Here We Go Again

Here's my notes from yesterday's sermon. You can listen by clicking this link (mp3).

It’s been an interesting week, a historic week. The first time this church had an interesting, historic week was the week of its founding, in January of 1870, 140 years ago. Here are a few words from the church’s history:

While it is not possible to judge how accurate and objective the minutes were, it appears that the proceedings were self-assertive and frank.

There was a dispute at the organizational meeting of this congregation… and I quote “There arose a most unpleasant controversy… According to early members who recalled this incident in later years, the disagreement was called by dissidents who were opposed to being bound by Lutheran confessions and practices… But these persons withdrew from the meeting and ‘peace and unity prevailed.’”

When difficulty and disagreements arise, we should not panic! We should simply say “here we go again.” The God who brought the congregation safe through discussion and disagreement and division in the past—that same God will be faithful today.

And it’s clear that none of this begins with us or with our church. The scriptures assigned for today speak the truth about a complex and difficult road, but a wonderful road—the road of faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let’s first look at the scripture from First Kings—when I first read this I thought it was Elijah’s retirement! Elijah had been depressed and hiding in a cave. He’s hiding because he’s gotten in huge trouble—and he’s in trouble because he’s been obeying God.

He is depressed and in hiding… he goes in God’s strength for forty days into the desert of the Sinai peninsula… he goes to a mountain where he experiences wind and earthquake and fire… and finally hears the whisper of God’s voice. This is in First Kings 19:9 and following—page 320 in the church’s Bibles…

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” says God in verse 9… Elijah is up far away from everyone else, hiding in a cave. Have you felt like hiding lately? If so the Word of God come to you in your hiding place? What are you doing here?

Elijah answers honestly—I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL HAVE FORSAKEN THY COVENANT, THROWN DOWN THY ALTARS, AND SLAIN THY PROPHETS WITH THE SWORD, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.

And then the reading for today begins with verse 15.

What happens next looks like a retirement story. The Lord tells Elijah to do what looks like is going to be the wrapping up of his work. He’s to go anoint a couple kings and to “anoint Elisha as prophet in your place.” It looks like Elijah’s retirement.

But it’s not. Elijah actually continues his ministry, standing up and witnessing to the one true God—except now he has Elisha by his side as an assistant. When Elijah is so depressed—that isn’t the end… God strengthens Elijah with his Word and sends him out to do many things like he has done before. Here we go again.

And something similar happens in our gospel with Jesus.

Luke 9:51-62. Like Elijah, Jesus is standing up for a particular, specific TRUTH. Jesus is not someone who always gets along with everyone. People are leaving his meetings all the time. It’s clear from this passage that it’s important to be kind and not to call down fire from heaven on those you disagree with. It’s important, as it says in Galatians 5, to love one another and not “bite and devour” each other… but that doesn’t mean just saying every opinion is alike.

That wasn’t true for Elijah and it’s not true for Jesus Christ himself. When we have disagreements about truth, we ought to sigh and say “Here we go again…” and trust God to bring us through.

When we are dealing with matters of truth, there are going to be disagreements. It’s just how it is. It’s important to make sure that what any of us are standing up for is supported by God’s Word, but the mere fact that there are disagreements should NOT be surprising! It’s simply a time to hold even tighter to God’s hand, and in a sigh to deep for words---in a sigh that says “Here we go again” pray and pray… and ask God to bring us through.

There are many times in scripture that God’s Word divides.  That is why the Word of God is called "the sword of the Spirit." There are many times that God's Word does not unite. We ought always to be kind and gentle with one another, we ought to be way more sad than angry, we ought to LOVE those we disagree with no matter what, but that still does not always bring us together. Oh, Lord, we pray you will be with us as here we go again.

The gospel for today shows how hard it is to follow our Lord. Many times what we do will seem harsh and uncaring. When Jesus speaks to his followers he says things that seem very harsh today. There are deeper reasons for what he says in verse 60 for example, and in verse 62, but those reasons do not take away the fact that following Jesus usually, normally, time after time, it is hard. So we cannot claim that those who are “upset” or seemingly divisive are wrong simply because the things they bring up are difficult to handle. Everything will not always be peaceful on the surface or even way down deep—at least not until we reach the kingdom of God.

Why?

Why are these things of God so important that it’s worth it anyway, even though there are divisions—I mean, the words of Jesus to those who would follow him are not all that peaceful!

Why is it worth it?

Early this morning I heard a message by Pastor Mark Larson on the radio. He compares what Jesus says to what first responders—fire and police and other emergency personnel—Pastor Mark Larson compares what Jesus do to what “first responders” did on 911.

Here I quote from Pastor Mark’s sermon:

Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." These words are very blunt. It seems perfectly reasonable and proper that a man be allowed to attend the funeral of his father. These words seem harsh. Why is Jesus in such a hurry when He calls to us, "Follow Me!"?

To answer that, put yourself in the big shoes of the first responders after the Twin Towers were attacked on 9/11. Huge plumes of smoke are rising to the sky. Many people have already died. . . . And it's raining . . . raining people, people who are forced to choose between death by fire or death by jumping out of the buildings a hundred stories up. The sirens of the fire and police vehicles howl and echo back and forth in the skyscraper canyons of the city. The first responders speed toward the task appointed before them. Many in the Towers have already died, but some people still need to be rescued. The firemen and the policemen set their faces toward the Twin Towers. Their eyes are fixed on this catastrophe; I don't think they could look back if they wanted to. They could not say good-bye to their families. There was nothing more important at that moment than the task of saving the lives of those still trapped in the Twin Towers.

What an important task, saving lives. Yet this pales in comparison to the task of saving eternal lives. The brave first responders went to save earthly lives. Jesus and those who respond to His words, "Follow Me" set their faces to save the eternal lives of those who are trapped in sin. . . It's still raining. . . Raining the souls of men being lost from our Heavenly Father's tender care to a hopeless, despairing eternity. So Jesus says, "Follow Me. Right Now! Don't look back!" That's the meaning of this passage of the Bible.

