.

And I think that’s why we have so much trouble seeing how today’s Church could ever look like this. We’re looking for some kind of global thing that’d be too big for us to comprehend even if it did exist.

But what if we looked at our congregation, our local Body of Christ, as a household? A household headed by God the Father? A household following the Son, Jesus, and permeated by the presence of the Spirit? What effect would that have?

What if we decided we were going to absorb the shocks together and celebrate the joys together and cry and laugh and dance and sing?

All together.

Like a family.

God’s family.

• Is God’s family my family?

Pray:
Praise: You are the Everlasting Father, giving good gifts to Your children.
Confess: I have not looked to You as Father. I have tried to find my own way apart from You.
Thank: You have given Your family that none of us should ever be alone. You have set Your table that we may be fed. You have given “springs of living water” that we would never thirst. I hear You calling me.
Ask: Adopt me into Your family, bring me home.

Digging Deeper: II Corinthians 8:1-15

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Called Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

The fact that we call ourselves Christians isn’t enough to gather us together.

There was a move through most of the last century that asked churches to disregard their unique beliefs and practices and just “unite in the name of Christ.” This resulted in something that’s fondly referred to as “empty ecumenism.”

Now the ideal of ecumenism is Biblical - it refers to the unity of the Church throughout the world - but this ecumenism is “empty” for a couple of reasons. Most obviously, because by the time you eliminate everything that might offend anyone, you’re not going to have much left.

But that’s not the real reason for the emptiness. Biblical unity in the Church results from our mutual submission to God, our salvation in Christ, and the Spirit dwelling in our midst.

The Ecumenical Movement wanted to unite any organization that fancied itself “Christian.” Names have their place but we all know that they don’t necessarily prove that there’s a relationship. I don’t declare it a family reunion every time I meet someone with my surname. I might take a moment to see if there’s any chance we’re related but I’ve learned that there’s more to kinship than a label.

That’s the role the Holy Spirit plays among believers. We may assert that we’re submitted to God and we may console ourselves that we’re “saved.” But what allows you to meet someone and consider them a “brother” or “sister” in less than 30 seconds?

It’s the presence of the Holy Spirit in both your lives. That’s the only basis for true “ecumenism” and that’s what brought these first believers together.

When we, as individual Christians and as congregations, seek the Spirit’s presence and allow Him to work in us, we will also come together.

• Do my “brothers and sisters” sense the Spirit in me?

Pray:
Praise: You are Truth; there is nothing empty, hollow or false in You.
Confess: I prefer to unite on my own terms rather than trust Yours.
Thank: You give Your Spirit to those who ask!
Ask: Fill me with Your Spirit as I welcome You in my life.

Digging Deeper: I John 4:1-5:21

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Really Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

It’s this whole business of the Spirit bringing us together that seems to cause all the confusion. But I think I know why that is.

Did you ever see a magician use one hand to distract you so that he can put the coin in the other hand?

We often idealize this early Church in a way that makes us overlook some basic things:
     Biblical unity is spiritual not organizational-”one body, many parts.”

It is mystical, “one Spirit,” not physical, “one heart.”

It’s relational not structural-”one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.”

We’re comfortable with things that are organizational, physical, and structural. Why? Because they’re real, right?

Well…that’s kind of what we tell ourselves. But does that mean that the spiritual, mystical, relational things are unreal? No!

But they are intangible. You can’t reach out and touch them, and you can’t point to them.

You can point to evidence that these things do exist-like when we see an old couple leaning on one another as they’re walking and we say to ourselves, “They must really love each other.”

And when you think about it that way, you realize that just because a scale or a camera or a measuring tape are no help doesn’t mean that something doesn’t exist.

Now, in the same way that I’m going to make really sure that my daughters know what real love means, we need to make sure that we know what real Christian unity means. I don’t want my daughters heading off with just any guy that talks a good game.

And God warns us that we’ll be invited to tag along with people that say they’re following Him but aren’t.

And they’ll try to distract us from the relationship He calls us to. But how can we be sure? What’s really real?

• What’s real in my life? What’s not?

Pray:
Praise: You are Eternal. When all that seems real is gone, You will remain.
Confess: I’m more concerned with my temporary reality.
Thank: You make Your Truth known in so many ways.
Ask: Give me Your wisdom to see things as they truly are.

Digging Deeper: John 17

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Getting It - Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

Most organizations come together around a common goal: “Let’s make money!” or “Let’s cure cancer…”

Many married couples (and other Veterans) will tell you that facing hardship draws you together.

And often a mutual friend (or a common enemy) is the basis for a relationship. All these things take us beyond just being passengers on the same bus.

