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Ten Questions: #8 and #9 – Christian Hypocrites Are Often Judgmental

Full questions:

#8. How can I trust in Christianity when so many Christians are hypocrites?

#9. Why are Christians to judgmental toward everyone who doesn’t agree with them?

Summary

  • Mittelberg begins by relating how an actor’s job is to portray someone based on a script and story–it’s their job. Our lives should reflect who we really are, not an act!
  • Statistics bear out the sad fact that many who claim to be Christians fail by falling into serious sin.
  • When people express anger at hypocrisy, they are in good company–Jesus directed some of his harshest words at the hypocritical religious leaders of his day.
  • Jesus alone was free from sin. He will never disappoint. The rest of us need to get in line.
  • There is a difference between a struggling but honest believer and a hypocrite who refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing.
  • Judgmentalism can refer to an arrogant and unacceptable “I’m better than you” attitude. Be aware that
    • spiritual confidence can be misconstrued as arrogance.
    • everyone thinks they are right in their own beliefs
  • Point your friends to the truth found in Christ, not other Christians

Introduction

  • Garry Poole provided an interesting perspective on the profession of acting and how they often portray fictional characters. Sidenote: Garry has a great heart for spiritual seekers. Check out his book, Seeker Small Groups: Engaging Spiritual Seekers in Life-Changing Discussions.
  • Headlines remind us all too often when some evangelical leader falls into some kind of serious sin.
    • It’s always a tragedy when a brother or sister falls
    • Even worse is when it affects someone who is seeking the truth in Christ
  • Hypocrite comes from an ancient Greek word that was a technical term for a stage actor. Hypocrites are mask wearers, acting without ever acknowledging that is what they are doing. They are frauds and imposters living a lie. Ouch!
  • Another book, one that we’re using in our small group, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity, by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons uses research to show there isn’t much difference between people who claim to be Christians and the rest of the world.

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

Gandhi

In response: I am not offering you Christians, I am offering you Christ.

Akbar Abdul-Haqq

Halting Hypocrisy

Our friends are not alone in their harsh judgment of hypocrisy: Jesus often dealt with this issue. Matthew 23 records Jesus’ words about hypocrisy and directly points to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law.

  • When our friends condemn hypocrisy, they’re actually on Jesus’ side!
  • Jesus is the only perfect example–and therefore the only one who won’t disappoint us. Hebrews 4:15, John 8:46
  • The primary issue regarding the validity of Christianity is not Jesus’ followers but what he offers to those who follow him–the powerful, proven person of Jesus Christ himself.
  • Many hypocrites are only pretending to be God’s people. Titus 1:16, 2 Timothy 3:5
    • Hard to discern at times, but Jesus warned us about this from the beginning: Matthew 24:24-25
  • Hypocrisy comes in degrees–and each of us struggles with some measure of it. Romans 3:23, Colossians 3:12, Ephesians 4:23-24, Philippians 1:6
    • In reality, there should be no surprise that Christians are unable to live up to standards they strive to attain–no one can! We are not perfect. John 3:21
  • Jesus died on the cross to pay for and to free us from our sin–including that of hypocrisy. Don’t miss the verses after John 3:16: John 3:17-18 as well as Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 1:15-16.

A Personal Response

  • As genuine followers of Jesus, we ought to be able to illustrate the difference that knowing him has made in our lives without glossing over the ups and downs we face in trying to follow him.
  • Keep it real. Be vulnerable.
  • Remember the Lord disciplines those he loves. Hebrews 12:5-6, 12

Judging Judgmentalism

  1. What many people react to is a haughty and arrogant attitude that they sometimes see in others. The “holier than thou” attitude. The truth is we’re just blessed to have found what we have in Christ and are privileged to get to share it with them.
  2. Some think we should never say we’re right and somebody else is wrong. See Matthew 7:1. But Jesus clarifies this position in Matthew 7:24. We need to be discerning and not condescending. Serve one another in humility John 8:32.

