Remember the Garden!

Jesus spoke in parables.  He used simple stories.  I marvel at how he took something as magnificent as "the kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven" and set it within the simple framework of everyday life experiences.  

Have you read any parables lately?  

The parable about the wheat and the tares has always been an interesting story to me.  It is in some respects annoying to many Christians.  Diagnostics and healthy discernment notwithstanding, Christians and churches alike can grow anxious over any number of things within and without the kingdom of God.  We grow impatient and allow our anxiety to walk us headlong into a chronic state of panic over a vast array of things that can result in staying the Holy Spirit's work in our midst.  We spend our days ruminating about everything that is wrong, or about to be wrong, in the world and in the church.  To borrow from a farmer friend, "You can get so busy with the weeds that you forget there is a garden in the middle of it!"

Do you remember what Jesus said about this in the “parable of the field” recorded in Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43?

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

Later Jesus has to explain the parable to his disciples.  Here is what he said:

“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

By the time Matthew's readers received this parabolic reminder, 30 years of preaching, ministry and church history water had gone under the proverbial bridge.  Most of the book of Acts has happened and then some.  In other words, a lot of living, struggle, and suffering.  House churches were in duress. people who were once faithful weren't around anymore.  "Progress" wasn't a word peopled used then.  (Should we use it today?)  They wrestled with big questions:  Is this worth it?  Is suffering going to worsen?  Do we need to make the gospel more adaptive to culture?  In short, they were getting anxious.  And, this parable was a reminder to them to stick to their guns and, in a word, continue being who Christ had called them to be.  Just be wheat! Just keep bearing fruit!

Like I said, this parable is annoying.  It is annoying because it doesn't explain everything about life and ministry that we want to know.  Nor does it give us a magic wand to fix every problem in the world or in the body of Christ.  What it does give us is some much needed perspective on what we need to focus on every day, namely, being disciples. 

We can get so lost in analyzing the darkness that we forget the wisdom in the song "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine."  And shining is the best thing any of us can do!  Weeds of every kind are going to grow. Jesus said so. But, so does the seed of the kingdom!  Planting, watering, and tending the field is the best thing we can do every day.  As the song says, "This is my Father's world!"  Have a great day in the garden!

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas

A God Story

My parents reluctantly left their home of 26 years in the Austin, Texas area two years ago.  Their large home had become a burden to care for, and the bustle of Austin traffic was dangerous.  They moved to Stephenville, where traffic moves more slowly, and I am able to assist with daily needs.  The house they loved had been available for sale for two years without a single offered contract.  My father had not worried whether the house would sell because it is such a nice home.  Since they had loved the house, someone else would certainly love it, and buy it. It had been two years, though.  The realtor was continually suggesting the price should be significantly reduced.

On Sunday, January 20, 2013, my dad finally decided he needed help selling the house. He actually said his first prayer regarding the house sale, and requested God’s assistance in finding a new owner.  My parents signed a contract to sell the house on January 22, 2013.  The contract that they received had a letter attached, and a photo of a lovely family. (Letters to sellers, and photos of the prospective buyers, are very unusual occurrences in the real estate brokerage arena.) It is a God Story.

Here is the letter, dated January 21, 2013:

            Dear Owners of the Rimrock Drive home,

           

We thought it might be helpful to put a face with this offer.  We are the Olsons, a Christ-following family of four hoping to move to the Austin area ASAP to be close to my husband’s sister and parents, who migrated from Minnesota last summer. My husband is in sales for a national company and I am a former elementary teacher and current ‘stay at home mom’ to our 5 year old daughter and our 2 year old son.  Our first home sold much quicker than expected and we have been living with my parents in their home the last two months while we searched (hopelessly) for the perfect home for our growing family.  We have fallen in love with your home.  As a child that moved around a lot, my dream is for my kids to grow up in one home and bring their own kids back to one day.  It is truly the first one that I can ‘see’ us in for many years to come.  With the farmhouse style exterior and the ‘Jack and Jill’ bath for the kids, this home’s charm has crept into our hearts.  I have stayed awake at night imagining all the ways I would decorate and make it our own, despite warning myself against it.  My current job has taught me that if you’re going to be in a house for what can sometimes be days on end…you need to LOVE it.  We LOVE this house and would love to raise our family in it. Unfortunately, our budget will not allow us to offer the former asking price taking into consideration some updates we would like to put into the home. We have prayerfully considered the offer we make to you and are hopeful that you’ll consider entering the negotiation process with us.

                                   

Thank you so much,  The Olsons

My parents accepted the offer (which happened to exceed the amount the realtor suggested as a sales price) and the closing occurred within a month. It is a God story.

Dear God: Help us to be still, and know that you are God.  Thank you for answering prayers.