Because this church will do what it always has done—preaching and teaching salvation in Jesus Christ alone—there will be challenges and even divisions. But because Jesus is the only one who can save us and the world, let us say with confidence, even in the face of disagreement, “Here we go again…” and follow our Lord.

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I invite you who are reading this to join in our prayers from June 27, 2010.

Remembering always to give thanks, let us pray for the whole Christian Church and for all people everywhere. ...

We praise you Lord, for preserving for us the saving gospel of Jesus Christ alone. Continue to raise up, strengthen, and encourage all who speak your Word for the sake of the world, that many may be saved. Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, Master, many times we hide from difficulty. We panic when hard times come upon us. Remind us you are always with us, and come to us as you did to Elijah with your Word. Help us listen and believe. Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, Master, many times we seek retaliation and revenge. Too often we would like to see others suffer. But you rebuke us. You reject our self-righteousness. Help us, Lord, know what it means to stand with uncompromising truthfulness and total love. Fill us with compassion. Make it our goal to change every enemy into a friend. Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, Master, turn easy words of commitment into action. Eliminate excuse making. May the greater desire to follow you overcome all selfish desires. Give us ears and eyes to see those who are in need of your salvation. Give us a sense of urgency so we leave all else to follow you. Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

When there is stress or tension, turn our attention to you. you promise that you will not leave us for forsake us. Help us always trust in you and your Word. Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Bless and protect our youth as they are traveling and working for you in Montana. Give them a blessed experience as they bless others in your name. Thank you for Izabella Grace Bendorf. Bless her and her parents, Nate and Sarah. Grant your healing to Isabelle Mattson, to Jeff Barth, and to the many others who are injured or who are ill or in trouble. Send your healing balm upon all who are living with stress during these days. Give your peace and love to Frank Cruz and his family as they mourn his mother’s death. Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the poor and needy, for those with mental illness, for the institutions that care for them, for first responders and our military, that God would work in every situation. Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Others were invited to pray... then we continued…

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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Is It Possible?

Scripture says "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).  Even a rich man like me can be saved for the Kingdom of God.  Amazing Grace!

What about the possibility of keeping our local church together after Wednesday's congregation meeting?  This Wednesday evening there will be a meeting with a vote called for to disaffiliate from the ELCA.  Can we stay together and continue to work side by side?  Can God not do this?  What can stand in God's way?

Aside from the issue of hurt feelings and personal offense, which must be taken care of through talking with one another, confessing and repenting and forgiving... aside from that what is it that stands in the way?  And can some kind of agreement be reached?  Only with God--only according to the Word of God and by the loving spirit of Jesus Christ.

Tonight I attended a meeting of "Friends of the ELCA."  As I said to Pastor Eric Lemonholm, with whom I'm having a fascinating dialog, "I attended because I hope I am a friend, though not a happy friend at present."  I'm not happy with some deep issues* within the ELCA, but as I listened to what the "Friends of the ELCA" are saying, I find I appreciate some of the things they brought up: (1) The ELCA's support of those in need through organizations such as Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Social Service and (2) a general non-judgmental attitude of that allows people to continue to talk with each other and work together in spite of significant disagreements.

I came out of the meeting wondering what might be possible.  I know that some people from one side or the other have been reaching out to talk with others to listen and learn from each other.  I think that's helpful.  I don't think any accommodation that trivializes or demeans either "sides" concerns will work--the difficulty with "staying" in the ELCA is that the ELCA has decided to lift up personal conscience over what seems to me and others to be so clear--that the one blessing God places on sexual relationships is heterosexual in its essence. The difficulty with "leaving" is that we're not sure what that means, what kind of future affiliation(s) would work for us... though, because there are two votes that need to be taken to leave, we would have time to figure that out.  I know of some churches that took their two votes years apart!

What might be possible?  Perhaps some kind of "staying but protesting" can be arranged... or perhaps "leaving with support" -- that if we leave we could agree to to continue to fund ELCA programs that are most important to our "Friends of the ELCA."  Last week at church council I suggested that perhaps God might intervene and bring strong voices on both sides together for the good of our local church, to sketch out a possible future, or to postpone the vote for another time while such a future is imagined...

I can't control this and I haven't.  I will continue to pray and I hope you will too.  A 25 hour prayer vigil begins tomorrow at 5 p.m.  If you'd like to participate, please contact me or call the church office (320-286-5964).  It's only with God that any good comes--and that means prayer.

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* I've outlined some of the deep issues in the ELCA previously on this blog and now again in my dialog with Pastor Lemonholm--if you're interested let me know and I'll see if we can share our conversation with you.

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Meditating on God's Word

About a week ago or more a member of our church who has been a great prayer partner for me dropped off a photocopy of a devotional reading entitled "What the Bible Says about the Thrill of Obedience." It was read at staff meeting this morning by our office manager since the person assigned to do the devotion today was unavailable.

The devotional was deeply meaningful for me, especially because another prayer partner had texted me about being awakened at 4:30 this morning with a clear sense of God's direction for something he or she had been praying about.  He or she asked me to pray that God would confirm the word that he or she had perceived was from the Lord.  Perhaps God is confirming it through this devotion.

The devotion speaks of the Lord continuously moving us "through a variety of circumstances" as He works our His purpose for our lives.  Though we can never allow experience to override God's written Word in the Bible, as we live in submission to and in agreement with that Word we can pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us through all of our ups and downs.  One of the readings assigned for this coming Sunday confirms this also, as Elijah waited through wind, earthquake and fire to hear a gentle whisper (דְּמָמָה דַקָּה׃) from God (1 Kings 19:12).

The devotion we read this morning is based on Isaiah 31:21 -- see that verse in context below.

¹⁹ Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. ²⁰ Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. ²¹ And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it." ²² Then you will defile your silver-covered idols and your gold-plated images. You will scatter them like filthy rags; you will say to them, “Away with you!”

