All that is happening in Haiti got me thinking about the role of Christians in portraying the compassion of God to our world. I heard a story on the news yesterday about how people in Haiti who had been heavily influenced by all the witch doctors and their voodoo are now becoming responsive to Christ. The reason? They don't see the witchdoctors or other demonic "religions" of their culture doing anything for them. They do see that the people bringing aid and comfort are primarily Christians, disciples of Christ, followers of a God of love and grace and mercy.
I know there are lots of organizations like Red Cross that offer aid all over the world, but the reality is Christians are typically at the forefront because we have been touched by the compassion of Christ for us and we are called to share that compassion with a world that needs to know a loving God.
I also was thinking this week about what life will be like when Christians are taken out of this world. There is so much suffering now and it is only going to get worse through the tribulation and all that will happen as the end of the age comes. Can you even imagine how horrible it will be when the face of compassion and grace is no longer looking over the tragic human condition?
Finally, I wonder how you and I are doing personally in being the face of compassion daily. I don't mean just whether we are compassionate and do something during tragedy. I mean just in day to day life. Are we the face of a compassionate, loving God toward the waitress who totally messes up our order, toward the clerk who takes forever, toward the people who get in our way, who slow us down, who just can't seem to get their act together?
Remember, we are salt and light. How are we doing at bringing the flavor of God (compassion and grace are flavors) to every situation and person we encounter?
God, thank-you for your compassionate grace. Help me to be Your face to the people I encounter daily.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wrestle With God
Well, it's been a long quiet month - just haven't had much to say since before Christmas. There was a preaching professor at Southwestern Seminary (where I attended) that regularly told his preaching class, "Have something to say, say it, and sit down." Now that's great advice. So, for those of you who had almost given up on me as a blogger...I just didn't have anything significant to say and I'm not inclined to blog about junk, meaningless dribble.
This past Sunday night, I taught on abortion at GS. It was a tough message, lots of material to cover, difficult topic. I did get a lot of positive response, people grateful to finally be hearing information from the church on a difficult issue. It was all good, but here was the difficult part for me: after I laid out all that info, after I talked about what's going on in our society and looked at what Scripture says, I felt like people were overwhelmed. When I stood facing the crowd at the end of the sermon and their eyes were on me, it was as if their eyes said, "This is horrible...I never realized...what to do we do?"
In that momemnt, I had no answer. There are many things to be done about many issues that plague our culture. The church needs to have awareness and the willingness to step up to the plate, but a pastor really can't tell every individual what to do. I have to admit, I was a little despairing myself when I looked at the people I dearly love and said, "I don't know what to tell you. You just need to take this information home and wrestle with the Lord over it."
It felt like a dumb answer, no help, but as I left that night, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was exactly right. Every believer needs to personally wrestle with the truth. Every believer needs to get before the Lord and ask what He would have them do. Every believer is a priest and has the same access, same opportunity to hear from God personally about what they specifically are called to do.
I can give suggestions; I can prime the pump, but I can't lay out the game plan for anyone. I think having to wrestle with God is a good thing. In fact, those believers who still are on milk when they should be eating meat have been done a disservice by the church because they've never been allowed to wrestle. At some point the baby/child has to begin making his own decisions, taking responsibility, learning from consequences. I am grateful for the insight I received Sunday about being careful not to play God, telling people what they should do in every matter.
Well, all this rambling boils down to this: whether it is an issue such as abortion and what believers should do or just day to day decisions that affect your walk with God, are you willing to wrestle with Him and to spend time before Him or are you just looking for an easy, quick answer?
God, help me to not look for the easy solution, the path that takes no time and effort. Teach me and guide me as I wrestle with you, as I take the time and effort to seek you out.
This past Sunday night, I taught on abortion at GS. It was a tough message, lots of material to cover, difficult topic. I did get a lot of positive response, people grateful to finally be hearing information from the church on a difficult issue. It was all good, but here was the difficult part for me: after I laid out all that info, after I talked about what's going on in our society and looked at what Scripture says, I felt like people were overwhelmed. When I stood facing the crowd at the end of the sermon and their eyes were on me, it was as if their eyes said, "This is horrible...I never realized...what to do we do?"
In that momemnt, I had no answer. There are many things to be done about many issues that plague our culture. The church needs to have awareness and the willingness to step up to the plate, but a pastor really can't tell every individual what to do. I have to admit, I was a little despairing myself when I looked at the people I dearly love and said, "I don't know what to tell you. You just need to take this information home and wrestle with the Lord over it."
It felt like a dumb answer, no help, but as I left that night, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was exactly right. Every believer needs to personally wrestle with the truth. Every believer needs to get before the Lord and ask what He would have them do. Every believer is a priest and has the same access, same opportunity to hear from God personally about what they specifically are called to do.
I can give suggestions; I can prime the pump, but I can't lay out the game plan for anyone. I think having to wrestle with God is a good thing. In fact, those believers who still are on milk when they should be eating meat have been done a disservice by the church because they've never been allowed to wrestle. At some point the baby/child has to begin making his own decisions, taking responsibility, learning from consequences. I am grateful for the insight I received Sunday about being careful not to play God, telling people what they should do in every matter.
Well, all this rambling boils down to this: whether it is an issue such as abortion and what believers should do or just day to day decisions that affect your walk with God, are you willing to wrestle with Him and to spend time before Him or are you just looking for an easy, quick answer?
God, help me to not look for the easy solution, the path that takes no time and effort. Teach me and guide me as I wrestle with you, as I take the time and effort to seek you out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
