Love & Hate

The day my parents asked me to leave their house is still fresh in my mind. I actually thought it was a badge of my devotion to God for them to do that. For you see, I must hate them in order to demonstrate my love for God. After all isn’t that what Jesus said, “Whoever loves Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me…” and “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children, brothers and sisters…cannot be my disciple.”

If we carry the thought further, apparently God hates them that hate him, He hated Esau, He hates sinners – because sinners hate Him, etc. etc. So hating is not a bad thing, it’s a good thing if we hate for the right reason, correct?

If I love chasing after things more than I love following Christ, I must hate God, right? It is not possible to love God and “things.” For Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”  (Matt. 6:24)

The mystery of this idea of hate is deep. We confirm that God is love, yet with the same breath we affirm that God is a jealous God. We read in the same Gospels, hate your family and honor your family.

It is interesting to me how different folks have different approaches to this idea of hate.

When I was being such a butt-head and flaunting my pitiful piety in front of my parents to the point they invited me to leave, I am not certain I was doing God a favor. It is unlikely that any honor was reflected on Him as a result of that. I know for certain, my parents were not saying, “How devoted and committed our son is to God.” It is more likely they were saying, “Our son needs to be committed.”

When we compare our devotion to God to those things that surround us, it indeed must be supreme. Supreme to the point that it appears to be “hate” for anything else. Our commitment to Christ must know no rivals. Bouncing that up against our commitment to anything or anyone else may seem like “hate.” But is it?

This indeed is a mystery.

Father Spirit, may my devotion to You be supreme over everything else in my life.

"He Ain’t Heavy…"

If this stilted mind is right, Simon and Garfunkel’s song, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, has a line in it that says, “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.” The song is about encouragement, sharing another’s burdens, being there for a person in need. At least that is my take on it.

It was several years ago, in another state, another town, a casual friend of ours lost his Dad. The death was rather sudden and took a heavy toll on our young friend. There was an immediate point of identification for me, since both my Dad and step-dad had died within two years of each other. So my heart could feel his heaviness.

Even though we were not close friends, one afternoon, I picked up the phone and called the young man and let him know that there was someone out there who could share his sorrow. Someone who could help him carry that heaviness of heart.

I knew that there would be times when he hungered to hear the words of his father; To see his face; feel his touch; to simply know that he was there. Then come to the realization that he was not there and he would experience none of those things again.

It is a devastating feeling.

Our conversation brought us both to tears, as it is now. Nevertheless, a few weeks later his wife shared with me how much that phone call meant.  What an encouragement it had been to the man.

I say this not because I am a kind and considerate man, often I am not. I share this because sometimes “heaviness in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”  Prov. 12:25

At one time or another, we all feel the heaviness of life. Many times, those around us are experiencing burdens almost unimaginable to us. We may not know what to do or what to say. A word of encouragement may be all that is needed to help ease the burden. Letting them know that you are there encouraging them as they walk over the “bridge of troubled waters.”

Father, let me be an encourager. Help me not to feel embarrassed to reach out. For some the bridge is long.

Pig Rings

My office is situated in such a way with a simple glance to my left I can see out the window and enjoy nature, keep an eye on the neighborhood and keep watch for the mail. I will admit, this “convenience” comes at the price of an occasional daydream or interruption in my work flow or train of thought.

There is a sense, when reading Proverbs 11, that the writer may be in a similar situation. Everything seems to be flowing right along then, without warning, we read, “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion (v.22).” 

The use of rings in an animals nose, such as pigs, cows, or bulls serves a useful purpose not a decorative one. Rings in a pig’s snout primarily prevent the pig from rooting – foraging where they shouldn’t be foraging. For other animals, since the inside of the nose or snout is extremely sensitive, the ring serves as a means of controlling the animal. 

In ancient times, nose rings were fairly common. When Abraham’s servant went to find a wife for Isaac when he found Rebekah, and determined she was the one, he put a nose ring on her and bracelets (Gen. 24:47).  Ezekiel refers to God’s bride, Israel, saying God had adorned her as a bride and put a “ring on (her) nose and earrings in (her) ears and a beautiful crown on (her) head (16:12).”

The purpose of the nose ornament was a sign of commitment-a decision to be faithful. No rooting around for the wife or the people of Israel. A commitment was made and it was expected to be honored.

The writer of Proverbs may be saying, a beautiful woman/bride/wife who has no discretion in her behavior is like putting a sign of commitment on the snout of a worthless animal. It has no meaning or value.

Signs of commitment are of little import if one is unwilling to follow through on the commitment. Taking up the cross of Christ means nothing if our pattern of behavior belies what we say we believe.  The principles of the Cross are not for sissies. There is nothing superficial about one who has committed themselves to be a follower of Christ.

