Dirty, Bearded & Barefoot

I almost named my new book Take Off Your Shoes! It seemed like an insightful reference to God’s quirky command when he first appeared to Moses in that burning bush. What a great, snappy call to worship! But I relented after people I trust insisted that kind of title would turn buyers off. Church people in America don’t want to take off their shoes in our posh, richly carpeted, color coordinated, air-conditioned, high-tech worship arenas. When was the last time your church celebrated foot-washing?

Sometimes I wonder if 21st Century believers are working hard to accomplish some of the very things Moses crossed a blistering desert to escape. I mean, Egypt had splendor, sophistication and technology. But Moses sacrificed it all to become a dirty, bearded, barefoot prophet for a God who wanted to live in a tent! Something tells me that Moses wouldn’t have the first idea about what to do at one of our Arts & Worship Conferences.

In a world where even the term modern seems archaic to people who call themselves postmodern, what are we to make of those bearded, barefoot guys from the Stone Age who wrote our Bible? In 1500 BC, high-tech was all about carving granite artistically. Not only did God forbid being represented by some artistic graven image, but he even warned his people not to use tools to decorate their altars. [EX 20:26] Moses was so astute, he didn’t even argue that everybody back in Egypt built their altars with dressed stones. Selah.

Of course we understand why Old Testament prophets appear out of step with our sophisticated world of I-Phones and high fashion, but we tend to forget they looked painfully unsophisticated to their uncivilized neighbors, too. I think people were shocked when Isaiah walked down the street stripped down to his underwear. The nerve! And we know for a fact that David’s emissaries were so humiliated when a foreign king shaved off half their beards that they were allowed to remain in hiding until their beards grew back. So how foolish do you suppose Ezekiel looked when God ordered him to shave his hair and his beard?

The holy men who wrote our Bible needed to have their feet washed before they could eat with friends because both animals and people went to the bathroom alongside every road and highway they traversed. And they were lucky to enjoy a bath even once a week.

It should remind us that there is such a thing as trying too hard. Sometimes we try much too hard for sophistication in a ministry that has often been advanced by men who looked like fools. Sure, Paul complimented the Greeks at Mars Hill on their diverse religiosity, but only a few sentences later he reminded them they were all accountable to the One True God. It really didn’t go that well!

I remind myself that God has seldom valued virtues like polish and chic sophistication. He has always worked to cultivate things like durable faith and visible integrity. And when I recall that some of the holiest men who ever lived had matted beards and smelly feet, I remember that God cherishes humility as well.

Welcome to the Desert!

Learn more about Tim's new book, Treasure in the Sand at www.TreasureintheSand.org.

Aim for the Heart

Some friends and I spent the morning at a NRA firing range a few weeks ago. We were accompanied by a gun enthusiast who opened the trunk of his automobile and unpacked the most amazing arsenal of dangerous toys and ammo! We fired a Smith & Wesson 500, the most powerful handgun in the world. With the right cartridge, it will stop a charging elephant! We had a Kel-Tech SU 22 rifle which was so deadly accurate that even I racked up 4 bulls eyes in 6 shots! We laughed and blasted away at paper targets for three hours.

The guys and I are part of a Life Group that meets in my home every other Friday night. There are couples and singles from a range of ages and ethnic backgrounds. Some have kids and others are retired. We always spend an hour in lively discussion of one passage in the Bible or another. Otherwise, we talk and laugh and eat; and the last person usually leaves somewhere around 11:00 - 11:30 PM! One night we actually got everyone outside by 11:00 but then they all stood around talking and admiring the stars until after midnight!

In the Bible, deep friendships among the people of God can be found in almost every chapter. But it can be a lot more difficult to find those kinds of friendships in American churches today. Too often we find that Christians have "church friends" and then they have real friends, but the two groups don't overlap. A real friend is someone you could call with a problem at 2:00 AM. Most of us wouldn't dream of disturbing our church friends at that hour. What would they think of me?

I suspect that last question is very revealing: "what would they think of me?" It makes sense that some people might not want friends at church. Maybe I'm afraid that my life won't pass inspection. So I mingle in the parking lot and chit chat with my church friends, but then I meet my real friends on the golf course where I can lighten up and be myself. It's hard acting like a saint while you're trying to hit that unpredictable little white ball with demonic dimples!

I once heard a preacher argue that we'd all be better off if God would just write our sins on our foreheads so that everyone could see them. Then there would be no point in trying to conceal them or pretend I'm perfect or sinless or nearly beatified. I could just be myself- a guy who needs Christ because I'm not so together. It would be okay to act that way if everybody already knew the truth, wouldn't it?

I've told our folks at Providence that "church friends" are a rip-off and a cheap substitute. We should settle for nothing less than real friends. True friendship is one of the most satisfying and essential blessings the Christian faith offers. Sure, it's work. It requires making allowance for the sins and peculiarities of others, even as you recognize that you're not The Finished Product either. It requires dealing with that constantly nagging fear of rejection. What if they don't like me? What if I'm not good enough?

