It’s Time to Flip Over some Tables!

It’s Time to Flip Over some Tables!

by | Jul 31, 2021 | Christian Thought, My blog | 0 comments

It has been known since the beginning of church history that we (believers) have not been united.  When the western church slaughtered the eastern church in the Crusades we knew our political and cultural differences would continue to burden us.  When Reformers slaughtered the Anabaptists over the issue of adult baptism, we knew that our opinions and our pride would trump acceptance of others who think differently.  Before the most recent cultural invasion of our churches, which has made fractured denominations largely irrelevant, those denominations and their beliefs reminded us all that we could not be one on this side of heaven.  We have hidden ourselves inside our own buildings, comfortable with the people we know, to the point that a member of one church would not go to another church’s fundraiser or outreach.  Often believers who reach out to another church for assistance on a project will be turned away because, as they will likely tell you, “You are not a member of this congregation.”

I was thinking during a three-hour event that intended to bring the local churches together for a night of worship, how, or why, our local churches have largely isolated and kept to themselves.  I believe it goes way beyond the fact that most churches are busy with their own missions, with some spending countless hours serving the poor, others serving families, others preparing missionaries, while others serve internationals.  Being stretched so thin already, how could they participate in someone else’s ministry?  Of course, they cannot.  But they can make time to come together to celebrate our common beliefs and the mission we all share, to exude the love of Jesus and our faith in Him.

In my mind, it is political affiliation, opinions on social reform, economic ideas, and the way different churches apply the Bible to our current culture that are keeping us apart today.  What do all these things have in common?  They don’t belong behind the pulpit.  I’ve experienced first-hand what it is like to listen to pastors include their political stance into their Sunday sermons.  While I shared the views of the pastor, it was painful for me to listen to it each week, and others in the congregation did not necessarily share his views.  It divided the church body and caused a lot of pain.  I attended a weekly Zoom session that was dubbed as a Q&A on the Bible, which actually turned into a platform for the pastor to expose all the political and social conspiracy theories he read about or heard on the news.  On a very poplar and favorite radio station I listen to in St. Louis, which hosts many of America’s top biblical preachers, I have heard their newest preacher in the lineup take a shot at economic policies of the current federal administration, give opinions on the war in Afghanistan, immigration policy, take jabs at the welfare system and more, without fail, every time I hear him speak; and his audience never cheers louder in the pews than when he throws punches at political, societal, and cultural topics.  It is embarrassing to me to listen to the congregation applause and cheer at this rhetoric, it is clear the validation of their opinions and position are much more important to them than drawing nearer and being more like Jesus Christ.  Still, in another experience, I talked to a pastor of a church who said he did not believe the Bible was completely relevant in today’s culture, and that we needed to interpret it to fit what we feel and believe in, today.

I can honestly say it has made me angry and is still making me angry today.  I wonder if it is my place to tell a pastor what he or she should preach or speak on, if it is my place to feel such emotion over what the leaders of churches believe.  After all, I am what they call a layman.  I did not go to seminary, and I don’t have a degree or any right as far as I know to teach the Bible.  But I do believe in the Holy Spirit, and I am certain, based on what I’ve read in the Bible, that He will give us the knowledge and wisdom to discern biblical truth and the voice of God when He wills. 

Ephesians 1:16-18

…remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened…

1 Corinthians 2:10-12

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

Galatians 1:11-12

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

I meditated on that anger and my thoughts went to Jesus, who flipped over the tables of the money changers in the temple.  The Bible says He was angry, angry because His Father’s house was being defiled.  He was zealous for the Father and for His authority and due respect.  What an action He took!  Today, fellow believers, I think it is time we flipped over some tables!  Excuse me for a moment while I use Biblical prose to speak in the Old Testament prophetic (I do not claim to speak prophetically here):

The Lord, your God says,

“You are using My pulpit to advance political agendas and your affiliations to political parties.  You are causing division and anger, and most certainly isolation.  Flip that table over and get it out of My house!

You criticize your leaders for their economic policies and their ideas for social reforms, insisting that yours are better.  Why have you not prayed for the leaders I have placed above you?  Instead you spread anger and hate for those I have placed in authority.  Flip that table over and get it out of My house!

