WHEN NOT TO BE BOLD

In his letter to Philemon, Paul says, “…Though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you…” (vv. 8,9).

This admission by the apostle Paul is amazing! It gives us an insight into Christian leadership that separates it from marketplace leadership. Usually bosses and managers will use any method necessary to get people to do what is required. The church is different. Ministers, teachers, pastors, elders, deacons, ministry leaders, etc.: we all can take a lesson from Paul.

Think of the power of love as an appeal. Brothers and sisters in Christ respond to appeals coming from a heart of love. Several times in Paul’s letters, and other New Testament writers, the notion of “boldness” is held forth as a Christian virtue. We are to be bold when we approach the throne of grace, etc. However, in this case it is different.

Boldness gets interpreted as brashness, crassness, manipulation, coercion, etc. Christian leadership understands the human heart. That heart is sensitive, sinful, broken, wounded, and hurting. No human heart is exempt. Only the blood of Jesus can heal the human heart, but that healing is often incarnational through the human touch of Christian leaders.

We all who claim to be in leadership/serving roles in the life of the church have our work cut out for us! We could command people to do what is required. But the power of love is stronger than any authoritative command!

Whether we like it or not, the health of the body of Christ is dependent upon our appeals based on the power of love. When people do not feel loved, no amount of appeals or commands will work. On the other hand, when brothers and sisters in Christ feel that they “are our very heart,” a loving response is usually forthcoming.

In Christian love, Curtis

A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

How much is a clear conscience worth? All of us have done things in the past that bother our conscience. Even when we have made horrible mistakes we desire a clear conscience. For the apostle Paul, a clear conscience was important.

“I thank my God whom I serve with a clear conscience…” (2 Timothy 1:3).

I believe it is significant that Paul begins this part of his thanksgiving in his letter to the young man Timothy with a reference to his clear conscience. I suppose that Timothy had heard many of Paul’s stories about his former way of life. Timothy no doubt heard the stories of Paul’s persecution of Christians and how he thought he was doing God’s will.

But Paul is thankful that he serves God with a clear conscience. I cannot imagine the inner angst for someone who would be serving God with a guilty conscience!

Why is it important to serve God with a clear conscience? I can think of the following reasons:
1. A clear conscience is evidence of God’s grace and forgiveness. No more worrying about guilt and shame.
2. A clear conscience does not have to worry about trying to earn forgiveness. No more trying to convince self by work that something can be done to curry God’s favor.
3. A clear conscience does not have to look over its shoulder. No more paranoia that God or others are out to get you.
4. A clear conscience is the basis of light and free heart to serve. No more burdens and angst of soul. This light-heartedness is the expression of spiritual freedom in Christ!

I wonder if we have not emphasized enough the power of a clear conscience in the sight of God? Because of the power of forgiveness extended to us through the work of Christ at the cross, we can rest in peace at night when we lay our heads down to sleep.

Every aspect of my Christian walk and witness is empowered with God’s presence and His Spirit when I serve God with a clear conscience!

In Christian love, Curtis

RECONCILIATION AND RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships are difficult. This is because we as individuals are difficult. The are various ways to describe the reasons for this difficulty. Each one has merit and contributes to the overall picture.

We are all difficult because of our sinful nature.
We are all difficult because of our emotional and psychological baggage.
We are all difficult because we are self-centered.
We are all difficult because we have not surrendered our will.
We are all difficult because of our different personalities.
We are all difficult because of our immaturity.
We are all difficult because we are in process.

Relationships seem hopeless, don’t they? What is the answer? The biblical solution is reconciliation. It is only in Christ that two can come together in fellowship and not let the “difficult” destroy them.

Only the blood of Christ can transform our sinful nature.
Only the blood of Christ can help us turn loose of our emotional and psychological baggage.
Only the blood of Christ helps us surrender our self and our will.
Only the blood of Christ can reconcile differences.
Only the blood of Christ can bring us to maturity.
Only the blood of Christ provides the life-giving sustenance to keep us in the process of becoming.

Yes, relationships are difficult, but they are full of potential, vitality, excitement and promise through the reconciling blood of Jesus Christ!
In Christian love, Curtis

THE COVENANT IS LIFE!

