IN THE GARDEN

 Philippians 3:10-11

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

                When I was a boy, one of my favorite hymns was “In the Garden.” The first verse sets the stage for the song.

I come to the garden alone.

While the dew is still on the roses.

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

the Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me

and He talks with me.

And He tells me I am his own.

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

none other has even known.

 

                When I was in seminary, one of my professors stated that He didn’t like that hymn because he felt that it taught bad theology. During this pandemic, that hymn has come back to me. It may express bad theology, from an academic perspective, but it resonates with my heart. It expresses an intimacy with Jesus that I have longed for all of my life. It is an intimacy that we all need more than ever right now.

                Since we moved to Michigan, we have been unable to connect with a church in a meaningful way. Recently, I was privileged to provide pulpit supply for a church. As I prepared for those messages, I was energized. As I gave those messages, I felt purposeful and alive. I was experiencing a connection with Christ that has been missing.

                The intensely individual expression of connection with Christ in the hymn can be dangerous. It can lead us into an unhealthy “just me and Jesus” mentality that excludes our need for others. But this hymn, for me, also kindles a deep longing to be close to Christ. It was a longing that Paul clearly expressed in Philippians 3. He summarized all of his accomplishments as nothing compared with knowing Christ intimately.

                Unless we are cultivating our personal walk with Christ, our corporate experience will be hollow. It will be based on feelings and uplifting experiences. We can unconsciously look to other people to fill the place that Jesus wants to have in our lives. Our focus can shift from Christ to what we can get from our fellowship with other believers. Genuine corporate worship is fueled by genuine personal worship. When Jesus called His first disciples, he didn’t call them into an organization or a group. He called them to follow Him.

                In John 1, we read about Andrew and Philip’s first encounter with Jesus.

                The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. (John 1:35-39)

                When Andrew and Philip asked Jesus about where He lived, they were really asking, who are you? Jesus responded with an invitation with spend time with Him. I think Jesus offers us the same invitation. As we go through our days, He invites us to walk with Him and to talk with Him. He invites us to know that He cares about us as individuals, not just as a number in the crowd.

                The corporate nature of the Church is an essential component. Throughout the New Testament we are instructed to connect with other believers, to worship together, to serve together, to impact our world together. We are the Body of Christ. At the same time, we need to know that Jesus values us as individuals as well. None of us is insignificant.

                One of the casualties of this pandemic has been relationships. We are isolated from one another not just physically, but socially and emotionally as well. But there is one relationship that this pandemic cannot touch. It is our relationship with Christ. With so many of the normal activities of life shut down, this is a prime time to head to the garden for walks with Jesus.

Romans 8:35-39

    Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

    "For your sake we face death all day long;

        we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

THE GREAT REVEAL

 

1 Corinthians 4:5

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 

                This is an interesting time of the year. As summer has given away to autumn and eventually to winter, a dramatic transformation has taken place. Things that have been hidden all summer by the lush green leaves of trees and shrubs are now being revealed. As I have been running on the bike path near to me, I have noticed a number of bird’s nests tucked into the crook of trees and shrubs. They were hidden all summer, but are now plain to see. I have also noticed several downed trees in our woods that have been hidden all summer. My new neighbor shared with me that an old enclosure made out of corrugated steel had become visible from his kitchen window. It was an eyesore that he is in the process of dismantling.

                During this time of the year, not only have things been revealed in nature, but in our society as well. During this pandemic, many of the things that have masked things in our society have been stripped away. What has been revealed is at times beautiful and at times not so beautiful.

                We have seen many people reaching out to help others during this difficult time. They have been exploring creative ways to bridge the gap caused by social distancing. There have been many expressions of love and compassion expressed toward those who are struggling the most during this challenging time.

                On the other hand, negative things that have been hidden for a long time have come to the surface. The social unrest and political rancor that we have experienced are only the most obvious reveals. In less dramatic ways, this difficult time has revealed the hearts of people.

                In contrast to acts of compassion, we have seen a rise in selfishness. Recently a restaurant here in Michigan chose to continue to offer in-house dining, in direct defiance of the government’s directives against it. When interviewed about this, some of the participants declared that no one has the right to tell them what they can and cannot do.

                This expression of selfishness is not limited to secular society. It has been revealed within the church as well. In a less blatant way, many churches have demonstrated their inward focus by refusing to abide by the government directives. At a time when the health department is pleading with people to avoid meeting together in large crowds, some churches continue to meet together for worship. At a time when the health department is pleading with people to wear a mask to protect themselves and others, some Christians are refusing to wear a mask. What these actions say to a secular world is that the Church doesn’t really care about the community. Their focus is on themselves.

                My wife saw a post the other day that brings this issue to a head. It read, if you are unwilling to wear a piece of cloth on your face to protect others, don’t talk to me about your Jesus. That statement should be a wakeup call to all Christians. What do our actions say to the world around us about our faith?

