Faith in Action Together

God's word has an incredible power to impact our minds and hearts.  Even narratives are instructive to provide examples good and bad that challenge our attitudes and approaches to life and ministry.  The passage in Mark 2 when the paralytic was lowered to Jesus as He preached the word is a passage God has recently impressed upon me.

Mark 2:1-5 says of Jesus, "And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. ² Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. ³ Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  When Jesus arrived in Capernaum, word spread quickly through the city and region.  People dropped what they were doing and headed to see and hear Jesus for themselves.  It could have been people saw a group gathering and came to see out of curiosity.

Mark tells us there were four men who heard Jesus had come and carried their paralysed friend to Jesus to be healed by Him.  The problem was, there was no way to move through the dense crowd.  Even if those on the outside of the group made way, the house itself was completely full and there was no way for them to disperse.  So these men hatched a plan:  they scrabbled up on the roof of the house, lugged their friend on his bed up there, broke through the roof material and let him down to Jesus.  One thing which struck me was the united faith and efforts of these men:  their breakthrough to Jesus came together as they got their hands dirty to bring a friend to Jesus.  There was a desperation, a spontaneity as they communicated to overcome obstacles as a united team which would have turned others away disappointed who said, "Oh well, I guess we can't bring our friend to Jesus today after all."

These men sourced ropes and perhaps tools; they made it work.  Their faith in Jesus moved them to break through the roof together and lower their paralysed friend to the LORD Jesus.  When He saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  He said this knowing full well there were bystanders who imagined Jesus was a blasphemer to claim to have ability to forgive sins, since only God can forgive sins.  To demonstrate Jesus has the power to forgive sins--and thus is God--He healed the man physically as well as forgiving his sins.  Jesus did the healing and forgiving, yet there was also an important role fulfilled by those four men who were united in faith and ministry to bring him to Jesus.  I view this as an example of how the church can operate, many people working together as one united by faith in Christ to bring people to Him.

It occurred to me that I was brought to Jesus by others, and we can even bring a paralysed church or ministry to Jesus to set us right.  If we are not bringing people to Jesus, we need look no further than ourselves:  does my faith in Jesus prompt me to bring people to Him?  Do I allow different interpretations or doctrinal emphasis to divide me from serving with brothers and sisters?  Have I been doing my own thing without consulting and joining together with fellow believers in united effort?  Am I afraid or unwilling to embrace new roles or challenges, waiting for a path to miraculously clear when there is a way to break through the roof right now?  The fear of heights, a longstanding back problem, fatigue from a long day in the fields or the inherent danger of the work did not hinder those men with faith in Jesus from teaming up, discussing, communicating with one another, sourcing what was needed and working together to bring one person to Jesus.

Even as the bodies of those four men worked together to lower the paralysed man to Jesus, the paralysed man was willing to be lowered.  He demonstrated faith in obedience to Jesus when at His command he rose, took up his bed and walked.  This is how the body of Christ the church is to operate as led by the Holy Spirit together:  not one person doing what they have prayed about and doing what is right in their own eyes, but all the members joined together by faith in Jesus to bring people to Him.  We are all individual members of the body of Christ, yet we are also all joined together with one another and Jesus Christ who is our Head.  This passage illustrates how breakthroughs are not just for individuals but for groups of people who unite to seek Jesus together.

God the Giver

God is a better giver than we are receivers.  We can be notoriously difficult when it comes to receiving gifts.  And when we receive a gift we can appreciate the gift more than the giver!  An important part of gift-giving these days is keeping a receipt so gifts can be returned or exchanged.  Imagine that we would not appreciate, wish to exchange or refuse a gift God offers us!

One example from the Bible of someone not appreciating a gift is when king Solomon gave Hiram king of Tyre 20 cities from the land of Galilee.  One would think property on the largest body of fresh water in Israel would be pleasing, but this was not the case.  1 Kings 9:12-13 says, "Then Hiram went from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, but they did not please him. ¹³ So he said, "What kind of cities are these which you have given me, my brother?" And he called them the land of Cabul, as they are to this day."  Cabul means "worthless" thus this was a very negative, critical assessment. 