As we anticipate our new study in small groups on Genesis, I could not in my own initial reading get past the title of our study booklet. It has the subtitle: The Covenant Comes to Life. As I got to reflecting and thinking about this I realized we needed to go even more basic than that.

Instead of the covenant coming to life, the covenant IS life! In his commentary on Genesis, the Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann boils this first Bible book down to the following sentence:

“Creator creates creation.”

After this initial action, then the next simple sentence in my mind would be:

“Creator creates covenant.”

We find that God establishes a covenant relationship with the material creation. This covenant is the source of life. Life as we know it flows from the being of God. Without God there could be no life. Without God there could be no covenant.

The covenant is life. This is precisely why our covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ is so vital and important.
God initiated this covenant relationship, and made it all possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This is why our life in Christ makes a difference.

Living the covenant-centered life in Jesus every day transforms how we view everything. It stands in awe of the Creator who has the power to initiate all of this to start with. May we all realize how much we owe our very lives to the Creator of creation and covenant!

In Christian love, Curtis

FOLLOWING JESUS BACKWARDS

While reading John’s gospel one comes across this sad comment:

“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him”(John 6:66).

“Turned back” is literally the phrase, “they went away to the things that were behind,” or as we would say, “they went back.”

This is the opposite of following Jesus forward—this is following Jesus backwards. What would cause Jesus’ followers to leave him and go back where they came from?

Jesus had been giving his disciples some “hard sayings.” They could not fathom the depth of their meaning, and what they did understand seemed to run counter to their expectations of Jesus claiming to be Messiah.

He confronted some of his followers by going straight for the jugular vein: “But there are some of you that do not believe”(John 6:64). It is hard for us to fathom that people actually followed Jesus day by day but still did not believe!

But this narrative in John raises for us a stark question:

Am I following Jesus forwards or backwards?

This had to be a hard day for Jesus. But this is the risk that love and freedom takes. He mentored for them day after day what the kingdom of God was all about. They had their ideas. When those disciples walked away, Jesus turned to the twelve and asked them, “Do you wish to go?”

It is hard to pour your life into someone—praying, caring, supporting and guiding them in the ways of Jesus—and then watch them just walk away. For me, as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, my heart is heavy for those I know who have chosen to walk away.

May God give us the grace and gentleness toward those who choose to follow Jesus backwards!

In Christian love, Curtis

John, the Apostle of Love

Are there any indications in his gospel about Jesus or his letters that bear his name, in which John the apostle learned sacrificial love as a servant?

I am reminded of a tender scene in which Jesus, with his dying breath, said to John…

John 19:27—And to me he said, “She is your mother!” And from then on I took her into my home.”

From then on, I took her into my home. Oh…how I wish that John’s gospel ended with a chapter on how John cared for this adopted mother. I suspect that at least the next three days before Jesus arose from the dead that he wiped many a tear from her cheek. He provided a place for her to grieve the loss of her son. He provided a safe place for her to express the depth of her despondent heart. He provided a safe haven for her heart broken with despair.

John models love for us and then tells us about it later in his first letter toward the end of the New Testament. John is very old by this time. He has seen a lot of Christians make sacrifices for others because of their love. He says…

1 John 3:18—stop saying we love people, and show it by our actions!

Show it by our actions. This is sacrificial love of a servant. Parents know this well. Staying up all night with a feverish child. Staying up all night with a child who has croup. Taking off work and driving your child to the doctor because they have broken an arm. The list is as endless as the love is deep! The love of parents just naturally includes sacrifices.

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if we could sit at John’s feet and ask him about sacrificial love. I wonder what he would share?

Would he talk about Jesus’ becoming human? What a sacrifice!

Would he talk about the 12 disciples leaving jobs, family and livehood just to follow in the steps of Jesus? What a sacrifice!

Would he talk about Jesus’ spending time with the Samaritan woman at the well? What a sacrifice!

Would he talk about that embarrassing and silent experience of Jesus washing his feet in the upper room? What a sacrifice!

