The Worthy Ideal

Positive reform requires an intentional return to an old ideal.  Progress is not altering the original ideal but a renewed aim of obtaining it.  That is a philosophical strength of Christianity, for Jesus Christ is the One we are called to fix our eyes on and pursue.  We strive to obey Him, love like Him, and do all for His glory.  Just because we fail doesn't mean Christ is a failure or is unworthy of being pursued.  He provides a more solid foundation for us than the bedrock of earth, for Jesus was, is, and will ever be.  This world will have an end, but Jesus Christ and His words will endure forever.

When I see people protesting and rioting over political disagreements, I wonder if the rioters all agree.  I can tell you they do not.  Even if they all agree on anarchy and the means they employ to destroy the corrupt "system," I can assure you they do not agree on what form of government should rise in its place or who should make the decisions concerning it.  Without a fixed ideal men destroy and cannot build.  People united for change tear down what was built and then tear each other apart.  When God confounded the languages at Babel not only did the inhabitants cease working together but they couldn't imagine living together.  This is the world in which we live - among people who speak the same language but cannot agree on a governing, guiding principle.  Consider the observations of G.K. Chesterton in his masterpiece, Orthodoxy:

"As long as the vision of heaven is always changing, the vision of earth will be exactly the same.  No ideal will remain long enough to be realised, or even partly realised.  The modern young man will never change his environment; for he will always change his mind.  This, therefore, is our first requirement about the ideal towards which progress is directed; it must be fixed.  Whistler used to make many rapid studies of a sitter; it did not mater if he tore up twenty portraits.  But it would matter if he looked up twenty times, and each time saw a new person sitting placidly for his portrait.  So it does not matter (comparatively speaking) how often humanity fails to imitate its ideal; for then all its old failures are fruitful.  But it does frightfully matter how often humanity changes its ideal, for then all its old failures are fruitless." (Chesterton, G. K. Orthodoxy. 1st ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. pages 114 - 115, Print.)

As we follow Jesus Christ with our eyes fixed upon Him, all our failures can be made fruitful.  We have all made many blunders along the way, but Jesus remains the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  We have failed to live according to God's standards of righteousness, love, and forgiveness, yet God's sublime standard remains unchanged, untainted in a world soiled with deceit, hidden ulterior motives, and subjectivity.  Jesus stood and cried aloud to all who listened, and He stands today having risen from the dead.  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; His rule and reign is without end.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  It is easier for this universe to be completely dissolved than for a single word He has spoken to be stripped of power and significance.  Jesus is, and wise men seek Him, fix their eyes upon Him, and follow Him.

The Planting of the LORD

During Sunday's sermon I related a story to encourage all how God keeps His promises.  Though there aren't always signs or miracles continually to confirm the faithfulness of our God, He does provide His presence and amazing evidence in our earthly pilgrimage.  If we seek the LORD with our whole hearts we will find Him.  For well over a decade I have met weekly with various fellow Christians to pray.  For years before I knew of God's call upon my life to immigrate to Australia I met with a brother named Rudy to seek the LORD in prayer.  God brought great encouragement and strength through times of prayer, and even used a fallen tree to confirm His word to me.

I was on staff at the church when a tree in a large pot toppled over.  The tree was sizable and it lay flat on the ground for a day or two as the staff considered our options.  We certainly didn't want it to go to waste, so the assistant pastor and I dug a hole big enough for the root ball to fit in a sunny spot, dragged the tree over to the hole best we could, and transplanted it.  We lashed limbs to a nearby fence and watered the tree.  It was really a "sink or swim" approach to planting a tree with no special fertiliser, amended soil, or much knowledge or skill in growing trees at all.  If it lived it lived, and if it died it was firewood.

The tree went into shock and dropped most of the leaves.  Though it looked sad for a while there was still life in the tree, so I kept watering it.  One day Rudy said something like, "That tree is a picture of what God is doing with you.  He's going to transplant you."  That struck me.  It showed me the importance of my need to be established before there could be growth.  As a family we would need to be patient to have roots drinking in water to withstand strong winds and dry seasons.  It was almost a living parable of the church God connected us with as well.  God eventually opened a door for us to move to Australia, and the tree was almost forgotten.  It turned out I had not been forgotten by God or the many people who have continued to pray for us to this day six years later.

After about two years I returned to visit my home church.  One of the first things Rudy said to me with a grin upon my return was, "Have you seen your tree?"  I walked over and looked at it.  Gone were the restraints, it was full of green leaves, and well over twice the size than before!  It was such an encouragement to know God cares for people more than trees, and He is able to make both thrive in His time.  As I prepared to share this story as an illustration in the sermon, on a whim I decided to look up what kind of tree it was.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered the name of "my" tree was "ficus benjamina" - Benjamin being my first name!  That God could use a fallen tree as a support for my faith as I look to Jesus!

My home church has since sold the building to a school and over the years much has changed.  I used Google Earth to see if the tree is still there, and to this day it continues to flourish and grow.  God has promised all who meditate of His Word day and night will resemble a tree in Psalm 1:3:  "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."  No tree will last forever, but God, His promises, and those whose lives are founded upon Jesus Christ will.  How awesome is our God!  He can use a single tree to impact a life, and He can use you too!  (the tree can be seen behind the school on the corner of Johnson and Main in El Cajon, circled below in white)

Lead On Softly

Today I read Genesis 33, the passage where Esau and Jacob are reunited after over 20 years apart.  When they parted Esau was scheming about the right time to kill Jacob for robbing him of his father's blessing.  Their reunion was marked by Jacob sending waves of gifts before bowing seven times to the ground before Esau.  The part which stood out to me was when Esau suggested Jacob, his family, and vast flocks and herds travel together with his 400 men.  Jacob graciously declined the offer.  He said in Genesis 33:14, "Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir."