Poor Thinking

This is not a political statement, simply an observation in poor thinking.

Considering the condition of the economy and the prospect for future “growth”, it seems rather short sided the way President Bush is thinking. Somehow, he believes that those “incentive checks” starting to go out Monday will be a shot in the arm to the economy.  I cannot imagine anything further from the truth. I suspect most of those funds will recycle back into the economy in the form of people paying bills and perhaps eeking out one more mortgage payment.

Poor thinking is not uncommon among politicians. It is not uncommon among the common. A good example is found in Genesis 32 & 33 when Jacob prepares to meet Esau. For the first time since his deception of Esau, Jacob will have an encounter with his brother. Expecting that Esau will act in a manner similar to the way Jacob acted many years prior, Jacob is in fear. Fear that proves to be unfounded.

How often do we do the same – Live in fear of the unknown and ultimately, the unfounded? Living under a pretense that worry and anxiety will somehow produce something of substance.  I’ll confess I do it all the time.

Many of my friends and readers of one of my blogs know for over a year we have been anxiously awaiting the sale of our house in Texas. At least I have been “anxiously awaiting” that transaction.  Well, it is now under contract. A great blessing, yet at the same time for me, simply a shift in anxiety. That is, I’ll be anxiously awaiting the closing date in some fear of circumstances changing to sabotage the sale.   Of course, if the sale does finalize, I’ll simply then move my anxiety to another area – should we travel to England to see the kids, to Texas to meet our new daughter in-law and grandkids, to Washington to visit my mom, or a trip to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary?   My, I’m worn out just thinking about what it will be like thinking about those things.

As my wife and I were discussing my “handicap of anxiety”, almost simultaneously we thought of 1 Peter 5:6-7; “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Perhaps Jacobs wrestling with the “the man” at the river Jabbok, or his prayers to God prior to setting out toward Esau’s land are a reflection of what Peter was saying. It was all a matter of coming to terms with what was real, not what was imagined. A means of changing poor thinking into right thinking. A time of deciding to trust God and move ahead.

Someone once said that, “Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere.” Trusting God is what neutralizes worry and anxiety. As Jesus said, “Therefore, do not be anxious….your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”  (Matthew 6:31-33)

I am not sure why I am such a slow learner, perhaps I will look back on this whole event and see all that God has taught me – and he has — then realize it’s time to trust Him in all areas, with everything.

New Commandment

“Half baked” – It is a way to describe either something that is not fully baked, or,  as it was and is used by some folks in the common market, “nuts” – as in no handle on the pail or out of one’s mind.

The thoughts I share today are “half baked.” Meaning, not fully baked, from my perspective, perhaps out of one’s mind by others.

For quite some time I have struggled with the idea that Jesus’ teachings can be characterized as commandments. Commandments in the sense that one might normally think about them with reference to the Ten Commandments or The Law. (I have written about this previously.)

Many Bible teachers have large lists outlining the commandments of Jesus. One teacher indicates that there are some 200 commandments of Christ. A list, he did not provide, but simply posited the statement.

Here is my struggle and I would welcome any insight or comments with regard to my observations.

My understanding, when reading the Gospels, is that Jesus taught his disciples a new way of living and giving of oneself.  If it could be summarized it would be this – “just as I have done” you do likewise.  He folds all of that into what he characterizes as a new commandment, “…That you love one another, just as I have loved you, you are to love one another (John 13:34).”

Now the idea of loving is not unique (new) to Christ, his disciples, or most communities or groups in NT times. What is new, is that they love just as Christ has loved, through total surrender, service and self sacrifice. In other words, be willing to give everything for one another. That is NEW.  “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” puts it all in perspective.

Did Jesus abrogate the Ten Commandments? No, he fulfilled them completely. Did Jesus re-write what he did not like about God’s previous commandments? No, he affirmed them and encouraged others to do the same. Did Jesus do anything other than fulfill the commands that the Father had given him? No.  However, as near as I can tell, the only commandment he gave his followers was this – “…Love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”   John 13:34-35

Just as Israel struggled with the whole of the Law, I truly expect that command of Christ is sufficient to challenge me for all my days. If I get that right, coupled with what Jesus affirmed as the two greatest commandments in the Law, than I shall have done well.

Having said all that, how do I reconcile such phrases as “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…”; “if you love me keep my commandments”, etc.  I do not have a specific reply other than to fall back on John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.”

Father, I confess my inability to understand. I confess my struggle to love sacrificially, to love without condition. I yield my heart, by the power of you Spirit may I learn to do both without reservation.