Sherilyn Svien

Stephenville, Texas

Please Correct Me When I Need It!!

Think about this word:  REPRIMAND.  How do you like that word?  It certainly carries with it the connotation of something negative.  Do you enjoy a reprimand from your supervisor or from a teacher?  A reprimand can be an embarrassing experience.  If you have ever experienced a public reprimand, you may have had to swallow a lot of pride.  You may have come away from the experience with hurt feelings and some resentment and anger.

In Galatians 2, Paul writes about a public rebuke of Peter.  Paul did this because Peter ‘was not acting in line with the truth of the gospel’.  There is no description of Peter’s reaction to this reprimand, but it had to be embarrassing for him.

Paul uses the word noutheteo in his epistles to tell Christians that we have a responsibility to one another that may be difficult.  This word is translated ‘to admonish, to warn, to counsel, to correct, or to instruct’.  Phrases that help with the meaning of the word are ‘keeping another on the right road, giving advice to another, or putting right what is wrong’.

Romans 15:14 says, ‘Concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.’  In I Thessalonians 5:14, Paul writes, ‘We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.’

Personally, I do not relish with joy the thought of receiving an admonition.  But, in my humanness, I know that sometimes I need to be admonished for my own good.  If you are ever admonished or in a situation where you need to give an admonition, how should it be done?

The manner in which an admonition is done is important.  If someone that I deeply respect comes to me (as Paul says, ‘full of goodness, filled with all knowledge’), my response to that respected brother or sister will likely be positive.  When Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, he said, ‘Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.’  Paul’s admonitions were heartfelt (with tears) and constant.

Admonition (correction) can be painful.  But, from time to time, it is necessary.  I heard this in a sermon once:  ‘If we don’t care enough to admonish, we don’t care enough’.  Another saying that speaks to the church’s responsibility for admonition is this:  ‘The church must embrace sinners but the church must confront sinning’!

Prayer:  Father, help me to be willing to accept admonition when I need it.  Help me to be caring enough and courageous enough to give admonition when it is needed.

Terry Brown

Abilene, Texas

Why Wait?

When Jesus heard his friend, Lazarus, was sick, He stayed where He was for two more days. This is a hard story to understand. The Bible says plainly, that Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. Yet, He waits. By the time they finally get to Bethany, Lazarus has been buried for four days. He comforts Mary and Martha and weeps at his tomb.

But some said, “Could not He who opened the eyes of a blind man, have kept this man from dying?” The Bible clearly teaches that God is sovereign. That all authority in heaven and on earth belong to Jesus. And yet, He lets Lazarus suffer and die and his sisters grieve for days.

Why doesn’t He spare them the pain? This is not the only time these questions come to mind. Why did Job suffer and why was James killed right at the start? Why did Paul have to have a thorn in his flesh? And why is my life harder that it has to be? Was Satan right when he accused Job of serving God for the blessings? 

Jesus said the whole drama at the cemetery in Bethany was “so that the Son of God may be glorified.” Faith is a hard thing, but faith without testing is not faith at all. Faith is what we have to give to God.

Martha, standing near the tomb of her dead brother, says, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” And “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Faith is hard but we can have it.

When we win and praise Him, that’s good. But when we limp up with a battered life and bruised lips saying “I believe You are the Christ”, well, that’s when He is glorified.

Dear God, I praise you for your great power. You spoke and the universe became. You will speak again and time will end. You are sovereign. I do not understand your ways, but I want to. I am hurting and I cry out for relief, but I trust you. I have nowhere to go but to you. Thank you for hearing my prayer. Please help me through this life and someday take me home. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. 

Paul

Jesus was Right...Right?

I listened as a fellow-minister bared his soul.  Years of struggle, hurt and disappointment had woven anguish and disillusionment into his once beautiful and sweet spirit.  As he pieced together the story of a recent ministry experience, my heart ached for him and for the church that sat in the sound-proof room largely ignorant of what was happening behind closed doors.  I also ached because he described a scene that many of us in ministry - teachers, elders, ministry leaders and ministers - have experienced on more than one occasion.  In fact it’s something that  too many Christians can relate to in some respect.  

“We talk about God, kingdom, ministry, evangelism and serving people like a company selling brooms,” he lamented.  He continued, “We sit in committees, discuss ministry “objectives” and begin our elder’s meetings with prayer only to quickly turn from the “presence of God” to nothing short of gamesmanship in the name of seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness.  We sit three feet from each other but we are really miles apart.  If the church could see us in “action” they would convulse.  Pride, arrogance and subterfuge hang in the air like a bad aroma.”  Then he said, “I think all of our talk about God and what’s best for the body of Christ is nothing short of a delusion that we accept as okay because our hearts are hard and our ears are deaf to the true call of God.  We talk of God but we know nothing of him.  Didn’t the apostle John say, “If you can’t love your brother who have seen, how can you love God whom you have not seen?” 