²³ He will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and grain, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. On that day your cattle will graze in broad pastures; ²⁴ and the oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat silage, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. ²⁵ On every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water—on a day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. ²⁶ Moreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, on the day when the Lord binds up the injuries of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

Here's the devotion about the thrilling adventure of obedience:

    '...God intended our walk of faith to be a thrilling adventure, motivated by our love for Jesus Christ.  Obedience is about discovering God, not about avoiding unpleasant consequences.  That is why John can say, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome" (First John 5:3).
    When we place our trust in the omnipotence of the Lord and act on His prompting, life becomes exciting.  We need not be afraid of the future because God already knows the outcome of our obedience--and we can trust His promise that He does everything for our good (Romans 8:28).
    Walking in faith is so thrilling because each step leads to a fantastic blessing from Almighty God. The Lord continuously moves through a variety of circumstances toward His overriding purpose for our lives. If we back off from obedience because of a mistaken desire for safety, we deprive God of the opportunity to demonstrate His awesome power in us. Small choices may seem insignificant, but they lead toward a lifetime of walking with God.
    As God's children, we should ask Him what He wants us to do every day. "What would you have me say here, Lord" or "What is the best decision now?" We must learn to listen to our heavenly Father and remain sensitive to the quiet voice that prompts us throughout the day. Isaiah says: "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or to the left."
    When we keep our minds attuned to Him, we will begin to understand the significance of some decisions we might otherwise barely notice. Ultimately the awareness will lead to a lifestyle of walking with the Lord and receiving His best for us.'

As you look to what is ahead of you--what is your next step of obedience?  Keep your mind attuned to God by meditating on His Word, and then ask Him to speak and confirm what He has said.

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God's Revelation Above Our Experience

I'm not sure how to write this in a way that will grab your attention.  I don't have any stories in mind and it's very late at night.  One thing, however, has become clear as I've been talking with people over the past few days, whether it's about church issues or their own lives -- It's always better to trust God's Revelation than our own experience.  Trusting our own experience, our own feelings or our own "conscience" will always get us into trouble.  That's why we need to bring our experience, our feelings, and our conscience into line with God's Word, centered in Jesus Christ, instead of the other way around.  Interpreting and applying God's Word is not "easy," but with the help of the Holy Spirit of God, which is given to those who trust Jesus and humbly ask for revelation, the Word of God can be brought to bear on every circumstance of our lives.  Don't fall into the trap of relying on your experience.  That's always a dead end road.  More later.

Added Sunday morning, June 20:  Interesting conversation going on over on facebook on this note http://www.facebook.com/stevekarl?v=app_2347471856#!/note.php?note_id=406213194823.  Joining facebook is free.

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Use The Keys

Second Samuel 11:25-12:14 and Luke 7:36-8:3 are assigned as tomorrow's scriptures... you may choose to read them to gain the most from what is shared here..

In several New Testament verses, Jesus speaks about "binding and loosing" and gives us about "the keys of the kingdom of heaven."  There are two keys. Both are given to every Christian.  In fact, we are given those keys when we first enter God's kingdom.*

Unused keys, however, don't free anyone.  My son Jonathan is just telling me now about how, last night at The Vault, he gave a message of urgency to the Christians there, pushing them to reach those who are still trapped and lost.  The KEYS need to be used.

What are the keys?  The first is Repentance.  God's Word comes to me and lets me know that I am trapped in sin.  The first key is used when I agree with God's Word about sin.  The second is Forgiveness.  The Word of God shows me Jesus, who died to pay my penalty on the cross.  I hear and believe and use the second key.  That sets me free. It separates me from my sin. 

The two keys must be used together, as Pastor Gemechis Buba reminded us on Monday.  One without the other will not work.

It is God's Word that puts the keys in the lock. The Word of God that we'll read tomorrow shows the keys in action.  God's Word comes to King David and he repents, saying "I have sinned against the Lord."  Then the prophet Nathan uses the second key:  "The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die."  Our Gospel reading pictures the gratitude of one who has been set free.

We will also meditate on Psalm 32:

¹   Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven,
    and whose sin is put away!

²   Happy are they to whom the LORD imputes no guilt,
    and in whose spirit there is no guile!

³   While I held my tongue, my bones withered away,
    because of my groaning all day long.

⁴   For your hand was heavy upon me day and night;
    my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.

5   Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and did not conceal my guilt.

⁶   I said," I will confess my transgressions to the LORD."
    Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.

⁷   Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble;
    when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.

⁸   You are my hiding-place;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

⁹   "I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go;
    I will guide you with my eye.

¹⁰  Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding;
    who must be fitted with bit and bridle,
    or else they will not stay near you."

¹¹  Great are the tribulations of the wicked;
    but mercy embraces those who trust in the LORD.

¹²  Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the LORD;
    shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

Truly God wants to set us free!  Come and hear God's Word.  Use the Keys to repent and receive forgiveness of your own sin, and then let God's Word speak through you to free someone else.  There's nothing better than being set free in the Lord.**

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* As an infant, I was baptized.  There are enough hints in the Bible about God's action in Baptism that I, and the historic Christian church, have come to believe that it makes no difference how much water is used or at what age a person is baptized.  When we first enter God's kingdom we are given the keys.  This is true whether we first enter that kingdom in baptism or, when we're older, in coming to faith and trust in Jesus and His Word (with baptism following.

