WALKING WITH A LIMP!

I'm captivated by the story of Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32.  It's a critical juncture of Jacob's life.  He now has wives and twelve sons and is setting out for his homeland to test his metal.  Up till this point, God has been the God of his father and grandfather.  But this day, God becomes real to Jacob in a very personal way.  

I've said before that we don't know for sure if this was a personal representation of God in a real physical wrestling match with Jacob or a spiritual wrestling that had a life-changing impact on Jacob's life.  But either way, Jacob walks away with a permanent limp.  His life will never be the same.  

Now, let's deal with this reality in Jacob's life.  Was he perfect after this encounter?  

No.  He still seeks to placate his brother before encountering Esau face-to-face.  He's still a conniver and a strategist.

We do wrong to expect perfection quickly from new believers.  During my Cornerstone years, because of the population we worked with, we had to repeatedly remind our congregation that drug abusers relapse.  We should anticipate that they will struggle to maintain sobriety.  We need to be a forgiving environment that continually loves and pursues them with the patience of God!  

Those of us who have walked with God for a lifetime expect too much growth and maturity too fast from people who have just made a commitment to Christ.  It took us a while to figure this new lifestyle out;  it will take others a while too.  

We shouldn't expect them to turn out like us!  The goal is not to reproduce us in them - the goal is to reproduce Christ in them!  Our God will work uniquely in every person's life to bring about a maturity that honors Him!  God's creativity is boundless.  

Here's the joke of it all:  We who consider ourselves mature still walk with a limp!  No one has it all mastered!  No one has all the answers.  No one is living the perfect Christian life.  That's why the Holy Spirit inspired John to write:  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness  [I John 1:8-9].  

When I was leading the church at Jeannette, PA, I led a young woman to faith in Christ.  I knew it was unwise for me to try to disciple her, so I recruited Goldie to do so.  I had them meet me at the church where I introduced them.  Goldie was 78 and saintly.  Shirley immediately took to her with great admiration.  

During the meeting, Shirley praised Goldie by saying, "Goldie, I don't think I could ever live the kind of life you live."  Goldie stopped her and gently explained that they were in  very different places.  Goldie then explained that at her stage of the game, the sins change.  She said, "I don't wrestle with lying, stealing, using drugs, or drinking alcohol.  But I do struggle with pride and evil thoughts toward others."  

I never forgot that!  The sins change, but the sin remains.  The limp is real and persistent.

 Listen to how Anne Lamott describes her pilgrimage:

"My coming to faith did not start with a leap but rather a series of staggers from what seemed like one safe place to another.  Like lily pads, round and green, these places summoned and then held me up while I grew. . . .Yet each step brought me closer to the verdant pad of faith on which I somehow stay afloat today."  [Travelling Mercies, 3]

What I love most about this quote are the last seven words, "on which I somehow stay afloat today".  

I'm not saying that we don't develop greater confidence over time.  I think we do.  But perfection comes with glorification;  and glorification comes after death!  

I know people who exude deep confidence and near perfection.  They are admired by hoards of people!  I even admire them!  But somehow, I expect that there's a façade present that I know little of.  They may have mastered the disciplines of the Christian life, but mastering the wanderings of the mind and the lust for influence and power are a bigger force to reckon with.  

Some may disagree.  Perhaps they'll respond to this blog and enlighten us.   

I have lived with a fair degree of transparency.  I've messed up - A LOT!  I've had to apologize a lot!  I've found the way to be rocky and steep.  My walk is a daily walk in which I somehow - by God's grace - stay afloat.  

I'll close with a biblical picture of the Apostle Paul that is near and dear to my heart:

In the beginning of his ministry, this great man fought hard for recognition as an apostle.  He can be found repeatedly describing himself as "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ."

Later in his ministry, he had mellowed.  Now, he describes himself as "...the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."       [I Corinthians 15:9]

Then, finally, in his old age he provides an even newer description of himself:  "the worst of sinners".      [I Timothy 1:15-16]  

This model of downward mobility is a precious reminder of how we ought to view ourselves and how we need to give grace to those around us who are struggling to maintain sobriety and faith.    

I had a seminary professor, Dr. Donald Joy, who gave a significant message while I was attending.  It was titled, "Confessions of a Hypocrite"  and shook the foundations of the seminary and students when he presented it.  

In true Covid form, perhaps we need to drop our masks and lead by confession rather than trying to lead by instruction and perfection?  

As for me, I'm limping my way toward Heaven.  Care to join me?

 

REMARKABLE SIMILARITIES

 THE FIRST AMERICAN THANKSGIVING

At the turn of the 16^th century there was a lot of religious unrest in England.  A group of believers emerged who felt the need to leave the influence of the Church of England.  This group much later became known as Pilgrims.  In 1607 they fled to Holland because their lives were being threatened in England.  From there – in 1620 - they boarded a ship called the Mayflower and set sail for the new lands across the ocean.  Their primary objective was to find a place where they could live and worship in freedom and without persecution. 