Perhaps you have heard a similar story.  Perhaps you experienced one and lived to tell about it.  To be people who claim to be involved in the greatest human endeavor on the planet, too often, we look and sound like spiritual misfits who have forgotten what happened at our baptism.  

As he told his story, my mind kept turning to Jesus’ words in Matthew 20:25-28:

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Simple…right?  “It shall not be so among you,” Jesus said.  If you want to be heard…if you want to lead…if you want to speak a convincing word about the kingdom whether it be outside or inside the body of Christ, you must be a servant.  A slave!  That’s what the Son of Man came to do.  God in the flesh washed feet.  He got low.  He laid his life – literally! – on the line. 

I ask my friend if his people knew the conversation Jesus had with his disciples in the Matthew text.  “By heart,” he said.

We know a lot of things by heart that are not “in our hearts.”  The spiritual horror show he was living through was not a matter of knowing the word.  Sadly, it was an habitual and conscious choice to circumvent good process and the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the interest of lesser interests parading as what is best for a particular situation.  “The vast majority of the junk you are experiencing”, I remarked, “is because your people have tied their worship to an hour on Sunday - if that - and have no concept of worship as a daily experience including and especially when they meet to discuss matters of the church."  Paul conveyed a similar sentiment in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.  

We concluded our phone call.  We prayed and I encouraged him a bit more.  In these situations you would like to say, “Just take a spiritual aspirin and it will be better in the morning.”  That’s never been my experience.  No.  It’s spiritual “transformation” that we need.  

Jesus set the bar of excellence a longtime ago.  Any congregation, any leadership, any committee any “anything” that wants to do work in the body of Christ that is noble and healthy will meditate on, pray over, and drive deep into their hands and feet the words of Jesus in Matthew 20.  

Jesus spoke them a few days before he went to the cross.  He must have been serious about them.  We should be, too.  And, when we do, listening, respect, kindness, service, honesty and genuine love will reign in our midst as those who once again remember that our deliberations are at the feet of the One who said, “Be like me.”  

I hope it helps my friend’s situation.  It’s our only viable alternative. 

Father, imprint onto our hearts the truth and blessing of the Son’s words.  Save us from our pride and self-centeredness.  Help us watch over our hearts with all diligence so that envy, anger and maliciousness will not be allowed to rule over us.  May we respond to each other with hearts that are full of the grace of God.  We own nothing.  We acknowledge that you own everything.  Thank you for allowing us to be a part of what you are doing through the gospel every day.  May our words and actions be a joy in your sight now and always.  Amen.

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas

Walk Two Miles

I’ve been reflecting on the Sermon on the Mount quite a bit lately. I’m in a phase where I am questioning a lot of things about our faith, including who we believe Jesus was and who Jesus calls us to be. I am spending a lot of time returning to the words that came straight from Jesus’ mouth. When was the last time you read the gospel passage about how to treat your enemies?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5.38-48).

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had anybody try to sue me and ask me for my shirt. I’ve never had anyone ask me to go a mile with them. I’ve never had someone slap me in the face. I’ve never experienced any of the things that this passage references, and I’m left wondering what to do with it. When I think about the first century Christian who Jesus spoke to, I see that my life is not like their lives. When have I ever experienced oppression? When have I ever been treated like a slave? Well, never. And when I think about the times that I’ve complained about being “persecuted” for my faith—times I was made fun of at school, times people were a little frigid when I saw them in the supermarket, times when people wished to see me fail because I was pursuing righteousness and they didn’t like the guilt that it made them feel, times when I didn’t get invited because people were afraid I might pass judgment—I feel a little sheepish. We’ve made some serious alterations to the definition to the words “persecution” and “oppression.” When I think about the lacerated backs, crucified bodies, flesh ravaged by lions of the first-century Christians, I remember that I have no reason to complain. I can’t justify my complaining and I shouldn’t try. It makes me look like I enjoy being lukewarm and cowardly.  

Often, the explanation I hear for this passage has to do with some kind of passive-aggression, with spiting our “oppressors” by responding well to their oppression. A “heaping burning coals” reference, of sorts (which, just so you know, doesn’t even mean what people think it means). Personally, I don’t think that’s what it could possibly mean, not in the context of first-century Christianity. Smug satisfaction wasn’t worth the risk of crucifixion, I don’t think. And I don’t think Jesus calls us to passive-aggressive behavior or doing the right thing because it will make another person frustrated and bewildered, in any century.