**An excellent commentary on Psalm 32 by Kathryn Schifferdecker of Luther Seminary can be found at this Working Preacher link. In part, Kathryn writes:

...This psalm is a composition designed to teach one how to live well, how to live a happy and blessed life.So, how does one pursue this happy or blessed life? By confessing one's sins to God: "While I kept silence, my body wasted away...Then I acknowledged my sin to you...I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and you forgave the guilt of my sin" (verses 3, 5).Unrepentant, hidden sin causes grief, shame, and guilt. The sinner's body "wastes away," and his strength is "dried up," like a potted plant left too long in the scorching summer sun. There is no life or vigor left in him, and his secret sin eats away at him, mind, body, and spirit. God's hand is "heavy" upon him (verses 3-4).It is an apt description of the effects of guilt on a person......I recall a student of mine describing in class one day her relationship with her friends. She said, "Sometimes I tell friends something that I have done wrong, and they say, 'You are only human,' or 'You meant well,' or "That is an honest mistake,' or something like that. But what I really need them to say is, 'Yeah, you screwed up.' A friend should be honest and tell us what we really need to hear."The writer of Psalm 32 is, in that sense, a true friend. He does not offer platitudes. Instead, for those who truly know the depth of their sin, the psalmist offers a remedy: Confess! Pray! And God, who is faithful, will forgive your sin.That forgiveness is what leads to true joy. The one forgiven finds a "hiding place," a secure stronghold, in God. "You preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance" (verse 7). The forgiven sinner can "be glad in the Lord and rejoice." She can "shout for joy!" (verse 11). The sinner does not have to deceive himself or anyone else (verse 2). When he confesses his sin, God forgives, and he can start life anew. Such new life is what the psalmist calls "happy" or "blessed."For those who do not know or want to follow the "way" they should go, the psalm provides a vivid image: "Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you" (verse 9). There is no place here for stubbornness or ignorance. The discerning person will hear and receive the instruction the Lord gives, and will follow in the way of life...

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Spiritual Battle (part 4)

I'm surprised that I haven't gotten any negative responses on the many posts related to Spiritual Warfare since Time to Pray back on May 10.  When I started writing about this and even titled a few of those posts "Spiritual Battle" (part 1, 2, 3 and now 4) thinking it might provoke some discussion.  I know there are some readers out there.  There have been a couple positive comments; over on facebook (username "stevekarl") there have been some comments and "likes," but, mostly it's been silence.  Maybe people are just taking it all in.   Maybe this topic just makes people's eyes glaze over.  Who knows?

There's a spiritual battle going on in Second Samuel 11:25-12:14. (We'll be reading this on Sunday.)  In this story, King David's soul is lost.  He took beautiful Bathsheba for his own pleasure, conspired to cover up his adultery and effectively killed her husband, the loyal soldier Uriah.

By doing this, David betrayed the purpose of God.  God had raised him up from obscurity and gave him power and influence so others could be blessed with him as their king.  Instead, several times, and most notoriously in this incident involving Bathsheba and Uriah, he uses his power to pursue advantages for himself.  When he did that, he was lost.

But God loves lost souls.  To rescue them, God prepares spiritual warriors.  The principle spiritual warrior is God the Son himself, Jesus Christ.  In the case of King David, the warrior is the prophet Nathan.  Equipped with God's Word and divinely inspired insight, Nathan disarms David.  The misuse of power was David's downfall--but David still knows right from wrong.  Through the prophet God presents David with parable.  The parable tricks David into pronouncing judgment on himself:  "The man who has done this deserves to die."

Spiritual warfare makes us face the truth.  It's not pleasant, but it's good to be real, to have our fake, false façades demolished.  Like the Velveteen Rabbit, we might ask "Does it hurt?"  Of course it hurts.  The Word of God lays us bare and makes us face what we do not want to know as sinners: the truth. But, like the the wise "Skin Horse" character in the Velveteen Rabbit story knows, "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."  It's good to be Real.  It's good to face the truth.

In the story of David and Nathan, God wins!  David surrenders with these words: "I have sinned against the Lord."  Because David surrendered, he is known as a Bible hero.  Because he surrenders to God, he is a hero, even though his life is riddled with sin.

When God comes at us, it's always good to give in.  That's how God saves our souls--by defeating us, by breaking us, by not letting us escape--by making us be "Real." And then, because of what Jesus has done, by taking our sins on himself, we are given a priceless gift in exchange--forgiveness--full and free.  We do not need to carry our past sins anymore.

So, let me ask: What in your life is a "spiritual battle" right now?  How is God not letting you escape?  How is God pursuing you with his Word?  Let him win!  Even if it hurts, it's worth it!  God's future, God's reality--It is so good!

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An Open Minded Church

Yesterday at FaithLift my daughter Naomi and I were privileged to hear a Bible Study on Luke 24 mostly focused on verses 42-49.  Pastor Gemechis Buba spoke on the Biblical Understanding of Open Mindedness ("διανοίγω τὸν νοῦν") as found in Luke 24:45 where the resurrected Jesus opens the minds of the first church assembly.  That first assembly was divided--not over issues of sexuality but over the question of whether Jesus was truly resurrected from the dead or not.  It was not experience that settled the question, it was the Scripture--the Written Word of God.  Here are some of Dr. Gemechis' points:

1. An Open Minded Church Subordinates Experience to the Word of God.
2. An Open Minded Church Believes in the Theology of the Cross.
3. An Open Minded Church Has Faith in the Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
4. An Open Minded Church Proclaims Repentance and Forgiveness--not one or the other but BOTH.
5. An Open Minded Church Is A Community of Witnesses - We are not "actors" who "do" God's will as much as we are paying attention to what God is doing and saying "Look at that!"
6. An Open Minded Church Is Open to the Promise of the Holy Spirit--not just the head knowledge of believing.
7. An Open Minded Church is Positioned for Persistent Prayer.

I'll try to write more later.  Peace to you in Jesus' name.

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The Third Floor

Here's a first draft of my sermon for Sunday, June 6.  The scriptures for the day can be found by clicking here.  There is a link for the audio at No Other Aid.

Most of us... or at least many of us who are together enough to get together in church today... most of us are getting by pretty well.  Honestly.  If our lives were falling apart chances are we wouldn't be getting together with a group of well behaved people like this.  Many times I've heard about how hard it is for some to come to church because they're afraid that they might cry, or because they might stand out from the crowd.  I long for us to be a church where it's okay to be real.  Because when we're real, and when we do cry out to God or fall apart or plead for mercy, that's when we will truly know the reality of God.

Today we're having an open house over at the parsonage.  You're all invited over this afternoon between 3:30 and 8:00.  It's a celebration for Jonathan and Nga Sin and Haneul,  Our graduates.  Congratulations to them and to each one.