The Mayflower was an old boat that was about 100 feet long.  It was quite crowded with 102 passengers (plus crew).  We know the names of all these passengers!  The journey was hard with many storms.  At one point a main beam broke and had to be repaired with a giant screw.  After 66 days, they sighted Cape Cod and realized that they had missed Virginia where they had permission to settle.  But with food and water supplies low, they could go no further. 

Since they were in land that had not been chartered to them, they all signed the Mayflower Compact which basically stated that they would all stay together and cooperate for common survival.  When they were able they petitioned for a new charter for the land in Plymouth;  this charter was granted in 1621. 

In December of 1620, a group went ashore to explore.  They found the land at Plymouth to be suitable for living.  However, the winter was harsh and they were unprepared for it.  Many became sick.  By spring, half had died!  The Mayflower returned to England, but all of its passengers stayed in the new land.  In April, Samoset, a Native American who spoke English walked into the settlement and said, “Welcome!” 

The Wampanoag people had lived in this area for hundreds of years.  They were acquainted with English explorers who had come to fish and hunt.  One of their strongest leaders was Massasoit, who lived 40 miles southwest of the Pilgrims in Rhode Island.  These tribes had suffered from new diseases that took the lives of many of their people!  Because of this, Massasoit was interested in forming alliances wherever he could. 

In the early fall of 1621, the 53 surviving Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving in response to a good harvest.  The 53 included:

• 4 married women
• 5 teenage girls
• 9 teenage boys
• 13 young children
• 22 adult men

Another ship arrived after this celebration, bringing more people to be part of the settlement.

King Massasoit attended the Thanksgiving along with 90 of his men. 

The menu for that first Thanksgiving included:

• cod, bass, and other fish
• wild ducks and geese
• turkey
• lobster
• watercress
• berries
• dried fruit
• boiled pumpkin
• clams
• plums, and
• venison  (Massasoit’s men went out and killed 9 deer for the feast).

This tradition was repeated in 1623 when they had suffered through a summer of severe drought.  However, at the end of the growing season came several weeks of rain that caused their crops to grow wonderfully.  The people were filled with such gratitude that they once again expressed their thanksgiving to God through a celebrative meal! 

WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS?

The thing that leaps from this story of the first American Thanksgiving is the fact that they thanked God even though they had experienced terrible hardship and great loss!  49 of their family and friends had died during that first, hard winter!  They had said a final good-bye to mothers, fathers, friends, and children!  Yet, amazingly, when the Mayflower departed for England – no one left!  Their shelters were makeshift.  The Native Americans were friendly.  The game was bountiful.  The sea held food resources for them.  The ground was capable of bearing fruit.  But, most important, they had freedom!  They could worship God and express themselves to Him without interference from outside authorities! 

It’s interesting to me that they didn’t hold a Thanksgiving the following year.  Thanksgiving was not a ritual for them.  It was not a date on a calendar to be observed.  For whatever reasons, they simply did not give thanks in 1622.

However, in 1623, they experienced a terrible drought.  The summer came and passed with no relief.  Governor William Bradford’s diary reports that no rain fell between the third week of May and late July.  It was unbearably hot!  Everything nearly dried up and died.  In response to this crisis they held a gathering to call on God’s mercy.  It was a day of fasting and prayer in which they humbled themselves before Almighty God! 

Listen to Bradford’s report:  (made contemporary)

…all morning, and the greatest part of that day, it was clear weather & very hot - not a cloud or any sign of rain to be seen.  Yet toward evening it began to become overcast.  Shortly after that it began to rain.  It rained with such sweet and gentle showers that they immediately rejoiced & blessed God.  The rains came without wind or thunder;  with no violence at all, and yet with great abundance so that the earth was thoroughly wet and soaked.  It revived the decayed corn & other fruits.  It was so wonderful to see, that it made even the Indians marvel.  After this, the Lord sent them consistent seasonable showers, with interchange of fair warm weather, so through His blessing, they enjoyed a fruitful & liberal harvest.  There was great comfort and rejoicing.  So much so that they set apart another day of thanksgiving.

It’s interesting that they were thankful because there had been a hardship and because they had put their trust in God and because God had clearly answered their prayers and provided for their needs! 

Notice, the previous year had been a normal year, and they did not have a Thanksgiving that year.  But when hardship came;  when drought came;  when they were forced to depend on God – they became thankful! 

APPLICATION

Are you thankful to God even when times have been tough?

When loved ones have died and you’ve had to spend time isolated and cold – can you be thankful then? 

Is God only worthy of praise and worship when He does good things for us?  

Max Lucado tells of when his young daughter fell into a swimming pool.  She was pulled out and resuscitated.  The next morning he was praising God that his daughter was alive and well when He heard God speaking to his heart:  "Would you be praising and thanking Me if she had died?" 

God is always worthy of our praise!