Tips for Talking About This Issue

  • Be honest about the reality of Christian hypocrisy. Let the hard truth of failures stand.
  • Listen in order to understand. Listen with empathy.
  • Be transparent.
  • As appropriate for the particular situation, be vulnerable about your own struggles.
  • Redirect. Remember that the basis for evaluating Christ must be Christ, not Christians.
  • Accusations of judgmentalism need to be defined.
  • There is no place for spiritual pride in the church.

Questions for discussion

  1. Why is the hypocrisy of Christians such a hot button for unbelievers? Why do you think it bothers them so much to see Christians acting in unchristian ways?
  2. Why do unbelievers hold Christians to such high standards?
  3. Have you ever encountered a hypocritical Christian? Describe the encounter. How did that person’s hypocrisy make you feel?
  4. Why did Jesus speak so sternly about the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his day?
  5. Can you share a way you have struggled with hypocrisy? What did you do about it? Can you think of a way to utilize that experience to point people to Christ?
  6. Explain the statement, “Authentic Christ followers understand they are works in progress.” Is that a helpful description or an effort to excuse bad behavior or attitudes? How does this help you talk about the hypocrisy with unbelievers?
  7. Describe the difference between “judgmentalism” and “judging with wisdom and discernment.”
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Ragamuffin Gospel: A Word After

Epilogue

Now it’s time to sit back and ponder what we’ve read and reflected on for eleven chapters. A few scriptures to remind me of the extraordinary power and love God has for me: Ephesians 1:18-19, 3:17-20.

The love of Christ is beyond all knowledge, beyond anything we can intellectualize or imagine. It is not a mild benevolence but a consuming fire.

In reality it seems that religion is much easier than the kind of faith and love that God calls us to accept. Following a strict set of rules, no matter how difficult provides an imperical measurement, a factual perspective. However, it’s impossible to quantify how much I love my wife, though I tell you it’s a lot!

Manning shares two stories in this brief afterword:

  1. Mary Magdalene, a woman who demonstrated amazing discipleship in a time when women were considered second class is a fitting example for us all to emulate. It’s interesting to read recent articles on Mary and her leadership role in the early church. A woman who came to Jesus with seven demons became the model Christ follower. Interesting to say the least.
  2. Peter was already back to his trade of fishing when Jesus cooked breakfast for him after his resurrection. The one who denied Jesus was reinstated beyond his wildest dreams. Peter was able to preach from his brokenness. If he had succeeded in his own power, his story would have likely gone nowhere, but in Christ he found strength.

And now it’s time for our story, what will it be? Stop putting on masks and pretending to be something I’m not. Transparently love others. Lord help me to study the life and words of Christ and those who follow him with passion so I may be an instrument of your peace and a light to the lost. God, I’m so unworthy of such a task! It’s ridiculous for me to even ask for such things, but I trust you have a plan and all I truly want out of this life is to leave knowing I gave it my very best for you.

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The Scandal of Grace: Fifteen Years Later »

 

Notes:

1 exigency. An urgent need or desire. Love has its own exigencies.

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Ten Questions: #7 – Why do you condemn homosexuality?

Complete question: Why do you condemn homosexuality when it’s clear that God made gays and that he loves all people the same?

Summary

  • The Story of Jesus’ interactions with the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-26) provides a helpful model for our consideration
  • Jesus modeled the need to affirm God’s love toward all people–including men and women ensnared in any kind of sexual immorality.
  • Our primary focus should be on affirming the positive model God gives us for sexual expression within a biblical marriage–one man and one woman, for life.
  • God clearly prohibits homsexual activity in the Bible, but it isn’t listed as being worse than other sins.
  • Human desire might seem natural, but that doesn’t make it right.
  • We need to explain that someone’s orientation toward or temptation by same-sex attractions is not in and of itself sin.
  • Jesus’ treatment of the woman at the well clearly demonstrates that God wants all kinds of sinners to come to him for salvation.

Introduction

  • As we seek to respond to this difficult question, we can find guidance in what Jesus did and said.
  • In the main passage for this chapter (John 4:1-26), Jesus is seen traveling through Samaria, an area the Jewish leaders avoided because they simply would not associate with those people.
  • In interesting insight from Our Daily Bread, with reference to the woman at the well, “He revealed a supernatural understanding of her unquenched thirst for life.” Jesus saw something in this woman that no one else understood because he wasn’t there to judge her, he was there to save her.

