SAINTS AND SINNERS

 Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

               When I was growing up Halloween was just a fun event for children. We did not think ghouls and goblins were real, so it was all make-believe fun. In fact, our church often had a Halloween party in the basement of the church complete with costumes, games, food and candy. 

               Today, Halloween has taken on a much more sinister persona. Although many children see it still as a fun night to dress up and go door to door gathering candy, some adults have co-opted the evening for less innocent activities. The emphasis on evil spirits and witches has lent a satanic bent on the event. Secular people who laugh at the idea of a real spirit world, use the night for uninhibited revelry, often with negative consequences. 

               So how did this whole thing get started. Why is there a Halloween? The answer may surprise you. Halloween actually has its roots in the Church. Halloween falls on the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows Day, also known as All Saints' Day, on 1 November, and All Souls Day on 2 November, thus giving the holiday on 31 October the full name of All Hallows' Eve (meaning the evening before All Hallows' Day). These three days are collectively referred to as Allhallowtide and are a time for honoring the saints and praying for the recently departed souls who have yet to reach Heaven. All Saints was introduced in the year 606, but was originally celebrated on 13 May. In 835, it was switched to 1 November. On All Hallows' Eve, Christians in some parts of the world still visit graveyards to pray and place flowers and candles on the graves of their loved ones.

                "Souling", the custom of baking and sharing soul cakes for all christened souls, has been suggested as the origin of trick-or-treating. The custom dates back at least as far as the 15th century and was found in parts of England, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Italy. Groups of poor people, often children, would go door-to-door during Allhallowtide, collecting soul cakes, in exchange for praying for the dead, especially the souls of the givers' friends and relatives. Shakespeare mentions the practice in his comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona. 

                The custom of wearing costumes has been explained by Prince Sorie Conteh, who wrote: "It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. In order to avoid being recognized by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or costumes to disguise their identities".

                 Folklorist Kingsley Palmer has suggested that the carved jack-o'-lantern, a popular symbol of Halloween, originally represented the souls of the dead. On Halloween, in medieval Europe, "fires were lit to guide these souls on their way and deflect them from haunting honest Christian folk." In addition, households in Austria, England, and Ireland often had "candles burning in every room to guide the souls back to visit their earthly homes". These were known as "soul lights". 

                Many Christians in Europe, especially in France, acknowledged "a belief that once a year, on Hallowe'en, the dead of the churchyards rose for one wild, hideous carnival," known as the danse macabre, which was commonly depicted in church decoration, especially on the walls of cathedrals, monasteries, and cemeteries.  The danse macabre urged people not to forget the end of all earthly things." This danse macabre, which was enacted by "Christian village children who celebrated the vigil of All Saints" in the 16th Century, has been suggested as the predecessor of modern-day costume parties on this same day.

                With regard to the evil spirits on Halloween, "barns and homes were blessed to protect people and livestock from the effect of witches, who were believed to accompany the malignant spirits as they traveled the earth." In the 19th century, in some rural parts of England, families gathered on hills on the night of All Hallows' Eve. One held a bunch of burning straw on a pitchfork while the rest knelt around him in a circle, praying for the souls of relatives and friends until the flames went out.

                Many Evangelicals today want to distance themselves from Halloween, for many different reasons. I am not advocating for Halloween, but I think it can serve as a reminder to us of some truths we so easily forget.

                All of us have come to faith on the shoulders of those saints who have gone before us. The Bible is clear that every believer is a saint. The term saint refers to anyone who has responded to God’s offer of salvation and by God’s grace has been set apart for His service. It is all too common today for church members to be ignorant of church history in general and denominational history specifically. The danger of this is that we cut ourselves loose from the spiritual foundation upon which our faith is built. We begin to believe that our generation is the only one who understands the truth and that history has nothing to teach us. In that we are sadly mistaken. Many churches are in danger of giving up certain fundamental practices and beliefs because they don’t understand how and why they came to be.