Are you only thankful when God answers prayer?

A lack of gratitude is a terrible thing.  Good parents go to work with their children early to teach them to say thank-you.  I’m always amused when you give a child a piece of candy and the mother says to the child, “What do you say?”  Then, after several promptings, the child looks at you and says. ‘I’m sorry.” 

A lack of gratitude leads to an attitude of entitlement.  And if left long enough, it turns into bitterness and anger. 

Gratitude is so important. 

One Christmas, a parent decreed that she was no longer going to remind her children of their thank-you note duties.  As a result their grandmother never received acknowledgments for the generous checks she had given.

The next year things were different, however.  "The children came over in person to thank me," the grandma told a friend triumphantly.    

"How wonderful!" the friend exclaimed.  "What do you think

caused the change in behavior?"   

"Oh, that's easy," the grandmother replied.  "This year I didn't sign the checks."

 

We all appreciate gratitude when it’s expressed to us.  Don’t you imagine that God also appreciates a thankful heart? 

I spoke with a friend this week and asked him if he was having a good day.  He told me that every day he wakes up and can move his hands is a good day!  Do you feel that way?  Do you regularly give thanks to God for the blessings and protection that He’s given you? 

I send out thank-you notes.  I want people to know how much I appreciate their contributions to what we do here.  I am often thanked for these notes.  To be honest, I receive a lot of thank-you notes, too.  They encourage me,  I keep them and look them over from time-to-time. 

Have you noticed that when people are truly grateful it makes you want to do even more for them? 

Wouldn’t it be great if you could develop a discipline of giving thanks to God? 

My childhood, bedtime prayer:  “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, God, bless Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Jeannette and Lib, Tommy and Bobby, Beverly and Ira; everybody in the world, And keep Harold be a good boy. Amen.”

My prayers are longer and more thorough now;  and hopefully much more meaningful.

How about yours?  Does God know how grateful you are for all the blessings He’s poured out into your life?  Do we really need a national holiday just to remind us to give thanks to God?  Don’t you think He might like to hear it sometimes other than late November?   

The scripture says:   [Psalm 136:1]

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good – His love endures forever!  

 

JACOB GETS A NAME CHANGE

Genesis 32 is transformational!  

God has nudged Jacob out of Haran and away from Laban and has headed him back to his homeland.  This ought to be a joyous thing, but Jacob knows he must soon face the ire of his brother, Esau, who had - twenty years earlier - threatened his life.  He was rightly fearful!  He had abused Esau and stolen something very precious and valuable from him.  

Ever the schemer, Jacob develops a plan to placate his brother - while also recompensing him for the damage Jacob had done earlier in life.  He wisely divides his large family and many flocks into two groups, thinking:  If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape  [v.8].  

Then, this maturing man prays an eloquent prayer:

O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives and I will make you prosper,' I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant.  I had only my staff when I crossed the Jordan, but now I have become two groups.  Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children.  But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.'  [vs.9-12]

Funny how a life-threatening situation can revitalize one's prayer life!   

After hearing that Esau is coming to meet him - along with two hundred men - Jacob prepares a magnificent gift for Esau and places it ahead of the two groups with very clear instructions:  When my brother Esau meets you and asks 'To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you? then you are to say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob.  They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.'  

The gift:

• 200 female goats
• 20 male goats
• 200 ewes
• 20 rams
• 30 female camels with their young
• 40 cows
• 10 bulls
• 20 female donkeys
• 10 male donkeys

Then, after securing his family, Jacob crossed the ford of the Jabbok and spent the night alone.  Make no mistake about it - he is afraid!  God - in the form of a man - came that night and wrestled with Jacob.  Whether this is real or metaphorical, I do not know, but it was real to Jacob.  When the man saw that he could not overpower [Jacob], he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled...Then the man said, 'Let me go, for it is daybreak.'  [vs.25-26]

But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."   Jacob knew he was wrestling with God!  

The man asked him, "What is your name?"  

"Jacob," he answered.'

Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."  [vs.26-28]

Jacob gave this place a special name and walked with a limp for the rest of his life as a reminder of this night!  His testimony:  I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.  [v.30]

___________________________________

"God has chosen to do the impossible for those who enter the covenant.  He will literally and actually remake every person who will let Him.  This cosmic act of salvation produces a transformed individual, so different from the old person that it is awkward or impossible for him to answer to his old name."  [Webb Garrison, Reading the Entire Bible in One Year, p.23]

Revelation 2:17

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna.  I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.  