Remember those lyrical words from 1 John 4:18? "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

John isn't describing what perfect love will be like in Heaven. He's talking about what the love of Christ makes possible for you and me on the Earth today. Even in a world of dissension and distrust, we can experience a kind of love that is alien to this planet. We can experience the unconditional commitment of other forgiven sinners who can understand my struggles because they have been there.

Guns are one form of security, but they don't really cast out fear. Even people holding loaded weapons experience fear from time to time. But love is more powerful than guns. When I love someone, I am suddenly able to set aside my fears and act in faith. I'm not afraid of being rejected. I'm not afraid of failing to measure up. I'm not afraid of looking like a sinner; I already do. I set my fears aside and walk in faith with other people who love Jesus.

If this sounds too good to be true, take a few minutes and read 1 John 4. Authentic friendship is the most overlooked topic in 1 John, and it's the best kept secret in the Church. We can really love each other because Jesus first loved us.

Selah.

The Most Surprising Thing Jesus Never Said

A friend of mine mocks people who wear WWJD bracelets. Sure, their motives are good. But no one can ever say, "I know exactly what Jesus would do." Even Christ's buds in the 1st Century couldn't predict what he would do or say next. His astonishing words and deeds constantly took the people around him by surprise.

For instance, think of all the mystifying miracles the Lord performed just because someone asked. He resuscitated a dead boy, a dead girl and a dead friend. He healed lepers, brought sight to people born blind, and commanded a man to walk despite the fact he'd been paralyzed most of his life! He calmed a storm just because his disciples were having a panic attack. Take a moment to review just some of the outrageous things Jesus did and said to repair the problems of his fellow human beings.

Then recall what happens in Luke 12:13 when a nice guy in a crowd asks Jesus for some help with a family problem. "Hey Jesus," he calls out, "Could you please tell my brother to share my father's estate with me?" Think about it: you and I can completely relate to this man. His dad has passed away. His older brother inherited everything. And now some time has passed and the older sibling refuses to share any of the estate with one of the rightful heirs.

If Jesus can transform a leper back to health or repair eyes that have never seen the light of day, imagine how easily he can remedy this family problem. It won't even require a miracle. All he has to do is just say, "Hey friend, share the estate with your brother. You know your father would want this, and it will strengthen your ties with your family. Don't ever be afraid to share!"

You'd say something like that if you were Jesus. So would I. But if you're familiar with Luke 12: 13-21, you know that Jesus absolutely refuses! Instead, he replies to the guy in the crowd, "Friend, who has authorized me to judge between you and your brother?" If you're really paying attention, you'll understand this must seem outrageous! Christ is always talking about loving, sharing, giving of yourself. And now, when it would make such a difference in one life, he refuses to tell a selfish brother to share his father's estate?

Let's ask God for a teachable spirit here. Instead of ordering the other man to share, Christ tosses out two powerful statements. First, he tells the man in the crowd to be careful and beware of every kind of covetousness. Second, he reminds him that life is not measured by how much stuff you own.

Christ warns the man in the crowd, "Don't ever, ever let greed or covetousness take root in your life- even when you have a right to something." Think about that. Greed is so insidious and so cancerous that it can spread through my system and fill me with sin, even if it's the justifiable kind; even if I have a right to something that has been withheld from me. Followers of Christ must never tolerate covetous desires in our lives, even when we can rationalize them. It's too dangerous.

Secondly, Christ reminds the man that even if his brother should share the estate, it won't add measurably to his life. He would have more things, but not every thing that was possible. If the only limit on your desires if what you cannot afford, your desires will always change with your circumstances and you may never be happy. Christ reminds the wronged sibling to find a more accurate way to measure his life. (In 12:13 he will encourage him to seek a rich relationship with God. That's the measure of life.)

I taught this lesson at our church last Wednesday night. Afterward a man came up to me and commented, "You were really talking to me tonight, Pastor." I've heard that before so I wasn't surprised. The parable of the rich fool speaks to all of us. So I nodded and smiled, but he continued. He explained that when his father died a few years ago, the entire estate went to his mom and should have left her comfortable for life. But a year or two later, he learned that one of his siblings had secretly gone to his tenderhearted mom and conned her into giving up a huge chunk of the inheritance. The man said, "I've been angry and bitter ever since. I realize tonight I have to forgive and let it go." I assured him that he does. And so do we all.

I understand this flies in the face of everything you've been taught as an American consumer. (It offended people in Christ's world, too. They killed him. Duh!) Labor unions train us never to settle for less. Attorneys advise us to hold out for everything we deserve. Madison Avenue whips us up into a feeding frenzy over the newest laptop, the next edition of the I-Phone, the skinnier version of the I-Pad, the bigger, thinner HD-TV screen. That's what shopping is all about: looking and lusting.

Christ says, "The thing you should never settle for is a greedy, covetous heart." You will never get everything you want on the Earth. And you'll completely miss the things you need." Life is measured by how much we trust God.

