I was struck by below verses presented in our sermon today.
Titus 3:1-2:
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,2 to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people.
I am reminded that there are those Christians who post on social media everyday about how they despise the government. These people are quarrelsome and I’m not sure what joy they get out of tearing those down who they disagree with politically.
Peacefulness for Christians is a frequent theme in scriptures. We are told, if at all possible, to live peaceably with one another (Romans 12:18). Fathers are told not to provoke their children to wrath (Ephesians 6:4). Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
I find sorrow in what my fellow Christians post on social media. There’s a certain cognitive dissidence for folks who believe their political opinions and social media posts are not at all incompatible with God’s Word.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Those are some of the few words spoken by Jesus on the cross. He is quoting Psalm 22. I had the opportunity to read through the Psalm and found it fascinating.
In just a few verses David predicts events in Jesus’ crucifixion.
Vs. 6 – 8. “..scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
Vs. 16b: “…a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.”
The amazing thing is that David had no knowledge of crucifixion, but predicted piercing of hands and feet in this Psalm.
And this one: v18: “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”
Again another prediction of the events surrounding Jesus’ death on the cross.
I seems to me that Psalm 22 is a forgotten Psalm. Growing up I never heard the predictions being read, but maybe only cross referenced in the gospels. When one looks at predictions of Jesus in the Old Testament they would go to Isaiah 53.
I find new things to find in the Bible each time I read it. I am so blessed to have rediscovered in nightly devotionals with my wife.
During a couples Bible study we discussed Matthew 8. Here we see two measurements of faith.
One we see the Roman centurion who asked Jesus to heal his paralyzed servant. But what was unusual is that the centurion said that Jesus would only need to speak the word and his servant could be healed. Jesus remarked that “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith,” – Matthew 8:10.
Then later on during a storm at sea, he told his disciples “Oh ye of little faith” when they feared the storm (Matthew 8:26).
Both of these instances provide contrast to the faith of two different groups of people. Ironically a centurion – an outsider to the religion of the Jews – was described by Jesus as having greater faith then even his own disciples who followed him into the boat.
It is interesting that Jesus choose to surround himself with people with little faith, after all “Those who are well have no need of physician, but those who are sick,” Mark 2:17.
When I was growing up in the youth group at church it was emphasized that we should pick mates that help you get to heaven. The bible backs this up in 2 Corinthians 6:14 when it said “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” Fast forward 10 years from those youth devotionals and Sunday school classes, and many of the Christians I grew up with did not marry believers. And I am left scratching my head wondering if they were listening to the same lesson I was listening to. Did they take into consideration when they started dating? Were they really thinking of the ramifications or were they just interested in the hear and now?
Every church has a few Christians, usually mothers, who attend church without their spouses and dutifully bring their children. Where are their spouses? Either at home or attending their own churches. I can’t imagine how difficult it is. My wife has been a rock to me, helping me see the spiritual side of things. She is helping me get to heaven.
In September 2018 I visited Copenhagen. During a canal boat tour the guide pointed out the ring on the tower of Nikolaj Contemporary Art Center (Danish: Nikolaj Kunsthal). It looked like a church. In fact it was a church.
The Wikipedia article states that St. Nicholas’ Church was one of Copenhagen’s oldest churches. The first Lutheran sermon in Copenhagen was preached there in 1530. However in 1795 it burned down. According to the art center’s website, the state was not in a financial position to rebuild the church and by 1805 it was no longer an official church.
So during my exploration the old town of Copenhagen I came upon it. In one portion of the church was a restaurant, and to my surprise neon beer signs lit up where stained glass should have been.
I peaked inside the church and saw the inside had been stripped and painted all white with comic book type characters.
Inside of Nikolaj Kunsthal
In the middle of an empty room I saw what looked to be trash pile. After research later on I found it really was some type of art exhibit. I could have gotten in with my Copenhagen tourist card, but at the time I didn’t know this. So Passed on it.
Imagine being in the audience when the first Lutheran sermon was preached in 1530, thinking that this church building would last for many years to come, but by 1805 it was gone. This was unusual because I’ve visited many medieval churches in Europe that still function as a church. This church was the first one that had totally changed the innards. And I was not impressed.
But looking back on it, it is not completely unheard of when church buildings change from their intended use. I can recall at least twice in my own hometown when this happened.
It’s not everyday that a church transforms into a doggie day care facility
In the 1990s, folks in the Mt. Juliet Christian Church probably never thought their own church building would be used as a doggie day care facility. But it had become this by 2019.
The same thing can happen in one generation. I’m talking about people, souls. If the older generation is lax in teaching the younger generation about Christian ideals, then their belief, just like these church buildings, can vanish away.
Is there a church cool kids club at church? Before we get into a popularity contest, let me explain.
There are certain ministries that do get alot of attention such as student ministry, vacation Bible school, and mission work. Those are always the ones posted on social media and written about in the bulletin. Then there are certain ministries that are more maintenance to the church that keep the cogs rolling but are rarely talked about at church. You wouldn’t exactly see a housewife posting selfies while washing baptismal garments.
It’s those people, usually introverts, who serve as background or extras on the church stage. Those introverts rarely seek out ministries. Rather they expect, in some instances long for, to be asked to take part in a ministry.
I believe there are these quiet introverts in all ministries. Even in the first ministry, with the twelve apostles how often do you hear about Bartholomew written about?
