Christmas of Me

This Christmas season, it might be easy to see our friends and family make the holidays all about themselves. But all of us tend to tend to rewrite Christ's story (Luke 2) in ways that support our political or social views. We may even do this without realizing it. How do your presuppositions tailor Christ's life and teachings to better support your own views on society and politics?

Helping Hand...or...NOT?

 Christians universally look to a time of absolute peace and combability (Isaiah 11). We might be tempted to wait for Jesus by abandoning the call to love our neighbor and dismantle systems of power that cause pain and suffering. However, Jesus warned us of those who do not 'wait' with their "lamps" burning bright (Matt 25). Does your waiting include good works, or do you simply say you are waiting?

Sure, I'll repent...of what?

 John the Baptist condemned his audience for their sins and called them to repent (Luke 3). While the sins are not named, the remedy is to remember God and who He is. How had they forgotten God? Do we consider the great sin of Israel their lack of temple attendance, or do we recognize the Old Testament prophet's call through John as a need to cast off greed and provide relief to those suffering around us?

Look at the Signs!

When Jesus announced that the great temple would be completely destroyed, his audience asked when(Luke 21)? What signs will proceed this event? Jesus answered with a list of signs, but also pointed out that they didn't need signs. After all, they could tell when it was time to pick fruit because of what they saw. Are you we so busy trying to figure out when Jesus will return that we fail to live for Him everyday?

Turkey Time 2024

Christians use Bible verses like Rev 1:6 to act claim ownership of lands they 'conqueror' forgetting that the Christ they are trying to follow taught us not to love this world's riches more than the souls we encounter. While we might see the cracks and faults of the holiday we call Thanksgiving, we might also consider this a time to show gratitude and seek forgiveness for our sins.

Last Days or Not, What Are You Doing?

 While many readers believe that the Jesus' sermon on Mount Olivet (Mark 13) was meant to describe signs of the end times, we might consider His words as a call to live steadfastly in His teachings. As our world entrenches in hate, bitterness, greed, and inhospitality, do we continue to show faith, hope, and charity? Do we continue to love, accept, and care for those around us?

More Cookie Drama

The remarkable story of the widow who shares the last of her food with Elijah (1 Kings 17) might remind us of modern religious speakers who claim special blessings for their benefactors. Those who misuse this story to increase their own wealth miss the importance of a non-Israelite caring for God's prophet. Maybe those the Church labels as 'sinners' are teaching us how to love well and to care for the vulnerable.

Why the tears?

"Jesus wept."(John 11) Is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible. The occasion for Jesus's weeping was a visit to the grave of His friend, Lazarus. Because Jesus had already resurrected others and seemed to know that Lazarus was also going to be resurrected, could Jesus's tears have been for those nearby who saddened by this death Who do you feel this kind of empathy toward? Who would you like to comfort?

2024 Election and voting 'biblical values'

 

What are 'biblical values?' Are they the Law of Moses, or the Noahic Covenant, or maybe the Edenic covenant? To be honest, 'biblical values' seem to be based on cherry-picked verses that support specific agendas.  Think of the sins you believe to be so ardently wrong and must be legislatively punished. 

Then ask yourself, what does the Bible really say about those sins? Are those the sins God judged Israel for? Did the major or minor prophets spent time warning of culture wars, or did they condemn a nation that turned its back on the stranger, the poor, and the disenfranchised? 

You could also ask if your version of 'biblical values' is truly pro-life. Have the recent changes in reproductive rights (in the name of 'biblical values') increased maternal mortality rates and is it continuing to endanger women? 

Instead of cherry-picking a set of verses that support our cultural bias and labeling them 'biblical values,' maybe we should just ask ourselves 'what would Jesus do.' Maybe we should consider Matthew 25, when Jesus sends those who did not care for the 'least of these' away, while embracing those who visited the needs of the poor as if they had visited Him and provided for His earthly needs.

Help me, Jesus!

Like the crowd surrounding the blind man in Mark 10, many modern Christians seek to quiet the voices of those who, in desperation and faith, call out for help. While enjoying the miracle of the healing and of Jesus showing compassion, we might fail to ask, why did the crowd try to silence the blind man, and why did they not bring him to Jesus for healing? Who are we silencing and keeping from Jesus?

 

Who is awesome?

 Proverbs 22 emphasizes the importance of a 'good name.' We might think of this as a person's character, or what they are known for. Many people seek fame or a legacy or give themselves impressive titles but miss the importance of being a good person or bearing a good name. Do you indulge your pride by seeking fame, or do you live out the gospel of Christ taking His good name as yours?