Surely we would never be guilty of seeing a gift from God as worthless, right?  It happens more than you would think.  Because God loved the world He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to all, and not everyone to whom the gift of salvation has been offered has humbled themselves to receive Him.  Jesus Christ is the source of Living Water the Holy Spirit which springs up in those who believe unto eternal life, but not all have received Him.  No one will be delivered from eternity in hell or find entrance into heaven because they were a respected person or responsible citizen:  only faith in Jesus Christ enables us to receive forgiveness and God's gift of salvation.

Let us not think this refusal of God's gifts is limited to unbelievers, for the New Testament speaks of many gifts given by the Holy Spirit in addition to salvation some have written off as irrelevant, unnecessary and even unwanted.  It may be God has given a particular spiritual gift one is not pleased to receive or use because they had their eyes an another gift, even as Sam in the Lord of the Rings had covetous eyes on shiny daggers Galadriel gave to Merry and Pippin rather than gratefully receiving the coil of Elvish rope given to him.  It turned out the rope was more practical and useful to him and Frodo in the end, and it is even more true concerning gifts God gives to His children--be it spiritual gifts, practical wisdom, guidance and correction, singleness, having a spouse, children, opportunities to serve and minister.  God gives knowing the place He has prepared for us in His kingdom.

Paul wrote to self-righteous believers in 1 Corinthians 4:7, "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"  Know that all we possess:  all our gifts, righteous standing before God, our talents and fruitfulness are gifts from God we do not deserve.  The corollaries are therefore we ought to be grateful to God for all He has given, humbled to receive such grace from Him and be content with such things as we have because we trust Him.  It is by His grace we live, can know God and receive good things from His hand.  God is the greatest giver, and may we glory in Him rather than His gifts.

Always Good Forever

I received word this week my Grandpa Martin Henry passed into eternity.  Though I heard he had been sick and in hospital, the moment when I heard the news it was like the world momentarily stopped because part of me was no more.  My grandfather had been gathered to his fathers, for God took him home.  Though the grief is real, the comfort provided by knowing the almighty God is the God of the living is greater consolation.  One thing you could guarantee is when you greeted Grandpa and asked how he was doing he would say in a booming voice, "Always good!"  Though I will not hear him say that again during my remaining days on earth, it was never more true for him than now in the presence of the LORD.

It's hard for me to fathom going to Grandma's house and not include Grandpa because he was always there.  He would be wearing blue jeans and a white, tucked in t-shirt.  It is difficult to imagine today he cannot be found on the lounge in the den, riding his John Deere mower, winding a clock, or laying carpet.  He would shrug and say, "They pay me to crawl around all day.  Easy money."  I remember when Grandpa laid the carpet in my first house and my neighbour pulled me aside that afternoon over 20 years ago.  "I saw an older fellow pull up to your house with big rolls of carpet and linoleum.  I decided to put my shoes on to lend a hand and by the time I made it over there he already had them in the house!"  "Yep, sounds like Grandpa," I told him.  I once asked him why he didn't have an apprentice or helper.  "I'd have to fix all their mistakes," he replied.

Moving to Australia has meant I have not been able to spend much time with Grandpa, and I certainly missed our friendly game of poker every New Year's Eve.  He was an honest man, and an honest poker player too.  If he was raising you, you knew you better have a decent hand.  One of the stories I loved to hear happened during his time in the Navy with a memorable showdown.  His opponent had four queens; he never imagined Grandpa had four kings!  When I think of Grandpa, my mind is filled with fond memories of times we spent together, like staying up on Christmas Eve watching whatever was on TV so we could say "Merry Christmas!" to each other before going to bed.  His stories went like this:  "My old uncle August was a Lutheran minister (only lived to be 96), preached moderation:  one bottle at a time!"  His hearty handshake and chuckle was like no other, and I will miss him.

Sometimes loss can be a path to greater appreciation of the blessings God has already provided.  My grandparents, parents, siblings, wife, children, in-laws, extended family and family of believers have been a rich blessing in my life.  The truth is, this earth is not our forever home.  When we suffer loss of those we love it is a reminder we will never be without God who was, is and is to come.  My grief is tempered by my LORD Jesus Christ who is the Good Shepherd who will never leave or forsake me--nor any who trust in Him when He calls them home.  Psalm 23:6 says of those who trust in the LORD, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."  What assurance God gives those who love and trust Him because God is always good, now and forever.