But then there is a possible fallacy, but in some instances, truth, that if you aren’t asked to be part of a ministry then it is a rejection. Even more so sometimes introverts are part of a ministry but then there are some “cool kids” (read people who are louder and more popular) who take away their ministry. It can be devastating.
I don’t think that those church “cool kids” understand introverts, or even make much of an effort to feel what they feel. Instead they kinda take them for granted, not knowing how not being asked to take part in a ministry can be a subtle rejection by a church leader to that person. That person might even feel it could be a salvation issue, i.e. not being good enough for a ministry and therefore being a bad Christian.
I hold alot of emotional baggage with ministries. I have been a part of ministries but then I was subtly asked (in one case threatened) not to be a part of ministries. It hurt…alot. I found myself becoming less involved at church due to this. Occasionally I look through social media posts on ministries that I was a part of and wonder what could have been had I not been rejected. It’s a mind game with myself. Here it is a ministry that is so much about being inclusive, and yet has rejected myself from being a part of it. Heartbreaking for myself and hypocritical for those doing the rejecting.
I’m going to be honest with you. Deep down inside I was really hoping the Tennessee Titans wouldn’t make it to the Super Bowl. And they didn’t. The reasoning why is because I didn’t want churches and their local leaders to be put into a compromising position of holding a evening worship service to a congregation who’s mind would be elsewhere…checking their phones on the score…. The alternative would be moving the worship time to before the game started, thereby putting the worship of God 2nd to the NFL.
My wife and I went to visit some dear friends at a gospel meeting at a country congregation about 30 minutes away. The inside marque said that last Sunday’s attendance was 35, and before the services started I saw that the attendance was doubled on a Monday night. Folks from at least 3 other congregations were represented there.
Within the suburban congregations that many of us (including myself) frequent, Gospel Meetings are somewhat of a rarity. The reason given for not having them, is that folks are just too busy to come to church on a weeknight (assuming other than Wednesday). What a shame! This little church that I attended tonight was such a blessing for my wife and myself.
But I do realize that Gospel Meetings’ original intention – that is to try to convert others – is no longer used for that purpose. Instead it is an opportunity for those within the fellowship to visit at other congregations and get to know friends and neighbors who go to neighboring churches of Christ….and perhaps to invite visitors in the area to come and hear the gospel.
We live in a bubble where there seems to be no cross fellowship among churches of Christ. No longer is there a trading of ministers or an area wide fellowship among churches, except for a summer faith series among youth. And I wonder how does it appear to those in denominational and secular circles that churches of Christ don’t fellowship among brethren much anymore. We seem to be too busy among our own ministry and getting enough souls to our own congregation to fellowship with those around us. We need to realize that for some people our own congregation might not be a good fit for the. Instead if they can find God’s word preached at another sound congregation down then it is just as good, if not better for them to attend there so as long the outcome is the same – that is heaven!
Back in high school I was certain (in my own mind) with my faith. I was even so much as subtly combative toward people who did not worship exactly like me. I can remember leaving pamphlets on my friends’ cars about acceptable worship being only acappella music. This of course did not sit well with my Methodist and Baptist friends, all of which went to churches which used instrumental music in worship. We had some talks and debates about it, none of which really solved much.
One thing that I did remember was that my Methodist friends were very attached to their reunion groups formed after their Chrysalis experience.
Chrysalis is self described as “a three day spiritual weekend [which] provides an opportunity for young Christians to learn more about faith, to experience Christian love and support, to worship, to pray, and to freshly understand what commitment to Jesus looks like through discipleship and fellowship with God.”
From what I gather Chrysalis was a life changing weekend for some, where faith is challenged and grown….and where one can ask themselves where they are going and what God has in store for them. Afterwards participants (Graduates?) were invited to participate in “Reunion” meetings.
There was a sub group within my group of friends who had completed Chrysalis meetings. They wore metal crosses to school and made a point to carry around their Bible at school. I’m not sure if I saw them reading it. They just tended to carry it. They would talk about scheduling their next reunion meeting and tend to have inside jokes and things which I didn’t understand.
What my friends forgot in their striving to feel fulfilled, they forgot to be inclusive of their other Christian friends. I didn’t get invited to their meetings, quite possibly because I never went through their program. But at the same time I was (rarely) never invited to any of their church activities. It might have been because I was combative toward them. I did make a point to invite them to Bible studies and worship. Sometimes trying to prove a Biblical view; other times trying to open dialogue. Honestly at times I don’t even remember my drive or justification.
I’m going to attribute my friends’ lack of evangelism and my striving to win arguments rather than open dialogue was both due to immaturity in Christian faith. Now one cannot expect that a high school student is going to be fully mature in faith. I myself am still growing in my faith and learning what God wants for me.
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other;for everyone who exalts himself will be[d]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
I find myself gradually over the years seeing myself in a very privileged situation in regards to religion. My knee jerk reaction is to judge quickly and ask questions later.
I was brought up in the church. I feel as though I know the protocol. But what I didn’t learn first and foremost was love. And now I am learning to love.
Case in point, we have a noise problem with congregants in the foyer while worship is going on. I find myself furious with the situation thinking there are some who should “know better.” And yes there are some who know better. They know that they should be quiet, but they choose not to. Also there are those who were not brought up in the church and do not know the importance of worship over socialization.
So I thought to myself if I was ever asked to pray, I would subtly pray for them. But then a sermon was preached on the verses above and I found myself thinking that was the wrong attitude to have. We are all sinners. It’s a sin to think others are on a lower totem spiritually. We are all on equal levels, being barely saved through God’s grace and the power of the blood of Jesus.