Who does?

 Although he was faithful to God in every way, Job suffered greatly (Job 23). Job's suffering reminds us of our inability to judge other's devotion or situation. The theme of Job, and maybe the Bible itself, is that we should be humble enough to see ourselves in those who suffer and to offer assistance and comfort. The core of Christianity is that we cannot save ourselves, we need Christ's intervention. May we be like Christ.

Trash the people

 When confronted with the question of divorce, Jesus surprised the religious leaders by undermining their interpretation of the Law and their understanding of who God is (Mark 10). Jesus asserted that God did not allow the arbitrary removal of support for a wife through divorce. We might consider how our interpretations of God and His word affect how we care for vulnerable people.

What I miss about the good 'ol days

Like the Israelites who romanticized their time as slaves (Num 11), many Christians reminisce over a past when Christ was more influential. But were those times truly more influenced by the teachings of Christ? Was the Church really living out the gospel more fully during times of slavery, segregation, or lynching? How can we help the Church live out the teachings of Christ better today and influence society to follow?

Pastor Says

 Political leaders love to use Romans 13 to enforce obedience and to claim God's authority as their own. We might note that not all authority is worthy of trust or obedience. In Acts 5:29 Peter refuses to obey those who have authority because their demands contradict God's commission to Peter. Rulers are meant to protect the free the afflicted, (Psalm 82), not impose their power on others.

That's Just Your Interpretation...

 Many commentators note the hard rebuke Jesus gives to Peter when Peter insists that Jesus, as the Christ, must not die (Mark 8). Peter believed that the Messiah would be a military leader who kills His enemies, but Jesus seemed to prefer sacrifice to violence. Do your interpretations of Messiah look like Jesus or like the military leader? Do you think Jesus would rebuke you for your interpretation? 

Awesome not hearing you

 In Mark 7 Jesus heals a man's deafness and asks that no one advertise the miracle. Those who witnessed the act could not seem to help themselves and soon the miracle no longer belonged to the man, but it had been appropriated for the crowd's purpose of promoting Jesus as the Messiah. We might notice how quickly the man disappears from the story to be replaced by the crowd's agenda.

Who are you?

 In Deuteronomy 4 God's people are encouraged to remember all that God had done for them, and all that God promised for them. The message reminded Israel to remember where they came from and what values defined them. What values to do we demonstrate to show that we are followers of Christ? Do we value our rules and laws more than we value the neighbor that Jesus told to us to love as ourselves?

The Big Shopper

 Joshua 24:15 is often quoted as a declaration of our commitment to worshipping God and God alone. While printing the shortened version of this verse on various pieces of merchandise may serve as a passive declaration to put God first, it could also be a substitute for actively acting like Jesus. Are we more interested in looking like a Christian than in we are in loving like Christ loved?

Politician asks for the ability to lead well

God came to Solomon in a dream and the asked the young king what he would like God to provide
(1 Kings 3). Rather than asking for things that would increase his power and solidify his rule, Solomon humbly asks for the ability to know right from wrong so that he can be a fair, just and effective leader of the people. When have you sought to benefit those around you with the gifts you have received?

Nothing to see here

 When the prophet Elijah asked to die (1 Kings 19), God intervened by sending His angel to nurture and sustain Elijah. The Church tends to ignore or hide those who may be suffering from depression or anxiety, or worse, guilty of blaming the victims for feeling the effects of depression. May we learn to just sit with and be with those in emotional need. Have you ever needed a friend to just sit with you?

Doggone it

 When Jesus spoke the words the Church now uses to celebrate the "Lord's Supper," He gave no moral requirements, He simply provided spiritual nourishment to those who would come. Do we help others come to the table of Jesus? Do we demand more than Jesus Himself or maybe we mistakenly offer physical nourishment and wealth in place of spiritual. Let us embrace the true gospel of Christ.

They will know us by our forceful pressing of doctrine and creed

 

While the apostle Paul is best known for his strong doctrine and logical arguments, he also recommends and reminds us that the guiding principle of Christ's followers is love. In Ephesians, Paul used the words rooted and grounded to describe how our beliefs are less about logic and obedience and are really more about love. How do you demonstrate God's love to those around you?

Why is it so hard to see Jesus?

 in Mark 6:45-52 the disciples are caught in a storm while crossing a body of water. When Jesus responds to their fear by walking over to the boat, they don't recognize Him and become even more afraid. Were they so fixated on the storm and waves that they missed the one they called "master." What troubles or contexts cause you to miss seeing Jesus in your situations? Are you fixated on your problems or on Jesus?