Affirming and Showing God’s Love

  • God loves all people. We should affirm God’s love for all people, regardless of their lifestyle or the particular activities or sins they may be engaged in.
  • Our actions here will speak much louder than our words

God our Savior…wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

  • Jesus reaches out to homosexual men and women–and indeed all those in the LGBTQ community–with the same kind of love and intentionality that he showed to the Samaritan woman
  • His love was radical and real. He genuinely cared.

Extending God’s Grace

  • Jesus, the quintessential evangelist, expressed a mixture of grace and truth–including truth about her moral failures.
  • Don’t focus on trying to reform people from the outside in, but rather on sharing the life-changing gospel…from the inside out.

Affirming God’s Model for Human Sexuality

  • From the beginning, “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Genesis 2:24
  • How many people? Two. Which genders? One man and one woman.
  • If you are married, sexual expression between you and your spouse is encouraged and even celebrated as a gift from God. But outside of that, there are no examples of sex condoned by God. Absolutely none.

Telling the Truth About God’s Will

  • We need to lovingly tell the truth about what God says regarding sexual relations.
  • First, make clear that the Bible’s position is not based on isolated verses
  • Second, those who see this issue differently often try to explain away the texts that do seem to prohibit sex between members of the same gender.

Old Testament

New Testament

  • Since Jesus doesn’t explicitly address the issue of same-sex practices, could someone make the case that he actually endorses it just because of a lack of specific prohibition?
    • He never speaks out agains slavery, child trafficking or the oppressive occupation of his homeland by Roman authorities
    • The consistency of his message provides implicit understanding
  • Paul also provides a clear warning about same-gender sexual sin (among others): 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:8-11.
  • The matter-of-fact way in which Paul includes homosexuality in this list must mean people at that time were familiar with the practice.
  • Paul makes it clear that God expects us to regard these activities as a thing of the past, something we did before accepting Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Addressing a Misguided Assumption

  • Some have said, “it’s clear that God made gays,” that some people have same-sex desires. Since “God made me this way, with these desires, so he must have intended me to have and to fulfill these desires.”
  • There are major problems with this way of thinking.
    • First, all kinds of desires occur in people (food, recreation, fame, fortune, etc.). These can be from God, but taking any of them to the extreme doesn’t automatically make them appropriate.
    • Second, not every desire is from God.

Temptation Does Not Equal Sin

  • Being tempted to steal something is not the same as actually stealing
  • Temptation itself is not sin

God is Looking for True Worshipers

Making the Church a Place of Grace

God Uses Redeemed Sinners of Every Stripe

  • Turning Atheists into Missionaries
  • God seems to delight in turning unlikely candidates into uncanny instruments of his love and truth. The anti-Christian Saul became the apostle Paul.

Tips for Talking About This Issue

  • Prior to talking about this issue, try to gain Jesus’ loving perspective toward all kinds of sinful people.
  • God sent Jesus for all of us…we are all sinners.
  • Eliminate degrading humor and comments about homosexuals and the gay community–the church, small group, within your family–completely. Mittelberg actually says, “to the degree possible;” I have less empathy. Ephesians 5:4
  • This is a charged issue, remember James’ admonition (James 1:19): “you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
  • People often expect us to be uncaring. Surprise and intrigue them with your Jesus-like love “in a gentle and respectful way.” 1 Peter 3:16
  • Speak the truth of God’s Word without pronouncing judgment on individual people. We are all challenged by biblical principles. This is God’s revelation, not your personal opinion.
  • Emphasize the life-giving message of the gospel, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” Romans 5:6
  • Try to help people understand the biblical perspective, but be prepared to be misunderstood. Persevere, be consistent, know that God is with you and “joy awaits” you (John 4:36).