Here’s what I think. Say there was another human being who I disliked so much that I intentionally tried to inflict pain upon them. Say I did everything in my power to hurt them, with everything from slander to gossip to speaking unkindly to them when I came into contact with them. Say I did these things to someone repeatedly and their response was always characterized by kindness and love. Say they never tried to hurt me in return. I would certainly want to know why that was their response. Why aren’t they giving up and being unkind back? What is keeping them going? I’d probably want to ask them. And then they’d have the opportunity to tell me that Jesus Christ is the reason why they do everything they do, including being kind to someone as vicious as me.

When we respond this way in these situations, we give people the opportunity to ask. And they give us the opportunity to tell. When we answer the call in the situations that are the easiest to give in to, we are opening the door to share the gospel. And nothing—not our hurt pride, feelings, or wounded ego—is more important. Jesus’ response to mockery was “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Humanity took His life and, in return, He gave humanity everything. Much like being sent into the arena with lions, that’s beyond heaping burning coals. I hope that my pursuit of the gospel can move so far past vengeance that grace and salvation are all I can see. I want everyone to feel the fullness of that gift, even if it means defying their expectations for my reaction to their unkindness, just so I can share the gift of the gospel with them. And I want to remember that my situations of “persecution” aren’t that bad, anyway. The disciple I claim to be should be able to stand strong in the midst of them.

Erin Daugherty, Abilene Christian University

Reclaim the Temple

This past Sunday our congregation had the privilege of working through three texts on the Holy Spirit.  I should throw in the disclaimer that we only had time to see the big picture and to hit the high points presented in each text.  Here are the three texts:

¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. – Ephesians 2:19-22

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

I made the statement that the greatest texts in the New Testament about the Holy Spirit are “non-miraculous” texts.  When the subject of the Holy Spirit pops up in conversation, most often the chat steers toward interest in the miraculous out-pouring of the Holy Spirit.    

But, as I thought about the message of the above texts, I was once again struck by the “activity” of the Holy Spirit in each one.  Each text makes bold declarations about the Spirit's working in the kingdom and in the world NOW.  They remind us that the Christian life is much more than a one-dimensional experience of discipleship and living together as Christian community.  The above texts from Paul remind us that the Holy Spirit is working “right now” to bind believers together in unity in the gospel.  We present to the world the most magnificent temple humankind has ever seen.  Coming together as congregations in the Lord is no earthly enterprise.  The Holy Spirit dwells among us and desires to have his presence and work in the church of Jesus Christ revered and honored by how we work together in peace and love.  And, there is no separation of body and spiritual life for those who are members of Christ.  We are “individually” temples of the Holy Spirit.  Our calling by virtue of our covenant with the Lord is to glorify God in and with our bodies.  We literally “walk in the Spirit” everywhere we go.

As we worked through the great truths tucked away in these great texts it awakened me to the truth that we live in the world of the Holy Spirit.  We didn’t receive the Holy Spirit at baptism like a gift that someone gives us which we in turn shelve a few days later.  We received the Spirit like a new heart transplant.  He goes everywhere we go.  It awakened me to our need to live in a consciousness of the Spirit’s presence in our lives.  The Old Testament tabernacle/temple was a holy place because God made his presence known by the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire.  Our lives constitute holy places by virtue of the Spirit’s presence with the exception that we are “mobile temples.”  It awakened me to the truth that our preoccupation with “this life” (saving our lives, controlling life, indulging ourselves) may be due to the minimal amount of thought we give to these great truths about the Holy Spirit.   In fact, the experience of faith and community that Paul laid before his first readers was built on an appeal to their need become more aware of the Holy Spirit’s working in their lives and in their respective congregations.   According to Paul, if we separate ourselves from a consciousness of the Holy Spirit, discipleship is little more than a cold manufactured experience that has a short shelf life. 

 

We need to allow Paul’s words to come to life within us and within our congregations.  When we do, I think we will see more miracles - the really important kind.  For instance, we will see more  repentance and conversion in the lives of those estranged from God.  A large amount of the disease, fragmentation and arrogance that plagues our congregations will be rooted out because we are "awake" to the magnificence, presence and working of the Holy Spirit.  This will happen because this consciousness of the Spirit removes the blindness from our eyes and opens them to the truth that fellow believers aren't just "baptized" people who sit beside us on Sunday morning, members, chequered histories, and disagreeable personalities.  We see each other as temples of the Holy Spirit.  And, our affinity for living life as a subjective experience laced with narcissism will surrender to the kind of discernment that leads us in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.  

We need this consciousness of the Spirit!  We need it because it can bless our churches.  It can bless our families.  It can bless our meetings.  It can bless our bodies.  It can bless those who come in contact with us.  For they have not met a mere mortal.  They have made contact with someone in whom the Spirit of God is living!  Find something bigger than that on the planet.  If you do, I want to know about it!

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas