Mercy (cont.)

Mercy on my last post I explained from scripture is compatible with other gifts and also a requirement given to us to use. Prophecy and mercy have to co-exist otherwise the book of Jonah would not have been so remarkable. Jonah didn't want to see the city of Nineveh turn toward God because he knew God kept His promises and wouldn't destroy them. Jonah sits outside the city angry that they were not destroyed knowing they would be the ones to judge Israel according to prophecy. Habakkuk was shown the wickedness of Israel and he cried out for justice until he learned who God was going to use to judge Israel. His cry for justice was not merciless. Habakkuk tells us in 1:4, "Therefore the law is ineffective, and justice is never upheld for the wicked surround the righteous therefore justice comes out perverted." God had mercy on the righteous and the innocent who were being afflicted and oppressed by their own countrymen and women. However when Habakkuk learns that a foreign nation who is in his eyes more wicked than Israel his call for justice is tempered. But God knows compassion has to be stronger than pride. Habakkuk's pride didn't want a nation like the Chaldeans judging Israel because of the shame it would place on God's people. Notice that God's people. God showed Habakkuk that pride blinds an individual from seeing the reason shame must come even to the people of God. That end is blessing and mercy. In 3:18-19 we see that Habakkuk gets it and is humbled before the Lord, "Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation, Jehovah is my strength and He has made my feet like hinds' feet and makes me walk on my high places." Without mercy Habakkuk would not have heard from the Lord and seen what he saw among the people. Both these prophets show us that Gal. 5:22-23 must exist within us in order for the the words of the Lord to come to us and out of us. Paul says agape, unconditional, sacrificial, proactive and responsive not reactive love must be an inward production of the Spirit followed by joy which is inward stability not moved by what is going on around you. Next is peace, the ceasing of our working against the Spirit and instead participating with Him, and makrothumia, patience with people or being slow to lose your temper with others, being predictable and mature. Following makrothumia is chrestotes being beneficially useful to those around you and then agathosune being beneficially good in addition to being beneficially useful. Next we see pistis, trusting because we are so persuaded by God and passionate to act out of that trust which leads to praotes understanding and trusting God's sovereignty that we treat each situation individually waiting for God to tell us what is the appropriate response. Out of all of these comes self-control or rather being master over one's body, emotions and logic. These characteristics actually define the mercy God wants us to have. For that reason we must not be spineless or an enabler but we must also be empathetic, useful in God's economy and proactive. Mercy like humility and agape must be God's possession and come only from Him or else we are promoting a bad imitation of the real thing and an enemy of the gospel.

Mercy

Growing up in the church I have watched some pretty horrible things done by believers and called "Biblical". I often heard those who claimed to have the gift of prophecy say they didn't have the gift of mercy, basically stepping over the emotionally and spiritually wounded. I watched wondering was this really what God wanted us to be? As a teenager I was afraid to question my elders whom I thought knew more about scripture than I did. As an adult and through a great deal of study I realized making such statements is not only not Biblical but contrary to the character of God. Romans 8:29 tells us God's map for us was to be conformed to the image of Christ. The cross I would most definitely say qualifies as mercy. The gifts have been mischaracterized as possessions instead of "as needed" gifts of power from God and more aptly charismata, results of grace. My ministry happens to be teaching and discipling but I need mercy just as much as I need "logic of knowledge" to convey truth to my students. When we are not the character of Christ we turn people off to the truth. Jesus sent His disciples away in John 4 so that He could speak to the woman at the well. When they came back they were disgusted that He was speaking not just to a Samaritan woman but a woman period. They didn't ask why. Jesus told them that He had food and that food was always to do the will of God who sent Him and to complete that work. The disciples thought that since they didn't say anything they couldn't get in trouble. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of mercy and human reaction to the woman at the well. Mercy is God's will and God's work. James tells us in 2:12-13, "So speak and so keep doing as through a law of liberty being about to be judged. For this reason the Judgement will be unmerciful to the one choosing not to do mercy and mercy boasts against judgment." What mercy we display on earth will stand for us against judgment. But be clear mercy is not being soft hearted, mercy is divine compassion. In Romans 9:15 Paul tells us that God pities those whom He pities and has mercy on whom He has mercy. The difference here are those will let Him show mercy and those who stubbornly reject Him. In Romans 12:1 Paul uses the same Greek word oiktirmos, the noun form, saying "I strongly encourage you through the compassions of God to present your body as a living sacrifice, holy, beyond pleasing to God your reasonable service of worship." We can't fix every one's problems but we can be a friend, a source of encouragement to keep going in Christ, lighting fires under others to beneficial works, to grieve with them when they grieve and rejoice with them when they rejoice. Most of all we are to be a living gospel. Years ago I had a friend who had lost pretty much all of her friends because of her spiritual immaturity. I was the last one and she called me one night to accuse me of hurting her feelings. I was annoyed and ready to just throw the towel in BUT GOD!!! He calmed me down and instead of saying she didn't have the right to be hurt I asked her if I had ever said anything like that in the past (what she thought I was implying) and she thought for a moment and said no. I asked her had I always shown consideration for what she endured growing up and she again agreed that was the case. I then told her what God had done in my own life and that I was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt God could do the same in hers. I didn't lose that friendship and I actually gained a student. I learned a valuable lesson. Even if I didn't intend to be hurtful my carelessness with my speech could be interpreted as hurtful. To this day if I think I said something that could be taken wrong I go to that person and apologize. People look at me like I've lost my mind but then I see them relax because they are glad to know I think they are important. I have gained more students through my kindness and compassion than through my teaching. The reason being, my teaching is punctuated with the character of God.

