Not a Good Fit

Does it strike you as odd that brown paper sandwich bags are actually not wide enough to accommodate a normal size sandwich to lay flat in the bag without scrunching it? Either that or the usual size loaf of bread is made too large. Wouldn’t you think these guys could get together and either make the bag larger or the loaf smaller?

There are several things that do not fit properly in my life right now. I am not sure whether that means my understanding of God  needs to be larger or my faith and expectations smaller.

Granted, faith is not some substance that can be measured or quantified. Nor should it be. However, there are times when I wonder, “If my faith were bigger, things would work out differently.” After all, Jesus said, “If your faith is the size of a mustard seed…” That is not necessarily quantifiable, but it does put certain perceptions in my mind. It does cause one to think perhaps their faith is not “big” enough – not even mustard seed size.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were about to be thrown in the proverbial fiery furnace, their comment to Nebuchadnezzer was basically this – If our God chooses to deliver us fine, if not, that will not diminish our faith. (Daniel 3:16-18) This seems to indicate their faith was not in faith, rather in God. And they were prepared for either outcome. However, we do not see them asking God for deliverance.

Often times I ask for “deliverance” and then just to cover my bases, I add – “Nevertheless, let your will be done.” It’s kind of a catch all. Just in case my faith is not big enough, or misappropriated I am covered. Rather juvenile I know, but not uncommon among Christians.

I must confess, I am not quite certain how to manage all of this, whether to enlarge my bag or make my loaf smaller. Do I expand my understanding of God or shrink the faith aspect? Do I continue to seek “deliverance” in situations or enlarge my ability to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself in? (Phil. 4:11) I suspect the latter.

If you’ll excuse me, I have a lunch to pack!

Psalm 119

In 1984 the film Karate Kid made its debut. It was a story of a young boy who suddenly found himself in a new environment and out of step with his peers. He is taken under the wing of Mr. Miyagi, a simple handyman with profound wisdom and a  master in Karate. The two form a bonding relationship and the boy not only learns the fine art of Karate, but the wisdom of living an honest and good life.

In one of the scenes Mr. Miyagi is teaching Daniel how to balance  himself and maintain control. In that scene, Mr. Miyagi talks to the young boy about balance and says, “the whole world needs balance.”

In Psalm 119 the theme of balance is a critical point to understanding what the Psalmist is saying about God’s Word.  There is an obvious and regular tension between the Psalmist’s understanding of his obedience to God’s law and the fear of falling short of what God’s law requires. Verses 8 and 120 are good examples of this.

I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!”

My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.

That is also why there seems to be sense of self-centeredness about the writing. It is often that the psalmist has a “look at me, then look at them” theme that draws attention to his own righteousness compared to the sinfulness of others. (vs. 97-104) I am not quite ready to say it is a holier-than-thou attitude, but it borders pretty close to it.

Nevertheless, that should not cause us loose sight of the tremendous devotion directed in this piece and its ultimate focus: “The sum of God’s Word is truth, and every one of His righteous rules endures forever.” (v. 160)

Probably the two most quoted verses from this psalm are verse 11; “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” And “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (v. 105)  However, I would contend that perhaps the verse we ought to hide in our heart is verse 165

Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

It certainly speaks to the issue we all face in our Christian pilgrimage – understanding how God’s principles strengthen our ability to stand in the midst of adversity and temptation. It is similar to what Jesus conveyed in his words, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33) It is also indicative of why Jesus quoted God’s principles when tempted by the evil one.

Knowing truth when confronted with a lie, is imperative for a balanced life.

Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me. (v. 175)

Hung up on Judas

It has taken me several days this time to navigate my way through the last few chapters of the Gospel of Matthew.  Part of it is due to time, other aspects of it relate to the content.

When I came to 27:3 about Judas I paused again and wondered why it is that most people will not consider Judas’ “repentance” as genuine. Some scholars use verbal gymnastics meticulously defining the use of “metamelomai” versus “metanoeo” but that dog won’t hunt. Others say it is because his repentance was not toward God, but inward grief, as a result he hung himself. Translated as anyone who commits suicide surely cannot be truly repentant.

Don’t most of us, in some sense, even after repenting and turning to God, have some lasting personal agony over the things we may have done that lead to that repentance? Part of it may be a result of our own unbelief regarding our behavior – “how could I have done such a thing?” – Or part of it may be overwhelming guilt that leads to depression. A condition many people refuse to acknowledge or attempt to understand.

I tend to side with Judas’ genuine repentance. But more than that my desire is to understand his response and this “demon” called depression. Here is a short article I’ve written on that subject.

The Depressed

Dressed and in his right mind. That was the condition of the Gerasene demoniac as Jesus left him. (Luke 8:26ff)

Demon possession is not something that people are comfortable talking about these days. Nor is it a common occurrence in this culture. Nevertheless, people who are not in their right mind is more common than one might expect.

Severe depression can put a person in such a state of mind that there is nothing “right” about it. Conducting a life under the burden of that affliction can often be masked, but never controlled. It is as though the body is outside itself looking on as the activities of daily living are carried out.