Questions for discussion

  1. What kinds of examples have you seen from Christians in addressing issues of homosexuality? Did they emphasize truth at the expense of grace–or vice versa?
  2. How do you feel about the balance of grace and truth in your own perspective on this issue? Do you need to shore up one side or the other a bit? How can you go about doing that?
  3. What can we as Christians do if we’ve been too strong on one side of the issue, failing to live out the WWJD principle discussed at the beginning of the chapter?
  4. What are some practical things your group or your church could do to make it a more accessible and friendly place for serious spiritual seekers who are struggling with this issue?
  5. Toward the end of the passage in John 4, after the disciples came back to find Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman, they urged him to eat. Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about…My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work (John 4:32, 36). Have there been times or eras in your life when you related to Jesus’ statement? What could you do to experience that kind of era once again?
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Ragamuffin Gospel: #11 – A Touch of Folly

Chapter 11

The Power of a Great Affection

Manning relates a story from the archives in New Orleans: instead of being “born again,” those who came to know a personal relationship with Jesus Christ would say, “I was seized by the power of a great affection.” This is the phrase that describes an authentic and complete conversion to Christianity.

During his visit with an Amish family, Manning describes his surprising welcome on his arrival. I was immediately drawn to a great worship song, How He Loves Me.  The song was written by John Mark McMillan who includes the controversial phrase, “heaven meets earth with a sloppy wet kiss.”  Check out his blog post that briefly explains how David Crowder modified the words just a bit. Link. It’s controversial because it seems like we Christians don’t like things that are sloppy, out of order, not up to our standards. Not that I’m endorsing chaos, but I must agree we are looking more like the “frozen chosen” than those freed from the bondage of sin!

The truth of the Gospel…deserves to be accepted or rejected for what it is: an answer to the most fundamental questions a person may ask: Is life absurd or does it have a purpose?

Jesus came that we all might find the joy of life in unity with God. There is no other way for this to happen but through Christ. This is a scandalous, insane position from the world’s perspective. Jesus knew that’s how we would be perceived and addressed that in the Gospels, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17

I wholeheartedly agree with Manning’s thesis that our modern, well organized religion is missing the crazy love that Jesus offers. We get so wrapped up in process that we forget the very people Christ came to save–the very people He commanded that we go find and offer His gift of salvation.

Yet there are still precious few of us with sufficient folly to make the mad exchange of everthing for Christ

I’m still trying to understand the book of Hosea, the craziest book in the Bible. Seriously. It completely makes sense that Manning points to this book and offers an exercise in prayer and contemplation that is truly humbling when you think about Hosea. He suggest we read through Hosea 11:1, 11:3-4, 11:8-9 and substitute our name in place of Israel to make this a personal story.

A few more readings to support this crazy approach: Hosea 2:14-15, Isaiah 49:1, Isaiah 49:15-16, Romans 8:31-32.

Deb Federico, the Community Outreach Director at Shoreline Community Church in Monterey, CA, challenged me with an exercise that comes to mind here. At the end of your quiet time, the time you prayer earnestly and listen to the Lord speak to you, express your thought in one or two words. What words come to mind? “We win,” I responded the first time I thought about this. We win because we are on God’s team. We can’t lose. That doesn’t give us the right to talk trash; rather, that requires that we spread the Gospel, as commanded, because there is no limit to the number of people who can be part of God’s family. The “we” is huge, it needs to grow, and people will think we’re crazy for having the audacity to suggest we have the answer.

Lord, help me to show the world I am crazy enough to believe You have provided the way, the truth and the light in Jesus Christ. Keep me from hiding behind procedures and policies that prevent people from accepting the folly of your gracious gift.

 

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Ten Questions: #6 – Why is abortion such an Issue?

Full question: Why is abortion such a line in the sand for Christians–why can’t I be left alone to make my own choices for my own body?

Summary

  • The opening story about a child found in a box on the road should cause us to give unborn children the benefit of the doubt and the right to life
  • We know that protecting human life is honorable and right
  • Science has shown us many individual characteristics are evident soon after conception; they are distinct human beings that deserve our loving protection
  • God created us in His own image and Jesus said we should care for “the least of these”
  • Our constitution was founded on principles that all humans were created equally (not that we’ve done a good job displaying loyalty to this opening statement!)
  • Those who have participated in abortion in the past can come to God and find His forgiveness, grace, the promise of a new life and a far better future

Introduction

Mittelberg presents a true story about Arnie Skeie finding a child in a box in the middle of the road and Arnie’s response. Arnie was driving with his young daughter when he decided to stop and take a look at the box. Fortunately for the little boy inside, Arnie made the right choice and saved a life.