JACOB HEADS HOME

 REVIEW:

• Esau and Jacob (twins) were born to Isaac and Rebecca
• Esau was born first
• As young men, Jacob (which means deceiver) bought his brother's birthright for a bowl of stew
• Later - with the help of his mother - Jacob deceived Isaac and stole his brother's blessing
• Esau threatened to kill Jacob, so his mother sent him to her homeland to find a wife and save him from his brother
• Upon arriving in Haran, Jacob begins working for his uncle Laban
• He agrees to work for seven years to have Laban's daughter, Rachel, as his wife
• After seven years, Laban tricks him and gives him his daughter, Leah, instead
• Jacob agrees to work seven more years and immediately marries Rachel as well
• Leah and her handmaiden, and Rachel and her handmaiden give Jacob twelve sons over the years
• God blesses Jacob in the management of the flocks and his wealth grows significantly
• After twenty years, God tells Jacob to return to his homeland
• Jacob leaves without telling Laban, who pursues him for seven days and finally catches up with him in Gilead
• God warns Laban in a dream to do no harm to Jacob

It's interesting that Scripture doesn't give a clear indication that Jacob's wives, or even Jacob himself, had been solely devoted to God.  They had seen Him protect them, and bless them, but they had yet to make a clear committment to worship Him exclusively!  Jacob refers to God as the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac [v.42].  Eventually, God will be known as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but at this point, Jacob hasn't fully committed.

Laban and Jacob have an uncomfortable confrontation.  Laban feels that everything Jacob has is his.  Jacob reminds Laban that he worked for twenty years for everything that he has.  

In the midst of all this, Rachel had stolen her father's household gods and hidden them in her saddle.  She refuses to allow him to search her, making the excuse that she is having her period.  The matter is left unresolved.  

Ancient law, such as the Hurrian, provided for part of the bride payment to be reserved for the woman herself.  Possession of the household gods insured the right of inheritance;  hence, Rachel may have sought compensation for the loss of the bride payment.

When Jacob suggests to Leah and Rachel that thy leave, they respond:

Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father's estate?  Does he not regard us as foreigners?  Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us.  Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children.  [vs.14-16]

In spite of the disagreement, Jacob and Laban build a pillar together and make an agreement not to cross that barrier in violence toward one another.  They eat together and bless one another.  Then, Laban kisses his daughters and grandchildren and heads back to Haran.  

The next morning, Jacob resumed his journey and was met by the angels of God [32:1].  

But caution is in the air, for he still has to deal with the wrath of his brother, Esau!...

___________________________________

God is clearly at work in Jacob's life!  God has provided family, servants, and flocks for Jacob.  Now God has protected Jacob from the potential violence of his father-in-law.  Before the dreadful meeting with his brother, Esau, God sends an army of angels to encourage Jacob and reassure him of God's presence and protection!  

But this all took place 3,500 years ago, and after all, Jacob was one of the Patriarchs!  Does God still exhibit this kind of care over His children?  Is God watching over us with the same kind of commitment?  Is God still blessing, providing, guiding and protecting us - like He did for Jacob?

YES! YES! YES!

This whole story is one of God wooing and winning Jacob's heart and commitment.  

Our Bible tells us that:    [II Peter 3:9]

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.     

Psalm 121:4

...indeed, he who watches over Israel [Jacob] will neither slumber nor sleep. 

The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:19 (New Living Translation):

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

And as Barretta used to say:  You can take that to the bank!  :-) 

 

  

MENTORED BY A PRO

After graduating from Roberts Wesleyan College, during the summer of 1973, I was hired by the campus Free Methodist Church as a summer intern - largely to follow up on Vacation Bible School families.  Richard Snyder - Associate Pastor - was my direct overseer.  Pastor V. J. Mannoia was the senior pastor.  

One day – to my great surprise – Dr.Mannoia announced that he would accompany me!  [This was a church of 1,500, so you can imagine my surprise.]  We made several visits together that day, but one stands out in my memory.  We were in the downtown area of Rochester, NY, in a residential area.  When we approached the door, we heard lots of children screaming – including a baby.

 A woman came to the door with her baby in her arms.  At least three other young children showed up as well, curiously peering around her at the strangers at the door.  Surprisingly, she invited us into her living room – which was, of course, a mess with children’s clothes and toys everywhere.  I told her who we were and why we were there.  She talked about how much the children enjoyed the Bible School.  But the children were so disruptive!  I didn’t know how to handle it.  It was chaotic!  Seeing my distress, Dr. Mannoia took the lead.  He simply told her that he would love to see her family some Sunday at Pearce and that we had Sunday School that would take care of her children the same as the VBS had.  He told her that we didn’t want to intrude on her time anymore and asked if he could pray with her.  I thought:  “Is he nuts?  How in the world are we ever going to have a prayer in this chaos?”

 She agreed to the prayer.  Dr. Mannoia then sat on the floor and placed the children strategically between me, him and their mother.  He spoke gently, firmly and kindly to the children telling them that we were going to talk with Jesus.  He had us hold hands.  Then, he led in a one-minute prayer and named each of the children in his prayer as well as the mother!  I was astonished at how smoothly it went.  Then, we got up and left!  And I realized that I had just seen a master at work! 

