2 Local Churches, 2 Different Outcomes

I just finished watching a live “worship” service of a local Waterville Church that I knew was, how shall I say, blasphemous?  Then it was time to be with the Waterville Faith family… From the music, to the prayers, to the professional production itself, it testified to the Glory of God. Then the proclamation of the Inspired, Infallible, Inerrant, Authoritative, Word of God was wonderfully presented as a fully integrated aspect of the whole “worship” experience not just an add-on.. I was challenged, I was blessed, I was lifted up above the present confusing times and for a few minutes was in the presence of the joy of the Risen Savior who is also Lord.

Then there was the “other” church. In full disclosure, I was a little late getting on to the site but I had seen their whole “worship” service last week complete with an inane poem with pauses for cleansing breaths instructing the viewers to do the same. This morning I was just in time to see the pastor reading a children’s story about a bear, a mouse and several other woodland creatures. Somehow they each had crowns they were all quite proud of declaring themselves to be kings, queens, etc. but the big bear was left out. Since I missed the beginning, I didn’t have the context but figured it would be revealed as the “Pastor” pulled it together with a pithy point as he did with last week’s cutesy poem… I could not tell you what the point was. One comment that popped up live on the side bar as he was talking though said, “Mark sure knows his children’s books.” My immediate thought was, “If he only knew the Bible’s books...”

Then the “sermon." His text was Mark 1:1-11, The Triumphal entry… He made some marginally coherent statements about the entrance noting that  “…it was anything but triumphal.” At least he got that right adding, “The people didn’t know then how the story turns out and we don’t know now.” Wait what? I am trusting (without reason) that he was referring to the turmoil currently around us all but that wasn’t clear. I’ll give him benefit of doubt even if unmerited.  He then talked about the Jews being oppressed by Pharaoh and how we are now under the “…economic exploitation of our own Pharaoh…Hosanna! Save us now.”  (Last week his “sermon” was insipid with implied failings of our health care system and why we needed single payer health care.) It was brief but definite. The pastor’s message on this Palm Sunday morning was a total of 4-5 minutes!

Was it coincidence that only 15 minutes earlier in my quiet time—my time reading through the books of the Bible—was in James?  I read—""Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment."  (James 3:1)

So to go from a cesspool of “spirituality”  to spend time with Faith this morning was like showering away the filth of sentimentality which makes people feel better about themselves as they head for a Christless eternity.  To God be the glory for your churches worldwide who declare YOU!

Peace in Less Than Peaceful Times

Just a couple weeks back when the market was down about 4,000 points I thought it might be prudent to see how our “portfolio” was faring.  I was prepared for the worst although I had no idea what the “worst” might even look like.  Hmmm, well seems it was down 6 figures…

In all candor I was pleasantly surprised, if one can use such a word in this case, that it was down “only” that much. Was I truly as nonchalant as it seems? Again in all candor, yes.  Not because I am a giant of faith—I have my fleshy moments, shamefully too often--but in my daily time with the Lord, and pondering certain truths of God’s actions in history on behalf of His people, I had been mentally camping on the fact that a few months ago, as the market was on a mach-3 rise breaking record highs by the week, I was reminded by the Spirit that anything that can go up that fast can also go down that fast, actually even faster. I was further reminded in my spirit that we have lived a great portion of our lives truly by faith utterly dependent on His faithfulness as Adonai Jireh—The Lord Who is Provision.

In a moment the Spirit brought to mind the Lord’s faithfulness to His children in the wilderness. Water when needed issued out of a rock, food appeared from heaven. "Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.  (Deuteronomy 8:2-5) And in this case, they were being disciplined! How much more faithful is He when His children are captives living in a fallen world?

In our case, we have many years in which we can recall His supernatural provision for us as a normal way of life.  Why would anything change now or in the future?  Certainly we are required to be responsible in planning for future possibilities (“Consider the ant O’ sluggard…”) but the fact is, our security should never be in any human endeavor. So “the peace that passes understanding…” (Phil 4) is ultimately grounded in the faithfulness of God in good times and bad.

I commend a song to you which has buoyed me up in my weak moments and encourage you to give it a listen. It is The Goodness of God by Jenn Johnson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0FBb6hnwTo&list=RDn0FBb6hnwTo&start_radio=1

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."  (James 4:8)

In Christ, you've already died!

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  
(Colossians 3:1-3)

During my rotation as a Medical Technologist, pathology rotation was the most talked about with good reason.  The sights, and smells, especially the smells, are things that only that rare breed of doctors called pathologists can stomach.  There is a definite and unique aroma emanating from necrotic tissue which is tissue that is dead and generally speaking—rotting.  When a “floater” was brought in, (a body that had been found in water after several days) the stench of necrotic tissue was so nauseating that a slice of orange went under the mask to mitigate the otherwise gag-worthy bouquet. This is the word Paul uses in Colossians 3. “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead [nekrosate] to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” Necrotic tissue cannot/will not be rejuvenated, reanimated, or brought to life again no matter how much science and technology come to bear.