                The writer of Hebrews stressed the importance of remaining connected with those who have run the race before us. In Hebrews 11, he goes to great lengths to remind us of our spiritual heritage. Then he begins chapter 12 with these words. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

                Another thing that we have lost as a society is our connection to family. Not just our immediate family, but to our historical family. We tend to live such isolated, independent lives that we give little thought to our personal history. Understanding where we have come from and what influences have shaped our lives is essential for being a whole person. None of us was born into a vacuum; we were all born into a family, warts and all. In the Old Testament, honoring and respecting one’s family and heritage was very important. The Jews kept meticulous records of family connections all the way back to the patriarchs. This was especially true for the priests and Levites. In fact, nestled in the center of the ten commandments is the command to honor your father and mother. This command extended well beyond the nuclear family.

                There is one other truth that Halloween should remind us of; the reality of the spiritual world, both good and evil. There is a whole spiritual realm of angels and demons that are actively involved in our world. We most often live oblivious to this reality. That does not diminish its influence. The Bible speaks often of God sending his angels to guide and protect his people. It also speaks of the evil spirits in the world that seek to do harm to God’s people. Paul reminds us of this in Ephesians 6:12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Paul goes on to tell us to take this seriously by putting on the whole armor of God so we can take our stand against such evil forces.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

               We often see ancient times and primitive societies as superstitious and backward. In our scientific age, we tend to discount anything that cannot be tested in some tangible way. But in many ways, those who we view as primitive were and are more in tune with the spiritual realities of this world than we are. We often deny what the Bible clearly teaches is a present reality.

                There are many inappropriate and even evil aspects to Halloween as it is observed today. There is also still an innocent, playful aspect as well. But behind it there is some spiritual truth. We are not on this journey through life alone. We are connected with our fellow travelers from the past, the present and the future.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

 

   

 

WHY SHOULD I?

 1 Peter 4:2 (NIV)

As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

               Anyone who has raised children or works with children has faced the persistent question of “why.” Children are notorious for responding to directives by adults with “why.” Much of the time they ask why out of curiosity. They really do want to understand. They want to know more about this world that we live in. Why is the sky blue? Why do birds fly south in the winter? Why do the leaves turn colors in the autumn? But there is another category of why questions that is more a statement of resistance or even defiance. Why do I have to go to school? Why do I have to go to bed at 8:00 PM? Why do I have to do what you tell me to do? One why is given with an open mind and heart. The other why is given with a closed heart and crossed arms.

               In the ancient world everyone believed in some god or gods. They saw the gods as having a direct impact upon their everyday lives. When they asked why, they were usually trying to understand why some misfortune had befallen them. There are many people today who do not believe in the existence of a god, in any form.  For many of them, when they ask why, it is a question of control. Believing that they are in total control of their lives, they ask “why do I need to believe in God?”

               From a human perspective, the question, why should I follow the directives in the Bible, is a real question. They see all that the world has to offer to them as positive and good. The world offers them fun, fulfillment, and maximum enjoyment. To them, the Bible is restrictive and archaic. Why should I live a life of self-denial when a life of self-indulgence is at my fingertips?  

               At the heart of this question is the existence of God. Not just any god, but the God who created and sustains all that is; things we see and things we do not see. If this supreme God does not exist, then I am free to live my life however I want to. But if this supreme God does exist, then I have an obligation to listen to what He has to say.

               Many people today see Christianity as only a moral code that does not mix well with our current world. If Christianity is just another moral code among many, then a person has the right to pick which code seems to fit their life the best. Unfortunately, the church has often presented our faith as a moral code to be followed. But by doing so, we have cut the heart out of the true message of our faith.

               If we want to really find the answer to the ultimate why question, then we need to start at the beginning. All religions teach that the world had a beginning. Even the majority of scientists today believe the world had a beginning. Christianity makes the case that the source of this beginning was God. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (NIV) As a part of that creation God made humanity. He made humanity not to just one more piece of His creation, but to be His special agents within His creation. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV)

               God created humanity is His image and give humanity the role of ruling as God’s representatives over all the rest of creation. They were to care for the earth so that it would be fruitful. They were to do this in partnership with God Himself. All of creation was to be blessed by God through humanity. But something went wrong.