Would he talk about Jesus’ lonely and anguished walk to Golgatha carrying his own cross? What a sacrifice!

What actions of sacrificial love will define our day today? Are all our attempts at service motivated by this selfless love? A few years ago I experienced a silent retreat at Colombiere Retreat Center in Oakland County, Michigan. One afternoon I was in the hallway of the retreat center and saw this spiritual dictum in mosaic form on the wall:

"In the spiritual life...progress will be in proportion to...

surrender of self-love

and of self-will

and of self-interests."

No wonder my attempts at loving service fall so short! God, have mercy on me!

In Christian love, Curtis

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY?

There are times when a book is published that it so grounding and foundational in its area of focus that one must purchase a copy and read it. The book by Evan Howard, The Brazos Introduction to Christian Spirituality, it just such a volume. In the past I have used it for my own reference and deeper understanding of the Christian life.

Howard says that there are actually three levels of meaning to be attached to the meaning of the term “Christian spirituality.”

1. The practice or actual lived relationship with God, individually and communally. [experiential]
2. Formulation of teaching about that lived reality. [theological]
3. Academic field of study regarding the history of Christian thought and experience[academic] [pages 16-17].

Since our congregational motto is “Spiritual growth through loving and serving” it behooves us to understand what we are talking about. For our church and its immediate application, we are referring to the very first level of meaning regarding Christian spirituality. At the level of actual practice this means…

“…Life in the Spirit as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and daughters and sons of the Father.”

This life is described as “fellowship,” “one another,” “the body,” etc. This common life in Christ is the context in which our spirits are nourished, our burdens are lifted, and our journey is shared. God would have it no other way. We really do need each other in our quest to grow spiritually. In fact, we grow with one another toward God and away from self. There is no other way!

One final thought today: thinking of Christian spirituality in terms of a lived relationship with the divine is comprehensively included in the word “covenant.” God is in covenant relationship with us, we with God, and we with one another. Covenant commitments are to be taken seriously and never adulterated. Faithfulness, fidelity and staying true to covenant is the backbone of a healthy Christian spirituality!

In Christian love, Curtis

THE CHRISTIAN MIND-SET & PERSPECTIVE (2)

Thinking like Jesus is not easy. Having his attitude and mindset is hard day after day. Especially if people around you don’t care. Caring when others don’t is a real challenge. But it is in contexts like this that we shine the brightest for God. But we really do need each other in the church to help us learn how to think and be like Jesus at all times.

Probably the best portion of Paul’s writings to help us with this is Philippians 2:1-11. In the first paragraph he addresses interpersonal problems plaguing their fellowship: selfish ambition, vain conceit and self-centeredness. All of these are rooted in personal pride. How does the body of Christ overcome these?

By being like-minded (focusing on the same thing)

By being one in spirit and purpose (thinking the same thing about Jesus)

By having the same love

By having the mindset of Jesus Christ

If we are to focus on thinking the same thing about Jesus, and having the same love for each other because of that, what then did Jesus think? Again, Paul provides the model.

Jesus took on the attitude of humility and emptied himself.

Jesus did not grasp onto his position of being equal with God.

Jesus took on the form of humanity with all of its challenges and suffering.

Jesus humbled himself and became obedient even to the point of death.


Once we realize the power of the mindset of Jesus, we are then willing to give up self, relinquish personal pride, dethrone personal ambition, emptying ourselves so that we can be filled with the Spirit and the mind of Christ. This is a total transformation of the mind and heart that defines the Christian perspective on life. I know it is hard, but living otherwise is harder!

In Christian love, Curtis

THE CHRISTIAN MIND-SET & PERSPECTIVE

Being a Christian means that my view of the world is seen through a unique set of lens. Instead of a mechanistic, fatalistic or humanistic perspective, this world takes on a different hue because my mind has been transformed by the power of God’s Spirit and the power of my risen Lord.

Interestingly, in his letter to the church at Philippi, the apostle Paul uses a distinct word which can be translated as “mindset” or “focus” or “how one thinks about something.” Ten (10) times Paul uses it in this short letter to his Christian brothers and sisters.