Unlike the Gerasene man possessed by demons, the person suffering from acute depression is not chained to a wall naked and erratic; In their mind perhaps, but seldom in reality. The only suffering that goes on goes on within the confines of their own distorted reality. Their lifeless form simply mimics living since they know what it was like and can repeat it as though by rote.

It is easier for people to understand demons than to understand the depressed. You can describe demons and put a form to something imaginary. With depression, the imaginary has no form. The mind cannot wrap itself around anything coherent. People find it difficult to accept because there is no rash, no oozing sores, nor fever to control. It is simply there. It is not as though the severely depressed are crazy. They are not. They are merely tormented by their own lack of meaning or purpose.

At worse those of us who suffer from this condition hope that the right combination of medicine and, if needed, counseling will help to bring it under control. At best an encounter with the healing power of Christ could help us find ourselves dressed and in our right mind. The combination of the two is most likely where the truth lies.

Should you encounter one of us, fear not. We seldom harm anyone but ourselves. However, love and understanding go a long way in our finding “normal” again.

*****

Maybe Judas’ reaction does not fit our mold of the truly repentant. But then what gives us the right to make a mold in the first place. So don’t be surprised if you see him when you get to Glory.

I Wonder

I am not certain why it is that some things stand out to me when I read and others do not. What strikes me as important seems, at times,  trivial to others. Nevertheless, these impressions settle in my mind and it is hard to shake them. Here are a few examples of from what I have been reading this week.

• In the Friday Charlotte Observer newspaper (1/25/08)there is a story about two schools in Georgia that are going to pay students who are struggling with Math and Science to attend study hall.  $8 an hour to go to study hall to focus on Math and Science.! This includes students who may be doing very well in other classes.  Plus, they receive a bonus if they raise their grades to a “B”.   My question is, if they are not getting it in class, what does paying them to attend study hall accomplish? All it does is set a precedent for the student that says, if you have trouble learning we will pay you to focus. Then, soon many will simply fall off in other classes waiting to be “paid” to learn other subjects as well.  It is the old stick and carrot routine.
• In the February issue of Christianity Today, there is an extended article about Southern Baptists and their interaction with Reformed Theology.  Apparently, “reformers” have been infiltrating the ranks of the SBC and they see it as a threat.  Now they are trying to determine how to combat it.  I suspect you would combat it just as you would any other so called “heresy”, with an accurate interpretation of Scripture.
• In the Gospel of Matthew 26:36-46 where Jesus prays at the garden of Gethsemane, the disciples sleep while Jesus prays.  If that is true, how does anyone know what he was praying? It is not as though the gospel writers indicate, “This is what Jesus told us he was praying about.”
• Also in the same gospel, 26:13, after the woman anoints  Jesus with oil, Christ says, “Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”   When was the last time you heard anyone speak of this incident outside a Bible study or preaching point on this gospel or the theme of the crucifixion?

I wonder about all of these things. I also wonder about their implication for our culture, both outside and inside the church. For each will have an impact one way or the other. Go ahead, think on these things. The ramifications are interesting.

What Now?

We have many “obligations” as believers when it comes to discipleship and how we function in the body of Christ, I.e. the church. Jesus makes that clear in his final parables as noted in the Gospel of Matthew. (Matthew 25)

It is a rather interesting scenario when it comes to time management and resource management. Nevertheless, it is laid out rather distinctly. Our obligations consists of three elements:

1. Watch – that is be prepared

2. Be active – invest time, talent, and resources effectively

3. Minister to one another

Our role as Christians is not to change society, our role is to live our lives as a reflection of Christ. We are called to be uniquely bonded to God through His only begotten Son. That bonding expresses itself in a lifestyle that is intended to bring glory to the Father and love for one another.

In light of the proposed second coming of Christ a.k.a. judgment, we have certain responsibilities. We are to be prepared by making certain we have “resources” to last through the period of anticipation. We are to be active and involved in life through the investment of our “resources”. Whether those be financial, special gifts, or acquired talents. And finally, we are to do what it takes to minister to one another based on needs.

Now I cannot speak for anyone else – although I am prone to make observations from time to time – but I can say these are challenges for me. I often find myself absent minded when it comes to the return of Christ. I do not always know that I am prepared. I also know I have squandered talents and resources often laying them on the shelf to atrophy. The one place where I believe I have done well is ministering to others. That is not a horn-blowing observation, simply a matter of fact.  As well as I could? probably not. Yet, consistent and willing when I am aware of needs.

Whether Christ is returning today or not, these obligations or characteristics should be common to every believer, simply because we are believers.  As I indicated earlier, our role is not to change society, our role is to live in relationship to God in a way that is glorifying to Him. If that results in a changed society, so be it. However that is not and never has been the goal of Christianity.  My gosh, I have enough trouble trimming my own lamp and managing my own discipleship without having to think there is responsibility to all societies in all nations.

What now? I am called to watch, be busy, and careful to minister to the needs of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Doing those things may indeed bring a “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)