Aligned with Christ

This week I have started a little building project at church, framing a wall to create space for storage.  More than additional storage, this wall will allow us to centre the video display and better utilise the area up front.  Already the project has resulted in long days and countless trips to the local shops for materials and tools.  One of my purchases was a new spirit level.

For years - probably about 15 years or so - for building I have been using a 4' level given to me by my dad.  Some of the bubbles were obviously inaccurate, but a couple of them were still functional.  As I was framing, I struggled mightily to determine what bubble was the accurate one!  When held vertically, there are bubbles at the top and bottom which indicate if studs are plumb.  It was obviously time for a new level, and after checking my work I re-positioned several studs which were out of plumb because of my faulty level.

It was a guessing game with a single bubble as a guide, but two makes a huge difference.  This is an illustration of the importance of Christian fellowship and accountability.  In my opinion (which matters little) "accountability" is a word I seldom use because it is a bit of a broken buzzword and vague.  Like two bubbles are much more accurate than one alone, so Christians experiencing genuine fellowship help each other remain aligned with Jesus, the Vine in whom we are to abide.  A spirit level needs to be carefully calibrated, and Jesus is always righteous and His Word is always true.  He is the standard by whom we walk uprightly, and we can help one another to do what is right.

Our eyes are not a good guide for building, and our hearts, feelings, and even our own rationale is not sufficient to determine right from wrong.  Praise the LORD for the indwelling Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth and helps us to follow Jesus faithfully.  Is it we who need re-adjustment and re-alignment, and we can support one another in the process.

Trust God, Not Self

The Bible is filled with divine revelations which instruct us concerning God and people as well.  God and sinful men have something in common, that we are totally consistent.  God and His immutable righteousness is established and unchanging, and so is the folly of man and his ways.  Even as plant varieties grow well in particular conditions and species of animals have instincts and behaviours which are predictable, so it is with the natural man to trust himself.

The introduction to a parable Jesus told reveals an consistent connection amongst people we should take note of.  Luke 18:9 says, "Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others..."  He went on to talk about a Pharisee who prayed with himself and a tax collector who did not feel worthy to even look to heaven because of his sin.  I expect the people were shocked when Jesus confirmed it was the humble sinner and not the Pharisee who went home justified.  Jesus spoke this parable to people who trusted in their own righteousness and consequently hated others.

Just today I was reminded of an interaction I had with a fellow Christian years ago who believed it was an ethical imperative to only buy clothing and shoes which he deemed "ethically sourced."  He seemed to pride himself on paying a premium for materials and he knitted his own clothing to ensure his high standards were met.  He believed his purchasing decisions were an extension of his faith in Christ, and he spoke disparagingly of Christians who did not share his strong convictions.  In that conversation the connection between self-righteousness and thinking poorly of others who did not measure up to his ethical standard was on display.

A more personal example to illustrate the truth of scripture is in my own life.  I was once mired in a self-righteous mindset and also looked down on others with disdain.  I was disgusted with the hypocrisy in others I was keenly enabled to see because it was also true of me.  I was the one straining out a gnat and swallowing camels!  Paul wrote in Romans 2:1, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."  Praise the LORD God showed grace, love, compassion, and mercy on me when I was unwilling to do the same for others.  When we realise our own righteousness is a liability and our righteousness comes only by faith in Jesus Christ by His grace, it opens up an avenue of love through us which never existed before. 

Crossing the Divide

No matter how many times I have read or analysed passages in the Bible, God uses it to powerfully speak and provide fresh insights.  Just last night as a family after dinner we read through Luke chapter 16 and I noticed something I never had before.  I love how our God speaks and reveals Himself to us by His grace.

Luke 16 concludes with Jesus speaking of a rich man and Lazarus, a poor beggar who hoped for crumbs from the rich man's table.  The rich man ate well every day, but Lazarus suffered greatly from ill health and was malnourished.  Eventually both the rich and poor man died.  Their lives had been a notable contrast whilst they lived on earth, and it was true after death:  the rich man found himself suffering in eternal torment, and Lazarus found himself greatly comforted.

Earlier in the chapter Jesus spoke a parable of a man stripped of his stewardship because he was caught wasting his master's goods.  Since he was unwilling to stoop to manual labour or begging, he shrewdly decided to call his master's debtors together and give them a break on what they owed.  The favours he generously provided would be returned by another master receiving him as steward.  Jesus said this to show how men are careful to provide for their own future on earth.  The irony is, however, men who are shrewd to acquire wealth and earthly security do not consider where their eternal souls will spend eternity.

