Someone asked me recently how to handle the swirl of negativity that the enemy frequently unleashes around the followers of Jesus Christ. More specifically she asked how I handle the untruths and false statements that circulate about me. As many of you may know, the past several years Bev and I have been viciously attacked verbally. In light of that, and in light of people spreading rumor and innuendo about her, my friend asked me how to handle it.
We need to be aware that Jesus predicted that verbal attacks, false accusations and mocking, would occur to those who follow Him. (The servant is not greater than His master.) In fact He told us that those attacks are a doorway to blessings. However, that knowledge does not necessarily make it easier to endure the pain inflicted by the words and actions of people.
So how do we receive God’s blessing in the midst of the crap? For me, the key has been to hear what the Father has said and is saying about me. In the life of Jesus, twice the voice of the Father broke in and called Jesus “My beloved son”. Both times the declaration preceded a difficult and dark time in Jesus life – once before He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness and once immediately before the last days of His life.
If we are to live abundantly in the midst of the voice of the enemy attacking us, we must know what the Father says about us. For me, the latest round of false accusations was preceded by several times when I deeply heard the affirmation of the Father. That affirmation carries me through the swirl of rumors. I know deeply that I am a beloved son to Him. He has invited me to sit at His table and participate as a son.
The knowledge of the words of the Father will begin to free us from our bondage to the opinions of people. That freedom is a double-edged sword. We no longer operate according the accepted rules of people and religion (freedom). However that fact only intensifies the attacks on us. Those who choose the way of religion and bondage will become more vociferous in their attacks as they realize they can no longer control us.
Their words meant to humiliate us actually become the doorway to greater blessing. When one first begins to experience the verbal attacks, the humiliation can be overwhelming. In actuality, the humility we experience is part of the pathway of Christ. Those who are broken and humiliated are those who most deeply experience the reality of Jesus Christ. As we begin to identify with His suffering, we can be sure that we will become partakers of His glory!
It is helpful as well to remember that truth is patient. Truth always triumphs. False realities, rumors, and accusations eventually crumble; they cannot sustain the weight of time. That which is true will remain and be seen over the course of time.
Our affirmation and validation must first come from the voice of the Father. As we hear His voice, the voice of truth, we forge ahead with the business of the expansion of His kingdom regardless of the swirl of negativity from the mouth of the enemy.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
what's right in the world
In these uncertain times, negativity frequently rules the day. Upheaval and turmoil grab the headlines and dominate conversations. Yet recently I have been aware of some things that are right in the world.
This past weekend Bev and I had the privilege of attending the graduations of our two oldest children. Justin graduated from Clemson University with a Masters degree in mathematics. Heidi graduated with a Bachelors degree from Eastern University with an elementary ed/special ed degree. What a great joy to see both of them discovering their God-given identity and embarking on the path of abundant life. While they are vastly different in personality, both Justin and Heidi have this in common - they love God and they love life. That's what's right with the world today.
Several weeks ago, I was at the farm of an Amish client. Louie, his three year old son met me at the truck for his customary lollipop. Louie informed me that his dad was plowing in a distant field. When I told him that I was going to walk out to speak to his dad, Louie asked if he could come along with me. So we set off. After a bit I realized that he was walking slowly through the pasture field, each step of mine carried me further away from him. That's when I noticed the thistles and realized that Louie was barefoot. I went back, picked him up and carried him. And so we carried on, talking about his new baby sister, about thistles, and about the mud on the edge of the field. We eventually arrived at the field where his dad was plowing. Our conversation centered on strategy for improving productivity. Louie played at our feet while we talked. As I walked back to the barn with Louie, I realized how right and good our walk had been. When we got back to the house, Louie went back to the world of his mom, his baby sister, and the maid that was there to help with the housework. However, a 46 year old man, a little boy, a conversation with his dad about farming - it was a man's world in that 45 minutes and Louie got to be part of it. That's what's right with the world today.
In our backyard, we have a small garden. The spring onions and radishes are ready to eat. Lettuce and sugar peas grow vigorously due to all the rain we received. There is something deeply spiritual about farming/gardening. Maybe it's because God told Adam to subdue the earth even before Adam sinned. I believe it is part of God's plan for us. We plant, we water, we weed, and God gives the growth. That's what's right with the world today.
We have several birdhouses on our property. This morning I watched a tree swallow carry a large white feather to the birdhouse in which they were building a nest. I saw some bluebirds checking out another birdhouse. The sat on top of it and then one entered the birdhouse for a bit. I hope they make use of it for the summer. And that's what's right with the world today.
This past weekend Bev and I had the privilege of attending the graduations of our two oldest children. Justin graduated from Clemson University with a Masters degree in mathematics. Heidi graduated with a Bachelors degree from Eastern University with an elementary ed/special ed degree. What a great joy to see both of them discovering their God-given identity and embarking on the path of abundant life. While they are vastly different in personality, both Justin and Heidi have this in common - they love God and they love life. That's what's right with the world today.