This bond is so important that if you’ve attended any kind of business training lately then you’ve probably experienced the “team-building exercise.” This is an activity designed to get you to know the other people in the room so that you’ll work together. Sometimes they’re simple: “Turn to the person next to you, get to know them a little, so that you can introduce them to the group.” Sometimes it gets more elaborate-I’ve seen blindfolds and balancing acts. (Is the point really just to embarrass everyone as much as possible?) Whatever it is, the group realizes they’re in this together…

These first believers had been together following Jesus. They’d endured watching Him crucified and wondering if that meant the end of their hopes. They’d seen Him risen from the grave and seen Him taken in to heaven. Together, they gathered behind closed doors-waiting as Jesus had told them.

And then the Spirit came, taking them beyond the typical group dynamics and transforming them into the Body of Christ. The same Spirit that is God’s gift to us today.

• What “dynamic” joins me to other believers?

Pray:
Praise: You are the Almighty, the Lord of All, the Source and the Completion. Who else is like You?

Confess: I’ve settled for team building when You offer transformation.

Thank: You have joined us together as Your sons and daughters.

Ask: Make Your Church one even as You, Father, Son, and Spirit are one.

Digging Deeper: John 15

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All Together Now

Meditate: Acts 2:44

And just as the expectancy peaks, the conductor takes the podium and raises his baton. Let the harmony flow…

What’s the big deal about the conductor? The musicians are all very competent, right? Can’t they just read the music and have at it?

I heard a famous conductor interviewed once. He made it clear that he’s not just out there to keep time. If that’s all they needed they’d just get a big metronome.

In fact, he said he only used one hand to keep time. But he was using the other hand, and facial expressions, and body language and everything else at his disposal to communicate to the whole orchestra and individual players, to inspire them to go where the composer intended.

“Louder.” “You play softer.” “Pick it up.” “More feeling!” “Gentle, now.” He said that he’s responsible for all the parts of the composer’s plan that can’t quite be reflected in the sheet music.

This early Church had been united in following Jesus; they had benefited from the Word made flesh, as Jesus Himself explained the scriptures to them; they had seen Jesus taken into heaven and obeyed His command to go back to Jerusalem and wait.

And into the silence, into this expectation, God sent His Holy Spirit. The Spirit reminded them, convicted them, and taught them. The Spirit led them, comforted them, and gave them power. It’s the Spirit that brought them together. And herein lies the clue to where “all the believers together” has gone.

The Father, the Lord, the Almighty, the Righteous and Holy One, the Giver of the Word, the First Person of the Trinity. And Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord, the Risen One, the Redeemer, the Word made flesh, the Second Person of the Trinity… Father and Son, we know and honor and worship. We pray to them and sing to them and concern ourselves about pleasing them, about obeying their will…

But what about the Holy Spirit? You know, the Comforter, the Counselor, the Third Person of the Trinity? What role does He play in our lives and our congregations?

Jesus promised the Spirit would guide us into all truth. Can we afford to neglect the Guide that God Himself has provided for us?

Having received the Bible, the Word, have we now become so clever that we don’t need the Spirit to illuminate its truth? It is by the Spirit that Jesus keeps His promise to never leave us or forsake us. Do we not need Christ’s presence in our lives and our churches?

Believers submitting themselves to the Lordship of Christ, obeying the Father’s will and Word, and following where the Spirit guides are bound to come together, all together. Like a symphony.

• Are Father, Son, and Spirit ALL evident in my life?

Pray:
Praise: Who is like You? You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Confess: I think of You in a way that suits me instead of as You are.

Thank: You did not leave us comfortless but always keep Your promises.

Ask: Spirit, fill me. Lead me into all Truth. Guide me in the Way.

Digging Deeper: Galatians 3:1-4:7

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Expecting Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

So the stage is set, the orchestra is seated and tuned, the sheet music is in place…

And…silence.

In every symphony I’ve attended there was a moment of anticipation, of expectation, where everyone was waiting for what they knew was about to happen.

What’s the biggest obstacle to “all the believers” being “together” again? I think it’s expectation.

We’ve reached a point where many of us have become so entrenched in our differences that we no longer expect togetherness in God’s family.

A friend of mine leads a ministry that’s trying to bring together the leaders of the various believing congregations in his county for prayer and mutual encouragement. The results have been positive overall but…

Well, it just seems many Christians can’t imagine the value of a meeting that takes them outside their preferences. It calls them to go beyond their expectations. Which makes me wonder, what if?

What if we determined that when we encounter a brother or sister in the Lord, we would suppress our preferences and recognize a fellow child of God? What if we decided we were going to expect unity?

And what if we did this together?

• What are my expectations for Christian unity?

Pray:
Praise: You are the Everlasting Father watching over all Your children.

Confess: I don’t think of unity as my problem. It just happens, doesn’t it?

Thank: You have not left me alone but give me Your family of faith.

Ask: Father, make me one with my brothers and sisters.