A Rock, A Hard place and Me

Have you ever been in an impossible situation where you had to choose between two friends or maybe between a friend and a family member? Have you ever had to choose between your spouse and your children or other family members? It is difficult to know how to resolve these disputes and even worse when we have to choose a side. Sometimes both parties are wrong and we have to refuse to side with either one. I'm doing a study of 1 John with two of my classes. John had to confront a growing movement within the church called Gnosticism, which threatened to undermine not only the gospel but the authority of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. John had to take a stand but not only that, he had to inform the audience of 1 John that they couldn't ride the fence. They too had to choose a side. Were they for the gospel as it was originally taught to them or were they for the Gnostics? John's letters give us the evidence he presented to his audience for why the original gospel he taught them was the only gospel. When we are put in a position where two friends may be in a confrontation, we often want to do what the flesh suggests and that is pick the friend we are the closest to, and side with them. Sometimes the flesh will lie to us and make us fear losing the closest relationship if we don't take their side even if they are wrong. Jonathan, Saul's son became friends with David and defied his father when Saul went after David trying to kill him out of his jealousy. Jonathan was a godly young man and knew that David was innocent of any wrong doing. He chose David over his father because he knew his father was doing something that violated the law and was outright murder. That decision had to be difficult because Saul was his dad. I've never had to chose between a friend and a family member but I have had to choose between friends. I have been burned sometimes for choosing the wrong friend and ended up losing both relationships. When we are placed in the middle of a dispute we first need to go to God before we do anything. Unfortunately we get caught up in the drama and forget to stop and ask the Lord for direction. He will show you what to do next if anything. It is always wise to investigate the stories of each person first and then assess each one's character. If you have a friend who is consistently mature spiritually and isn't known for being dishonest, that friend has character on their side. If you have another friend who feeds off of drama and is usually immature both emotionally and spiritually there will be a question as to their motives and honesty. However we are not God and we cannot determine who is lying and who is telling the truth. Unfortunately both may have perceived the event or argument differently. If we ask for wisdom from God as James 3 instructs us to do there are characteristics we obtain when we request God's wisdom. James says that wisdom from above is peaceful. If there is a peaceful resolution God will let us know. Sometimes it is not what we expect and yet it is the best option. Many times however God places in situations where there is no easy outcome so that we prove we are His creation and not acting out of the flesh. The worst things we can do is avoid the two friends and act as if nothing is wrong, talk about them behind their backs, and meddle in their argument without being asked. God wants our dependency in everything because our personal relationships with people are where we will shine or fail in terms of displaying God's character. Agape is not always showing unconditional loyalty but providing what an individual needs. If they feed off of drama they do not need a friend to keep feeding the beast but one who says "that's enough". If you are in a situation where you are placed in the middle of a dispute between two friends, first go to God, investigate so you have all the facts (there are two sides to every story), be restrained from judgment until you are clear as to what the argument is about and what the facts are, and if possible find a resolution that reconciles both parties. If there is no resolution available then you must choose not according to loyalty or blood relationship but according to what is godly and what is right. God never promised us that the Christian life would be easy and often the hardest thing is what He requires from us. If we choose to trust Him and do the hard thing we learn that the hard thing isn't impossible with God.