THE APOSTLE PAUL AND HEAVEN

The Apostle Paul sincerely believed in Heaven and couldn't wait to get there!  On top of that, he wanted to take as many people with him as possible!  

An expression of his passion for winning spiritually lost people is noted in I Corinthians 9:19-23,

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. 

To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 

To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. 

I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.  

This guy was as RADICAL as they come!  He wanted to impact the world for Christ!  He wanted people to make Heaven!  He was DEEPLY committed to this task!  He evangelized all day and made tents at night to support himself in this ministry!  He travelled widely to increase his influence!  He rarely stayed very long in any one place - he wanted to reach the world with the message of salvation!  

Let's interview him to try to understand him better:

Hal:  Paul, where does this passion for winning people come from?

Paul:  Listen, Hal, “I worked hard and killed men and women who believed as I believe today. I put them in chains and sent them to prison. The head religious leader and the leaders of the people can tell you this is true. I got letters from them to take to our Jewish brothers in the city of Damascus. I was going there to put the Christians in chains and bring them to Jerusalem where they would be beaten.  [Acts 22:4-5  New Life Version]

Hal:  But how did your change of heart take place?

Paul:  I was near Damascus. All at once, about noon, I saw a bright light from heaven shining around me.  I fell to the ground. A voice said to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you work so hard against Me?’  I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the One you are working against.’  Those who were with me saw the light. But they did not hear Him speaking to me.  I asked, ‘Lord, what should I do?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up! Go to Damascus. You will be told what to do there.’

I could not see because of the bright light. Those who were with me had to lead me by the hand until we came to Damascus.  Ananias lived there. He obeyed the Law and was respected by all the Jews.  He came and stood near me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ At once I was able to see him. Then Ananias said, ‘The God of our fathers chose you to know what He wants done. He chose you to see Jesus Christ, the One Right with God, and to hear His voice.  You are to tell all men what you have seen and heard.  What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on His name.’   [Acts 22:6-16  New Life Version]

Hal:  Wow!  You're more committed than anyone I've ever known!  How do you keep your passion so high?

Paul:  Hal, 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 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.  [I Corinthians 9:24-27  NIV]

______________________________________

Awesome God,

In my entire lifetime, I've only known a few people who seemed to be genuinely concerned about lost people.  Are You still impacting people today as You did Paul?  You still care about spiritually lost people, right?  You still want us to be "all things to all people", right?  Like Paul, we should do whatever it takes to get to know them so that we can then influence them toward You and Heaven - right?  

Why don't we see more people who are doing this?  

Thank You, Father for those who do!  Thank You for those who have left their homes to live in foreign cultures and learn foreign languages so that they can be a light shining for You in a dark place!  I know You'll honor their sacrifices!

But what about here?  How can we make a difference in a world so filled with hatred, bitterness and chaos?  Help me to find a way to make Your priorities my priorities!  Help me to sincerely care about spiritually lost people.  To care enough to go out of my way to get to know them and become a trusted resource to them.  Help me to be bold enough and courageous enough to speak to them about Your Kingdom.  Give me the privilege of leading people to You, Lord!  Give me just a little of the passion that Paul had.

For the Kingdom's sake.  Amen.  

A PASTOR'S WORK AND A PASTOR'S PAY

The Apostle Paul addresses these delicate issues in I Corinthians 9.  

First off, I'm not sure that the Apostle Paul viewed himself as a pastor.  He did view himself as an apostle - and he hotly defended himself in that role.  He probably fits more into the role of a travelling evangelist or church planter.  In doing so, he constantly supported himself by being a tent-maker on the side.  This is how he became friends with Priscilla and Aquilla (they were also tent-makers - a trade common and necessary to their day).  

Paul was proud that he provided for himself.  However, he consistently purported that he had the right to draw support from the church.  

If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?  If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?  [vs.11-12]

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."  [I Timothy 5:18-19]

Paul is crystal clear about his reason for supporting himself:

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.  We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it.  On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.  We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.  For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule:  "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."   [II Thessalonians 3:7-10] 

"Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes."  [from Mary T. Lathrap's poem published in 1895. The original title of the poem was Judge Softly, later titled Walk a Mile in His Moccasins.]

The Apostle didn't say a lot about the stress of ministry, but we do have the conclusion of his record of sufferings from I Corinthians 11:

Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.  [v.28]

Perhaps only a committed pastor can speak to this issue.   The joys and rewards of the pastoral role are significant!  However the toll is also arduous.  

To be clear, most parishioners need to be a bit more concerned about the level of support they're providing for their pastor.  At the same time, most pastors need to be somewhat more aware that God is their Source and trust Him to provide for their needs.  

Paul's incentive was to get a crown that will last forever.  [v.25]  A pastor who has this kind of motivation will not likely want for anything.  :-)

 

 

CONSIDERATION IN THE CHURCH

Regarding I Corinthians 8.

