Clothed With Humility

Some of my favourite fairy tales as a lad were ones written by Hans Christian Andersen:  "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Emperor's New Clothes."  I especially enjoyed the latter because of the incredible ridiculousness of the concept but how apt a depiction it was of the human heart.  The pride and vanity of the Emperor was targeted by deceptive and greedy weavers who promised to make him the most lovely apparel.  They sat before looms without yarn or linen, moving their hands without a thread to be seen.  The weavers claimed the fine fabric they wove was invisible to anyone who was unfit for their office or hopelessly stupid, and because the Emperor was obviously neither he agreed it was the finest he had ever seen.  The whole charade reached a climax when the "clothed" Emperor made a grand appearance before the townspeople who murmured with approval.  Only a child had the sense to say what all the people knew when the foolish king paraded by them nude:  "But he isn't wearing anything at all!"  Sometimes there is wisdom in a simple observation of a child which adults blinded by greed or ambition cannot see.

One of the common threads throughout the tale is how even good men cover for themselves and others.  At one point the Emperor couldn't see the clothes on the loom, so he sent a trustworthy old minister to report of the progress.  The elderly man was shocked when he did not see any fabrics or patterns, but did not want to admit he could not see them so he played along with the sham and provided a detailed report to the Emperor.  A trusted official was sent as well and he too was alarmed when he could not see the clothes!  He could not admit before the Emperor there were no clothes to be seen, for in doing so he would be admitting he was unfit for his position or hopelessly stupid.  So he too played the fool and repeated the words of the swindler weavers, using lies to cover his folly and insecurity.  It seems it was not only the Emperor who was laid bare by the weavers, but the minister, trusted officials, and all the townspeople who vainly praised the clothing they could not see.  It seems good standing before the Emperor was the clothing people used to cover their own pride.

This compelling fable, which well-describes the conflict in a human heart when we seek to please others or cover for ourselves, is an allegory applied to many circumstances we face in life - even when it comes to matters of faith.  The Jewish Pharisees wore clean clothes and searched the scriptures to find eternal life, but Jesus declared it was a cover-up for the rottenness they hid within.  They were like a cup which had been carefully buffed and polished to a high shine, but the cup was filthy within.  Just because the Emperor thought or hoped he was actually wearing clothes does not believe clothes are a sham, for evidence of genuine clothes are all around.  To say the Pharisees used religion as a cover for their own wickedness does not suggest there is not a God who has revealed Himself and can forgive and cleanse people from sin.  The fact there are many gods worshipped does not mean there is not one true God who ought to be feared and worshipped.  Because people have misplaced trust does not mean there is not an almighty God in whom we ought to trust.

Followers of Jesus Christ are not exempt from the folly of the Emperor or the people of the town.  In our Christian circles we can plaster on a smile, act like life is great and all is fine when we are struggling, depressed, and perhaps not even walking with Jesus.  Our lives can be full of compromises and contradictions.  Our knowledge of scripture and theology can be the invisible clothes with which we try to cover the nakedness of our lives polluted with doubts and sin.  We can know about God but it does not mean we are seeking Him; we can say prayerful words with heads bowed but never enter into the LORD's presence because we have never invited Him into us.  Scriptures or Christian catch-phrases can be repeated - not because we actually believe or are experiencing these truths - but if we say them enough perhaps they will.  How we need the truth of God's Word to pierce our hearts and to admit we are unfit for the task of following Jesus and hopelessly stupid on our own!  The ones who humble themselves before God are the ones He will lift up.

Jesus said in Mark 10:15, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  It was the shrill voice of reason which snapped the townsfolk to their senses in Andersen's fable, and may the words of Jesus strike us to our souls.  Let us never suppose we can rely upon our strength, resolve, or knowledge any more now than we did when we first believed.  We need Jesus to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and we desperately need Jesus to stay the course.  The faith of a child in Jesus - not the deceitful ambitions of an adult - is what is needed to be born again, fruitful, and faithful.  Instead of being puffed up with pride, let Christians of all ages heed the exhortation of 1 Peter 5:5:  "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  This is fine clothing which is always in style and fit for the Kingdom of Heaven..

Lifted Hands in the Sanctuary

This morning I was impacted by Psalm 134:1-2, a passage put to music in my church long ago:  "Behold, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who by night stand in the house of the LORD! ² Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD."  The priests and Levites were servants of the LORD who stood in the Temple and courts and "blessed" the LORD.  This blessing of God was an act of adoration, like kneeling before the king.  It is interesting the priests are described as doing this by night, as this typically was a time reserved for rest and sleep.  It is fitting to praise and bless the LORD at all times, especially since His people find rest in Him.  This posture of praise with upraised hands is most appropriate, for these hands would have been washed and empty before the LORD.  Night is a good time to sleep, and hands are designed for holding things and performing work, and to dedicate these to the LORD in service and praise is a beautiful act of worship.

I was prompted during prayer to look up a scripture and my eyes came upon Psalm 63:1-4 which described seeking the LORD in the early hours as well:  "O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. ² So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. ³ Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. ⁴ Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name."  Whether morning or night, the one who blessed the LORD is portrayed with uplifted hands in the sanctuary.  David thirsted and longed for God in a dry land, and found satisfaction only in the presence of the Almighty.  He desired to see God's power and glory, and he lifted up his hands in praise.