Perhaps this is not by accident, since Paul himself is in prison. We have seen this before in Paul’s life. Remember in the book of Acts where he and Silas were in prison and they sang songs? Instead of playing the “poor-pitiful-me” card, Paul and Silas praised God that they had been counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. This unique mindset let to the conversion of the Philippian jailor.

Perhaps no one in the early church is more qualified to tell us how to see the world through Christian lens, or approach things from a Christian mindset than Paul. His own resume of suffering for the cause of Christ is lengthy. It certainly lends credibility to his comments on how Christians are to think in circumstances less than ideal.

Listen to Paul’s first reference in Philippians:

“It is right for me to feel (think about, have this mindset) about all of you, since I have you in my heart”(l:7).

What frames Paul’s view of his readers? What contributes to the wonderful way in which he sees them?

1. He is confident that God who began a good work in them will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
2. He has them in his heart; he loves them deeply and continues to lay his life on the line for them.
3. All of them shared in God’s grace with him.

Think of how powerful these aspects of the Christian mindset can be in our life! Confident of God’s work in others! Loving others from our heart deeply! Sharing in the outpouring of God’s in each other’s lives! I cannot think of a better way to view life. I cannot think of a better mindset to have! Can you?
In Christian love, Curtis

RE-DEFINING SUCCESS FOR THE CHURCH

The last big point that I want to reflect on made by Randy Harris at ElderLink is this: we must redefine success in order to reach our world with the good news of Jesus. The church has been enamored with business models of success and measuring that success. But it is strange that things we count as important rarely, if ever, surface in the New Testament with regards to the life and vitality of the church.

If a core value of the kingdom is (as Randy suggested) reconciliation, then perhaps we need to re-think the success and progress of the church. Let me be candid here and provide an example.

Every church I have worked with over the last 36 years of pastoral ministry usually gives a financial and success report in January that is based on yearly contribution, attendance figures, etc. What if we changed that and let “reconciliation” be what we reported on? Here is what the report for the year would be like…

This past year 25 people were reconciled to God, and put on their Lord Jesus in baptism.
This past year 8 couples were reconciled to each other.
This past year 4 individuals in the church who had issues with one another were reconciled with each other.
This past year 12 people came down front during the worship assembly and asked for forgiveness and to be reconciled to God.

What if this is how we viewed the church and her mission? What if reconciliation defined our mission, not dollars and attendance? What if relationships with one another, with outsiders, and with God were our main concern?

Not only do we need to re-define success, we need to remove the word “success” from our Christian vocabulary! It needs to be replaced with words such as “faithfulness,” “fruitfulness,” “reconciliation,” etc. Whether we like to admit it or not, our culture has defined church for us. We have allowed the marketplace to dictate to us how think Christian-ly.

Is the heart of the Christian experience about reconciliation? If it is, we need to clean up our vocabulary, our act, our pride and humble ourselves beneath the mighty hand of God. “Be reconciled to God…and to one another!”

In Christian love, Curtis

WORTHLESS WORDS OR A MEANINGFUL MESSAGE?

As much as we hate to admit it, the meaning of words change. It is the ongoing change that challenges the message of the gospel. I am torn between two things here: the traditional language of the Christian faith, and the non-communicability of that language to the current generation.

On the one hand, some of the vocabulary of the Christian faith cannot be erased. On the other hand, perhaps some of it needs replaced, or at the bare minimum explained and defined every time such words are used. I am thinking of the following words as the “non-negotiables” of the Christian faith:

Cross, resurrection, heaven, hell, gospel, church, sin, love, servant, friend, etc.

I think our difficulty is realizing that today’s American culture is by and large non-literate in the biblical narrative. The vast majority of our church activities and worship assemblies assume that everyone is biblically literate. It is this very truth and reality that Randy Harris challenged us at ElderLink in Atlanta.

I remember hearing Dr. James Thompson speak at Abilene Christian University during the Restoration Quarterly Journal breakfast. He made a strong case for Christians not giving up their distinctive vocabulary of faith. Our life of faith is often couched in language directly from the biblical text. I believe that is a good thing. We must remember, however, that when we are trying to communicate the Christian faith to others, they have neither the benefit of knowing the words we use nor the powerful narratives out of which that language arises.