               Adam and Eve were the first to ask the question why. God had given them free access to everything expect to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. One day Satan, in the form of a serpent, planted the question why in the mind of Eve. Why can’t I eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge? Isn’t having knowledge a good thing? Is God holding out on me? You know the result; she took of the fruit and give some to Adam and they ate. When their eyes were opened, they realized the mistake they had made, and our world changed forever.

               After sin came into the world, instead of caring for the world so that it would thrive, humanity began to destroy the world with violence, greed, and self-indulgence. This is the world we all live in. What God created to be perfect is anything but perfect today. But God did not abandon humanity. Instead, He made a way for humanity to be restored into a right relationship with Him and with our world. He did this through Jesus Christ.

               The Gospel of John takes us back to the beginning and sets the stage for God’s renewal plan.

John 1:1-5 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1:14 (NIV)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 3:16-17 (NIV)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

               God sent Jesus into the world to restore what was lost. He came to rescue humanity from itself; from its destructive, self-centered life. He came to open the door for humanity to again walk with God in peace and harmony. But this can come only through letting go of a person’s desire to control their life and in humility accepting Jesus’ control of their life. It is only as person recognizes their rebellion against God and genuinely repents and asks forgiveness, that they can be restored to full humanity.

               Let us return to my original question. Why should I live a godly life? Why should I not just live for today and grasp all the enjoyment I can? The answer is found in Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Living in relationship with God is life. Living without God is just existence. Living according to God’s will makes it possible to experience life to its fullest, without regrets and the negative consequences of sin. Jesus didn’t come to take away our freedom and restrict our lives. He came to set us free to really experience life. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)

               Watching football, I have been alarmed at how many ads there are for on-line betting sites. Each one promises big rewards for betting with them. What they don’t tell you is that their goal is not to give you money, but to take your money away from you. For every one who wins big, thousands more lose. Satan has offered the world the ultimate on-line betting scheme. He promises you the world, but his goal is to steal away your life.

               Setting my own course and living however I want to is opening the door for the ultimate thief, whose end goal is to destroy me. Living my life in relationship with God through Jesus Christ opens the door for me to experience life to the fullest.

               So why should I live a godly life? It is what I was created to do. It is only by living according to God’s will that I can experience life to the fullest.

STAY FOCUSED

 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)

                We hear a lot today about distracted driving. Routinely, on my drive into the office, I see people absorbed on their cell phone while driving 80 mph down the freeway. Recently, the state of Michigan passed a law against the use of cell phones while you are driving, but people continue to do it. Old habits are hard to break.

                What we don’t hear about today is distracted living. As dangerous as it is to be distracted while you are driving, it is far more dangerous to live a distracted life, yet many people do. To be honest, we all do, from time to time. There are so many things that grab our attention and pull our focus away from what is really important. There are many good things that we give too much attention to and that distract us from living focused lives. There are many causes and conflicts that grab our attention, and in doing so distract us. And there are intentional efforts by some to distract us for their gain.

                Suanne and I attended a celebration banquet last night for Grace Adventures, a Christian camp (which happens to be where our son and daughter-in-law work). Throughout their presentation, they shared stories of lives changed through encountering Jesus at camp. But at the center of everything they said was their focus to impact lives with Jesus Christ. Although they offer a variety of activities and formats, all that they do is focused on that one goal; to impact lives with Jesus Christ.

                The early church was often distracted from their main purpose. In the church at Corinth, the church was distracted by a debate over who was their favorite preacher. The church was distracted by the cultural environment around them and what they could participate in and what they could not. They were distracted by making the use of spiritual gifts a competition. They were even distracted by a skewed concept of what it really means to love one another. Paul had to write to them and bring them back to the Gospel of Christ.