But you know something about our open house?  It's not really an open house.  There are some parts of the house that you won't see.  It's the first floor that's open.  Oh, and you can go down and play ping pong.  The second floor and the third floor, they're not really part of the deal.  Especially the third floor, our room, the attic.  I don't even think I picked up my socks.

So what does all this have to do with the "supernatural"?  And what does our open house have to do with the scriptures?  Let me try to explain.  These things really do fit together.

What we usually do at church, and what we usually do in our every day lives, at least what we do out in public, it's like our open house on the first floor.  The place is pretty clean.  We'll greet you with a smile.  There's food and punch and they're be lots of smiles.  It's a great house and we're very thankful to live in it.  But please don't look in the closed rooms!  And don't go up to the third floor.

The first floor of our house, and most of what happens here at church on any given Sunday, it's what we might call the public or the "physical" world.  Most of what you learn about in school is first floor stuff.  Stuff you can see.  Math, reading, science, music, art--there may be deeper meanings to these things, but most of what we deal with everyday is in the physical world.  And, in order to get along well in this world, we try to behave ourselves.  We ask "how are you" and expect people to say "fine."  That's the first floor.

But there's a second floor to life.  It's stuff you can't see.  You can't see what I'm thinking right now.  You can guess, but you don't know.  The second floor is what is going on in your brain and mine.  It's our feelings--our real feelings--our thoughts--our real thoughts--not just what we SAY we're thinking or feeling.  The second floor is a more personal place.  It's not open, usually, to just anyone.  Some of us are more open with our second floor than others.  Some of us have an easier time letting it out.  I'm an extrovert.  Pretty much, with me, what you see is what you get.  Others have themselves more together than me.  Sometimes, I'm kind of a mess.

That's the second floor.  That's the area of psychology and counseling and psychiatry.  That's the place for deeper personal relationships.  It's not always clean and not always quiet.  It's often a place we go when we just can't keep it together.  I would hope and pray that you know the church is a safe place for you to fall apart--but you may not be able to do that here when everyone is all together.  That's why we've got a prayer room set aside.  That's why Nate and I have our offices--often, those are places of tears.  The second floor.

And from that floor there's a doorway to another place.  The first floor is the physical universe, the second floor is the place of thinking and feeling, and the third floor--that's the place of the spirit--the place where there's not usually a direct connection with the physical--it's the place beyond the physical and intellectual and emotional--it's the place described in Second Corinthians 4:18--We fix our attention, not on the things we can see but on the things we cannot see--for the things we can see are temporary--but the things we cannot see--they last forever.

In the beginning--before the beginning actually--all there was was the third floor.  I know that's a strange thought, but it was from the spiritual place, from the place beyond the physical, it was from that place that God--God is the original inhabitant of the third floor--it was from the spiritual that God spoke "LET THERE BE LIGHT!"  It was from the third floor that God created all the stars and planets and our earth.  It's from the third floor that God breathed into you the breath of life.  And it is that third floor that hears us when we cry out to God in Jesus' name.

In our two desperate Bible stories--in our two desperate Bible stories from First Kings 17 (17-24) and Luke 7 (11-17) we have widows--one probably in her 20s and the other in her 40s--we have widows who have had such devastating losses that they can no longer behave themselves.  The first woman, in First Kings 17--she says--probably yells--or cries--What have you got against me, o "man of God" (that's sacrasm)... What are you doing?  Are you just here to tell God about all my sins and to make my son die???--and... in Luke 7--there's a funeral going on and people are not being quiet.  There is weeping--deep, heart rending cries--this woman has lost her only son.

These women--centuries apart in time--they are the same.  They have left the first floor of the facts--there sons are just dead and nothing can be done--and they have moved up to the second floor--crying--angry--devastated.  They would not fit any more in our church service--I wish our church was a place where people could cry without shame--right here... because when people move from the first floor where everything is organized and sensible--and when they move up desperately to the place where they just can't handle it anymore--then there seems to be access--access to the third floor--access to God--from whom all good things come--and for whom NOTHING is too hard.

So what happens in these stories?  In these stories God hears!  Elijah carries the boy in the first story.  He carries the boy literally to the second floor of the house where he was staying--to a private place--and he CRIES to God--"O LORD MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS?  Have you brought disaster even upon the widow I'm staying with?  KILLING HER SON?"  In desperation he lays himself down on the boy's dead body.  I don't know why.  What people do when they are desperate and in tears doesn't often make sense.  He lays himself down on the body three times and cries "O Lord, O my God, LET THIS CHILD'S LIFE RETURN!  Let him LIVE!"  And, listen--listen what happens as Elijah is up there on the second floor of the house:  The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived...  Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother.

My friends, for some reason it seems necessary to leave the first floor of propriety and "put togetherness" in order to get desperate--and when we do that's when we can see God--or at least see God at work--at least know the power of the Most High.  But as long as we're down here, on the first floor, where everyone is put together, where we're handling things on our own, is it any wonder that we wonder about the reality of God?  Truly, it's when we're desperate, when we know that we can't handle things on our own, that's when God, the highest of all higher powers, that's when God can be seen.

I don't think we should ever be ashamed of moving from the first to the second floor.  There are plenty of reasons to do that.  There are so many who still do not know God.  There are so many who, instead of crying out to God, are just going down in the basement to be entertained, or who are crying down there all alone.  We have a task to carry people, to carry them in prayer, to carry them in love, to bring them to the Lord and to never give up, even, and especially when it looks like everything is desperate, even when it seems everything is lost.

But you know what is the most amazing thing?  God hasn't been content to stay up there on the third floor, listening for our cries.  He has chosen, through his Son Jesus, to come down to the first floor, to live with us in our every day lives, to party with us and to share life with us.  And, through his Holy Spirit, to live in with us in our private moments of tears and joys and thinking, revealing God's truth.  God doesn't wait for us to come to him, he comes to us.