The Importance of the Issue

  • Mittelberg shares the story of their first child being born almost 3 months premature, a tiny baby. He reminds us that we get to make a lot of choices about harmless actions, but no one (male or female) “has the freedom to squash another human life, no matter how small or hidden.”
  • The number of abortions every year in our country is greater than the combined number of people killed in all the wars this country has participated in. Over 50,000,000 unborn Americans have been killed in the past forty years. (See this factsheet on the National Right to Life website.)
  • The overview of abortion procedures is presented in this section…I’m not going to retype them here, simply appalling, but I appreciate the information and how it is presented.

Scientific Answers

Scientific advancements have given great insight into the entire gestation process…truly amazing! In the first four months:

  • genetically unique: all human chromosomes are in place (from day one)
  • beating heart
  • own blood type
  • eyes
  • legs
  • hands
  • fingernails
  • fingerprints
  • all internal organs
  • bones
  • teeth
  • independent brain waves

The unborn child can kick, swim, turn her head back and forth, make facial gestures, grasp objects and even have dreams.

Even the owner of Oregon’s largest abortion clinic admitted: “Of course human life begins at conception.”

Hypothetical Story Illustrates a Good Point

  • Suppose someone broke into your house, left a baby in your family room, then fled the scene. What would you do? Would you call a doctor and have the baby destroyed, thus removing the unwanted child from your home? I don’t think so! Everyone involved would be guilty of murder, even though the existence of the child was not yours, not wanted and “not your fault.”
  • See this article from 10 years ago: “Statistics show that 84 percent of women decide against an abortion after seeing an ultrasound of their baby.”
  • Former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic resigned her post and became a pro-life advocate after seeing the ultrasound image of an abortion actually in progress. “I could see the whole profile of the baby of thirteen weeks…I could see the probe…I could see the baby try to move away from the probe.”

Biblical Answers

Many people who are not Christians respect the Bible for its teaching on morals.

Civic Answers

Our Declaration of Independence includes this in the opening statements:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.

  • Individuals matter over and above the state and therefore deserve the right of freedom and the government’s protection.
  • The U.S. Constitution declares that “no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law.” As a country,
    • we have failed African-Americans by denying liberty,
    • we have failed Native Americans by denying their property and
    • we continue to deny life to those unborn.
  • “We cannot afford to wait for history to prove us wrong about the unborn.” (See Link: http://amzn.com/0764220500).

If There’s Any Doubt

Perhaps we can ask this question:

In light of all the information from science, Scripture, and the civil rights due all human beings, how sure are you that this is not a human life worthy of our full protection?

Truth Plus Grace

Remember, “let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” Colossians 4:6. We have a God that longs to forgive and heal. His grace is given in abundance! Romans 5:20

Tips for Talking About This Issue

Remember that this is a deeply personal issue for many. Follow James’ advice wisely, “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” James 1:19.

  • Use a story like the one at the beginning of this chapter to help people realize they should give unborn children a chance
  • Speak boldly, but with gentleness and respect 1 Peter 3:15-16
  • Avoid inflammatory terms: it’s one thing to believe abortion is murder, it’s another thing to be accused of murder.
  • Remember that there is an abortion industry that has convinced many that this procedure is like removing “lumps” not an intentional act of murder
  • Remember that people will often resist changing their views on issues until God changes their hearts. Don’t make agreement on this issue a prerequisite to salvation.
  • God’s way is to “conquer evil by doing good” Romans 12:21

Questions for discussion

  1. Have you ever had an experience similar to Arnie’s? If so, did you “give the benefit of the doubt”? How did it work out?
  2. How well-known do you think the scientific data is about the amazing and early development of unborn children?
  3. Are there practical steps that should be taken to make that data better known?
  4. Reread the Psalm 139:13-17 passage. How does it make you feel about God’s attitude toward you? toward unborn children?
  5. How do you think the United States is doing in terms of applying its foundational principles of being “created equal” and “endowed with certain unalienable rights” to all human beings?
  6. What are some dos and don’ts–whether listed in this chapter, or others you can think of–that you think might help as you talk to others about this important question?
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Ragamuffin Gospel: #10 – The Victorious Limp

Chapter 10

Keep Coming Back

The mature Christians I have met along the way are those who have failed and have learned to live gracefully with their failure.