"Today's text plunges us into one of the hottest debates that rocked the first-century Christian church.  Were the followers of Jesus permitted to eat meat that, before it was sold in the butcher shop, had been used in a pagan sacrificial ritual?  Or was eating such meat tantamount to idolatry?"  *

This may not be a burning question in the American church today, but it was rocking the New Testament Church in the first century!

"The opponents in the debate were the weak and the strong.  On the one hand, those with a strong conscience were theologically [grounded].  They knew that idols were nothing, so they had no qualms about eating.  And they were right.  But they had little respect for the weak...In their case their knowledge needed to be tempered with love.  On the other hand, those with a weak conscience, probably just converted from idolatry, were anxious above everything to serve God faithfully.  They would not even touch idol meats.  They were right in their resolve to have nothing to do with idols.  But their theology was weak.  In their case their love for God needed to be strengthened by sound knowledge.  The strong needed more gentleness, and the weak more understanding."  *

The Apostle Paul goes on to suggest to the strong that they must be willing, at times, to limit their own liberty out of loving concern for the weak!  

Be careful...that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.  For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?  So this weaker brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.  When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.  [vs.9-12]

Paul had come to a strong personal conclusion on this matter:

...if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again...  [v.13]

Wow!  

_________________________________________

NOTICE:  This is a discussion about those who are saved!  It has no bearing on our relationships with spiritually lost people!  

The primary indication is that we should CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER!  The spiritually mature are to have consideration for the new-to-the-faith!  

A STORY

My parents, Leonard and Hazel Haire, were married in their home on August 17, 1934.  Shortly after that, I assume that my mother began attending the Free Methodist church with my father - after having been raised in the Reformed Presbyterian church.  

Several women from the Free Methodist church took my Mom aside and told her that - as a Christian - she needed to take off her diamond ring.  

[Explanatory Note:  In that time period, Free Methodists were committed to simplicity in their lifestyles.  Jewelry was considered 'superfluous adornment'.  Let's not get sidetracked here by legalism - it was a different environment ninety years ago!]

My mother responded by taking off her ring and putting it in the top drawer of her dresser.  

Let's skip forward thirty years.  In the mid-sixties, my Mom began associating with some younger, Christian women who were vibrant in their faith!  She was impressed with the depth of their prayers and their passion for Christ.  She noticed that they wore make-up and jewelry.  She thought long and hard about this and prayed about it.  

Then, she took out her brand new diamond ring and began wearing it!  :-)  

She wore it for just a couple of years and then gave it to me.  Debbie wore it for over forty years and gave it to Troy.  Missy now wears it!  [To see this ring, click here:  Engagement II]

APPLICATION

Most churches don't facilitate very deep interaction.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

"How are you?"

"Fine, thanks.  How are you?"

"Fine, thanks." 

"Have a nice day."

"Thanks.  You, too!"

"Thanks."

Real depth there.  Do we even know one another's names - even though we do this ritual once a week?  

I'm sorry for the cynicism, but it's a far cry from:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  [Acts 2:42-47]

Real consideration takes interaction!

Interaction takes time!

Interaction takes deliberate decisions to be involved in other people's lives!

Bless yourself by either following this link and listening - or reading the below lyrics!  

Be Ye Glad

Be Ye Glad

GLAD

In these days of confused situations

In this night of a restless remorse

When the heart and the soul of a nation

Lay wounded and cold as a corpse

From the grave of the innocent Adam

Comes a song bringing joy to the sad

Oh, your cry has been heard and the ransom

Has been paid up in full, be ye glad

Oh, be ye glad

Oh, be ye glad

Every debt that you've ever had

Has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord

Be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad

Now from your dungeon a rumor is stirring

Though you've heard it again and again

Now but this time your cell keys are turning

And outside there are faces of friends

Though your body lay weary from wasting

And your eyes show show the sorrow they had

Oh the love that your heart is now tasting

Has opened the gate be ye glad

Oh, be ye glad

Oh, be ye glad

Every debt that you ever had

Has been paid up in full

By the grace of the Lord

Be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad

So be like lights

On the rim of the water

Giving hope in a storm sea of night

Be a refuge amidst the slaughter

Of these fugitives in their flight

For you are timeless and part of a puzzle

You are winsome and young as a lad

And there is no disease or no struggle

That can pull you from God

That can pull you from God

Oh, be ye glad

Oh, be ye glad

Every debt that you ever had

Has been paid up in full

By the grace of the Lord

Be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad

Oh, be ye glad

Oh, be ye glad

Be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad

Songwriters: Blanchard Michael K

 *  Through the Bible - Through the Year, John Stott, p.363

THE DEEP END OF THE POOL

In my New International Version Bible, I Corinthians chapter 7 is titled, "Marriage".  The chapter has forty verses and the Apostle Paul sort of rambles his way through some very challenging topics.  To say the least - it's controversial.  

