I'm Doing a New Thing - God

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Isaiah 43:18-21

do not remember the former things,

    or consider the things of old.

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I am about to do a new thing;

    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

    and rivers in the desert.

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The wild animals will honor me,

    the jackals and the ostriches;

for I give water in the wilderness,

    rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

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    the people whom I formed for myself

so that they might declare my praise.

Many churches get excited when they read and hear a sermon on Isaiah 43:18-19: "Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing."

Those same churches often follow with a prayer something like this: "Dear God, show your mighty hand - do your new thing - but please! For the love of all things sacred, keep everything the same HERE!"

If you don't believe me look at the very first church in Acts 11.  God gives a vision to Peter where the message is, "What I [God] have made, do not say it is unclean!"  This was different from the Jewish dietary laws and laws dealing with the Gentiles. But still it was what God said to Peter. The Jewish Believers had a difficult time believing that the Gentiles could be a part of God's People.  And yet, God created the Gentiles. 

Why do we fear change?  Answer these questions - 

- Are you a pack rat? Do you keep some unnecessary stuff that doesn't even hold sentimental value?

- Do you have a morning wake up ritual that it would cause your day to be ruined (or at least uncomfortable) if it were changed?

-Does your bed have to be "just so" in order for you to sleep (for non health reasons)?

-Do you have "your chair" or "your place to sit" in your house?

Granted, those are not spiritual questions, but they show our dislike of change!

There may be some humor here, but when it comes to the Church, this is Life or Death for people - Heaven or Hell!

As God says to Isaiah, "I'm going to do a new thing." We can no longer act as if that "new thing" isn't happening here!

Isaiah goes on to quote God saying, "The wild animals will honor me!"  Look at who is becoming the Church. We in the church were once wild animals! It's pure and plane SIN to continue calling the wild animals, wild animals. They are Potential Saints! They need to be called what God Calls them!

The church is scraping and grasping to hold onto what was. Peter is clear in Acts that God is leading us to what WILL BE! Look where the spirit is falling! Look around the world and see where the church is bursting with life!

Now - Let me be clear: in Peter's time, the church was politically divided. There were more political/religious parties than we can even think of.  We have Republican and Democrat (with some smaller parties thrown in). They chose to have Christ as their primary focus and politics took a much later position. God and Neighbor mattered much more! 

I have a diverse group of Facebook friends, and the majority are confessing Christians.  But I'm afraid I wouldn't know that by seeing their posts. American Christians seem obsessed with earthly politics and blame others for the state of the church. Sorry people, but God tells us it's OUR job with his power!

American Christians seem more obsessed about "getting our nation back" than getting people back in our pews.  It doesn't take a mathematical genius to see we have a problem! Look around! Again, this is a life or death issue for people.

American Christians seem more concerned with who is attacking our beliefs (verbally) than who we are winning to Christ. Again - we bear the burden and responsibility of love. Jesus commanded US - not THEM. They hit us, we turn the cheek. Don't like it? Well, I'm uncomfortable with it too, but Jesus said it, so we need to work on that!

And if you're still reading, if you're not too angry with me yet - What if we were more concerned with lifting the cross in people's lives than a Confederate Flag - or American Flag - or any flag?  Our heritage is Christian! Before we were Christians we fooled ourselves by saying we had a heritage.  The world is a hotel - Christianity is a home. Think about that.

And think about this - We would never go to a hospital that isn't fully committed to health because our lives would be in danger. BUT Christians often go to churches that aren't committed to Christ without doing anything about it because Christians don't really think our souls are in danger.  So, do we believe what we say we believe?

This isn't all bad news - It's a call to see God's Vision!  God let's us back on the train! God lets us take our faith seriously again. God gives us second chances.

Nothing stays the same! Watch out your window and you'll see the world change in an hour. But that's the way God designed it. Now - Pray and Act - What is God calling you to do?

The Middle of the Road

Come join me for a walk in the middle of the road. I promise it's not what you think. Contrary to people say, you do have to make decisions. 

When you're walking in the middle of the road, people are angry with you. "You're not on our side!" Well, that's the point. I see cars on the Left side that are good. I see cars on the Right side that are good. I also see cars on both sides that are bad. When I'm in the middle of the road, I can see both sides. I can choose.

It's dangerous to be in the middle of the road. There are traffic jams on either side that often get out of control. Have you ever been in a traffic jam? People get angry when they are in a traffic jam. They get angry because the other side seems to be moving. It's as if there's a small war on the road. People walking in the middle of the road aren't safe. You have to be careful. You have to watch your step. You have to watch your surroundings. 