Perhaps a good place to start is by asking others what meanings they attach to the words we use. What does the average person think of when we use the word “sin?” What do most people think of when we talk about “church?” Easy-to-read translations and taking time to explain our words with others may be the best place to start. The good news of Jesus Christ (“gospel”) cannot afford to be communicated with worthless words. Rather, we are challenged to present it with meaningful words that convey the power of God at work in the human heart!

In Christian love, Curtis

THE GRAYING OF THE CHURCH

One of the most difficult things for the average, traditional church today is to face the fact that there is an increasing age and social gap. Many congregations have had to close their doors because members have died and no one was their to take their place.

Additionally, because there have been more women than men who attended the assembly and was more involved in church functions, there are less and less men who are growing up to take leadership roles. What this means practically is that young men often do not have older men in their lives who can and are willing to be a spiritual father or mentor to them. It is my sincere conviction that all of us who are over fifty need to seriously step forward and make a commitment to reach out and mentor young people in the faith.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 is Paul’s crowning message on this topic. Listen closely:

“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”

Paul’s word for this dynamic is “imitation,” and he uses it several times in his correspondence. Providing direction, mentoring and being a spiritual guide was crucial in the spiritual growth of his readers.

Paul uses two critical metaphors to convey this awesome and exciting responsibility of spiritual mentoring: a nurse with a baby, and a father with his children. Care, commitment, well-being, sacrifice, training, responding, etc.—these are all words that come to mind with these metaphors.

It may be that the graying of the church is providing right now one of the most exciting opportunities for mentoring we have ever seen! All it takes is men and women of faith willing to step forward and listen, be gentle, pray with and guide those who are desperately seeking.

Think of combining these two metaphors together! After all, think of the young men over the last decade who have entered the nursing profession. God is not asking for the impossible from those of us who are older. God is just asking that we open our hearts and allow Him to work through us to transform others by the power of His Spirit. Are we ready for the challenge?

In Christian love, Curtis

A POST-CHURCH WORLD

We are living in a post-church world. This was Randy Harris’ second observation about our culture at ElderLink. We have to qualify this statement because most every community you visit there will be several church buildings visible. What do we mean by a “post-church” world?

First, the church no longer is at the center of society’s conscience. Two or three generations ago many towns and villages were defined by the church’s steeple arising from the town square. Its image and presence meant something to the people living and working there. It was a symbolic reminder of a moral center. In many of today’s controversial moral questions, every specialized interest and trained expert is allowed to weigh in except the church.

Second, the rituals of religion seem empty to people trying to find their way out of chaos. Fragmentation, mahem, chaos, fear, confusion: these define the post-modern journey for many individuals. Tired rituals and empty religious clichés are not the answer.

Third, the language and vocabulary of the church seems disconnected from people’s lives. Or, even on the flip side, people of the church from different generations mean different things even though they use the same words. Unfortunately, good biblical words such as “propitiation,” “justification,” “reconciliation,” etc., no longer are common words. And even Christians often misuse or misunderstand them.

Fourth, the church is not the only place where community is formed and nurtured. This is only too painfully clear to Christians. The local bar, the local clubs, local associations, etc., all take the place of the community of faith. Individuals are looking for a place to belong, where they can be validated as a person, and affirmed as to their worth. Because we have been a miserable failure at this, other groups have stepped forward and filled the gap.

We do live in a post-church world. What is the answer? Focus on bringing people to Jesus with authentic servanthood. Only then will the church make sense!

In Christian love, Curtis

I Think Everything is about “i”

Last week we mentioned that Randy Harris at ElderLink proposed 5 ways of getting a grasp on and understanding our current culture. Having such awareness will help us be more sensitive to where people are coming from. Additionally, as responsible and accountable stewards of Jesus with our time, gifts and commitments we can be more faithful to the opportunities afforded us when we share the good news of Jesus.