I'm going to try to sort it out for you and give you the high points:

1.  Let's observe first, that the Apostle Paul was a single man commenting on marriage!  On top of this, he was deeply called and committed to the Lord and had a firm belief that Jesus was coming back soon!  These facts impact EVERYTHING he teaches in this chapter!

2.  Paul believes in marriage and has a healthy view of it.  He teaches that:

...each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.  [v.3]

They should enjoy the sexual relationship:  The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband.  In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.  [v.4]

He adds:  Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.  Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.  [v.5]

Paul has a covenantal view of marriage and expresses himself without apology:  I give this command (not I, but the Lord):  A wife must not separate from her husband.  But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.  And a husband must not divorce his wife.  [vs.10-11]  [It's interesting that Jesus did allow divorce when marital unfaithfulness was involved.  Matthew 19:9  -  I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.]  It's common today for counselors to condone divorce for three reasons:  marital unfaithfulness, abandonment, and physical abuse.  

3.  Paul directly speaks to the unmarried and widows.  It is good for them to stay unmarried , as I am.  But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.  [vs.8-9]  

4.  Next, he addresses those who live with unsaved spouses.  He does NOT see this as a reason for divorce!  Paul fervently believes that the faith of the believing spouse - be it husband or wife - will have a sanctifying impact on the unsaved spouse!  If the unbelieving husband or wife leaves, then the remaining, believing husband or wife should continue to live with faith in Christ - hoping and praying for salvation for their spouse and reconciliation.  

5.  Then, Paul turns his attention to virgins.  He stresses that this is his opinion and not a command from the Lord  [v.25].  Because of the present crisis [severe persecution under the Roman Empire], I think that it is good for you to remain as you are [single].  [v.26]

6.  Paul saw the day in which he lived as being crucial. He was the definition of the word 'radical'.  He wanted every believer to be fully devoted to the Lord and the Lord's work!  Therefore, 

...the time is short.  From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;  those who mourn, as if they did not;  those who are happy, as if they were not;  those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;  those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.  For this world in its present form is passing away.  [vs.29-31]

7.  As he draws to an end, Paul gives the rationale for his teaching:

I would like you to be free from concern.  An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs - how he can please the Lord.  But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world - how he can please his wife - and his interests are divided.  An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs:  Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.  But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world - how she can please her husband.  [vs.32-34]

Paul's advice was that they should remain in their present condition.  This was not because he saw marriage as a flawed state, but because of the "present crisis" the church faced at this time.   

________________________________________

One has to admire Paul's tenacity in propagating a life that was deeply committed to the work of the Lord and kept free from the stresses and strains of married life.  However, it was God's plan from the beginning for husbands and wives to come together in marriage and raise godly families.  We must also remember that Jesus called some married men to be among His followers!  

One last point:  Paul leaks out a message in verse 7:

I wish that all men were as I am [single].  But each man has his own gift from God;  one has this gift, another has that. 

Paul clearly views celibacy as a gift - not a law!  He announces here that he has the gift of celibacy and wishes that many more had it so that the Kingdom of God could advance more significantly.  However, gifts vary according to the Spirit of God:  We have different gifts according to the grace given us.  [Romans 12:6 - written by the Apostle Paul].   

Lord of the Church,

Thank You for those who have dedicated their lives so fully to You.  We have deep admiration for those - like Paul - who have forgone earthly pleasures to be devoted to Your work!

Thank You, too, Lord for those who fully enjoy the manifold blessings of marriage and family and STILL manage to make valuable and significant contributions to the work of Your Kingdom!  Their examples inspire us and challenge us!

May we all continue to live in peace with one another, working together to expand Your Kingdom and Your love!  

Bless today, those widows and widowers who are staying faithful to you even after losing the loves of their lives!

Bless those who have had divorce forced upon them and who are trying to re-orient their lives in ways that are pleasing to You!

Bless the singles of our world who have committed themselves to You and want their lives to honor You.  Give them wisdom in decision-making and fulfillment in their life choices.  

Help those who are in tough marriages where unity is scarce and where life is hard from day-to-day.  Show them Your face and Your grace and give them all they need to transform their marriage into a more satisfying relationship!  

Nothing is impossible for You!  Amen.

 

SEXUAL IMMORALITY

The Apostle Paul was brazenly courageous in confronting the Corinthian church with the realities of its sexual sin.  He didn't run from the issues - he faced them boldly and fearlessly.  Why?  

• Because Paul loved these people that he had introduced to Christ!
• Because he wanted them to make Heaven!
• Because he wanted the Corinthian church to be a shining light for Christ in a corrupt culture.
• Because he wanted the Corinthians to enjoy the full blessing of the Lord.
• Because he wanted them to stay faithful and earn a great reward - as opposed to losing their faith.

Remember the context.  Corinth was associated with immorality, as korinthiazai had come to mean 'to practice immorality'.  On the flat summit of the Acro-corinth behind the city stood the temple of Aphrodite (or Venus), the goddess of love, and a thousand of her female slaves roamed the city's streets by night as prostitutes.  Paul had spent at least eighteen months there planting and establishing this church.  He knew the realities of this culture!