                Many churches today are distracted by a variety of things. Many of these are good things, but are being given the wrong place. Some of these things are harmful. They consume our energy and distract us from living out the Gospel in our world. We get caught up in endless debates and unending projects, and in the process, we lose our focus. The Bible warns us to not get caught up in these controversies that drain our energy and our resources.

                Paul instructed both Timothy and Titus to steer clear of endless debates and controversies. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-4 (NIV)
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9 (NIV)

                The writer of Hebrews challenges us to keep our focus on Christ. In Hebrews 12:3 he tells us that if we keep our focus on Christ, we will not grow weary and lose heart. I appreciate that, because I know what it is to become weary and lose heart. At one season in my ministry, I went through a very difficult conflict from within my church. It drained my energy and distracted our church from what we were supposed to do. It took us quite a while to regain our focus.

                Satan is working double time to distract believers from living focused lives. He does it by sowing the seeds of conflict within the church. He does it by overwhelming us with choices, each of which demands our time and attention. He even does it by offering us good things that keep us busy and distracted from the best things.

                Every day we need to take the time to reset and refocus. We need to seek to put things in their proper perspective and to never lose sight of Jesus. It is a battle to live our lives focused on Christ and His mission in the world. It will often put us at odds with those around us. But if we really want our lives to count for eternity, them we need to be vigilant and stay focused.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

 

               

ARE WE RESPONSIBLE?

 Romans 14:12 (NIV)

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

               It’s not my fault! We have all heard that phrase used to excuse some action that a person has taken. Even though the freely made the choice, they do not want to be held responsible foe that choice. There is always an excuse for why they should be let off the hook. So, are we responsible for our choices? Or can we live our lives however we want, without the fear of facing the consequences?

It seems that we have a love/hate relationship with personal responsibility. As a society we want to hold people responsible for their actions. Many people are quick to make blanket condemnations of others who they determine have violated some standard. The public wants to hold the police responsible for their actions. Scientists want to hold humanity responsible for Climate Change. We all want to hold our leaders responsible for a down economy or rising costs. Yet, when the spotlight is turned on us, we do not want to be held responsible for our own actions.

               When it comes to the issue of personal responsibility, we are all culpable. We are quick to excuse our actions, while at the same time condemning the actions of others. Our actions are understandable, while others actions are inexcusable. We are living examples of Jesus’ parable of the man with the plank in his eye trying to remove the speck from another’s eye.

               Where the issue of personal responsibility really hits a snag is the idea of ultimately being held responsible for how we have lived our lives. Many people have bought into the idea that they can live their life whatever way they want to without being held accountable. When a person takes God out of the equation, then that makes sense, in a way. But we cannot take God out of the equation. The Bible makes it very clear that some day everyone of us will stand before God and give an account for our lives.

               We are created in the image of God, and a part of what that means is that we have the freedom to make choices. We are not robots, but free moral beings. This freedom to make choices is a great asset, but it also come with some qualifiers. We are free to make our own decisions, but we then have to own the consequences of those decisions. If we make wise and godly decisions, then the consequences are positive. If we make unwise or ungodly decisions, then the consequences will be negative. This is a fact that is in play right now. There are natural consequences to every decision we make and we don’t have to wait too long to experience them. Some consequences are immediate, while others take longer to develop, but we don’t have to wait until eternity to find out what they are. If we make bad decisions, we get bad results. If we make good decisions, we get good results. We might forestall the bad results for a while and we may have to wait for the good results to develop, but in the end what we receive will line up with our choices.

               Here is where this thing called personal responsibility comes in. We are quick to take credit for the good things we have done. We are not so quick to take responsibility for the bad things we have done. In fact, we will often do whatever we can to avoid responsibility. We blame others, society, or our genetics. To put it another way, we want the freedom to make mud pies, but we don’t want to have to eat them.