Greek Word of the Week

Kalos and agathos-these two words are translated as good but they mean different things in terms of "good". Kalos is an adjective which means the best not just "good". Kalos speaks of the quality or in God's case the inherent "goodness" of His character. It is also imparted to us through Christ and the best God wants for us. James 4:17 says that the one knowing what the (kalos) good is and doesn't do it it is sin to him. In contrast agathos means to be beneficially good or profitable. In Romans 12:2 Paul uses agathos, "proving that the will of God is (agathos) good, well-pleasing and perfect." Here Paul is characterizing God's well as beneficial and profitable. In Romans 2:7 agathos describes the works of those who have obtained eternal life through Christ. Out of kalos, agathos externally is seen. In the Septuagint the Greek translation of the Old Testament, in Genesis 1 "it was good" is kalos showing again that our English word doesn't describe adequately how God viewed what He had created. In Romans 9:11 we see that before the twins Jacob and Esau were born and before they did (agathos) good or bad God's purpose would stand in terms of Jacob obtaining the birthright of Isaac. Agathos will characteristically describe actions while Kalos will describe the character of the individual. For this reason both are often confused. Check when you come across "good" and see which word it actually is in the Greek.

Where's the Beef?

A funny commercial years ago had an elderly lady asking when she opened up the bun to her hamburger and discovered a small dime sized patty, "Where's the beef?" In the last two decades I have been asking myself that question but in response to teaching and preaching coming out of the modern church. Hebrews 5:11-14 tells us that we should be at some point able to consume meat and move on from the basics about God. Hebrews 6:1-3 tells us what those basics are, repentance from dead works faith in God, ceremonial washings, what teaching doctrine is, lying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. These the author of Hebrews tells us are milk and not meat. Meat Hebrews tells us allows the believer to exercise their faculties both spiritual and physical to know the difference between God's best and subtle evil. The author of Hebrews had to stop a discourse on Melchizedek and how he was a type of Christ because it was simply over his audience's head. Peter says of Paul in 3:15-17 that Paul had written according to the wisdom given him but that some of his concepts were hard to understand but Peter did not give them an out or say he'd admonish Paul for being too deep, but rather he warns his audience to be on guard against those who'd pervert Paul's writings. In our modern church there is a movement to make scripture easier to understand but what has happened is the spoon feeding of milk to churches instead. Like petulant children those who do Precept, Beth Moore studies etc. complain like the Israelites coming out of Egypt that they don't have time for the homework or the homework is too long or my favorite, the homework is too hard. Many come to church on Sundays and Wednesdays and receive an hour's worth of feeding and believe it will last them the rest of the week. What happens? Pastors must lay a foundation again and again and again because believers cannot move on to full growth. So what does meat look like? Philippians 3 tells us that deep teaching will create a deeper more intimate knowledge of Christ and keep solidifying that bond. If we are simply memorizing the work someone else has done we are adopting someone else's faith and not studying to learn for ourselves who Christ really is. Do I say don't ever do Bible study books? No! But it cannot be the main course at every single meal or else the result will be dependency on a teacher instead of on Christ. Secondly meat is characterized by what stretches or challenges us. Psalm 119:18 says, "uncover my eyes so that I may comprehend wonderful things out of Your law". Paul says of the Ephesians in 1:17-18 that he hoped God would enlighten the eyes of their mind to know a list of very important scriptural concepts. They were a logical progression of ideas building upon one another. But Paul makes it very clear it has to mentally and spiritual challenge the individual believer. Thirdly meat must not just stay hamburger but must become steak, fillet mignon and Kobe beef. The author of Hebrews wanted to explain the concept of the temple being a type of what existed in heaven, but going into depth about what that entailed was difficult for his audience. Being Jewish they understood the function of the temple and the instruments within it but didn't get the link between the spiritual existence of the original in heaven versus the copy here on earth and how that information could be applied to their faith. Expository then, although the most popular form of preaching and teaching is not meat. Exegesis that surfacely skips over verses taking out a few concepts here and there is not meat. Exegesis that goes line by line word for word, pulls out the interpretation which can stand up to scrutiny and provides application which fits the interpretation is however meat. We as the modern church have become vegetarians and call tofu patties hamburger when in fact they are not meat in anyway. Once we as the body accept we have to have meat to grow we will discover a deeper richer faith.