                None of us like the restrictions that we are faced with. Life would be easier if we did not have to endure them. But in the face of this pandemic, what is the biblical thing to do? Paul clearly answers that question in Philippians 2:3-4. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

                Jesus made it clear that He expects us to focus first on our relationship with God and then on our relationship with others. Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)

                Throughout history, it has been the difficult times that have revealed to true heart of people. Challenging times have also revealed the true heart of the Church. As Americans, we are quick to claim our rights, but as Christians we have submitted those rights to Christ. Our greatest obligation is to live our lives in such a way as to reveal Christ within us. The question we all need to ask ourselves is, during this difficult time, what is being revealed in my life?

1 Peter 2:12

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

TO COMPLY OR NOT

 

1 Peter 2:13-14

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 

                This past Sunday Michigan’s Governor and State Health officials issued new restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19. One of those restrictions was the prohibition of indoor gatherings for the next three weeks. That prohibition placed me in an awkward position. I was scheduled to preach next Sunday at a local church. Gathering for public worship, although not specifically mentioned in the prohibition, would be in violation of the intent of the new directive. I chose to comply with the directive and opted out of the preaching engagement. I know that there are those who would disagree with my choice, but I believe I have a moral and spiritual obligation to comply.

                During this pandemic, many churches have chosen to defy the directives from the government regarding prescribed precautions. I believe that this has hurt the witness of the church. The government directives are not an attack on our religious freedom, they are an attempt to deal with a very serious health crisis. The directives apply to everyone. They are not targeting churches. When churches choose not to comply, it sends the wrong message to those outside of the church. It says that we do not care for the welfare of our community or our nation. It implies that we are above the law.

                There are times when the church must take a stand and defy those in authority. This is not one of them. Instead, this is an opportunity for us to influence our world in a positive way. Instead of resisting the current directives, we should be leading the way, setting a good example. I believe that we have a moral obligation to cooperate with those in authority, unless they are directly attacking the Gospel.

                Both Peter and Paul told their people to obey those in authority over them. As Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the faith, he directed Timothy to uphold those in authority in prayer. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4) Paul was telling Timothy to support those in authority, rather than resist them, so that the Gospel might go forward. I believe that Paul would tell us to pray for those in authority over us during these challenging times; that they would have wisdom and discernment to make wise decisions.

                In Romans 13, Paul specifically calls the church to submit to those in authority, even though at the time when Paul wrote that letter the church was being persecuted by those in authority. Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1-2) Notice carefully that Paul says that rebelling against those in authority is rebellion against God.

                Peter echoes Paul’s words when he too calls for the church to submit to those in authority. He makes the case that by submitting to those in authority we can have a positive influence in society. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. (1 Peter 2:15-17) Obeying those in authority gives us a platform to speak to our community. Resisting those in authority could lead to even greater and more targeted restrictions against the church.

                We are living in unprecedented times. Our nation is racked with social unrest, political unrest, and a global pandemic that is not going to go away anytime soon. The Church has an opportunity to speak into these situations; to be a calming influence. We hold the key to genuine peace and wholeness. But few people will listen to our message if we are viewed as belligerent and obstructive. It is time for us to set aside our pride and humble ourselves, first before God, and then before those in authority. If we will do that, we will win in the end.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 

A RANDOM WORLD?

 

Genesis 1:1

  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

                I have been reading Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Faith. In the chapter that I read this morning he tackled the question of the origin of life. Through a conversation with Walter L. Bradley PhD, he took a serious look at each of the current theories for the origin of life. Each theory seems promising at first glance, but upon further investigation comes up short of giving a definitive answer to the origin of life.

                At the heart of all of the theories about the origin of life is the concept of random chance. Somehow, given enough time, the inert elements of earth were able to organize themselves into animate life without the aid of any outside force. I want to take a closer look at this idea.

                Scramble is a word game that consists of a collection of letters that players use to create words and earn points. What are the chances that a person could create a single word by putting all of the letters in a bag, shaking them, and pouring them out onto the table? If you did that, the letters would land in many different ways. Some of the tiles would be upside down and so the letter would not be visible. Some of the letters would be upside down and others would be right side up. It is possible that, if you did this multiple times, a single word might be formed; that the letters would land side by side in the right order without your help. But what are the odds that when you poured out the letters that they formed not a word, but a complete sentence. The odds are so astronomical that no matter how many times you poured out the letters it would be virtually impossible. Remember, you cannot rearrange the letters in any way. All you can do is pour them out. Now here is the real heart of the problem. If all of the letters are in the box, what is the chance that they, on their own, would form even a single word without your help? That is the problem with all of the current theories of the origin of life. Each of them requires some outside force to move the pieces into place.

                God has designed our world to point to Himself. He has created such complexity and diversity that cannot be explained by random chance or chemical reactions or radiation from outer space. The world in which we live demands a creator; an Intelligent Designer. As Paul states it in Romans 1:18-20, The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

                I need to address one point that tends to muddy the waters for many people. It is the difference between micro-evolution and macro-evolution. Micro-evolution is what Charles Darwin observed and wrote about. It is the gradual adaptation of a species within that species. Micro-evolution is a fact that can be observed and verified. It is a part of the mechanism that God put in place to sustain life on planet earth. Macro-evolution is the idea that all life evolved from a single cell organism. That over time and through random chance, life on planet earth gradually changed into all of the diverse creatures we now see on earth. This is a theory that cannot be proved and that has no basis in what we actually see in our world.