The first thing to consider is that technology has reshaped us. There is the i-phone, the i-pod, the i-pad, etc. It seems that everything technological serves the “i” in mine. It is all about me, mine and my world. Because such reshaping has taken place, this challenges many of us who have resisted technology in its various forms. There are three things that I want to mention briefly here: technolatry, Sabbath and connectivity.

There is a real danger of the tool/s becoming the master. Time, energy and resources are constantly being sunk into technology. But the problem is that it controls us and reshapes us, instead of being controlled by us. The tool has become the master. Depending on what the technological gadget is we are talking about, many have taken over time in learning how to use and maintain them. We almost worship our tools, and thereby are guilty of technolatry. They are not the answer to all of life!

There is the real possibility of connecting with others as never before. Discrete use and wise management of these resources can help us connect with people in meaningful ways. Often we can say and interact with people on a deeper level when technology is used. This is one of the greatest paradoxes of the post-modern world. Privacy has become public. Discretion has been replaced with disclosure. Because of this, people are revealing needs and sending out calls for help in ways unheard of in the past. Such level of connectivity presents incredible moments for ministering in the name of Jesus!

There is the real need for a weekly Sabbath. Because the foregoing is true, we need to declare a once a week Sabbath from using technology. I have found in my own life that one day away from the tools of communication enables me to stay grounded, centered and more alert when I am using such technology the other six days. This keeps everything from being about the “i” in mine!

In Christian love, Curtis

ASSESSING THE SITUATION

“What are we looking at?” This question is posed in a variety of circumstances. It may be we have called someone over to look at repairing the roof. It may be that we are watching a movie, someone has been taken hostage and the chief of police arrives on the scene. It may be someone has been arrested for a misdemeanor or a felony, and they ask this of their attorney.

But we now pose the question regarding the future of the church. Why is it so hard to reach people? What is there about our culture that makes “church” untenable for so many young people and young adults?

This past week Randy Harris at ElderLink in Atlanta proposed the following 5 ways of getting a grasp on assessing the situation with our culture. Perhaps knowing this will enable us to be more patient with the un-churched and the non-Christian, or unbelievers.

1) Technology has reshaped us
2) We are living in a Post-church world
3) Increasing age and social gap in churches
4) Big challenge of defining gospel and discipleship
5) Redefining what “success” looks like for the church


Each one of these components are critical if we are to take seriously the task and mission of the church in an increasingly hostile culture toward traditional Christianity. Jesus gave the church a simple mission: “…Go and make disciples of all nations…”(Matthew 28:19). So simple, yet so hard!

By assessing our situation, we find out that our contemporary culture has radically shifted from what it was sixty years ago. Two generations have come and gone since many of our churches were planted in various communities. Because our way of doing church has become entrenched, in many places, we are on the verge of closing doors of what was once vibrant, faithful congregations.

In the next few weeks, I want to look specifically at the five items listed above. This will enable us to get a better grasp on understanding our culture. Given this environment, we then need to look at the biblical mandate of “go and make disciples of all nations.” What needs to change in our church culture so that we can reach the larger culture?

Here is a question to think about: is it possible that our culture holds any promise for being receptive to the good news of Jesus? Assessing the situation will give us clarity and mission.
In Christian love, Curtis

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Would it be strange for a minister to share his thoughts about growing spiritually? Most of us would expect that! Well, since our congregational theme this year is “Growing Spiritually through loving and serving,” I have had a million thoughts swimming around in my head that I have been wanting to share. The one that is strongly on my heart today has to do with a proper view toward obstacles that get in our way.

Just recently, I have had the opportunity and privilege of meeting with a number of individuals who are struggling with gargantuan obstacles and problems in their lives. I have found myself saying this to each person:

“The bigger the obstacle you are faced with and the harder something is becoming, that is a testimony to the fact that you are indeed growing spiritually and drawing nearer to God. Obstacles, testing, trials, temptations, and difficulties are different ways that God can use to discipline and train us in the spiritual life.”

This gives us healthy way of viewing our problems as we seek God’s face. Just mark it down: any spiritual goal we have in mind will have with it inherent obstacles to overcome. The greater the goal the bigger the obstacle!

So, how can I overcome and be victorious? The apostle Paul provides the answer with a rhetorical question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:35, 37).