The judgements you make on people who are involved with social and political movements you do not agree with, no matter how wrong the movement might be, it is on a table in My sanctuary.  They are my children too, and they are lost, hurting, bitter, and afraid!  Who are you to judge?  Did I not teach you to love? Flip that table over and get it out of My house!

To the liberal churches who no longer believe My Word is absolute and infallible truth, who fear preaching My truth due to the retribution they may face, who have bowed down to the demands of culture and the despicable idols of today, flip that table over and get it out of My house!

And for the congregations, who have joined together and gathered around pastors who will proclaim their political, social, and economic leanings, so they can feel safe in numbers, so they can know where their allies are, flip that table of pride and self over and get it out of My house!”

(I love reading the prophets!)

Jesus Christ spent some of His most precious and final words praying to the Father that we would be one in Him and in the Father, just as He and the Father are one. 

Ephesians 4:4-6

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

How can we be one when we are divided so easily on the whims of the current (or previous) administration or the current cultural movement or the current social upheaval?  How can we be one when one church preaches the Word of God, while another preaches current politics sprinkled with the Word of God, and yet another has thrown the Word of God out the window in favor of the demands of culture and how we feel?  We cannot and we will not, until we can remove ourselves and our emotions and refocus on the focal point, the truth as spoken by the Word of God, the Bible.

When Paul was in Roman custody, in Caesar’s house, he did not bargain with or try to convince Caesar to change his policy on welfare, economics, slavery, or war.  He preached the Gospel of Jesus.  Why do we invest our time together as a body on these matters?  Do you not see that this path is dividing us even further than our traditional differences in biblical interpretation ever could?

(As a footnote, don’t think for a minute that I don’t feel that biblical truths against abortion, sexuality, and oppression should be spoken on in church.  Quite the contrary.  These are biblical truths, not political sides, and I’ve heard many pastors speak on these biblical truths while keeping politics out of it.  If you are looking for one listen too, check out Alistair Begg from Truth for Life Ministries (https://www.truthforlife.org/).  I once made a simple statement in a church worship service I was leading that we need to “let our little boys be little boys and our little girls be little girls.”  I was reprimanded and essentially fired by the pastor for being “political” in church.  Hogwash!  This pastor fears the world and what the world thinks when biblical truth is spoken and defended.  There is a clear difference in preaching Truth and social/political bickering.  If you can’t discern it, then pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you, He will be faithful to those who are seeking.)

Reflections on the Discovery of a Death

Reflections on the Discovery of a Death

by | Jul 6, 2021 | Christian Thought, My blog | 0 comments

Does not God know the number of the days we have to live?  The Bible says that it is so, therefor it is truth.  It is a fact that death awaits all of us, one day.  Maybe it will come slowly, its approach well announced, and its arrival accepted.  Or maybe it will come suddenly, without warning, taking us away and depriving us of any chance of repentance, opportunity, or farewell.  Which is better?  I suppose it depends on the circumstance, but it is probably safe to say that knowing the end is in close proximity would be desirable for most, if anything at least to use the remaining time to say goodbye. 

But it wasn’t the case for him.  Recently retired, in love, living a relaxed existence, unloading the toys of his younger days as he consciously unburdened and simplified his life, he was planning the next 15 years of the good life.  Current events would have been the fireworks show this 4th of July, the pontoon boat on Labor Day.  Future plans might have included a trip to Mount Rushmore, or where he’d watch the 2024 eclipse.

I can picture his last day.  While his woman was out of town visiting family he stayed on the homestead, alone and content, piddling around in the garage, smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, and more often than not, mowing the large lawn and taking care of the grounds.  He wanted for not much else than this simple existence, he was happy; they were happy.