One of my most consistent problems is taking on too much, too many things at once — overcommitment. Perhaps I lack the ability to set proper boundaries, but my response is equally consistent: when I am face to face with Jesus I want to be completely worn out because I did everything I could, every day, for everyone. That’s a bit unhealthy, I get that, but I would rather be stretched and fail than comfortable and content.

Tension mounts:

We settle in and settle down to lives of comfortable piety and well-fed virtue. We grow complacent and lead practical lives.

Complacency, accepting what has happened cannot be undone, our circumstance cannot be changed–the loss of hope.

The crucifixion on Black Friday, the real Black Friday, left the disciples hopeless. They scattered and immediately went back to their old ways. Their hope was tortured, killed and buried. We have the privilege of hindsight and the Bible to see that this wasn’t the end of the story, but they did not.

As I reflect on Peter, his denial of Christ, the voices that he heard and his incredible failures, I’m amazed by a God who not only reveals this failure in scripture, but comes to Peter and cooks him breakfast then reinstates him as the cornerstone of His church. How ridiculous is that?

What we struggle to see is our own story. We don’t get to skip a chapter and see how it ends. When we meet someone, choose to do something kind (or not), we don’t get to fast forward to see how God will use that encounter to advance His kingdom. We simply have to move on faith, daily taking up the cross. Inch by inch, moving forward, failing and getting back up again (hopefully learning in the process!).

Lord, help us to see failure as Your refining fire. Teach us every time we stumble and give us the faith and courage to keep coming back. Give us the wisdom to listen to your voice and understand what we should do every single day.

From the Chapter

  • Authentic disciples have a capacity for faithfulness. Buffeted by the fickle winds of failure, battered by their own unruly emotions…they kept coming back to Jesus.
  • At some point in each of our lives, we were deeply touched by a profound encounter with Jesus Christ…yet we did not get unraveled. Slowly we got caught up in the demands of ministry or career and the distractions our busy world offers. We began to treat Jesus like the old friend from Brooklyn whom we dearly loved in years past but have gradually lost track of.
  • Inattention to the Holy unravels the fabric of the diving relationship.
  • We settle in and settle down to lives of comfortable piety and well-fed virtue. We grow complacent and lead practical lives.
  • The sinner is accepted before he pleads for mercy. It is already granted. He need only receive it. Total amnesty. Gratuitous pardon.
  • The father of the prodigal son took him back just as he was. Abba just wants us to show up.
  • The mature Christians I have met along the way are those who have failed and have learned to live gracefully with their failure.
  • Risking everything on Jesus: The ragamuffin gospel says we can’t lose, because we have nothing to lose.
  • The willingness to keep growing: Unfaithfulness is a refusal to become, a rejection of grace (grace that is inactive is an illusion).
  • The readiness to risk failure: Many of us are haunted by our failures.

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Psalm 27

I’m processing Psalm 27…digging deep. Makes me think of a Spoken Word piece. Here’s the way it came out as I typed an email a few days ago, slightly edited today.

Though King David’s problems dwarf my tiny issues,
I still cry out to the Lord of all through tears and tissues.

My enemies taunt and jeer and make their plans deceitfully
but my Lord will calm my fear and love me unconditionally.

Oh yes, I ask this from the Lord and this I constantly seek:
to see His beauty in His temple every day of the week.

For in the day of trouble, not when or if it might come,
I long to be hidden in His tent, His place to call home.

He will lift me above those who curse me I know
and I will lead the chorus for everyone to show
that our God is the merciful king of the strong and the meek.
Don’t hide your face from me Lord, I am terribly weak!