Pastor Awesome knows how to solve disagreements

Christians can mistake 'quite' for 'peace.' We often ask those with questions or unpopular opinions to 'hold their tongue' for the sake of unity. The prophet Amos was also asked to promote unity and peace by not preaching the unpopular message about the coming judgements (Amos 7). Amos pointed out that this was God's message, not his. How do you respond to questions or opinions you don't like? Do you listen? 

A Terrible Call to Ministry

Like most prophets, Ezekiel was called to live a difficult life with seemingly little reward (Ezekiel 2). Perhaps driven by a wonderful vision of God, Ezekiel did endure ridicule and saw little to no change in those he ministered to. They wanted to be encouraged to continue in their sin. What prophetic voices do you ignore today? Are you unconcerned with those who suffer injustice like the poor and the refugee?

Prioritizing God's work

When asked to heal a very important man's daughter (Mark 5), Jesus allowed Himself to be diverted by a powerless woman who also needed healing. Although Jesus was on-task to help someone who was in a more dire situation with a more impressive family, Jesus noticed the woman and took time to confront her and provide the words she needed to hear. How do you prioritize your helpfulness? 
 

Saul sees Saul and not David

 David was Saul's best solider and military leader. After killing Goliath and winning the war with the Philistines, David was cheered and loved by his people. This success caused Saul to become bitterly jealous. It seems like Saul projected his own faults onto David and could not accept that David was being used by God to bolster the kingdom (I Sam 18). Who do you secretly fear and envy?

Jesus and the family

 Jesus provides a startling revelation during a seemingly unimportant exchange. In Mark 3, Jesus is told that His family is looking for him, but rather than reuniting with his household, he tells those nearby that they are His family. When we think of the God's family, are we also limiting our scope to only those who seem most like us? Will we be surprised to find family members in unlikely places?

Trying to fit your faith into a religion is like...

When Jesus healed a person on the Sabbath day, the religious community was horrified and frustrated (Mark 2). It seemed like the religious people were more interested in the form of their worship than the person in front of them. Jesus was more interested in  helping those around him than in 'keeping the Law'. When have you sacrificed those around you in order to preserve a ceremony or practice?
 

When your belief is more important that your Lord

 Jesus's teachings were so radical that even the best teachers were left baffled. In John 3 Jesus seems to confound Nicodemus. We might wonder if part of the confusion came from the way Nicodemus understood scripture and his apparent inability to shift that thinking. What ideas or interpretations have you latched onto that have become more important than Jesus?

Memorial Day 2024

 As Christians we should hate war and the death it brings. We should also rejoice in the coming day when no such sacrifices will be made and the arbitrary divisions of national borders will be erased. Until that day, we honor those willing to give themselves to keep us safe (John 15:13) from those who would expand their power and influence by hurting others. May we repent of the times we have done so.

The valley of the reassembled

 

One of the strangest images in the Bible is decaying bones reassembling into living soldiers in Ezekiel 37. The image might remind us of the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), when God united believers from various backgrounds by His Spirit. Like the bones reassembling, the Church assembled from what once was a single group (Gen 11). Also like the bones, we find that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

We want more

 While the book of Luke gives a lot of information about Jesus and His teachings, it also leaves us wondering what wasn't recorded. It might be tempting to over-examine the Bible looking for what's not there, instead of immersing ourselves in the stories that point to Jesus, His ministry and His mission. Can you see how Jesus is featured in every scripture? Luke 24:25-27

What is Jesus doing HERE?

 When Jesus entered an 'unclean' place, he encountered a man besieged by a legion of demons (Luke 8). These spirits controlled him and they could not be constrained, but Christ was able to name the man's afflictions and channel them out of his life. Can you think of a surprising place you have met Jesus? Can you name the underlying afflictions you carry and can you give yourself permission to let them go?

BigGuy Hank and the heart

 The single virtue of love, specifically, our love for others, defines our relationship with God (1 John 4). Our love of others not only demonstrates our true relationship with God but also alleviates our fears and insecurities. What if our love for others was so sacrificial it kept us from accusing and vilifying each other? How could you demonstrate your redemption by loving those around you?

Laying down your life...one cookie at a time

 1 John 3:16 defines love in the strongest terms possible. The verse tells us that God loved us enough to die for us, and we should do the same for each other. We might do well to consider how we do this in our everyday lives. As we give our time and treasure to others, are we slowly, bit by bit laying down our lives for others or are we hording our rights and privileges for our own?  