                In general, our world moves from order to disorder; not the other way around. Mutations usually have negative effects, not positive ones. And no one has ever been able to demonstrate conclusively the mutation of one species into a completely different species. Adaptation within species is an observable reality. Microbe to man evolution is an impossibility, no matter how many billions of years are given.

                All of this to say that we do not live in a random world, but in a well-designed, well-tuned world that has been created by God for our benefit. If we will open our eyes, the diversity and the complexity of our world point us to God. If we refuse to allow God to be in the equation, we are left with darkness; an unanswerable question that the more we explore, the more confounding it becomes.

Psalm 19:1-4a

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

 

RESPONDING TO JESUS’ VOICE

 

John 10:3-4

The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

                 The other night I was watching a TV show called “Death in Paradise.” In one scene, one of the police officers called to a young boy who was selling sunglasses on the street and immediately the boy ran away. In another scene, that same police officer called to his partner in a crowd and they moved toward their colleague. The question is, why did the two people respond differently. In the case of the young boy, he assumed, incorrectly, that he was in trouble, so he ran. In the case of the colleague, they knew the other officer and responded positively.  

                In a similar way, this is how people respond to God. Many people see God in the same way that young boy saw the police officer. When God calls to them, they run away because they assume they are in trouble. The young boy was selling knock-off sunglasses. Knowing that that was wrong, he ran away. The Gospel of John tells us that that is how many people respond to God. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (John 3:19-20) We have all found ourselves in that position. When we have done something wrong, we do everything in our power to keep from getting exposed. We will avoid contact with others and hide our actions. We try to do the same with God.

                On the other hand, when a person has developed a personal relationship with God, they respond to His call in a positive way. As John says, “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:21) Having a relationship with God through Jesus changes the way we respond. Even though we may have done something wrong, we still have the confidence to approach God. Our relationship, which is based on God’s unfathomable love, negates fear. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18) We know that God is willing to forgive us and restore us if we will come to Him. If we try to hide from Him, we will continue to carry our guilt and shame. We will live in the darkness of unforgiven sin.

                In John 10, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. He talks about the relationship that He has with His sheep. He knows His sheep by name and they know His voice. Those who have a personal relationship with Jesus respond to His voice. They know that the shepherd wants what is best for them. They trust Him to lead them into safe pastures, to provide for them what they need, to protect them from harm. But the person who does not have a relationship with Jesus responds to His voice in fear. For them, Jesus is a stranger and so they run away.

                In the scenes from “Death is Paradise”, the young boy responded in fear because the police officer was a stranger to him. The other officer responded positively because the officer who called to him was a friend. How do you respond when Jesus calls your name?

John 1:10-12

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

 

HAVE WE MADE SCIENCE OUR GOD?

 

Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the Lord.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

                I am not anti-science. Actually, I have loved the study of science all of my life. When I was a boy, I had a microscope set and I used to do “experiments” on my own. I remember going to the store and marveling at the science equipment for sale there. That interest in science led me to get a degree in biology and in Medical Laboratory Technology. While at college, I was the most engaged when I was in the biology lab doing some experiment.

                Unfortunately, many people today have allowed science to replace God in their life. During this contentious Presidential campaign, the Democratic party has used the phrase “look at the science” as a rallying call. I understand the context in which they are using this, but what underlies it is an unwavering faith in science as the end all be all of life.

                When it comes to faith in God, many people retort with “look at the science.” For them, science has replaced the need for God. Science can or will soon explain everything. At least that is what people like Richard Dawkins want us to believe. “Look at the science” is a call to look away from God. Secular scientists today will look for any explanation to an issue except the supernatural. They refuse to even consider that there might be a force outside of our control that is ultimately in control. Some of these people are even willing to consider that aliens from another planet are the cause of some things, but unwilling to consider that God might need to be in the equation.

                I believe that God is the God of science. Our ability to examine, explore, and explain our world is all part of being made in the image of God. God gave us this ability, not so we could figure things out on our own, but to make us more aware of Himself. In the past, science has led to a greater awareness of and awe for God. Science has been given to us as a gift from God. As it says in Colossians 1:15-17, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. John echoes Paul’s words in John 1:3. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. Science is not our enemy. It is a gift from God.

                Satan has commandeered this amazing gift from God and twisted it into something else. In reality, it is just another version of his temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden. He told them that if they eat of the fruit of the tree, they would become like God. Now he has convinced many that if they put their faith in Science, they will become God. Science can explain everything. Science is the way of the future. Science eliminates the need for God.

                God is not shaken by this turn of events. He still uses science to awaken people to Himself. But He also confounds those who place their faith in Science. Paul addressed this in 1 Corinthians 1. 

    For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

    Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

                Science is an amazing tool that God has given us to explore and understand our world. But Science is a horrible god. It fosters human egotism, which leads to a rejection of the God of creation. We need to utilize science to the best of our ability, but we need to beware of letting the gift of science take the place of the Gift Giver.