               Throughout the Bible we are told that God is going to hold us responsible for how we have lived our lives. When God called the people of Israel to be His chosen people, He told them clearly that if they followed His laws He would bless them abundantly, but if they disobeyed and went their own way, He would punish them. Ironically, more often than not, Israel chose to go their own way, then complained to God for being unfair to them.

               The Apostle Paul reminds us that a day is coming when we all will have to stand before God and be judged for how we have lived our lives. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) We are responsible for the decisions we have made and we will be held accountable. Therefore, we should live within that reality. How we live our lives and the decisions we make are important and they matter to God.

               We live in a world that acts as if there is no personal responsibility. People feel free to do whatever they desire. Few people think about the consequences of their actions. They approach life much like the government approaches the national debt; they just keep trying to push the consequences down the road. But one day the bill will come due.

               As followers of Christ, we have been called to live differently. We are called to take personal responsibility for our actions. When we sin, we own it and ask for forgiveness. We strive to live lives pleasing to God. We strive to make choices that are in line with God’s design for our lives. And we know that ultimately, God will reward us for our efforts.

Matthew 16:27 (NIV)
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

 

 

IS MY FAITH GENUINE?

 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

Matthew 15:8 (NIV)

                Do you ever question if your faith in genuine or not? This is a question I have pondered often through the years. At times when I feel dry or disconnected from God I wonder if my faith is real. My faith has been affirmed many times in various ways, yet that nagging question remains.

                The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were the religious elite. They dedicated their lives to the study of the Torah. They were obsessive about keeping all of the ceremonial laws. From the outside, they looked like they had it all together spiritually. If anyone was right with God, it had to be them. But Jesus didn’t agree.

                In Matthew 15, some Pharisees challenged Jesus about his disciples not following all of the traditions of the elders. Jesus countered their complaint by showing that they were willing to set aside what was written in the Torah in favor of their own traditions. Then Jesus quoted from Isaiah 29:13.

"'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"
Matthew 15:8-9 (NIV)

                Jesus’ pointed words remind me that it is possible to say the right things and do the right things and still not be in a right relationship with God. Throughout history, the Church, like the Pharisees, have added different rules and traditions to the scriptures. These rules have become the measure of a person’s faith and spirituality. If a person did not wear the right clothes, or use the right words, or conform to the right interpretation of the Bible, then their faith was called into question. In that environment, it was easy to become a “checklist” Christian. If I do these things and I don’t do these things then I’m in. God has to accept me. Faith became a matter of outward appearance and not of the heart.

                For many years I fell in the camp of being a “checklist” Christian. I was very legalistic in my views. There was a right way and a wrong way and nothing in between. I most often applied this to my own life, judging my faith by how well I was living up to the checklist. The outcome was that the question of the genuineness of my faith kept surfacing. Was I really placing my faith in Jesus, or was I just going through the motions. As I gained a fuller, more mature understanding of faith, I came to accept that my standing before God was not based on my performance, but upon what Jesus has done for me on the cross. The more I looked to Jesus, the less I depended on the checklist.

                The question, is my faith genuine, is a good one to reconsider regularly. For my faith can become stale and unproductive. The question is not am I saved, but am I genuinely living out the reality of my salvation. As Paul writes, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. I think even Paul struggled to make sure that his faith was genuine. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul hints at the spiritual struggle that he went through.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

                Paul did not want to stumble and fail just before the finish line. He wanted to make sure that his faith was genuine right up to the end. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he challenged them to examine their faith to see if it is genuine. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?
(2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)) Paul was telling the Corinthians and us not to be complacent about our faith. We need to regular test our faith to make sure that we are on the right track.

                I don’t believe that a person can lose their salvation, but a person can let their faith grow cold and be unproductive. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3, what we have done with our salvation will be tested by God.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)

                Is my faith genuine? I believe that it is based on what God has revealed in His word. My faith is genuine, but it is not completely mature. I still have much work to do to make my faith is what it needs to be. So I will press on toward the goal to win the prize in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)