Digging Deeper: I Corinthians 1; I Corinthians 3

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Preferences Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

Let me save you the letters and phone calls by saying that this doesn’t mean that all churches are right. They’re not.

That’s the second answer to this question. Some churches are just plain wrong. (That generates letters and calls from an entirely different set of folks, by the way.)

Keep in mind that Jesus warned us not everyone claiming to follow Him would be telling the truth. Remember “variation?” One of the most common frauds in the arts is to sign someone else’s name to something you made up. And that’s definitely been done with Jesus’ name.

But it hasn’t been done everywhere. And since we’re focusing here on believers, on the Church, let’s talk about that instead.

One of the reasons “all the believers” aren’t “together” in our day is that we’ve mistaken our own preferences for God’s law. In orchestra terms (getting tired of music references?) when it comes to church, we really would prefer the bassoon choir to the orchestra.

Now, most of us aren’t so caught up in our preferences that we look at everyone outside our congregation and consider them heathens. But how do we think of those believers who aren’t part of congregations like ours?

Are they “the competition?”

Are they just misguided?

Or are they family, brothers and sisters in God’s family serving the same Lord but with a different calling?

And if they are brothers and sisters whose company we’re not willing to enjoy, then we have to answer, “Why?”

The answer to this last question gives us the third major answer to that question: Why the different churches? We prefer it that way.

For reasons ranging from culture to style to doctrine to history to sheer pettiness, we all have our preferences and our reasons. Some are good and some are not.

Here’s the warning that goes with that: I permit my daughters their preferences in many things. They enjoy different types of activities and foods. They have different ways of expressing their feelings. They even approach me differently; one likes to talk, another to do things together, a third to just sit quietly together. It’s part of who they are and how God has made them. And that’s all fine.

Right up to the point where I hear someone say, “I wish you weren’t my sister.” That‘s an invitation to judgment. I can’t imagine God views us otherwise.

• How do I think of believers outside my congregation?

Pray:
Praise: You are the Lord of All Creation. Your love endures forever.

Confess: I don’t consider that You have children outside my circle.

Thank: Your grace and mercy extend beyond my boundaries.

Ask: Introduce me to the other parts of Your Church in my area.

Digging Deeper: James 4

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Diversely Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

Oftentimes, you’ll hear non-Christians ask, “If you’re all following the same Jesus and the same Bible then why are there so many different kinds of churches?” There are three or four main answers to that question. Let’s take a look.

Probably the most overlooked answer here is one of the most obvious. Harmony requires a variety of instruments playing in different ranges. It wouldn’t be an orchestra if it was all timpani drums pounding out the same rhythm. Or bassoons all playing all the same notes in perfect unison. Sure the timpanists or bassoonists might be more comfortable but what would it sound like? And (no offense) who would want to listen?

Should it be any different in God’s symphony? The Bible uses the human body as an example to talk about the Church (thus the expression “Body of Christ” for the Church.) “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body…God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” So why all the variety? God wants it that way. That’s good news until you realize that this means any problem with variety is ours.

· Do I accept that other congregations (or traditions) are part of God’s will?

Pray:
Praise: You are Lord of All. All glory and honor and power are Yours.

Confess: Often I’ve been more willing to listen to my ideas about who could be Your child rather than in letting You show me.

Thank: Aside from Your grace and mercy I would be eternally lost.

Ask: Father, give me eyes to recognize Your family when I meet them?

Digging Deeper: I Corinthians 10:14-11:34

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Playing Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

But it’s not enough to all sound the same note. There’s more to symphonic harmony than just tuning up. It won’t happen without that but ultimately it’s just one factor among many.

Look at the players and notice that each one of them has the musical score in front of them. They’re not going to just make this up as they go along. They’ve each been given copies of the same music and they’re each going to follow the same plan. A composer has mapped out the path for them and together they’re going where that composer leads. You won’t hear a debate about what piece they’re going to play—they’re going to play what’s put before them. You won’t hear arguments or dissension about who takes what part—each will follow the score and play their part. You won’t hear anyone ask when to play and when to remain silent—it’s all there on the stand in front of them. They’ve left all that up to the composer. They know that to achieve unity and harmony, to play a symphony, they have to trust the composer. That trust means playing what’s written. If you take someone else’s composition and “fix” it, it’s called a “variation” and you’re supposed to sign your own name to it so the other guy doesn’t get blamed for your mess.

Similarly, for the Church to come together it must submit itself to God’s will and His Word. The orchestra takes the music as it is, not as they’d like it to be. They don’t say, “That’s too hard” or “I don’t feel like it.” They don’t ignore the parts of the score that don’t excite them and they don’t look at the challenging bits and say, “The composer didn’t really mean that…” Our faithfulness to God’s Word and our commitment to follow His will are another part of the answer to the “Why aren’t Christians like that today” question.

• Am I resisting any part of God’s will or Word?