A sanctuary is a holy or sacred place, and the Temple was a place set apart for the presence of God to dwell.  Since under the New Covenant we have been purchased with the blood of Jesus, Christians are now the temple of the Holy Spirit where God dwells.  Though God does not dwell in temples made with hands - as if He could be contained - it is good for us to praise the LORD in places set apart for His praise and worship with fellow believers.  The servants of the LORD stood and worshipped with hands raised unto the LORD in ancient times, and it is good for us to do the same today in churches, hired halls, and homes for the glory of God.  In raising our empty hands stretched out to our LORD and Saviour we present ourselves as living sacrifices of praise.  Our lips should utter praise to God and bless Him while we live, for it is He who has provided us abundant and eternal life.

In some churches (unfortunately) it is seen as inappropriate or even a self-seeking gesture to stand with arms raised to the LORD.  Only the LORD knows the heart, and He knows if we are putting on an act or are genuine.  There are practical ways to avoid being an distraction and to be discreet in worship, for we can truly worship God in Spirit and truth kneeling, sitting, or even as a prisoner in the stocks in a dungeon.  It is good to realise even evangelical and charismatic people and churches can have a style or culture of worship formed over the tradition of many years.  Instead of giving place to criticism or distractions, we can be as the servants of the LORD in the sanctuary whose sole focus was on the LORD God.  His lovingkindness is better than life and as long as we live He is worthy to be blessed - even if raising hands is a foreign idea or an odd practice to us.

Repentance and the Kingdom of God

Having recently returned from speaking at a Teen Camp for a week, it made me consider again the key components of the Gospel.  Paul summed them up well the implications of the Gospel in his address before Festus, King Agrippa, and Bernice in Acts 26:20 when he said Jew and Gentile "...should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance."  Though Paul does not speak of the salvation we have by only grace through faith in Jesus, this emphasis on repentance should be no surprise to the converted.  It is interesting to me how Paul did not emphasise common themes camped on today like God's love, forgiveness, or grace.

Perhaps repentance is not a major theme in too many presentations of the Gospel today because it is confronting for both the speaker and the audience, yet without it none shall be saved.  When John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus, Matthew 3:1-2 describes repentance as the primary thrust of his discourses:  "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  Once the kingdom of God was manifested among them with the coming of the KING OF KINGS Jesus, the message did not change.  After John was thrown in prison Matthew 4:17 says, "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Jesus was crucified and rose from the grave and guess what?  The message to be preached in the name of Jesus was not to change.  Our risen LORD said to His disciples in Luke 24:46-47, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

Repentance involves changing our minds and making future choices which align with God's righteousness.  We must turn from sin, then we must turn to God and do the things which please Him.  This is not a call to return to Law but to walk in obedience to God according to His Word.  Jesus said during the Sermon on the Mount, "It has been written...but I say unto you...".  Jesus fulfilled the Law, and those who repent and trust in Him are filled with the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.  He conveys to us all Jesus says, and this Spirit-filled life transcends that of ordinances and traditions of men.  Jesus calls us to live on a plane higher than that of Law, and repentance and remission of sins is to mark our practices and preaching as we go on with God.  If we desire to enter God's kingdom, we must do so God's Way.

Don't Wrestle Alone

As a kid I always enjoyed wrestling with my dad and brother.  I remember once at a family gathering my uncle Rocky pounced on my brother and I and pinned us both on top of each other.  We loved it.  In high school my brother joined the wrestling team at school and quickly became a far more talented and capable wrestler than I ever was.  But over the years we enjoyed many a good-natured roughhouse together.  Well, most of the time it was good-natured. :)

Wrestling is an activity which one cannot really practice well or even compete in alone.  A person can watch take-downs, holds, and how to ride a leg all day long, but until he grapples with an actual opponent he knows nothing of the fatigue, reversals, and surprises a human opponent brings.  Competitive wrestling always requires another person to have a proper match.  The struggle, strain, and sweat of a good wrestle is only known to those who actively engage with others.

And it is on this point we must be watchful and wary concerning our own struggles and wrestlings.  As children of God, He has made us to be part of His Body, the church.  In this day of increased independence we can be duped to attempt to wrestle through personal struggles alone.  If we chose to wrestle alone we do not do well.  How much better it is to include select brothers and sisters to bat ideas around, to confess our confusion over evidence, and to work together to grow stronger and more equipped for future conflict!  That is the beauty of wrestling a teammate:  you can both improve and grow at the same time.  This is genuine discipleship.  Being on the same team your aim in wrestling is not to defeat each other but to train one another for the purpose of winning as a team.

Brothers and sisters, don't wrestle alone.  There may be times we might (an unadvisedly) wrestle against God as Jacob did, but as our Father He is able to bless us.  We are mistaken to think we can wrestle against principalities, powers, or even flesh and blood or arguments by ourselves, for we need the power of the Holy Spirit to stand strong under attack.  It must be incredibly rare indeed when anything we wrestle with would not be more easily overcome with the support, love, and aid from others in the church. We have responsibilities before God we are held accountable to, and one of these is to help each other - and this includes training others to walk righteously and live victoriously.  Galatians 6:2-5 reads, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load."