If God's Your Father

Recent news in New South Wales has highlighted political debate around a proposed religious discrimination bill which was intended to protect people of faith.  Others have shared their concerns that by protecting believers it could legalise discrimination towards other people groups, even those who have physical disabilities.  Tennis champ and Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott revealed at the age of 16 he was singled out by a "preacher" and called "the spawn of Satan" as he sat in a queue in his wheelchair whilst on a date.  An article expressed his concern "...that some 'more traditional' religions believe people with disabilities are a spawn of Satan and view their disability as a punishment because they or their parents have done something wrong."  It is evident those hurtful, horrendous words wounded Dylan.  I have no idea of the religious beliefs of that preacher, but from a Christian vantage point it was a wicked and sinful thing to say.

Beliefs can be a tricky minefield to navigate:  one person can make a false, hurtful accusation, and the one injured then believes a whole group of people are again them.  It is possible we can make caricatures of those we do not understand or agree with.  In Dylan's case, I do not doubt for a second someone would make such an evil, callous remark because Jesus dealt with such self-righteous judgments of His disciples, and people have not changed.  John 9:1-3 tells us, "Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. ² And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" ³ Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him."  Seeing a man who suffered blindness from birth, men who followed Jesus looked for someone to blame.  Someone must have sowed seeds of sin to reap the fruit of blindness.  Jesus showed this view was all wrong and missed God's redemptive plans.

Jesus, being God with all wisdom, knowledge and authority, rejected full stop this man's condition was a result of a particular sin.  All have sinned, yet God's grace was clearly apparent by giving judgmental men sight who were blind to God's redemptive purposes and power.  There is a flawed assumption held by many that God rewards the deserving with good health and prosperity, and that sickness, disability or suffering is always a result of sin--despite the examples of the Book of Job or the blind man.  And what of God's statement in Exodus 4:11:  "So the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?"  A person who has suffered from a disability, judged disabled or called God-forbid "the spawn of Satan" by fellow human beings can have their eyes opened to realise God has His purposes in creating a person who is mute, deaf, seeing or blind.  This knowledge should not prevent us from loving, showing compassion and standing up for those who are vilified for differences.

Some accuse God of cruelty or unfairness for causing a man to be born blind or to have a tumour wrapped around the spinal cord at birth.  On the authority of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world we can know God has purposes beyond our imagination.  By faith and obedience to Jesus the man born blind was miraculously made to see.  Though rendered paralysed by an operation, Dylan Alcott went on to compete in tennis and has inspired our nation and the world, even boldly saying he loves his disability--not because it made his childhood easy or makes life more convenient--but because of the countless positives obtained through it.  He has a platform to speak as an advocate of those who have endured disabilities and have been marginalised, having been shaped in part by all he has persevered through.  From a Christian perspective, God is the central part of everyone's story as our Maker.  Since He redeemed the crucifixion of His only begotten Son by providing salvation, forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus, He can also redeem our light afflictions which seem to drag on permanently.

Jesus identified those self-righteous hypocrites as children of Satan who claimed to honour and worship God but rejected Him as the Son of God.  John 8:42-45 reads, "Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. ⁴³ Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me."  There are many religions and preachers out there, and anyone who says a disabled person is the "spawn of Satan" had better shut their mouths and take a look in the mirror.  Those who do not listen to Jesus Christ or speak with a loving desire to see people receive salvation through Jesus, braying such vicious accusations reveals your own soul to be in grave danger.

It is most lamentable Dylan, the man born blind and Jesus Himself faced persecution and hatred for basically existing.  I cannot speak to those outside the church but I exhort followers of Jesus, those members of the body of Christ, to do and say according to the example provided us by Jesus Himself:  to love the LORD our God, love people, and make disciples of Jesus by grace through faith in Him.  It is only by being born again we can be enabled to walk in wisdom and exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit exemplified in love.  It is beyond our power to right past wrongs or to take back sinful and ignorant words even we have said, but we can humble ourselves before God and love one another as He loves us.  If the LORD can be glorified through a person being born blind, He can be glorified when we apologise for our foolish pride and humble ourselves to genuinely love others.  Since God is our Father, we ought to hear His word and humbly walk in His ways.