Pray:
Praise: You have made Your Glory known. The very stars declare it.

Confess: I have not always been as quick to obey You as You have been to reveal Yourself to me. I have sought to evade and ignore You.

Thank: You have made Your will and Your Word clear.

Ask: Break down my resistance and lead me in Your ways.

Digging Deeper: I Kings 18

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Finding “Together”

Meditate: Acts 2:44

This kind of runs counter to our way of thinking… Culturally, we’d just assume that responsible members of an orchestra would show up having properly tuned their instrument on their own - especially before they appeared on stage. If we found ourselves in the daily life equivalent of this kind of pre-concert chaos, we’d cast accusing glances around the room saying, “If we each just get our act together and do our part harmony will happen.” Instead, the orchestra comes together and listens to their leaders and to one another. Hmmm…

Together, they test and together they adjust. They know that regardless of individual preparation, true harmony only happens when they come together and work together like this. Patiently, they test and adjust and test until together they find harmony.

And when they’ve seen this through, the orchestra is truly in tune. No one gets to sit there scowling, congratulating themselves on their perfect pitch while playing sour notes and thinking how much more insightful and sensitive, how much more musical they are than all the others…

No one plays off-key, saying to themselves, “If I just keep on maybe others will see my example and start to play things the right way, my way…” The horn section doesn’t gather in a corner and say, “They don’t really understand how it is for people like us so we just need to find our own harmony…”

So why do we bring attitudes like that to Church and wonder why we’re not together like this early Church?

• Which of my attitudes bring the Church together?
• Which of my attitudes drives the Church apart?
• How can I move issues from the 2nd list to the 1st?

Pray:
Praise: You are God. Nothing is hidden from You.

Confess: I judge others more strictly than I judge myself.

Thank: Your Word and Your Spirit continue to show me Your ways.

Ask: Purify my heart. Take from the things that displease You.

Digging Deeper: Colossians 3

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Together in Perfect Harmony

Meditate: Acts 2:44

The orchestra takes the stage and the crowd knows the concert is almost but not quite ready to begin. Conversations are reduced to whispers as late-comers find their seats.

And then the concertmaster, the lead violin, sounds one pure, perfect note. What follows is not the example of harmony and perfection that we associate with this scene but a bit of a mess as each member of the orchestra listens and tests and adjusts and tests and adjusts…

Sour notes are forgiven (in fact they’re kind of expected) as the entire orchestra works to play that same note. It’s almost chaos as string by string the concertmaster sets the standard and leads the orchestra in tuning up. But when that’s done the entire orchestra will play in harmony, together.

It’s not all that different for the Church. God has brought us together in individual congregations and as the Body of Christ. In calling us to His salvation and sanctification, in calling us to vocation and mission, He sounds a clear, perfect note. Harmony will come only as we listen and conform ourselves to His calling. If we all determine to get in tune with God, if we create an environment that allows us to listen and patiently test and adjust, if we forgive the inevitable mistakes, if we understand that any chaos is only temporary as we each find our place, then we, the believers, will again be together.

Jesus is calling us to follow. Listen…

• What is Jesus calling me to?
• Have I answered Jesus’ call?
• Am I willing to conform myself to His calling?

Pray:
Praise: You are the Almighty, the Creator. You alone can save.

Confess: I have sinned against You. I deserve Your judgment not Your calling. I have lived without thinking of You or what You desire.

Thank: You gave Your Son, Jesus, to pay the price for my sins.

Ask: Lord, cleanse me and fill me with Your Spirit. Move me into the place You have for me.

Digging Deeper: John 10

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Options?

Meditate: Acts 2:44

“Together” isn’t always easy. It requires real effort and real commitment.

Seems like every time you read one of those “Local Couple Celebrates 70th Anniversary” articles in the paper, one of them mentions that they had their moments but that “I’m stubborn and I made up my mind that I wasn’t going anywhere,” so they stayed together and worked things out.

I tell couples that if they’re guarding against divorce (or adultery, or any of the things that conspire to destroy a marriage), they’re possibly fighting a losing battle. But if they’ll resist the very moment when they’re tempted to think that maybe divorce, etc. might be an option, they’ll go a long way toward having a strong marriage.

Because once any of that stuff becomes an option it takes on a life of its own.

Somewhere along the way we decided that this “together” business was optional. Sure it was fine for the halcyon days when the Church was getting its act together but eventually you have to live in the real world and you can’t keep that stuff up forever, right?

The answer is that we may never know.

Today, in the Body of Christ, too many people have decided that being together is optional.

Confront my sin? Never mind Jude 23 - I’ll move on and I’ll thank you by telling everyone I meet how much you’ve hurt me by not showing true Christian love and compassion.

Go ahead - just try holding me accountable, asking for change, expecting me to get along? Yeah. Whatever. I’ll get back to you.