As is common practice for Paul, he utilizes a military metaphor to communicate his spiritual concept. “Conquerors” overcome obstacles. Conquerors keep their eyes on the prize. Conquerors let nothing hold them back.

I love this concept…conquering obstacles. Obstacles are constantly thrown in our path to make us throw in the towel! But remember, we have the power of Christ’s love to sustain us. So, let us overcome obstacles so we can grow spiritually in the following ways:

Our commitment to God, our commitment to our spouse, our commitment to our children & grandchildren, our commitment to stay clean from addiction, our commitment to help others with our financial resources, our commitment to visit and help the elderly, our commitment to ourselves to be a person of truth and integrity, our commitment to academic excellence, our commitment to stewardship of our bodies, our commitment to agape love for others, etc. Through the power of Christ's love and his resurrection power we can overcome obstacles to the glory of God!

In Christian love, Curtis

PAUL, THE APOSTLE OF AGONY

One way of characterizing the life of the apostle Paul is by the word “agony” or “struggle.” In his own letters to churches he often referred to the intense inner angst and agony that he felt and experienced. Remember last week we mentioned Paul’s habit of “urging” his readers toward urgent activities? In Romans 15:30 we have such a combination: Paul’s urgent pleading for his readers to join him in his agonizing! Listen to this:

“I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”

Paul is urging his readers to join him in his struggle; literally, Paul says “agonize with me.” It is a verb prefixed by the preposition “with.” This indicates to us how deeply Paul envisioned fellowship.

Our inner distress was never meant to be experienced in isolation. From what Paul is saying here, I see the following application to body life in the congregation:

1) My inner world of apprehensiveness must be shared with others.

2) We need to urge and plead with others to share in our prayer life and concerns of petition.

3) There is no struggle outside the purview of Christian fellowship and joint struggling in prayer.

It took my own father’s suicide 18 years ago for me to truly understand this.
My wife, Nancy, and my children shared this agonizing journey with me. My mother, my brothers, and my sisters shared this agonizing journey with me. My Christian brothers and sisters shared this agonizing journey with me. I understand the depth of struggling “with” others in their agony and inner troubles.

May God give each of us two desires: the wisdom to urge others to join us in our prayerful struggles, and the wisdom to respond when others ask us to join them! In Christian love, Curtis

URGENT URGING

Parents learn the art of urging early. It comes in the following forms: brush your teeth so you won’t lose them. Look both ways before you cross the street. Do not talk to a stranger. Do your homework so you can get good grades. Eat your brussel sprouts so you can grow up strong.

As children get older, the parental urging stakes go higher. Do not try drugs, they will fry your brain. Do not get drunk—remember your friend who died in the auto accident? Practice abstinence because STD’s are around every corner.

We understand the need for urging. It is the same in church life. There is the need for urgent urging. Listen to the apostle Paul as he urges his fellow Christians in Rome:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (12:1).

It was common practice in Paul’s day, while writing letters, for a person to highlight one of the most important features of composition by prefacing it with the word “urge.” This was used to address the ethos (character or behavior) desired in the recipient of the letter. It basically has the idea of “calling in alongside of” or, strongly encouraging someone. One ancient Greek writer uses it to refer to calling in the general for strategy. He would have urged and encouraged his troops in the heat of battle.

What does Paul want in the character or behavior of his readers? He wants them “to offer their bodies as living sacrifices.” This was the point of his urgent urging. In Paul’s letters it is clear, just like today, that too many people separated their “spiritual” life from their “physical” life. But Paul attacks this heresy head-on. All forms of spirituality are embodied. That is, how we offer our bodies to God is the center of our spiritual life.

This urging of an embodied spirituality is just as relevant today as it was in the first century. It is easy to think that our spirituality has nothing to do with our bodies. But Paul insists that this approach to life is “spiritual act of worship.” Paul does not list this as one act of worship among many. This is the only time in Paul’s writings when he calls the doing of a thing a “spiritual act of worship.” He is not talking about something we do in the assembly on Sunday morning. He is urging a congruence between the spirit and the body as we live out our faith.

