Gospel

Framing the Rage Against Our Family

/ Craig / Leave a comment

In recent weeks the targeted attacks against the followers of Jesus while they were gathered to worship, or in their homes, or in their places of business has made the news. I am saddened and have been reflecting on the Scripture to frame the rage against our family. The unrestrained rage against the people of Jesus shows what enemies do: they think their world or their lives would be better without the other.

Here are some of the verses I have been reflecting on:

Jesus describing life in the Kingdom of God. Matthew 5:9-12
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

John’s imagery of the battle against the followers of Jesus. Revelation 12:9-17
9And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”… 17Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Jesus on the cross. Luke 23:34
34And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

David’s Prayer. Psalm 13
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

The various voices of Revelation 22. Revelation 22:12-17
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. Matthew 6:9-13
9Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Paul writing to the diverse churches of Rome. Romans 12:9-21
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Cross and the Power of God

/ Craig / Leave a comment

18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

At the center of the church’s ministry is Jesus and His Cross.

Foolishness to some.

The power of God to others.

The Gospel and the gift of faith

is the difference between perishing and being saved.

For those being saved self-righteousness has no place.
Our boast is only in Christ Jesus. Reflection on the Gospel
generates humility and courage.

No Customers in Church.

/ Craig / Leave a comment

No customers in church.

4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5

When Peter considered the church under pressure he knew there were no customers in church. The followers of Jesus might experience the rejection of people, but they could also expect in the fellowship of the church to experience the delight and value of God. Peter sees God as a master builder, fitting the fellowship of Jesus’ followers into a healing community, “a holy priesthood.” In this kind of community lives are shaped by the Gospel and enlivened by the Holy Spirit to live sacrificially and responsively in all their occupations in the pleasure of Jesus Christ.

Churches come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and cultures. Churches create their own weather patterns. But here’s the deal, wherever you are as a follower of Jesus it is the Lord’s will that you would be fitted and built into the lives of other followers of Jesus for the mutual benefit of this “house” and its community.

The customer mindset makes church about me. That’s really anti-church. Church is not about what I can take from the “church.” But its easy to settle for spiritual consumption and suck the life out of church as Jesus envisioned us.

Continually we must ask the Lord to renew our vision of what we can be as His church together.

The delight of being His by His will.

/ Craig / Leave a comment

“But to all who did receive, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

It is possible to convince ourselves that we do not need to be loved, to be chosen, to be cared for. It is a lie. This lie is fueled by the illusion of our achievement and the illusion of our domination of the forces of nature. But like all illusions they are ultimately confronted with death.

John was convinced that what God did through Jesus at the Cross actually breathed life into people who would receive Jesus Christ as Lord. Not an illusion. But an actual reality giving birth to people as children of God, with the rights and responsibilities of children of God. All accomplished by His will.

Not by force. We do not become lovable by our own force. We are lovable by God’s will.

The Gospel brings us into the joy of new birth by God’s grace.

All that you study.

/ Craig / Leave a comment

All that you study

16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:16-20

All that we study has its roots in the creative work of God. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all engaged in Creation. All that we study, macro and micro, has had the creative imprint of Jesus in it. Much of what we study has been infected with the ripples of the Great Catastrophe. However, the redemption of all things and our relationships for the glory of God, is the work of Jesus and His church. So our study, so our work, must be saturated with this awareness: all that we study has its origin in Christ.

“All things were create through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church.”