The rich man was a man who was ill-prepared for the eternal state, having died in his sins.  The beggar Lazarus, poor though he was on earth, was wealthy beyond measure in paradise through faith in God.  The rich man, being tormented in flame, called out to Abraham to send Lazarus over with water to cool his tongue.  The man who once seemed to have everything was reduced to begging for mercy.  Luke 16:25-26 says, "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'"

The portion which blew my mind was the explanation Abraham provided after he pointed out the obvious, that it was impossible to cross the wide gap between the place of torment and comfort in Sheol.  He said, "...those who want to pass from here to you cannot."  The words of Abraham imply there are people on the side being comforted who would desire to aid those in torment if it was at all possible.  Perhaps Lazarus would have been glad to go through the flames to do more than the begging rich man asked.  But crossing the boundary God had set was impossible.  I thought to myself:  would I want to go to those who were begging for help on the other side of the divide?  Would you?  That's what Jesus did for sinners, for He came to earth and died so we might live.

If you answer in the affirmative, don't wait until it is impossible!  Praise the LORD He has given us eyes to see and ears to hear the truth of His Word, how it is appointed for all men rich and poor once to die, and then we will be judged.  Only those who are born again by faith in Jesus Christ through the Gospel will be saved and receive eternal life.  If we will save people from the flames of hell, today is the day to bring the Living Water Jesus supplies, the Holy Spirit received through faith in Jesus.  The master told his steward he would be stripped of his position and this revelation caused him to prepare for his future in earnest:  if people are heading to hell, shouldn't someone warn them and offer the Living Water Christ supplies?

Action, not Activism

As we enter a new year, it is a good reminder how God makes all things new and provides new opportunities every day to learn, grow, serve, and live life to the full.  The life God has prepared for us is greater in scope and impact than we can imagine.  His plans that will be fulfilled are better than our dreams.

I glanced over an article this morning which touched on a subject to which I have given much thought.  The basic premise of the article was Christians tend toward being politically conservative and give little or no effort to activism because they see it as an activity employed by liberals.  Whilst this may or may not be true, it was a straw-man argument to explain why there are not more Christian political activists.  My take is I am not at all called by God to activism but to be active in loving God and others.  If love for God and people means I am to take practical actions, it is a good thing.  At the same time I realise I cannot of myself accomplish anything without the LORD's wisdom, guidance, and help.

I grew up in an era when the abortion debate reached a fever-pitch in the 80's, when protests, marches, and violence from all sides raged.  Probably since the Vietnam war there had not been such a divisive and emotionally charged issue, and at the core was evidence of completely opposing world views.  "Peaceful" demonstrations didn't stay peaceful.  At the core of the struggle was the value of rights:  the right of a "woman to choose" or the right of a foetus (or an unborn child) to live.  Even the terms used in common speech were polarising.  I watched the tactics employed by groups on the right and left side of the issue which, for a large part, employed intimidation, manipulation, violence, parades, and volume to assert their claims.  If that is activism, I want no part of it.  Activism is as much about what you hate as what you fight for.  I do not see Jesus embracing any of these tactics to achieve political or social change, for He laboured for something far more significant and enduring:  the kingdom of God.

There are evidently many people who have embraced activism for social justice or political change as an outlet for their faith, and I see no reason to speak against this.  Yet it is important to note activism always has an end.  Should you ever achieve your desire, it is on to the next great cause.  As hard as people fought to make a change they must double their efforts to sustain it.  With the stroke of a pen all that people worked for and bled over can be undone.  What Jesus did through His active love, however, no one can take away.  He did not need to make friends of the Jews or Romans to achieve His purposes, for He answered to His Father in heaven.  He did not make any sweeping legislative reforms, end poverty, or homelessness, but He did free people from the curse of the Law, provide true riches of heaven to all, and promised an eternal home to all who would trust in Him.  I am convinced Jesus was no activist following a dream, but He was active in following the Father's plan for His life as He reached out to others individually.

Let's make 2019 a year filled with meaningful and fruitful actions in obedience to God for His glory.  We may not be able to change the hearts or minds of others, but may we embrace the changes God desires to accomplish in our lives.  It is alluring to think our efforts and the greatness of a cause will change the world or make it a better place, but without God that is impossible.  The social justice trap ensnares many who march into it, but those who walk in step with Christ are free indeed.