Several weeks ago, I was at the farm of an Amish client. Louie, his three year old son met me at the truck for his customary lollipop. Louie informed me that his dad was plowing in a distant field. When I told him that I was going to walk out to speak to his dad, Louie asked if he could come along with me. So we set off. After a bit I realized that he was walking slowly through the pasture field, each step of mine carried me further away from him. That's when I noticed the thistles and realized that Louie was barefoot. I went back, picked him up and carried him. And so we carried on, talking about his new baby sister, about thistles, and about the mud on the edge of the field. We eventually arrived at the field where his dad was plowing. Our conversation centered on strategy for improving productivity. Louie played at our feet while we talked. As I walked back to the barn with Louie, I realized how right and good our walk had been. When we got back to the house, Louie went back to the world of his mom, his baby sister, and the maid that was there to help with the housework. However, a 46 year old man, a little boy, a conversation with his dad about farming - it was a man's world in that 45 minutes and Louie got to be part of it. That's what's right with the world today.
In our backyard, we have a small garden. The spring onions and radishes are ready to eat. Lettuce and sugar peas grow vigorously due to all the rain we received. There is something deeply spiritual about farming/gardening. Maybe it's because God told Adam to subdue the earth even before Adam sinned. I believe it is part of God's plan for us. We plant, we water, we weed, and God gives the growth. That's what's right with the world today.
We have several birdhouses on our property. This morning I watched a tree swallow carry a large white feather to the birdhouse in which they were building a nest. I saw some bluebirds checking out another birdhouse. The sat on top of it and then one entered the birdhouse for a bit. I hope they make use of it for the summer. And that's what's right with the world today.
Monday, May 4, 2009
which Jesus?
Recently I read a book about Jesus that has stirred my thinking. I realized how frequently we create a Jesus that fits our paradigm. There is the political activist Jesus who utilizes government to further his agenda. There is the nice Jesus who is always polite and kind. There is the superhuman Jesus who does miracles at will. There is the pacifist Jesus with a pale face holding a lamb.
The problem of creating our own Jesus is that it causes us to ignore scripture. While Jesus did come to announce the coming of a new kingdom, we never find him engaged in political discourse about the evils of the Roman empire. While Jesus certainly befriended sinners and embodied gentleness and meekness, He also made a whip and drove the vendors from the temple. While Jesus performed miracles, He did no more than what the Father wanted.
Of course then there are the troubling scriptures. I've already mentioned the cleansing of the temple. Imagine the turmoil and chaos He caused as He turned tables over, spilling money and wares. And then there is the little matter of turning water into wine at a wedding where the guest were already drunk. A needy woman is called a dog. A prostitute washes His feet. To make matters worse, He tells people that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood without ever qualifying His statements. He curses a fig tree and makes mud out of spit and dirt to heal a blind man. He vociferously rebukes the Pharisees and yet asks the Father to forgive them when the finally betray Him to the Romans. He points out their hypocrisy yet responds to their dinner invitations.
Jesus defies our efforts to remake Him into someone whom He is not. He cannot be neatly fit into a theological framework. Yet it is that untamed virtue that strangely draws us to follow Him. He makes no guarantees in His invitation to us. In fact at times He seems to make it difficult for people to follow - sell what you have, give it to the poor and come follow Me. He invites us to follow Him into the unknown with giving any kind of assurances that "everything will be okay".
My life has been transformed, not by the Jesus I heard about in Sunday School. My life has been transformed as I read (and continue to read) the gospels and allow His example and teachings to become my guide. He has challenged my theology at almost every turn. I no longer try to "figure Him out", I simply embrace Him for who He is. Rather than attempt to fit Him into my mold, I allow Him to mold me.
The problem of creating our own Jesus is that it causes us to ignore scripture. While Jesus did come to announce the coming of a new kingdom, we never find him engaged in political discourse about the evils of the Roman empire. While Jesus certainly befriended sinners and embodied gentleness and meekness, He also made a whip and drove the vendors from the temple. While Jesus performed miracles, He did no more than what the Father wanted.
Of course then there are the troubling scriptures. I've already mentioned the cleansing of the temple. Imagine the turmoil and chaos He caused as He turned tables over, spilling money and wares. And then there is the little matter of turning water into wine at a wedding where the guest were already drunk. A needy woman is called a dog. A prostitute washes His feet. To make matters worse, He tells people that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood without ever qualifying His statements. He curses a fig tree and makes mud out of spit and dirt to heal a blind man. He vociferously rebukes the Pharisees and yet asks the Father to forgive them when the finally betray Him to the Romans. He points out their hypocrisy yet responds to their dinner invitations.
Jesus defies our efforts to remake Him into someone whom He is not. He cannot be neatly fit into a theological framework. Yet it is that untamed virtue that strangely draws us to follow Him. He makes no guarantees in His invitation to us. In fact at times He seems to make it difficult for people to follow - sell what you have, give it to the poor and come follow Me. He invites us to follow Him into the unknown with giving any kind of assurances that "everything will be okay".
My life has been transformed, not by the Jesus I heard about in Sunday School. My life has been transformed as I read (and continue to read) the gospels and allow His example and teachings to become my guide. He has challenged my theology at almost every turn. I no longer try to "figure Him out", I simply embrace Him for who He is. Rather than attempt to fit Him into my mold, I allow Him to mold me.
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