Every Christ follower is pronounced and viewed to be “In Christ” having been seated with Him in the Heavenly places.” As such, we are to regard our present, imperfect bodies with all its flaws and imperfections as a heap of necrotic tissue which is lifeless having relinquished its ability to embrace anything which is against the very nature of the One “in Whom” we are raised up.

Meaning what?  Meaning one would never expect or envision a Believer to pursue, much less embrace the list of evils in Paul’s words any more than the pathologist would expect the heap of rotting flesh in the morgue to stand up and start dancing.

And what is that list?  “…consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” The list is all encompassing. Despite Paul’s inspired exhortation, all of these things are found in the local church called, the Body of Christ on Earth. As a pastor the extent to which this is true is honestly disturbing.

So what is Covid 19 all about?  Barring omniscience, any opinion on the matter is strictly conjecture. But Paul’s words should not be dismissed without consideration.

“For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.” The foregone conclusion is the evils are all in the past! Never-the-less, Paul reminds us “But now YOU also put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth." (Colossians 3:4-8) 

 Hmmm…   Maybe the Lord is trying to tell us something.

Offended by the Gospel

Think for a moment of our day in which we find ourselves. OFFENSE—may be the word of our culture.  The driving force of all consideration is not what is good, right or true but rather, what gives anyone offense. If you’re offended, then I am at fault and whatever it was that offended you, the new “civility” of the day demands I retract, I recant, I apologize. If I do not--in the modern vernacular—There will be hell to pay. The apostle Paul however never had much concern about offending anyone—except God alone. Pause and consider his words to the Christians of Galatia?

"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!"  (Galatians 1:6-9)

A quick reading probably serves us poorly in understanding the intensity of Paul’s flabbergastedness! When the disciples saw Jesus speak to the elements of His creation in the raging storm and the winds and seas listened and obeyed their Master, the disciples were “amazed.” It's the same word here. Paul wasn’t simply annoyed, disturbed or perturbed at what he found in the church of Galatia, he was stupefyingly dumbfounded. How is it even possible that anyone who had heard and seen the Gospel of Jesus so clearly as the Galatians had (3:1) could get it wrong? What’s worse, how could they get it so wrong that they took it upon themselves to concoct their own hybrid-gospel leading others away from The Way, The Truth and The Life?  Yes, Paul was beside himself with anger.

In our day of pulpit pap where we must not give offense for fear of losing someone out the door or being despised by one’s neighbor, Paul let it rip.

"But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!"  (Galatians 1:8-9)

What’s the meaning of “accursed?” The word is “anathema.” It means to be consigned to the abode of the eternally dead.  In other words, let anyone—Paul includes himself—who perverts the Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ alone, “Go to Hell.”

Now consider the state of “gospel proclamation” in Christendom today…  Considering Paul’s inspired words, it should compel every Christ follower to sober introspection and where necessary—REPENTANCE.   

Spiritual Gifts--abused, diminished, forgotten???

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."  (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

Circa 1985--The Lord had brought me through all manner of denominational/ecclesiastical structures. I began in Christian Science, moved to Catholicism, then to Plymouth Brethren, an excursion into Presbyterianism (the biblical variety, OPC), on to a "home church" (a rare biblical one), onward to the Charismatic movement and Pentecostal expressions right into "deliverance" ministry and finally, settling into traditional/contemporary non-denominational fellowships. It needs to be noted, I was not "searching" in the sense of one looking for enlightenment, or spirituality (whatever that is), nor was I picking and choosing snippets from each iteration of faith creating my own "truth." Geographical moves necessitated looking for a place to worship communally in a biblical expression of church. It must be noted that this doesn't mean I did not find any--or at least solid portions of one--among the examples mentioned. Suffice it to say, I have been around the theological block more than most.

The spiritual gifts are confusing to many and candidly, even after my vast pilgrimages, they are to me as well.  But not everything pertaining to the gifts of the Spirit are confusing.  Strangely enough, in my experience, of the clearest aspects of the gifts seem to be the most widely abused.

Circa 1987--I am at a conference sponsored by a burgeoning, charismatic ministry wherein at the end an invitation for prayer was given. I rose to volunteer as a pray-er not to be prayed for. A man approached our little cluster and asked for prayer.  The man was a pastor who was terribly discouraged so we began to pray. (I was at this conference as a learner, not an expert.) The prayers of the group (there were maybe 5 of us) somehow turned quickly to imposing the gift of speaking in tongues on this beleaguered pastor. Over the course of the next half hour this poor man was subjected to a haranguing by the pray-ers to receive the gift of tongues. "Do you want this gift?" He was asked. He responded affirmatively. Praying commenced increasing in pitch, fervor and volume with the pray-ers becoming more aggressive and insisting the pastor was being resistant, wasn't believing, wasn't open to receiving etc. After 20 minuets he was in tears pleading for the gift insisting he wasn't resistant with the pray-ers insisting he didn't have the faith... I was witnessing and by my presence, part of, a spiritual rape of a dear man being savaged by well-meaning but theologically inept people compelled to make excuses for God's "not showing up."