For the sake of his family and flocks Jacob bid Esau to leave so they could both travel at an appropriate pace.  No doubt Esau and his 400 men had things to do and places to go, and Jacob did not want to be a hindrance.  He expressed his desire to "lead on softly" at a pace which was suitable for his children and animals.  This approach to shepherding is one shared by God.  Many people are destination driven, and the destination is important.  Yet God is not so keen to arrive at a destination quickly that He will drive the sheep to exhaustion and death.  A good shepherd pays attention to how the little ones are faring, ensuring there is good grazing, adequate water, and providing rest along the way.  God will lead on softly as much as we can endure because He will never trade a quicker arrival at a destination for the exchange of the life of a single lamb.

This loving way God leads and guides His people reminded me of a song my mum used to sing often.  It was one of the songs I requested the most when she played guitar and sang to us kids as we went to bed.  The song is taken from Isaiah 40:11, and the preceding verse is provided for context:  "Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. ¹¹ He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."  God has a strong hand and is fit to rule all with a rod of iron.  At the same time He uses his hand gently to gather lambs and carry them.  He gently leads those that are pregnant with young, for He will ensure they do not come to the birth too soon.  God considers the health of His ewes and their little ones as more important than arriving at His intended destination, so He leads on softly - even carrying ones close to His heart who are without strength.  He will not abandon them in the way.

How good it is for us to take this to heart!  For those who are parents this is a good reminder for us to "lead on softly," not harshly driving our flock beyond capacity.  There is a big difference between leading and driving.  Driving is done from the rear with a loud crack of the whip and shouting, but leading is done from the front.  Let us be those who embrace the journey of godly child-rearing and be patient with others in Christian ministry, even if the road is long and the destination seems to always loom far in front of us.  A strong hand ought to be used to gently foster unity and patiently carry those who are without strength.  Hasn't God been gracious to lead us on softly?

Genuine Fellowship

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

1 John 1:6-7

The word "fellowship" has been loosely used as a description of Christian gatherings as long as I can remember.  People say things like, "It would be great to get together for food and fellowship."  Fellowship (koinonia) as described by scripture is the ideal, but what passes for "fellowship" can be merely a friendly social interaction.  Personal fellowship with God is required before we can have fellowship with others.  Fellowship is not a gathering of people with similar beliefs, but those who are living righteously, loving others, and are being obedient to Jesus.  The Greek word "koinonia" as translated and defined by the Strong's Concordance can help aid us in recognising genuine fellowship from other impostors.

In the KJV, "koinonia" is translated "fellowship" 12 times, "communion" 4 times, and "communication," "distribution," "contribution," and "to communicate" once each.  Koinonia is much more than talking but a deep connection and intertwining of personal lives in the pursuit of Jesus Christ.  True fellowship is a freedom to contribute and distribute to others what He has freely given to us.  When Paul received a financial gift, he said they communicated with him concerning giving and receiving.  Paul had given them Bible teaching to supply their spiritual needs, and they communicated practical things to meet his physical needs.  Perhaps the meaning of "koinonia" is even more clear when we look at the Strong's definition:  "partnership, (literal) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction; to communicate, communion, (contri-) distribution."  Let's examine some of these facets in greater depth to help us appreciate what koinonia looks like:

• Partnership:  there is a big difference from working at the same job and being "partners."  One is a shared work space, but a partnership is a commitment to another person or people.  It is joining together as one for a cause for the benefit of all, choosing to trust God and others moving forward.
• Participation:  this means to be actively included.  It may be many people go to a dance and are content to sit and watch, but only those on the dance floor are actually participating in the festivities.  Not everyone will have the same skills or style, but anyone can have fun should they choose to lay aside self-consciousness and go for it.
• Social Intercourse:  this described a social interaction which goes deeper than surface level, as the word "intercourse" suggests.  Because other people are viewed as significant through God's love, there should be a genuine interest in others.  Christians who have been accepted by God must accept others, and have freedom to be transparent and share honestly without fear.
• Benefaction:  Christians are benefactors of the love, grace, and forgiveness of God.  We have received freely from God like beneficiaries noted in the will of a deceased person.  Our God is alive and gives according to His will.  We have each received some of the same things from God, but also unique gifts and talents we should rejoice in and use for the glory of God and the building up of other Christians.
• To Communicate:   communication is an exchange of ideas which requires a willingness to listen and contribute through conversation.  It suggests availability and the desire to pass on truths God has revealed and wisdom He has taught us through the scriptures.  Receiving is required for communication to occur, so we must be willing to both give and receive.
• Distribution:  Our time, money, and resources are all gifts from God we have received and ought to give to others as He leads.  When we recognise all good things we have are from God, we acknowledge His ownership through obediently giving according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  If you become aware of a need, it could be God desires to use resources He has given you to meet it.

My friends, this is a picture of genuine fellowship.  As you walk in the light of Jesus Christ through obedience to Him, genuine fellowship can only be expressed and enjoyed by faith in God as we abide in His love.  Koinonia is a way of life for Jesus, and He is life for us.  If this description of fellowship makes you uncomfortable, good!  It is a grace completely foreign to our natural selves, yet an imperative if we will grow and mature in following Jesus and lead others to Him.  To walk in fellowship with God and one another is a call for all Christians, and God help us to joyfully do our part.  True fellowship is only something God can give.  If you are looking for "fellowship" primarily from a church or people, you're looking in the wrong place.  Once you have fellowship with God then you can have fellowship with others, and God will supply genuine koinonia for the church through you.