The church today needs more urgent urging! Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are bought with a price. We are not our own. Therefore, we need to let our character and behavior glorify God!

In Christian love, Curtis

Resources:

Bjerkelund, C. J. 1967. Parakaleo: Form, Funktion und Sinn der Parakalo Satze in den Paulenischen Briefen. Bibliotheca theological Norvegiva 1. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.

Grayston, K. (1980). “A Problem of Translation: The Meaning of parakaleo, paraclesis in the New Testament.” Scripture Bulletin 11: 27-31.

O’Brien, Peter T. 1999. “Letters, Letter Form.” Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, 552. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Xenophon. Anab. 3.1.32. Cited in Braumann, G. 1979. “Exhort.” New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Volume 1, 567-573. Edited by Colin Brown. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. If it were that visible, that definable, that clear…then it would be an easy battle for the disciple of Jesus. But how many times do we make it against flesh and blood?! We put a face on our enemy. We define geographical territory. Turf wars at the office emerge. In-laws become out-laws. The scenario multiplies and never seems to stop!

Struggle. Literally, the apostle Paul says “wrestling.” We wrestle against the sources of evil and the power of evil. This is the only time in the New Testament that “wrestling” is used. In the papyrus, “wrestler” or a “wrestling man” is found a couple of times, dating around the 2nd and 3rd century. In the 3rd and 4th century a short Christian sermon survives that mentions “spiritual wrestling.”

Paul uses many metaphors of warfare to depict the struggle of living the Christian life. It may be that the “wrestler” here is really describing brutal hand-to-hand combat. Life and death struggle. Resistance and strength spent to the bitter end.

We live in a day and time where Christianity is measured. Dollars. Attendance. Programs. Events. Good time. Fun. Self is pampered. Egos are stroked. Comfort is the highest value.

What happened to the daily reminder that we are involved in a life and death spiritual struggle? Nowhere in Scripture are we ever promised that following Jesus is “ rose garden without the thorns.”

Paul makes it clear in Ephesians that this struggle is because of our sinful nature, desires of the flesh. Once we were dead in trespasses and sins, therefore there was no struggle. Heart is hardened. Conscience is dead. Desires and thoughts focused on sinful desires.

God made us alive in Christ! Now we struggle. The battle lines have been drawn. Satan and his forces are lined up against us. I have learned that the harder the struggle, the more testimony it is to a stand of faithfulness. Our spiritual struggle, then, is not against people and property. It is against Satan, our adversary. Praise be to God who has given us the victory in Christ!

In Christian love, Curtis

CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF SUFFERING?

Suffering is quite painful and appears to be non-productive. We live in a culture where suffering is to be alleviated at all costs. Because it appears to be non-productive, untold millions is spent on trying to alleviate what seems to be senseless. And we are not just talking about physical suffering, there is also emotional and mental anguish than can almost trump anything physical. What does the Christian make of this?

The apostle Paul gives us another perspective on suffering that is not defined by a negative reaction because pain is ONLY perceived in a negative way. Paul answers very plainly the question, “Can anything good come out of suffering?”

Before we hear Paul’s answer, we have to ask ourselves, “Are we ready to hear his answer?” Sometimes, being in the middle of pain and suffering, we cannot see or hear Paul’s prescription. Perhaps his answer is more of journey, a journey that stretches out over time in which we are slowly prepared to see and accept the answer. Listen to his perspective:

“Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5).

Notice that Paul goes a step further than what we are often prepared to do. He says “rejoice”!? I think it would have been much easier for us to swallow if he had said, “tolerate.” But rejoice?! Yes, because we are aware of a divine, transformative process that comes about that ONLY suffering can produce: a formation of character that hangs on to hope because it is rooted in the gift of the Holy Spirit whom God has given us. It almost sounds like Paul is saying that suffering makes us aware of and rely on the gift of the Spirit whom God has poured out into hearts which is the medium and measure of His love.

Maybe, then, suffering is the process by which I am made aware of that which is more important than the pressing pain of the moment. It is often ONLY through pain and suffering that I am ready for God to do His greatest work in me and through me. Therefore, “we rejoice in our sufferings.”

In Christian love, Curtis