Sometimes, a car from either the Right or the Left will offer you a ride. When you've walked a long time, a ride is a tempting offer. There's nothing wrong with taking a ride if the ride is the right one to take. When you're walking in the middle of the road, you have to decide. Is it better to keep walking or is it better to accept the ride? Sometimes you can change your mind - you can get out of the car and begin walking again. Sometimes you can't change your mind. People who walk in the middle of the road have to make hard decisions. 

When I walk in the middle of the road, one of my greatest wishes is that the cars on both sides would just respect the rules of the road. I wish that somehow the road would be a place of harmony. Some cars go one way; some cars go another way. Sometimes that's how it works. Usually, the road is a place of competition. The drivers want you to go their way. Their way is the only correct way...or so they say. 

The middle of the road can be scary because it can be lonely. Cars travel in packs of traffic. It makes the drivers feel safe. People in the middle of the road walk alone. 

I invite you to join me in my walk in the middle of the road. We can get in a car from time to time. We can direct traffic when the drivers can't seem to figure out the rules of the road. We can see the good cars and we can see the bad cars. Will you join me in the middle of the road? 

Telling the Truth in Church - Not what you think

The story of Jairus's Daughter and the Hemorrhaging Woman can be interpreted as messages of how Jesus brings life to the dead. Those are completely valid and true readings of this scripture. However, as I prepared to preach this scripture last week, I found something else shining from the text. Yes, Jesus brought life back to people who had lost it. Jesus does that today. But there is also something in this scripture that we often miss.

Mark 5:21-43New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat[a] to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24 So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

³⁵ While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” ³⁶ But overhearing^[b] what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” ³⁷ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. ³⁸ When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” ⁴⁰ And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” ⁴² And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. ⁴³ He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

We often get in the "trap" of over-spiritualizing our faith. Before you get angry, the Spirit is good! The Spirit is part of the Trinity. I'm not speaking of that spirit. Over-spiritualizing is when we begin to say that our physical existence doesn't matter and only our spiritual existence does. Over-spiritualizing occurs when we say our sole purpose to life is to get to heaven and none of the sufferings of this world matter.  That cannot possibly be true.  Jesus came as a God-man. God and Human. Jesus came in our form to sanctify this experience and to redeem it. Humanity and human existence matters. Jesus healed human suffering in this scripture and in many others.  God the Father delivered human Israelite slaves from bondage.  Humanity matters!

With that in mind, we see what happens. Jesus brings life in this scripture. But notice what happens BEFORE Jesus heals.  Jairus and the Bleeding Woman must tell the truth of their conditions.  

In churches, Christians often feel it is our job to pounce upon people and give them the truth of Christ as we understand it. Yes, we are to guide people to Christ. But sadly, well meaning Christians often take that as a battle order rather than a discipleship call.  We forget that in order to make disciples, we must listen.  And if we truly want to make disciples, we must let those whom we are charged to minister to tell the truth.  We are in essence, "doctors" for God.

Think of going to the doctor. A doctor cannot treat an illness unless the patient tells the truth about his or her condition.  Sometimes it feels embarrassing to tell your symptoms to the doctor, but yet the doctor patiently listens with care so that she can treat you the best she knows how. 

Why aren't most churches places where we can tell the truth of the symptoms of our lives? Why do people feel they have to hide their problems from other Christians? Simply put, too many Christians disobey the plain words of the Lord - they judge, they gossip, and they shun.  No, I'm not saying every Christian is like this. I've met many who are not. But as the saying goes, "It only takes one bad apple to ruin the barrel."  As Christians we bear the burden of proof. We are ambassadors of Christ. As people see us, so they assume we are. 

In our scripture, talking about a dead 12 year old girl is not pleasant. Talking about hemorrhaging for 12 years is not pleasant.  In our churches, talking about suffering relationships is not pleasant. Talking about abuse is not pleasant. Talking about sins that we struggle with is not pleasant. Talking about questions or doubts we have is not pleasant. But they should be allowed so that people can come into a closer walk with Christ. 

As Christians, we do not have to micromanage God. God can defend and take care of whatever happens. Our job is only to point to God. We don't have to judge. We don't have to have all the answers. If we truly believe in an all powerful God, then we should trust that God! 

Making disciples means we have to listen. We don't get to choose who we meet or who God calls us to serve. People have real questions and people have real struggles. Committed Christians have real questions and real struggles. Why can't the church be a place of support rather than one of judgment and reproach? 

If the church wants to be the church, then our call to authentic truth telling and vulnerability is something we will take seriously. Take an inventory of yourself and of your church. Can people tell you the truth? Can they be vulnerable to you? Can you tell the truth of your own struggles? Then, rather than sulking in the negative answers you find, do something about it. Be the example. This will not create a weak church - it will create a strong church - The one God intends us to be!