Gold Plated Religion & 14 Kt Faith

Here in the USA, 2010 has brought us to a curious and surprising moment: giving to the needy has become a fashion statement! I'm not joking! Back in June, billionaires Warren Buffet and Bill Gates hosted a posh dinner affair for some of America's Top 2%, and challenged them to give away half their wealth to charity! Although it hasn't become a tidal wave yet, the list of CEO's issuing press releases with plans to share 50% is beginning to grow. Already some are suggesting this is just too public and too exclusive. "Sure you can afford to drive a Bugati and spend your weekends on a yacht with beautiful people from Hollywood, but are you wealthy enough to give half your fortune away?" But let's wish these folks well.

You might be more impressed by another story that surfaced last week. We learned that the estate of the late Johnny Carson has just given $167 million to a whole list of charitable organizations. Mr. Carson was apparently quite generous throughout his famed career, but we never knew the rest of the story until last week. He died 5 years ago, so he clearly didn't do it for publicity.

This all came to mind as I've been thinking about the commands of Christ. On one occasion he told a wealthy young man to sell his vast holdings, give the money to the poor, and follow him. On another occasion, he warned a would be follower that the Son of God owned no house where he could lay his head. And then there's that pesky story of the poor widow whom the Lord commended when she gave her last two pennies to charity at the Temple.

Some have asked, "But surely she wasn't giving her last money in the world! Jesus wouldn't want her to starve to death, would he?" Those are interesting questions, but they miss the point. Perhaps she had a garden at home where she could pick some tomatoes and beans. Maybe she had a caring cousin who dropped by most Fridays to deliver some stew. But the point remains the same: she gave the only money she had because she was sure her Heavenly Father would provide for her no matter what. Money was only one of her resources, and the easiest to give away!

Before you and I speak too harshly about the motives of mostly non-Christian billionaires who may be obsessed with good PR, we should probably give more thought to the motives of 21st Century "disciples" like us who who seem obsessed with the Good Life. Most of us aren't giving away anything close to 50% for the right motives or the wrong ones. And we certainly haven't sacrificed our last nickel for the more profound needs of others.

Jesus told us, "Life is not measured by how much you own," but we still check the value of our houses every couple of months. And when his apostles reminded him, "Lord we have given up our houses, our lands- everything to follow you," he didn't say "You'll have it all back in a year or two." Rather, he said "You'll get it all back a hundred times over in Heaven."

For hundreds of years, the most celebrated figures in the Church were compassionate leaders who embraced poverty for the Kingdom of God; Patrick of Ireland, Francis of Assisi, Brother Charles of Jesus, the list goes on and on. Today we prefer heroes who have made it big and have some bling to show for it. Something tells me we are missing something important. Something tells me it's a cross.

What do you think?

Disappointed with Church

A famous novelist made news last week when she announced she was quitting Christianity. Anne Rice was already well-known for her seductive vampire novels, like Interview with a Vampire, when she announced in 1998 that she was returning to her childhood faith, Catholicism. She began to write novelized accounts of New Testament stories as a way of reflecting her new found faith.

Recently, a friend apparently called her attention to the hateful rants of some angry online preacher in Minnesota. He hates gays and despises Muslims, and tried to find some lesson in the fact that Muslims hate homosexuals too. Ms. Rice was so offended that she wrote about how hard it is to belong to a church that's so full of contempt for groups of people. A day or two later on Facebook, she announced she would continue to admire Jesus, but that she was done with His Church for good.

I can sympathize with Anne Rice. I am often offended by the comments of some of the fringe people who say they are followers of Christ. Most Americans are now aware that those cruel, scowling hate mongers who protest at US military funerals not only profess to be Christians, but Baptists as well! Frankly, those strident zealots have nothing in common with me except that live in America.

But when people write off the Church because of the behavior of a few, they are revealing a lot more than they intend. I am ashamed of some of the things my fellow Americans say and do, but I would never renounce America and move away because a few head cases make outrageous remarks. Sometimes I even disagree with comments made by our Presidents, but people in America are free like that. If I should ever discover that large numbers of Americans were organizing to harm one population group or another, I would fight that conspiracy until my dying breath. But nobody can stop their fellow countrymen from expressing their ideas- even stupid ones!

That's also true of the Church. In order to guarantee freedom of religion for all, no one has federal authority to say which group is really a Christian church, and which group is simply a fringe, hate group. Even within most churches and denominations, no one has the authority to go around expelling counterfeits, hypocrites, and evil members of the Visible Church! Jesus made it clear that there will always be tares (weeds) growing up alongside the true believers in the Church. They won't be separated until the End. We would probably never uproot them all, and we'd become suspicious and hateful by trying so hard.

Jesus tells us to be discerning. "You will know them by their fruits," he counsels us. In other words, before I assume someone is actually a part of the Church of Jesus Christ, I should examine the results of his life and words. If someone's life and words are not Christlike, he is not a reflection of Christ or His Church. I don't need to leave the church to get away from him. He doesn't belong!

I'm sorry Anne Rice has hit this stumbling block in her search. I wish her well and I hope she'll keep looking to Jesus. It probably feels purifying and cleansing to make dramatic public statements about evil people who hate in the name of religion. But if Ms. Rice will keep looking, she will eventually find a group of New Testament believers who love Christ with all their hearts and their neighbors as themselves. She will find a true welcome there, and that bond of community will feel even more satisfying and wholesome than all those verbal hand grenades she was lobbing at the Church last week.