Don’t tell me that you’ll pray with me, talk with me, and study the Bible with me, but that you won’t simply stand by and watch me sin.

And don’t you dare try telling me I need to take responsibility for my own actions!

Just who do you think you are?

Point people toward forgiveness and reconciliation in relationships and you’re a meddler.

Insist on genuine repentance and you’re unforgiving. Ask people to renounce habitual sin and you’re a legalist. Expect people to take tithing seriously and you’re a money-grubber.

And if all else fails, it seems there’s always another congregation right down the street that will “accept me for who truly I am.”

“Together” only works when we’re all pointed in the same direction; God’s Word and God’s Spirit provide that direction. This early Church committed themselves to seeking the Truth of the Word and the fellowship of the Spirit.

Every time we choose comfort over conviction, every time we decide “that doesn’t really apply to us today,” every time we ignore God, we vote against making “together” possible.

• How can I make “together” more possible here?

Pray:
Praise: You have given Your Holy Spirit to guide us into all Truth.

Confess: I have often chosen my own comfort over Your direction.

Thank: You keep speaking to me, pointing out Your Way.

Ask: Don’t let me get away with those “options” any longer. Focus my mind on Your ways and Your thoughts and fill me with Your Spirit.

Digging Deeper: Ephesians 4:1-5:21

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Me Worship

Thanks to Ed Stetzer, these tunes are now running through my mind…

He has more here.

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The Best Cupbearer You Can Be

I heard Eric Bryant point out this week that part of wholeness was moving from “pride” — being focused on self – to “courage” — the absence of self. He said there were two components to this journey:

• Faithfulness — doing the right thing no matter how small
• Persistence — doing the right thing no matter what

Now along comes this Catalyst post from Chad Johnson reminding me to be “The Best Cupbearer You Can Be.” He reminds me of both those points as he quotes Mark Batterson’s newest book, Wild Goose Chase:

“One of the greatest acts of worship is keeping a good attitude in a bad situation. And doing a good job honors God. It will also open opportunities down the road. It did for Nehemiah. He had an ordinary job but he did the best he could with what he had where he was. In my book that is a success. Nehemiah was successful long before he rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem. And I’ve found that if you are faithful in Babylon, God will often bless you a thousand miles away.”

Listen to Eric Bryant on Moving People from Brokenness to Wholeness.

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Parts Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

Yet Another Half-truth straight from you know where: The Church doesn’t need me.

Every part of the body has a role, something unique it does for the whole.

Every part of The Body has a role, something it does for the whole.

One of the things I do in my household is taking out the trash. It’s not that no one else is competent for this task or that it can’t be done if I’m not there to do it. It’s just that it’s something my family and I have recognized that I’m particularly suited for (!), so I handle it. And trust me, everything works better when the trash gets out to the curb.

As a Christian, we each have some spiritual gift. We each have some part in what God is doing through His Church. In teaching on how the Church is supposed to work, Paul writes that “when you come together, each of you” has something to contribute to the mix.

What happens if you don’t bring it? Does the Body go without? Does someone less gifted or less available have to try to fill the gap?

Maybe - but one thing remains certain: When we each do this the Church works wonderfully.

This whole passage reflects a time when “all the believers” served God “together.” What do you say we give it a try?

• What’s my part in the Body?

Pray:
Praise: You are a God of order and harmony. Your ways are perfect.

Confess: I’ve ignored/resisted/neglected taking my place, using my gifts.

Thank: You’ve been patient, not replacing or rejecting me.

Ask: Lord, when we come together, what is it I bring? What is my gift? What is my role? Show me my place of service, the tasks you’ve prepared for me, and give me a willing heart for serving You by serving Your Body.

Digging Deeper: Romans 12:1-8

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Making Silence Appealing

Scott Hodge (via his website) deserves all the credit for my finding this:

And then Scott twittered this:

The spiritual discipline of silence suddenly seems very appealing. (For some, there may be Mark 9:47 implications here as well…)

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Come Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

Another Half-truth from Hell: I don’t need a congregation to be a Christian.

If there’s no congregation then where will you do your “gathering together?” I don’t mean if there’s no cute, steeple-topped chapel-I mean if there’s no assembly of believers where will you go for this spurring toward love and good deeds? Where will you go for encouragement?

There’s a pop song from the early 70’s that contained the chorus: “Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin’. / Me and Jesus, got it all worked out. / Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin’. / We don’t need anybody to tell us what it’s all about.” (I think I just heard someone say, “That sounds pretty good to me…”)

See, when someone says, “I don’t need a church to be a Christian” usually that translates to “I don’t want accountability. I don’t want leadership. I don’t want to learn or be taught. I don’t want to help. I don’t want to contribute. I don’t want to change…”

Yeah. Sounds pretty ugly when you put it like that, doesn’t it?