That's what we experience today in the Lord's Supper and through God's Word.  God comes down to us through these physical forms, in the bread and wine, in the physical sounds that reach our ears, and he comes to us to touch us and let us know that even when we are holding it together, even when we are able to hang onto our composure, even if we never fall apart or see a miracle, that he is still with us, that he still loves us, that he gave his life for us at our worst, that he will never abandon us, even at the moment of our death.

Truly, God is faithful.  Truly, God is love.  We do not need to be afraid.  Go ahead.  Collapse in God's arms.  He will carry you.  And, in the end, he will raise you from the dead, in Jesus' name.

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Spiritual Battle (part 3)

As I've been reading through the battles of Joshua, I recognize this truth:  The key to success in spiritual warfare is surrender.  Surrendering to God.  Letting Him have his way.  Submitting to Him means success.  Resistance to His will means failure.  This happens over and over again.

This means, in the spiritual battles today, God's people never manage or manipulate or try to "run" things to ensure success.  If we rely on any human strength, if we rely on our own schemes and plans, we will fail.  Success never comes when we do things with power.  We surrender to God as we surrender to His Word.

So we pray, pray pray.  Tomorrow night we meet for prayer at 6:30.  It's the most important thing we do.  Submitting to God in prayer.  If we want God's Will to triumph in our lives, there is nothing else we can do.

We read from Psalm 119 tonight at Baccalaureate.  As we gathered with our high school soon-to-be graduates and their families, as we wish success for them, we realize that it only comes in submitting to the Lord and His Word.

Here's the Psalm:

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all day long.
⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is always with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for your decrees are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged,
    for I keep your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I hold back my feet from every evil way,
    in order to keep your word.
¹⁰² I do not turn away from your ordinances,
    for you have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through your precepts I get understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to observe your righteous ordinances.
¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O Lord, according to your word.
¹⁰⁸ Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord,
    and teach me your ordinances.
¹⁰⁹ I hold my life in my hand continually,
    but I do not forget your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I do not stray from your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your decrees are my heritage forever;
    they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹² I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.

Whether we are high school graduates or older or younger, when we do not conform to God's Word, we fail. We can debate any issue, but we must do so on the basis of God's Word, or we will fail. Success only comes in submission and surrender to the Lord through His Word--the Word as centered and known most clearly in Jesus Christ. I know no other way.

*REMINDER added Thursday, June 3 - "Spiritual Battles" are NEVER against other people.  The main "enemy" is our own fear and anxiety, and our own reactions to those feelings.

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To Be Lutheran

To be Lutheran is to believe God's Word.  To be Lutheran is to understand that the Bible has a center--a shining life-giving center--that is, the excellent good news of what God has done through Jesus Christ.  To be Lutheran, however, means we respect and hold that the entire Bible is God's Word, that we do not pick and choose which parts are worthy of our careful attention.

Lutherans understand that the Bible is an ancient book.  We know it takes work to mine its riches.  We know it deserves careful study.  We have, however, always believed that the Bible speaks with God's authority.  Those who say the Bible is simply an old book of ancient human wisdom are neither Lutheran nor Christian.  We are the people of God's revealed Word.  We do not make up or find truth (in regard to our relationship with God) on our own.

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The Word for Today

The following is today's devotional writing by Bo Giertz from the book To Live with Christ, translated by Richard Wood with Bror Erickson.  The devotion is based on John 3:16-21.

"That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

    The Gospel reading for the day after Pentecost begins with a verse that has been called "the little Bible." Many can recite this verse, sometimes without even knowing what it means.  Certainly they comprehend that God loves the world, but they let it go at that.  For them, the Gospel is the common truth that God is good and there's nothing to worry about; they will get to heaven in one way or another.
    Now that we have followed Jesus from His birth to His ascension*, we understand how faulty this thinking is.  The deep and serious problem is how to unite the fallen world and the evil in it with holy God.  The fact that God loves us doesn't matter.  There's something in our nature that creates an insurmountable wall of separation.  It could be broken down only by God giving His only Son, sacrificing Him, and letting Him die for our sins.  That is the only possible way for us to be restored to God.  It happens when we are united through faith with the only begotten Son, who died for us.  Therefore, whoever believes in Christ will not perish, but have eternal life.
    Without Christ we would be lost.  Not believing means belonging to a world that must perish.  It's not a matter of judgment that an angry God will pronounce on some of us in the future.  It's a judgment that is already impending on the world.  The reason for this judgment is the fact that evil in its entirety pursues a course away from God.  The world has said no to God, and persists in its no.  John says it presented itself when the light, Jesus, came into the world.  People loved darkness more than Light (John 3:19).  They don't want their deeds to be exposed.  They prefer to live without God, apart from God.  Unbelief means allowing evil to control and decide.  Faith means receiving the Light when it comes.
    This Light has shined forth since the first Pentecost.  We live in the time of the Spirit and the Church.  The Light has come to us too.  Here, there is a possibility of salvation, and the Spirit is sent to help us take advantage of this opportunity.

Come, Holy Spirit
you who illumine our hearts, and allow us to see the glory of Christ.  Come to Your Church and help it witness with power and joy about God's love, that drove Him to give His only Son so we would be saved. Let the Gospel be preached with power and authority, as joyous as it is, so everyone's eyes will be opened and everyone's hearts will be filled with a longing for your salvation.  Let Your Light shine in the darkness so we are drawn to the glory that shines forth from Christ's faith.  Holy Spirit, save us. 

---------------------------
*the Christmas through Easter seasons of the church year

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The Spirit of Truth

Here's a draft of tomorrow morning's sermon.  Not only are we recognizing high school graduates tomorrow, tomorrow is also The Day of Pentecost.  This festival has been celebrated since ancient times by the Jewish people as the "Feast of Weeks" or, in Hebrew, Hag ha-Shavuot, commemorating God's gift of the Ten Commandments and the harvesting of wheat.  It occurs 50 days (7 weeks) after Passover, at which time Jesus suffered, was executed, and rose from the dead.  The Christian account of Pentecost is found as chapter 2 of the New Testament book of Acts.  The assigned reading is verses 1-21.  We will also be reading Psalm 104:24-35; Romans 8:14-17 and John 14:8-27.