My savior, my Lord, do not reject me or turn away,
Though my parents have failed, perhaps lost their way,
teach me, lead me, because of my oppressors,
don’t let me follow the way of unholy transgressors.

I remain convinced of this truth every day of my life
that You will be good to those who are torn by strife
yet wait for the Lord, You are strong and courageous
yes wait for the Lord even though it’s outrageous.

Oh yes, I ask this from the Lord and this I constantly seek:
to see His beauty in His temple every day of the week.

I will wait for the Lord, You are strong and courageous
yes wait for the Lord even though it’s outrageous.

Amen.

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Ragamuffin Gospel: #9 – The Second Call

Chapter 9

Halftime

This chapter reminds of Bob Buford’s book, Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance1. In October of 1995, I transitioned from the Air Force to civilian life–it was time to move into a new season in my life. The truth is, I’m still growing and trying to figure out what’s next, but this hasn’t prevented me from trying, failing, tripping and falling flat on my face.

As Manning explains, there is a point where we realize something needs to change. Most of the time it takes some significant event is required to jolt us from comfort to action. That’s why preachers and politicians search for words to stir emotions, wake us from our relative comfort zones. I’ve probably just offended a bunch of people by putting preachers and politicians in the same sentence, but sadly I’ve seen both use tactics to provoke people to action.

We must reach a point of holy discontent, of righteous indignation, a place where we know something inside us must change. How we arrive at this point matters if we want it to stick. It’s not a New Years resolution to lose ten pounds, it’s a lifestyle change that just happens to result in losing weight. More significantly, we must reach the point where we see the door closing, where we understand the words of Jesus in the parable of the wedding banquet and simply can’t sit still, Matthew 22:14: “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

The second journey begins when we know we cannot live the afternoon of life according to the morning program.

(After reading this, Chaotic Love (You’re The One That Really Matters) started playing in my head over and over again!)

In our cynical society we are reminded that one individual cannot make a difference, that we are insignificant. Over and over again, Satan uses such tactics to keep us down, to make us believe we’re wallowing in pride when we have a God-inspired idea. The Adversary wants us to be self-conscious about singing out, raising our hands, pouring our hearts out. Sadly, this is true too much of the time, but we have the antidote in front of us, printed in numerous languages and styles, God’s word is there for us to “grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18. Use the Bible to learn, to grow, but Lord teach us to get out of our comfort zones and into the world that desperately needs to see the word in action.

Lord, I pray that we become a people that understands from the deepest part of our being that “you’re the One that really matters.” And in that knowledge we find the faith, hope and love to act.

From the Chapter

  • The second call is a summons to a deeper, more mature commitment of faith where the naïveté, first fervor, and untested idealism of the morning and the first commitment have been seasoned with pain, rejection, failure, loneliness, and self-knowledge.
  • Three obstacles: a crisis of faith, of hope and of love.
  • #1 Faith.
    • God’s answer: The next time you preach about My love with such obnoxious familiarity, I may just come and blow your whole prayer meeting apart.
    • Evangelical faith is the antithesis of lukewarm news: It always means a profound dissatisfaction with our present state.
    • If we are criticized, let it be for the right reasons: because we are not emotional enough, because our emotions are puny, because we lack a deep, passionate, uncompromising affection for Jesus Christ.
    • We need to ask ourselves: Do I really believe the Good News of Jesus Christ? Do I hear His word spoken to my heart?
  • #2 Hope
    • Matthew 22 describes a feast. Do we really believe we are going to a wedding feast that has already begun?
    • Our hope, our acceptance of the invitation to the banquet, is based on the idea that we will triumph over pain and suffering (not escape it).
    • To really be a disciple of Jesus, one must be as committed to the message of the kingdom as He was, and to preach it whether or not the audience finds it relevant.
    • The issue is not whether the world considers it relevant; it’s whether it is true.
  • #3 Love
    • We must love and, even more, we must run the risk of being loved.
    • God wants us back even more than we could possibly want to be back.
  • One significant barrier: fear. We are afraid of failure.
  • We tend to think we have to project some image of perfection:
    • It’s simply not true
    • Keeps us from reaching the lost
    • it would be a shallow existence
  • Depth of character is achieved by one who has failed and who has learned to live with it.
  • God longs for someone daring enough to be different, humble enough to make mistakes, wild enough to be burned in the fire of love, real enough to make others see how phone we are.