So, after addressing the issue of taking one another to court (I Corinthians 6:1-11), Paul returns to the topic of sexual immorality.  

The Corinthians (as a whole) embraced a dangerous philosophy called dualism.  Dualism held that what was spiritual was good and what was material was not.  Since the body is material - it didn't matter what you did with it.

Paul countered that God has a plan for the body.  It will be resurrected!

By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.  [v.14]

He also taught that the bodies we have are members of Christ himself.  [v.15]

Therefore:

Shall I take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute?  Never!  Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her body?  For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."  But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.  [vs.15-17]

Finally, Paul ends his argument with:

All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.   Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own;  you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.  Flee from sexual immorality.  [vs.18-20]

All sin is destructive, but sexual sin is especially self-destructive.  Those who commit sexual sin come under powerful bondage.  They practice a kind of idolatry, by allowing sexual pleasure to take God's rightful place in their lives.  

 O Lord,

You are full of patience, kindness and forgiveness!

We are so grateful for that!  When we sin, we can come to You for restoration.

You have made us with the capacity for sexual pleasure.

We thank You for that!

In the context of a loving marriage, it brings us enormous satisfaction.

But, it also is an area in which we face tremendous temptation.

Overwhelming, at times.

Our enemy knows our weakness and tempts us to leave the realm of blessedness (marriage) and experiment with other ways of meeting our needs and desires.

At these times, we need Your divine intervention to call out to us and call us to faithfulness.  

Help us to be attentive to Your voice and avoid the pain of sexual immorality!

For the Kingdom's sake and for our eternal rest.  Amen.   

 

ARBITRATION

 The Corinthian Church was Paul's 'problem church'.  They had apparently written to Paul addressing a number of problems that they were facing.  Paul responds as though he is working down the list of problems addressing each one in turn.

When we get to I Corinthians 6, he addresses the issue of taking one another to court.  He is appalled by this practice!

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?  [v.1]

Then, he counsels them:

...if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!  I say this to shame you.  Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?  [vs.4-5]

Next, Paul chides the Corinthian believers for damaging their witness before those who do not know and serve Christ!

But instead, one brother goes to law against another - and this in front of unbelievers!  [v.6]

 Finally, Paul advises them:

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already.  Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be cheated?  Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.  [vs.7-8]

_______________________________________

It seems to me that Paul is making several tangent points:

1.  We are family!  Paul uses the word, brother, consistently.  We who are 'in Christ' share a deep connection that gives us immediate fellowship!  

When Debbie and I lived in China, we attended an international church.  Although it varied frequently, there were always at least fifteen nations represented on any given Sunday:  America, Canada, Germany, China, many African nations, Viet Nam, Korea, Philippines, Russia, and so many more.  The fellowship was rich and the worship vibrant!  I had the privilege of preaching to that congregation many times.  I hated to miss this experience, and wish many Sundays - even now - that I could return.  

I recently have become a 'Messenger' friend with a Rwandan pastor who cares for the widows and orphans in his area.  In his initial greeting to me, he called me 'brother'.  We now have almost daily contact;  he prays for me and I pray for him!  We are family!  

2.  As family, we should persevere to find ways to get along and resolve problems!  Writing one another off is not an option!  That's NOT what believers do.  We practice forgiveness - seventy times seven!  We exercise humility and grace!  We aggressively seek reconciliation!  We do not respond in kind - we respond in kindness!  And, if push comes to shove, then we simply choose to be wronged or cheated - and trust God to make it all right in the end!  

I've not escaped these kinds of relationships.  I've been abused, maligned, slandered, robbed and physically attacked over the years.  None of these were pleasant experiences.  I have not always been a paradigm of appropriate response - but I persist in trying.  

3.  We are to be resources to one another in arbitration and reconciliation!  I'm struck by Paul's words:  appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!   We don't need Supreme Court Justices to help us!  Any person who loves the Lord and has common sense can help us find the way to peace!  

I recently read the LENGTHY SMALL PRINT of an agreement I was about to enter into.  It took me nearly an hour to read it all.  Toward the end was a detailed description of an arbitration process PLUS an agreement not to bring a lawsuit against the organization.  I agree with this much:  the courts should be our last recourse - not the first!  As the world says:  when you go to court, only the lawyers win!  

Surely Christian love, prayer, common sense and humble spirits can find a way to settle disputes.  And if they can't, then we can fall back on the grace of God and trust Him to help us to move forward without malice or a vengeful attitude.  

 Lord of Love,

Help us to take this message to heart!

Help us to understand more deeply the concept of the Family of God!

Help us to have humble hearts when we disagree - and to avoid animosity and anger.

Help us to intervene courageously with others to sustain peace!

Help us to choose to suffer rather than lose the fellowship of a brother/sister in Christ!

For the Kingdom's sake.  Amen.