THIS is an important time.  High school seniors are graduating.  We're moving closer to the June 23 meeting.  And, this day, today, this is the actual day when, about 2,000 years ago, the Spirit of Truth came down on about 120 disciples, gave them courage and miraculous communication skills, and by that evening the church had grown by 2,600 percent.  And all of these things--high school graduation, our June 23 meeting and the explosive growth of the church--it's all based on Truth.  The truth we learn, the truth we know and the truth God gives us as a gift to the world.  This is an important time.  A time of Truth.  A time for the Holy Spirit of God to work within us, among us, and through us--not because we are anything special, but because we have been given the Spirit of God--the Spirit of Truth.

In our Gospel we have these words from Jesus:

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.  This is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

If my some miracle you can trust God's love, if you know the truth about yourself, that you are a lost sinner saved by Jesus, if you know who you are and the truth of Jesus' love, then the Holy Spirit of God's Truth has done his work!  By that work of Truth, you are born again!

It's a miracle because so often we avoid the truth.  We don't want to know who we are any more than we want to know just how much sludge and oil is pouring into the Gulf of Mexico.  We don't want to think about how our lives and our lifestyles indirectly hurt the creation and the poor of the world.  We do not want to remember how we have done damage through our pride, our stubbornness and our unwillingness to work out our differences in a peaceful and respectful way.  We don't want to know how much is hurts God when we fail to pray, when we fail to trust, when we gossip and try to control others.  But when God comes to us we come to know the truth--the truth of our damnable sin--and the truth of his far greater love.

And because of Jesus' love, we never have to be afraid of the truth.  That's what I'd like to say to our graduates this year.  You never need to be afraid of the truth.  Because God is the truth, and because God sends his Spirit of Truth, you never need to be afraid of your questions, you never need to hide your mistakes, you never need to pretend you are anything other than what you really are.  God knows all that.  God knows everything there is to know about you and God loves you just the same.  Let your minds expand.  Learn all you can.  Let your hearts be open.  Let God's love pour in like a river.  When you are hurting and wounded, come to a Christian adult who can pray for you and share this truth--God will always love you, no matter what.

I'd say something similar to the members of this church as we come up to the June 23rd vote.  You do not need to be afraid of the truth.  Let your minds and your hearts expand.  Talk with one another.  Learn all you can.  Don't come up to June 23 without doing some learning.  Think of that date as a test date for our church.  Not a final exam--this first vote on ELCA affiliation is not a final thing.  It is a first vote.  Disaffiliating from the ELCA takes two votes.  I think this vote is coming too soon because many of us just haven't learned enough yet... but our church council voted to bring this before the congregation a month from now.  There is no reason for fear, no reason to believe God will not lead us.  So take a breath, learn all you can, and come prepared for this first vote on the 23rd.  A letter from the council will be coming out to you shortly with the particulars.  In any case, hear Jesus' words: Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.  Be in prayer.  Pray for faith to trust God even at this time.

Finally--about that "explosive growth" of the church.  It is the Spirit of Truth that brought that growth.  If you read through the whole second chapter of Acts, you'll see how the Spirit of Truth made that happen.  The disciples had been in hiding.  For weeks they barely moved.  Then God came and made them change!  You never need to be afraid of God's changes!  When changes come that are in agreement with God's Word, we can let our joy just explode!  That's what happened to those disciples.  When God came they just let Him in.  No barriers, no walls, no boundaries.  God came and took them where they never expected to go.  God did that through signs and wonders, miracles and gifts of deliverance and healing--and, especially, through the Truth of the Word of God.

Peter was the spokesman.  He preached a sermon that we heard just a part of from Acts 2.  The sermon goes on to speak the truth.  We human beings, no matter who we are or when we have lived--our sins, whether we meant them or not, whether we know about them nor not--our sins were the reason Jesus died.  Those sins--those sins against the commandments God gave--You Shall Not Covet, You Shall Not Bear False Witness, You Shall Not Steal, You Shall Not Commit Adultery, You Shall Not Murder, Honor Your Father and Your Mother, Keep the Sabbath Holy, Keep God's Name Holy, Love God Above All--every time we miss the mark intentionally or unintentionally on those or any other of the commandments in God's Word--it's as if we put Jesus on the cross with each one.  Because Jesus is the only one who could pay the price for our treachery, for our disloyalty, for our treason against the one who loves us more than we can imagine.  But we never need to be afraid of that truth.  Accepting that truth, and preaching that truth, it opens the door for saving, freeing, precious grace.  Grace that never ends.  Grace that brings blessing every day.

When God's truth comes to us, we, like the people who heard Peter preach, we say "what shall we do?"  And, through Peter, and through this preacher today, you hear the same message.  Do not hide from God's truth.  Admit your sin.  Ask for his grace.  Give up your games.  Take Jesus instead.  Let God be your Abba Father.  Let Jesus be your savior.  Let us pray God's Spirit into you.  And then live in this new family--this new family of believers.  This new family of prayers and lovers and givers and forgivers--people who let new beginnings come over and over again--who never hold grudges--and who are never afraid.

That's the new beginning God has to give.  And that's the new beginning we can speak to every hurting, precious soul out there.  We let the truth be known.  The truth about ourselves--we never pretend we are good--only that we have a good God.  That's the truth the Spirit brings.  And when we speak that and live that truth boldly, when each of us takes our place in letting God have his way with us, I believe God will open the floodgates for a new beginning, a new beginning based on nothing but what the Spirit of Truth gives through the precious Word of God.

Jesus died for you.  Because of you and because he loves you.  And he rose again to give you new life.  That is the truth.  The truth that brings new beginnings.  And whether we're graduating, voting, or just going out to proclaim that truth to our neighbors, we never need to be afraid.  That truth is available for you today.