It’s no accident that when the Bible teaches on how the Church should be, the most common image used is “the Body.” Now, I’m no doctor, but I’m pretty sure that any part that cuts itself off from the rest of the body is in for a rough time. Cut off from the oxygen and nutrition and cleansing and immunity that come from being a part of the whole body, any one part will rot and die.

Not need a church? Can the eye say to the hand, “I don’t need you?” Check out the reading and meet me here tomorrow.

• What’s my relationship to church?
• Am I in genuine relationship with the Body?
• Any areas where I’m trying to go it alone?
• Anything rotten?

Pray:
Praise: You are the Fountain of Living Water. Those who drink from You will never thirst. You are Life and Health and Peace to my soul.

Confess: My culture teaches me independence, “get a grip”, and that You “help those who help themselves.” It’s all a lie.

Thank: You bring new life to me. You renew me.

Ask: Teach me Your Truth. Draw me into Your presence and into Your Body. Show me my need and Your supply.

Digging Deeper: I Corinthians 12:12-31

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In Memoriam

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

From "For the Fallen"
by Laurence Binyon

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Alone Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

Half-truth from Hell: I can do this alone. (cont’d.):

I don’t just bring this up just to make you feel bad. The point is that this is one of those indicators of my general spiritual health.

In the same way that having a fever means there’s something going on with my body that needs taking care of, how I feel about joining together with other believers is an indicator of what’s going on with my soul.

How I feel about spending time in worship is another indicator. See, if I’m not too thrilled about the family God’s given me here and if I’m equally underwhelmed at the thought of what He’s got planned for all of us in eternity, it means there’s some serious heart changing that’s needed.

But there’s a very real caution that goes with how I deal with these symptoms. A friend of mine almost died once because the “aspirin substitute” he was taking for a fever hid an infection that was threatening to kill him. The low-grade fever he had for a few days jumped over 104 when he missed a dose or two.

In the same way, I can determine to just gut it out, ignore the heart symptoms, sit through every meeting looking like I’d rather be somewhere else having my eyes gouged out and grow really bitter and stale; or, I can confess this all to God and cooperate as He changes my heart.

• What are my heart symptoms?

Pray:
Praise: You are the living God, holy and majestic. Who is like You?

Confess: (Come clean. Confess your heart to the God who already knows all of it anyway.)

Thank: You are faithful to show me my ways and help me to change.

Ask: Give me courage to make the changes Your calling me to.

Digging Deeper: Hebrews 10:19-25

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Question Time: Cremation

We get questions and this seems to be a natural forum to try to provide answers. So here begins an occasional feature. Feel free to send your questions to pastordan @ calvarycommunitychurch.com. I’ll tell you why this question matters, what the Bible says, what I think and, where Christians disagree, I’ll do my best to give you an honest overview. I’ll try to put the “bottom line up front” but also provide you with enough background so you can wrestle with this yourself. Comments will be open so you can even try to draw me in. 

With that said, let’s dive in at the deep end!

Question:
Is it okay to have someone cremated? / Is cremation a sin?

Answer:
People are surprised to learn that this is one of the Top 5 questions that I get asked. It’s understandable that folks are concerned about what’s generically called “disposition of remains.” As a funeral director once told me, “This is the last thing we do for our loved ones and we only get one chance to get it right.” (He played on that sentiment to get families to spend that little extra on the funeral, by the way.)

Bottom Line:
The Bible is silent on how we should treat human remains. That’s not to say that there aren’t references to entombment, burial and even cremation. There are. But the fact is that they’re just references; there’s no Law to followed and there aren’t any directions given.

So why does matter so much?

At its most basic, care for the dead has been tied to recognizing that we are all created in the image of God. Treating a body with respect has been seen as a way of honoring that fact.

Is cremation disrespectful? I don’t see how - at least not when it’s done the way that we’re talking about here.

That seems pretty straightforward — are there other issues?

The Bible describes what theologians call the “General Resurrection” - that at the end of time everyone who’s ever lived will be brought back to life for Judgment Day. There are people who are concerned that if there’s no body left then there will be no resurrection. There are even people who believe that they can prevent their own resurrection (and Judgment!) by leaving no body behind.

Both of these points of view ignore two very relevant sides of the same coin:

1. It would be difficult to put a number on this but I’m pretty sure that a really large percentage of the bodies of all those who have ever lived/died are now very thoroughly decomposed - their bodies are gone. The Bible makes it very clear that God isn’t writing anyone “excused notes” for Judgment Day so regardless of which way they’re headed you can count on everyone being there.
2. Lest you think point 1 is too much conjecture, the Bible describes the sea, death and the grave all giving up the dead they hold just prior to Judgment. This is one of those “all” means “all” kinds of statements. The same God who will bring back the bodies of those whose remains have been circulating with the ocean currents all those years is surely able to reassemble the ashes of our loved ones.