Since that day I have seen or heard of many other iterations of this spiritual brutality many, many times. It is reprehensible for 4 verses later in Paul's letter to the Corinthians God's counsel is exceedingly clear.  Referring to the gifts, the inspired, infallible, inerrant, authoritative Word of God explains--

                                    "All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit,

                        who apportions to each one individually as He wills."
                                                      (1 Corinthians 12:11)

It isn't rocket science...

How self absorbed are our prayers?

In my many years as pastor of the greatest congregation on the planet, one of the most consistent elements I noticed is how self-absorbed prayers can be. "Oh Lord, help me out of this mess...; heal my back...; touch my spouse, work a miracle for XYZ..." There is hardly a category under which most of our prayers fall that don't have some self-ish motivation grounded in my well being, my comfort, my joy, my peace, my happiness...  As a pastor, my first epiphany in this arena of prayer came in the manner in which I used to pray for healing.  Healing seems to be our default position for every ailment either for benefit of myself, the one I am praying for, or both.  So I started asking myself--WHY are you praying THAT? Eureka! It changed the way I pray.

What's interesting is that we find plenty of examples in the Scriptures that are just as self-absorbed.  Many of the Psalms are cries of desperation from hurting, troubled, worried, scared or ailing individuals. But others, at first blush anyway, have a different quality, a different focus to them even if they seem to be pretty much like all the others--ME centered.  But are they?

John the Baptist was man on a  mission dressing down the wretchedness of his day and boldly stood before King Herod and called him out for his blatant immorality and wickedness. John’s “reward” is Herod's barred hotel. His "prayer" to his friends was to go back to Jesus and ask Him one question. It's interesting John doesn't ask for Jesus to come and deliver him out of the injustice upon him. He only wanted reassurance the ultimate sacrifice was worth it. “Are you the ONE?" 

The apostle Paul lived a life of sequential heart aches, physical pain, deprivations...He prayed a lot for others but he also asked others to pray for him and for his dire situations in which he found himself. But look at the key difference of his prayers' purposes.

"Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me…” Sounds like what we might pray right? But Paul continues.  “…[so] that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea [for the purpose] “…that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company."  (Romans 15:30-32) 

Paul wasn’t asking for relief for personal gratification but that he may complete the work to which the Lord had assigned him. Paul was repeatedly jailed for preaching Jesus and his express desire is to be freed in order to fulfill the mission of Christ.

Many times over 35 years in ministry I have been asked to pray for people who are in some way distressed, troubled or ill. Many of these times found me standing next to a hospital bed having been asked specifically to pray for healing. Sometimes I would--boldly, and categorically. But other times I wouldn’t necessarily yet no matter the situation, including prayers for myself during times of grave illness, my prayers were centered on restoring the one [or myself] for God's purposes; “Thy Kingdom Come…” After all it is why everyone of us have been put here in the first place. We have been bought with a price and our lives are simply NOT our lives.

Raising up tomorrow's leaders!

In the span of three weeks or so I have had the incredible blessing of being a part, a very small part of the "installation" of two men to the calling of pastor to two respective churches in which I have been blessed of having a part.  Brent Small became the new Lead Pastor of Faith E. Free in Waterville, Maine after being my right hand man, colleague and friend for 15 years.  Ben Franklin was installed a couple weeks later in Solon, Maine at the New Hope E. Free Church, a church we planted, well, a long time ago in a small town 35 miles north of us.

Pastor Brent came to us "raw" but with the right heart and soul and he was a phenomenal colleague, friend, support and enabled me to continue to serve at Faith for as long as I did.  Pastor Ben came to faith screaming and kicking not yet even in relationship with the Savior. He met Jesus, grew, blossomed, and now heads up the work of Christ in a tiny Maine town with Christ lovers who have shown their grit and love for the Savior over the years. And coincidentally, the first pastor of the church plant in Solon was a man who came to Faith in desperation, unsaved, ungroomed and uneducated (as the world would label education.)

It dawned on me as I was preparing my second pastoral installation that Faith has a history of seeing where God is at work and joining him. (Thank you Henry Blackaby...)  Over the nearly three decades at Faith we have brought on staff, 13 men and woman out of our own faith community, who were either completely raw, untrained, or had been long out of ministry but were who we needed to continue the work of the Lord in Central Maine.

When I look back on my decision to abandon my dreams for medical school entering the ministry it was such a Divine ordination that there are no doubts of what He had put into play. I will die an accomplished man, fulfilled, completed and satisfied and in awe of the grace of a God who can take anything and anyone and fashion it/them for His purposes without ever trampling one's personal choices and freedom.

I have no idea what He has for me with the years that remain but I fall on my face in gratitude and joy coming into the fullness of all that the Lord's Shalom comprises.  After all--
"...does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?"  (Romans 9:21)

Why He chose me for such honorable purposes I don't think I shall ever know. All I can say, is Worthy is the Lamb who was slain--ALL glory and praise belong to Him now and forever more.