Spring, Rebirth

I've been watching the tree that is technically in my neighbor's yard begin to sprout rose colored buds as spring wakes up the sleeping giant. I've watched since we moved in the tree go from a sprig about the height of my shoulders to the height of my neighbor's second story house in six years. One day I'll look out and those buds will have turned to leaves and birds will nest in its boughs. There are two remarkable things about that tree. The first is its location to the ditch where rain water runs off the land. It has even through drought had ample water supply. Its second feature is the twisted truck of the tree. It curves up at the bottom and leans slightly askew. When it was young the strong violent storms that moved through our area bent it over but didn't break it. The scars of those storms permanently altered the direction it grew. Still because the roots were strong and it remained so close to water it didn't just blossom it flourished. In the winter when its leaves turn golds, coppers and reds and its leaves begin to die and fall to the earth, the tree makes its descent into slumber and appears to die for the winter. But as soon as the sun comes closer to the earth the tree begins to awake and grows in the short few months of spring and summer. The idea of resurrection was associated with spring, the death and rebirth of life. Experientially knowing the power of the resurrection of Christ makes us in our time here like that tree in my neighbor's yard. If we plant ourselves near water and let our roots grow deep and not fight the death we need to experience to know the rebirth of spring we will know life overflowing and flourishing like that tree. So that when the storms come they will not break us but place in our boughs and truck the mark of survival. This mark is there to remind us not of our beautiful perfect features lost but that we needed to grow in a different direction to know the One who kept us from breaking.

Is Pain a Gift?

I heard a pastor on the radio claiming that pain is a gift. His sermon was unremarkable but this concept had been in my mind for years. Having a psychology background I had studied how we form empathy for one another and in recent years researchers discovered that autistic children do not form empathic relationships the same way that non autistic children do. When as children we fall, we cut ourselves or get sick those memories are so powerful they imprint themselves upon our minds. When empathy is fostered by parents or guardians the child recognizes pain of others through their own powerful memories of associated pain. The physical is the first to understand and then the emotional so that when people watch a movie which is fictional the empathetic reaction is the same as when it happens in real life. We cry and laugh and groan based upon our own experiences with pain. We ask the question why does God allow suffering? Since we have been given a will God doesn't make us do anything we don't already want to do. Does He manipulate events and circumstances? Absolutely. So let's say for a moment that we were God and had to determine what all suffering was and then create a plan to eliminate it with the one rule, no forcing of anyone to do it. How would you accomplish that feat? Would you send someone to warn everyone about the impeding threat of violence, war, disease or natural disaster? If you did would they accept that warning or ignore it? So maybe you do something to get their attention, for instance take out an ad in the New York Times of what was going to happen and why. Would everyone read it and believe it? In the end to persuade individuals of even greater pain would we not have to do the hardest thing which is to allow some pain to protect from the horrible pain? Many asked why the Holocaust occurred, that no merciful God could have allowed it. Very few people know that during the Black Plague in the 14th century Germany killed 200,000 Jews by burning them alive or beating them to death. It wasn't German hicks drunk one night with no idea of morality but rather passion players who incited mobs to turn on Jews in their villages after showing the story of Christ and calling for them to repent. We look at the Holocaust and see wicked men and women causing horrific acts in the name of God and country. Yet in the rest of the world even in the Jewish ghettos themselves, no one believed man was that evil. But God got the whole world's attention. Imagine for a minute if 14 million people followed 200,000, what would have occurred if the Holocaust had not existed? We think of pain and we become overwhelmed individually and collectively by its imprint. As I write this now my stones are gone but an RA flare up has put my right hip in horrible pain. Instead of the usual tantrums and sadness over the past few months I wait and see what God is protecting me from or showing me how to protect others. We have a choice to either become horribly selfish when pain happens to us and believe the world owes us for that suffering or we kick in those empathetic muscles and decide to unselfishly try and remove the suffering of others. Christ when He looked out over Jerusalem was grieved by what He saw. His solution endure physical pain to elevate pain. We live in a society that avoids pain at any cost and the church has even embraced this philosophy. We pray for the elevation of pain that requires no pain from us and all God's intervention. Paul used two Greek words for prayer one was deomai which meant to make one's needs known and to ask for intercession for those needs. This was not for God alone but for the church so that the church would be motivated by the Spirit to meet those needs. We may not be able to heal the sick but we can come along side someone, cook them a meal, simply be a friend. Instead we pray that it goes away because we think that is what's best, and never stop to imagine how we can contribute to reducing another individual's pain. When it doesn't go away I've seen people avoid, treat others differently, and futilely keep praying for relief that isn't coming. If we don't start believing that ending suffering begins with our own personal faith journey then we will be no better than the lost who asks why if there is a God isn't He stopping the suffering?