There are two different issues that are usually the question behind this question:

• The deceased person’s wishes
• Cost

Regarding wishes, most of probably would avoid making an absolute promise on any one point. We’d be pretty quick to tell our loved ones that we’ll do what we can and leave it at that.

So what about cost?

First, it doesn’t help that folks are afraid of looking cheap by bringing up cost at a time like this but the fact is that the traditional American burial has become so expensive that families are often overwhelmed by the cost but we’re not talking small numbers for the average household. The FTC warns that “Many funerals run well over $10,000″ and looking around I learned that “funeral costs” doesn’t usually seem to include “cemetery costs.” I’m not sure what all is involved in “cemetery costs” but where I live it looks like just the cost of a burial plot adds another $5,000.

To put it in real terms, my living family can make several mortgage payments for the price of sending me off to glory in style. My Bible tells me that I won’t actually be in my body anymore so don’t spring for the extra-padded coffin with the satin lining - I won’t be enjoying it anyway! (Note to my family: Yes, this is permission to move me on as cheaply as possible!)

So be respectful of this body made in the image of God. As much as possible and within your budget, deal with your loved one’s remains in a way that honors their wishes.

And never forget that where you wait for Resurrection Day is nothing compared to where you spend eternity!

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Together

Meditate: Acts 2:44

Half-truth from Hell: I can do this alone.

Probably the best place to start here is to ask, “Why would you want to?” See, it’s one thing when God calls you into a setting that isolates you from His Church; that’s a calling and we know that God is able and will take care of you when You’re following Him. In fact, most church planting or missions work depends on individuals obeying God to go where the Church isn’t.

That said, it’s usually not church planters or missionaries who say things like this. It’s usually people who don’t want to face up to the state of their own souls and are looking for a way out of explaining why they call themselves “Christian” even though they’re not willing to associate with God’s people.

Two quick points on this:

1. The Bible describes what we often call “becoming a Christian” as being “adopted” as God’s child. Doesn’t it seem strange that someone who’s really a part of a family would avoid spending time with that family (dysfunctional real life experiences aside-we’re talking about God’s family here!)
2. Heaven is the Christian’s ultimate destination, right? So what’s the Bible say about heaven? It’s not hanging out on a cloud playing a harp (big relief there,) and it’s not some human version of “Paradise” where our every wish for comfort is fulfilled (sorry to disappoint you.) The Bible shows heaven as this massive worship session where all the believers (the Church) will be assembled around God’s throne, giving Him glory and honor.

So, if the first point doesn’t appeal to you, how can you possibly get excited about the second? Brothers and sisters, we’re going to be spending a lot of time together-we might as well start getting used to one another now.

• Am I part of God’s family? Do I seek out opportunities to spend time “with the folks”?
• How about this eternal worship service? Excited? Hesitant? Bored at just the thought of it?

Pray:
Praise: You alone are worthy to receive glory and honor and blessing.

Confess: (Be honest!) Lord, I feel ____ about all this.

Thank: In Your mercy, You haven’t stopped working with me.

Ask: Search me and know my heart. Try me and know my ways.

Digging Deeper: Revelation 5

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Settler vs Pioneer

Add another name to your "someone you should know list:" author/speaker Brennan Manning. In this post, Pastor Rob Wegner of Granger Community Church writes about the impact Manning has had on his life.
In his post he links to this talk by Manning on "Settler vs Pioneer Theology" and says:

Take a listen. This may be the best six minutes of your day. Trust me. It will be worth the time spent.

I think he's right -- this may be the best six minutes of your day. Here’s a link to the transcript and here's a link to the audio.

I've been told that I'm a Pioneer -- which are you?

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One More On Wonder

Meditate: Acts 2:43

You wouldn’t know this from the news or movies or TV, (or even the way folks talk, for that matter) but the reason anything is considered tragic is because it’s not normal, it’s not routine.

When something is routine we say it’s just a fact of life. For instance, there’s a boy named Andy on my prayer list that has leukemia. We see that as tragic because our expectation is that an 11-year old boy will go on to grow up and become a man and have a career and a family and retire so as to have more time to spoil his grandkids. That’s our expectation because the overwhelming majority of the time, that’s what happens.

And to see anything else happen makes us cry out to God asking Him to do something miraculous so that Andy (and others like him) can grow up to do all these things and more.

The amazing part is that in a world so ripe with sin and so in rebellion against God, we still know a tragedy when we see it.

And when we realize that, it’s not tragedy that’s surprising. It’s grace. It is God’s love and God’s mercy at work in our world that make tragedies unusual.

• What evidence of grace do I see?

Pray:
Praise: You are Lord. Your love endures forever.

Confess: I often fear this world’s evil more than I trust Your grace.