When concerns were raised I was certain there was an explanation, but when I walked into the garage the next morning I was now certain the concerns were legitimate.  Talking to her on the phone I entered the house, but he wasn’t there.  I assumed he would have passed inside of a heart attack, and would have preferred it that way.  What could have possibly happened out here?  Going outside I saw a group of vultures in the yard, but there was noting else there.  I told her I’d call her back after I walked around.  The vultures held my attention for too long.  At first it wasn’t comprehendible, unrecognizable.  A double take and denial continued to rebuke reality; it couldn’t be real, maybe a Halloween decoration, but not real.  Then the sudden, voluntary deep breath in, audible and familiar.  A hand follows to cover the mouth as if to prevent any more of your own soul from escaping your body.  Immediately doubts and alternative outcomes try to convince the mind in hopes of changing reality.  Maybe it is not him!  Maybe I am seeing it wrong.  Finally, the two arms, bloated, discolored, and locked in place, sticking up out of the water as if they were reaching for heaven, desperately wanting to be saved, are recognized for what they are.  His lawn mower was visible just beneath the water.  A glance revealed the delicacies the vultures had preferred.  Far from a scene of salvation, more like a scene from the pit of hell.

The journey from incomprehension to acceptance took seconds to complete.  My friend, a man whom I’ve known for four years, was dead.  The eyes that I had looked into, the eyes that revealed the kindness and simplicity that defined him were no more.  The personality I interacted with had been extinguished.  The easy-going neighbor, who liked to drink beer and show his love for us by mowing his yard, my yard, and the roadside up and down the lane, was gone.  The voice that spoke no harsh words, nor revealed any pride or envy or bitterness, had been unexpectedly silenced forever.  The work he enjoyed had ceased.

Taking no more steps closer, not wanting to carry the weight of any more detail on my shoulders, I turned and walked away from the pond.  Mumbling what, I don’t remember, I hit my knees when I’d felt I had gotten far enough away and cried for my friend and the tragic end to his young life, and for the loss of those closest to him.  In the hours that would follow, which blended into days, I would come back to that scene in the pond.  I contemplated the burden of discovering that a living soul had ceased to be, being, at least for a short while, the only person who knew what his fate was.  Being the person who would start the chain of events that would ultimately inform his family and friends of his tragic death.  I wondered what kind of spiritual impact it had in the unseen.  I contemplated on his final moments, wondering if he went straight under, pinned beneath the mower 30 seconds before he succumbed to the water’s superiority, or if he was able to get his head out, just high enough to take a breath.  How long did he struggle in that posture before he was unable to fight any longer?  I am so sorry, my friend.  What a simple mistake, to simple to cause such calamity and pain.  To perfect to result in this most tragic and permanent outcome.  How viable it is that you would have stood and climbed out of that pond, losing only a lawn mower and a few breaths.

I wonder, now that you are gone, if you carried the Holy Spirit in your heart, if you knew how to give your life to Jesus Christ.  We never talked about that.  We only talked about projects we were working on, what we did over the weekend, simple and non-threatening, friendly and easy-going.  Sometimes I was too busy, or in too much of a hurry to talk at all.  I admit, sometimes I’d cut the conversation short, severing the little time we had, because I had something more pressing to do and I didn’t want to “waste” the time.  I’m so sorry, my friend.

I gave you a copy of my CD, and now I realize my passive method of witnessing does not show up to the table when it really counts.  It is a coward’s approach.  How many others have I cheated by handing off a CD of unfamiliar songs, amateurly recorded, expecting that to lead them onto a path of considering the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Why don’t I use the giving as the start of the conversation, an opening for the deeper question?  Now all I can do is hope.  Hope that you knew Jesus and hope that I’ll see you again in the glories of heaven.

And, it feels most of the time, all I can do for the masses of people who are out there, living apart from God, largely in response to the influence of the world around them, is to offer yet another plea via a passive medium to consider God in your hearts.  We do not know the day or the hour of our own demise, nor of the plans of God to send His Son, Jesus Christ, meaning urgency is prudent.  Do not delay because you want to do it on your own accord, not because someone urged you too, lest you give them any credit or reason to boast.  Think of the last time you considered God but passed on the thoughts because someone else was involved, or the situation wasn’t right, or you thought you’d do it tomorrow.  How many times have you done that?  When will the time be just right for you to consider?  Now!  It is now.  He is waiting, patiently with love and anticipation at your running into His open arms.