QT 15 May 13, Unity seems lost today, but for the individual there are things we can do

John 17:20-23 (NIV) "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

NOTE: It is hard to understand what Jesus meant by unity. On one hand, there is a certain unity when I meet another person who believes in Jesus Christ as their savior. We do share a certain bond and attachment because of our savior. I can rejoice with that person and communicate to a certain degree which I cannot with others. On the other hand, there is multiplication of beliefs, denominations, and churches today. Some of the differences are in trivial matters but some are not. Some of the differences are in serious biblical issues, like universality, the application of the law to the Christian, and whether Christians should have to suffer in health. It actually is difficult to share deeply with these believers because their answers are so different. Additionally, their beliefs seem (to me) at odds with scripture. Most of the time, I don't really debate people. It doesn't seem helpful. And yet, Paul and the other apostles were very concerned about doctrinal deviations. Jesus seems very concerned about unity. How can unity exist with so much doctrinal deviation? And I don't mean worship styles, because I can have great fellowship with other believers when our differences are in style of worship. It is when our understanding of truth differs significantly that unity becomes very difficult.

One application, which doesn't solve the larger problem but does help at the individual level, is the need for individuals to be involved in a local church. If a church body is not important, then it is impossible to have any type of unity. The person is a lone ranger with no affiliation or support of the local body. That person is an ear hopping along the street while the local body lives on with an ear on only one side of the body. We have a role in the body and we need to address and embrace that role.

Random Thoughts, 14 May 13, Spend and be spent

This is in response to my Pastor's message on Sunday. It reminded me of something I felt I needed to put down on paper.

Isa 58:10 (NIV) … and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry //  and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, // then your light will rise in the darkness, // and your night will become like the noonday.

2 Cor 12:15 (RSV) I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?

Luke 16:9 (NIV) I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Note: Years ago, God impressed on me the phrase "spend and be spent." It really is a great philosophy of life. It does not preclude wise handling of the money God has entrusted to me for old age and retirement. What it does is free me to spend on others. Yes, I might be "wealthy" if I did not give as much as I have or spent as much as I do on people, but I have more peace because it relieves the tension between frugality and indulgence. Both positions represents extremes which do not honor God. Frugality, while often extolled, communicates that "my" money is more important than people. Indulgence is an obnoxious abuse of the gift God has given. Somewhere between is a point of freedom. I can spend money that is helpful for others, whether that is providing a dinner for young adults who attend our Tuesday night bible study or upgrading the carpeting in our house so that it can stand traffic (people visiting) better. I suppose we can always justify our actions, and that part is difficult to determine, but ultimately I stand before God, and while I might benefit from the spending, if my heart is right, I can have peace. I want to spend and be spent for people. I don't want to end up rich at the end of my life and realize all the opportunities I missed to use money for another person's good. God doesn't give me the funds I have so that I save it all or spend it all on myself. God has given me funds to live on and to use for the kingdom's sake. If that means buying a person breakfast so that we can talk, so be it. If that means replacing something sooner than normal because it is worn out by people using it, so be it. If that means having less left for myself, most certainly so be it. 

QT 14 May 13, We are under attack!

John 17:13-19 (NIV) "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

NOTE: Jesus prayed this prayer in the disciple's hearing and for their benefit. I'm sure it was comforting to hear Jesus speak of them to his father. Also, to know that "you will see me soon" (last chapter) did not mean they were also going to die since he prayed that they would not be taken out of the world. But he clearly identifies them with himself to the point that he says that they also are not of the world. It is easy to see how Jesus is not of the world since he is "half" man (by Mary), and "half" God (by the Holy Spirit) -- (theologically, we say he is perfectly (I like better than fully) man and fully God). But the disciples are "all of this world." Apparently not, Jesus says they are not of this world. So, identification with Jesus separates us from this world (since they had not received the Spirit yet). They are different by being around Jesus and they no longer identify with the world but with Jesus. That doesn't mean that they need to leave the world (as Jesus prays). They are to be a witness for Jesus in the world and their greatest need is protection from the evil one. He is out to destroy them. Jesus' other prayer comes to mind on this point, "… lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." I don't know if I think about this enough. The enemy is attacking me. It might be subtle but there is an attack ongoing. If it was obvious, it wouldn't be as successful. I need to remember this for myself and others, and pray for mine and their protection.

QT 8 May 13, Jesus clearly states his deity

John 17:1-5 (NIV) After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

NOTE: This is a pretty strong statement from Jesus about his deity and the trinity (or at least duality). Both Father and Son are glorified. Jesus has authority, from the Father, over all people. Eternal life is knowing God the Father and Jesus. Jesus had glory before the world even began. Clearly, they are separate, and yet they share many things (glory, authority, and eternality). These are not the statements of Paul, but Jesus' very words. Admittedly, John's gospel is likely written after all the other apostles are dead, although we are not sure. And the fact that the temple's destruction is not even mentioned suggests it may have been written before 70AD as opposed to the usual assumption of 90-100AD. The later date does not eliminate all the eyewitnesses, just the apostles. Still, even if it was the late date, of all people, John had no incentive to make up something that was not true. And least of all, to ascribe deity to Jesus. No, the logical argument leads us to accept these words as Jesus, and so forces us to face the fact of his deity and its implications on our own life.

QT 7 May 13, Have faith, God really does know what is best

John 16:5-11 (NIV) "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

NOTE: Jesus' comment is a little hard to understand. Both Peter and Thomas had asked similar questions, and maybe Jesus expected a more fuller discussion. But I think his point is that their grief had overtaken their rationality. They were so focused on Jesus' leaving that they weren't thinking. Jesus tries to help them understand that his leaving is a good thing. Most people, in times of grief, do not recognize the good that can come out of a situation -- and rightly so. But faith tells us that God is working good for us in every situation that life presents. This of course is a special situation: Jesus' death, resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Still, the principle remains the same: God promises to bring good out of every situation. Now "good" can be subjective (at least to us, not to God). No one considers discipline a good thing in the midst of the discipline. But time shows us the value. The key is that God knows my situation and is at work for my best!

QT 6 May 13, Called to be faithful, not argumentative

John 16:1-4 (NIV) "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.

NOTE: Truth does not always look like it is successful. In fact, many times, truth will not look like truth but rather will be perceived as foolishness. We do not have to defend truth to the n-th degree. We are to have a defense for anyone who calls us to account for our hope, but that does not mean we will win the argument. But truth, and especially scripture has an internal effect on people that we can't see, and God will use it in the person's heart. Our job is to not despair as we see the  world turn away from truth but rather  to be faithful to employ truth even when it is unpopular.