Thank: Your mercy never ends.

Ask: Open my heart and my eyes to Your grace around me.

Digging Deeper: Psalm 2

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The Greatest Wonder

Meditate: Acts 2:43

When I originally wrote this, the news was dominated by the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia’s seven member crew.  And in hearing that word “tragic” my mind is turned to the greatest wonder of all: God is in control.

We live in a world that is dominated by notions of chaos and tragedy and random, pervasive evil. From morning until night we are bombarded with massive doses of information regarding crime and disaster, pestilence and famine, gloom and despair. So much tragedy that if you consistently expose yourself to this dark stream, you’ll soon be left with a quiet sense of impending doom. Many are tempted to just go and hide while waiting for the axe to fall.

Wonders and miraculous signs are God’s reminder that He will have the last word. Faced with “incurable” disease, God has healed. Faced with “hopeless” cases of demon possession, God has brought release. In the midst of danger, God has brought security. Want has become plenty, bondage has become freedom, death has been turned into life.

Prison doors are opened, chains fall off, the mouths of lions are closed. All as reminders that God will always have the last word.

Wonders and miraculous signs are God’s way of saying, “I don’t think so” to our notions of control and understanding, to our assumptions about what can and cannot happen. In wonders and signs God asserts His sovereignty and confronts us with the truth that while this world may have theories and tendencies and trends and intentions, God has genuine plans that will always come to pass. Today’s prayer is an ancient prayer to remind us of just this fact.

Pray:
Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.

May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.

Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

Digging Deeper: Job 38 - 42

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Jesus said… Obey

Sometimes I feel as if Yoda said it best: “No more training do you require. Already know you, that which you need.“

See, lots of times folks will say to me, “Pastor, I’ve got a question…” Sometimes they’re looking for information, they’ve run across something that caused them to be curious and they need help finding the answer.

But more often, they’re wondering about a particular course of action, trying to figure out what to do or at a deeper level, what to be. 

What I’ve come to realize is that in those cases most folks who are already genuinely seeking God don’t need information — they’ve already got a pretty clear sense of what they ought to do — instead they usually need courage or permission to do what they already know. So it was interesting to run across this from Pastor Mark Driscoll:

Sadly, it has been believed by some Christians that information alone will result in transformation. But the entire point of study is to repent of what grieves the Lord and to be increasingly transformed to be more and more like Jesus. Simply, information must lead to transformation or we have nothing but head knowledge; this is what Paul called the kind of knowledge that “puffs up” with pride rather than increasing our humility and reliance on Jesus.

Jesus told us to obey.

Jesus foresaw this potential problem, and some of His last directives to us include not just teaching people, but teaching them to obey His Word. In Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”.

Not only study, but obedience

Elsewhere in Scripture we are told that we should not only study Scripture, but also obey what we learn from it. Speaking of this, Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28).

In using the word “obedience” I am assuming that there will be some degree of resistance in you because that word has negative connotations for many people. But Jesus repeatedly connects loving Him with obeying Him (e.g., John 14:15, 21, 23–24). In fact, Jesus is emphatic that obedience to Him will flow out of our love for Him. What this does not mean is that we must obey Jesus so that He will love us. Rather, He has loved us by grace apart from anything we have done and as a result we trust Him, which is the essence of faith. It is because Jesus is perfectly good and loves us that we should logically obey Him if we claim to love Him, as evidence of our trust in Him. If we really believe that Jesus is wiser than us, holier than us, kinder than us, more loving than us, and is for us, then it is foolish to disobey Him.

Self-deception

Jesus’ own brother James says it this way, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). We have all likely met someone who had a lot of Bible knowledge but lacked a love for Jesus and obedience to the Bible; oftentimes we discover that they are very deceived people who arrogantly consider themselves spiritually mature when in fact they are not. Such people are by definition hypocrites since they do not obey what they have learned; they are like Satan, who is also deceived in that he is more wise and powerful than Jesus. The Bible records that Satan knows the Bible, but does not love Jesus or obey Him, which explains his unparalleled pride and self-deception.

Don’t be a Bible student like Satan.

Because we do not want to be Bible students like Satan, we must always come to our study of Scripture with humility, bending our knee under the authority of Scripture, and with an eagerness to repent as God the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and folly. We must also continually connect all of our biblical study to the person and work of Jesus; He Himself taught that the key to understanding Scripture was to connect it to Him (e.g., Luke 24:27, 44–45; John 5:39).

Conclusion

In conclusion, as we open the Bible to meet with Jesus, repent of sin that causes distance from Jesus, and are filled with the same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus, we are able to gladly obey Scripture; thus, we may live like and for Jesus because we live with Jesus according to His Word. Having now studied this, we will be blessed if we obey God’s command to study His word. As Jesus said in John 13:17, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

You’ll find it all right here.

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