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Notes:

1 Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance, by Bob P. Buford et al.

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Ragamuffin Gospel: #8 – Freedom from Fear

Chapter 8

Freedom Awaits All

This chapter starts with a summary of Dostoyevsky’s, The Brothers Karamazov. For the church, this is a rather fatalistic view of its organization and intention to control parishioners. Quite depressing. Following this brief discussion, Manning asserts, “Some Christians want to be slaves.” This is not the freedom taught by Jesus, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed John 8:36.”

The fear that Manning wants us to deal with is perhaps best described as a lack of positive self-image. We don’t see ourselves as truly saved, adopted into the family of Christ. If we did, we would NOT worry about the taunts and pointed words of those who don’t know Jesus. Instead, we would understand their doubts and skepticism and love them anyway.

For many, and I’m sure I’m included in the bunch, we want “to be well thought of by everyone,” but this doesn’t mean with must adapt a new personality for each situation (p. 152). I completely agree with this statement:

In Christ Jesus freedom from fear empowers us to let go of the desire to appear good, so that we can move freely in the mystery of who we really are.

The real challenge is to love others as Jesus loved others. That’s a simple statement, but not so simple to do. My careless words leave people hurt and often don’t reveal their impact for weeks! The key is listen to the hearts of those around us more than we wrap ourselves up in our own concerns. “The gentleness of Jesus with sinners flowed from His ability to read their hearts.”

Then there’s the struggle between discipline and love. I know discipline is good and I understand that loving someone means I accept their faults. So where do we draw the line? The only way to answer this is by changing our own hearts first. If I am a man chasing after God, doing everything in my control to love God and love others, the time for discipline should be evident. If I am serving my own best interests, discipline could simply be a method of climbing the corporate ladder or getting something I want. There our sinful nature takes over.

However, the point of this chapter is this: “we are free from the slavery of sin–for what? For the saving grace of the living God!” It’s not about us. Sorry to break the news to the world!

The more we read the Bible, converse with God through prayer and meditation, the more we understand we have nothing to fear in this world; rather, we have something to tell the world, some amazing Good News! If we fully believe what we sing about, we must share the gospel with our neighborhood, city, state, etc. Kinda sounds like Jesus command to us doesn’t it?

Thank you, Lord, for the freedom from fear. Help me live that out in my daily life.

 

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Ragamuffin Gospel: #7 – Paste Jewelry and Sawdust Hot Dogs

Chapter 7

Counterfeit Christians

This chapter presents a poignant story from Manning’s visit to a rehabilitation center, one that left me speechless. The point of the story is to evoke an emotional response, but more than that, it’s to force us to evaluate our response. Imagine if this were a Candid Camera episode where a hidden video camera recorded our reaction to the story. My initial, “you idiot!” reaction would be there to replay over and over again. Is this how we relate to those outside our sacred walls? Probably. And that, my friends, IS the problem of paste jewelry and sawdust hot dogs–fake Christians.

Until I learn to react the way the Jesus did I will still be learning to grow in grace. To use the churchy wording, I’m still going through the sanctification process. It’s sad to watch my hidden video footage because I know that it was a setup, but the reality is there to observe. Every time I judge someone from my position of higher ground I have elevated myself on some sort of holy pedestal for which I am unworthy. Worse than that, as one who often wears a title that’s associated with the church, I fail as an ambassador of Christ. James 3:1 comes to mind:

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers,
because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Lord, help me to get rid of the mask that hides who I really am. Show me that I don’t need to put on some counterfeit image to impress anyone; that you working in me is enough. Help me to be brave enough to let my weaknesses be revealed and teach me to find unbridled joy in the wonder that You fill the gap between what I should do and what I actually do. Help me to be crazy for you like you are crazy for me! May I love unconditionally, extravagantly, without judgement.

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