Where do you go when you are disoriented

 Psalm 4 reminds us that times of confusion or disorientation are likely to take us to places of fear and closing off. Can you think of times that you closed yourself off from God and others out of fear for what might happen next?

Be Afraid, be very afraid

 Many Christians deem certain actions or beliefs as necessary and then use fear to scare others into obeying those actions. When Christ appears to His disciples, He tells them NOT to be afraid (John 20:19-31). He even reassures the group by offering to let them touch His wounds. How do you dispel fear from those you encounter? Do you show them a God who reassures them?

NOW He's gone too far!

 

Jesus's ministry demonstrated radical rule-breaking, specifically to help those abused by the systems and rulers of the day. When Jesus actually broke death, by raising a young girl and his own friend, Lazarus, Jesus had good too far. The religious leaders could not explain the miracles, but decided that Jesus must not be allowed to continue to bring this kind of healing (John 11). What kinds of healing do you oppose?

Where did you say Jesus was?

 Mark 16:1-8 relates the story of three women who tried to attend to the body of Jesus, but were surprised to find He was not in the tomb where they last saw him. Jesus had risen from the dead and had left the tomb. Like the people of His day, we often assume that we know where Jesus is, but He never seems to be where we expect Him to be. Where do you think Jesus is right now? Could you be wrong?

Jesus is Coming! What Does that mean to you?

 

Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem was met with great joy and with great fear. The religious leaders of the day understood that Jesus was dangerous to their power structures and might bring unwanted attention from the Roman government (John 12:12-16). How do you comfort others, when your great joy and triumph comes at their expense? 

Do we know what is right?

Jeremiah 31 speaks of a time when everyone will know who God is and What God wants us to do. Similarly, in Romans 2 Paul describes a kind of natural law which calls our conscience. The shared shame of humanity is that all of us have 'sinned' by not doing what we believe is the right, regardless of how we define 'right.' The good news of the gospel is that we don't have live with that shame.
 

BigGuy gets 'snaked'

Numbers 21 relates the story of God's people being plagued with a snake infestation that resulted in many sicknesses and deaths. The remedy was to simply look at a replica of the problem, a snake. Looking at the bronze image brought immediate relief and healing. Maybe the Church needs to look at Jesus and what He taught so that healing can come. How can you look to Jesus for the love that you need to give today?

The Foolishness of Christ

 The way of Christ is so contrary to the violence and greed of our world that it seems like foolishness to those who don't practice it. Even more disturbing to those around us might be the willingness of Christ to include anyone from any background, even the disagreeable. (1 Co 1:18-26). Is this the 'foolishness of Christ' you see in the Church, or do you see the Church excluding, bickering, and conquering?

Lose Your Life by...What Now?

Peter argued with Jesus over His upcoming death. This lead to the well known verse that states anyone who wants to save their life must give it up (Mark 8:35). Oddly, modern Christians seem to have taken this to mean that they should give their lives to gaining and exercising power instead of sacrificing for the good the others. In what ways do you sacrifice in order to give to others?

The Magic Formula

 

Like the religious leaders of Jesus' time, we might scour the Bible in search of performative actions that will please God and convince Him to give our prayers special consideration (Matt 6). Do you search for special passages that you can use to manipulate God, or do you let the Bible lead you to a greater understanding of the person and work of our great God and savior, Jesus Christ?

Meanwhile, life without Jesus got harder...

The wonder of Christ's transfiguration is quickly confronted by the hard reality of those disciples left behind (Mark 9). To make matters worse, the disciples who had witnessed transfiguration were forbidden to talk about it. Do you join those living the hard reality of life while doing the work of Christ or do you find yourselves trying to relive an exciting mountain top experience?

Big Umbrella

 Often Christians seek to limit access to Christ by rejecting others. Paul seemed to do just the opposite, in1 Co 9:16-23 Paul declares that he is 'all things to all people'. Paul's willingness to open the door of the church to all who would come caused discomfort and clashes between devout followers of both the Hebrew God and the pagan deities. Who would you exclude in order to be more comfortable?

Who are you calling weak?

 The term 'weaker brother' is describes a Christian who is offended by certain behaviors (1 Co 8). While the passage is often used to bolster our opinions of our own spirituality or worse, to condemn others who exhibit behaviors we dislike, the point of the passage seems to be the need to demonstrate love. Paul is willing to limit his freedoms in order to show love to his brothers. How do you show love to the Church?