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God's Word Is Our Daily Bread

I picked up the book We Shall Live in Heaven at a convention this week.  It is Pastor Harri Haamer's testimony of faith, recounting his experiences in a Soviet slave labor camp.  One chapter is entitled "My Bread Is Thrown In The Trash."  I haven't finished the book yet but am totally enthralled with Pastor Haamer's story.  It is a testimony to the unfailing power of God's Word.

Here's part of the chapter I mentioned--this happens on July 19, 1948, just before Pastor Haamer is put aboard a railway cattle car to Siberia.:

The officer hands me over to a soldier, who orders me to take off my clothes right there.  The all-too-familiar thievery begins once again.  And yet, the only loot that this man with the red epaulettes gets from me is my wife's letter, my belt and my New Testament.  He orders me to read the letter and throw it away.  That is how I must say good-bye to my wife, tearing to pieces the letter that I have kept with me as kind of a talisman. He puts my belt aside and throws the New Testament into a garbage bin.

I turn to the soldier with a question that startles him, "Why did you throw my bread into the trash bin?"

"What do you mean--your bread?"

"Look, that book is my bread.  If I cannot read it, I will starve to death."

The Russian boy's interest is aroused. He retrieve's my New Testament from the trash bin and asks, "What kind of book is this?"

"It is God's Word."

"Then it's a Bible?" he asks. "But you're not allowed to take it with you."

"But if I ask you for permission, is it still not allowed?"

Apparently this soldier has his heart in the right place.  He stops a passing officer and shows him by book. The officer says, "All right, give it to him," but is suddenly seized by doubts, and takes my treasure to a table where several other officers sit. In the meantime, I have dressed myself once again and approach the table to sign for the things that have been taken from me.

My belt and my New Testament lie on the table.  Neither one is returned to me.  My belt is confiscated because I could use it to hang myself.  My New Testament is kept from me because I might use it to spread propaganda.

A haughty captain sitting at the table reassures me, "You'll get it back when we get there."

"But I'm asking you to give it to me now.  We may have a very long trip.  If I cannot read this book, I will die," I beg.

"Then write your name in the book. That way I'll know it's yorus, and you'll get it back when we get there," the captain replies stubbornly.

Once again I turn to him beseechingly.  "Please let me take the book with me. If you don't let me keep my book, you might as well not give me any bread at all."

"Go," says the captain darkly.

Leaving them very sadly, I turn around to look at them one more time. He calls me back, takes my book from the table, and gives it to me.  He grunts, "Take your book."

I thank him and bless him to the best of my ability.  Then they open the door of a cell filled with men...

Do we value God's Word?  Do we hang onto it for dear life?

Some from our church who have been feeling particular grief and turmoil during recent weeks and months have told me how precious God's Word and prayer have become during these days.

I know that is the case for me.  I don't ever remember searching the scriptures and praying so much as in the past few months.  I do not say this to brag in any way.  I just want to let the people of our church know where I find daily bread so they can find it too.

It is in times of trial that we learn what daily bread really is.

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Hearing God's Voice

"My sheep hear my voice." (Jesus in John 10:27)

Tonight I got an email from a member of our church who will be doing the children's message on April 25.  Everything we do in worship is guided by the scriptures, so I looked at what is assigned for that day (The Fourth Sunday of Easter) and the words "My sheep hear my voice" stood out right away. Picked up a bulletin from church and those were the same words printed on the cover.  Went over to the church member's home, planned the children's message in about 5 minutes flat, spent a little time with the husband and wife and was back at home in 45 minutes from the time I got the email.  And I did not feel like I was in a hurry.

Amazing things can happen when we are open to hearing God's voice.  I believe God is ready to guide us every day when we are ready to obey.  We get used to his voice by spending time in the scriptures and with people who are likewise immersed in God's Word.  As we read the Bible we focus our attention most on Jesus, striving to learn from Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  The Bible is a library, not a book, and it's good to start with the most important parts--Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  When we hear his voice often, we can recognize it also in the rest of the scriptures, and our spiritual ears and hearts are open to his call in the rest of our lives.

For the children's message on the 25th we'll have some parents speak while their children's backs are turned.  The children will recognize their parents' voices because they are used to them.  So it is with the voice of our Lord.  Spend time with Jesus in scripture, in friendship and in prayer, and you will recognize his voice more and more.

From the time I was a small child God spoke to me through my faithful, loving parents.  They taught me the heart of Jesus over and over again until it has just become second nature to me.  God gave me my wife to help and correct me, and her wisdom has often kept me from going off in wrong directions.  She was likewise raised with the voice of Jesus from her parents in her ears and in her heart.  Now, it seems, not a day goes by without hearing God's call. 

What experiences have you had in listening for and obeying God's voice?   How have you been trained to hear that precious voice?  Are you seeking guidance today?  How can we pray for you?  Comment or email me so we can share!

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Attention!

What deserves our attention?  How much time to we devote to the various demands and pressures we have on our lives?  Who will we obey?

I'm pretty much taking this day off but this evening found myself hungering for soul food.  So, because I have this most excellent job that forces me to study God's Word :-) according to a "lectionary" plan that I don't need to make up on my own, I was led to this coming Sunday's reading from Acts 5 that includes a debate between the then supreme religious authorities and some of the first Christian leaders (apostles).

In Acts 5, the religious authorities have arrested and imprisoned the apostles because they will not stop teaching in Jesus' name.  Their answer "We must obey God rather than any human authority" (or, in another translation, "We must obey God rather than men.") 

This is not an excuse to just go around doing whatever our hormones or emotions tell us.  Human authorities are normally there for our good (see Romans 13).  It's even good to just be nice and try to get along with others (Romans 12:18).  But, when it's clear, through careful study of God's Word centered in Jesus (that's important) that the authorities and human customs are just wrong, then we need to turn our attention away from those "earthly things" and focus our attention only on God.

And what a wonderful one to put our attention on!  God loves us with an everlasting love and gave his son so we might live forever with him.  So if we end up suffering because we obey God, whether it's ostracism or outright persecution, it's worth it.  Let "them" bring their worst!  The final victory belongs to the Lord.

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