Overcome Evil With Good

We all saw the news of the pro-Trump protesters that overran the capital building yesterday. We’ve also seen the anger and strife of the past year over many political and social issues. I won’t try to enumerate all the sin and evil we’ve seen, which has come from all sides that people take. 

Instead, I've been thinking about what does a Christian do in times of strife and evil? Essentially, we do what we are always called to do: love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves. That second one is hard when a neighbor is on the opposite side of an issue from you. But just because it is hard doesn't mean it isn't the right thing to do.

The Apostle Paul suffered much as he went on his missionary journeys, recounted in Acts and some of his epistles. Sometimes he used his Roman citizenship to call to account those persecuting them. So we can't say that his love for his neighbor meant rolling over and not seeking justice. However, let's hear what he has to say, speaking to ancient Christians (and us) about living as a Christian in ancient, pagan Rome (and now).

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:14-21 (emphasis mine)

To my brothers and sisters in Christ: we cannot overcome evil with evil, sinful means. We overcome evil with good. Paul used his Roman citizenship to pursue justice, but that is different from vengeance - actively seeking to harm someone else for a wrong done to you. I urge you, and myself, to consider  how to actively do good, even to those individuals that hate you, to overcome evil.

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/action-adult-affection-eldery-339620/

On Masks

I'm not sure how face masks became a controversial, contentious issue, but going by my Facebook feed, they are. I'm surprised at the level of rancor directed at the issue of whether or not to wear one, from both pro and con sides. And yes, there are rational voices also. I suppose the debate between allowing personal freedom and making boundaries for safety/care for life is ongoing and a passionate one in our culture.

For my part, I have to think about this as a Christian - what Biblical principles may apply here and where does that leave us?

First, the second greatest commandment calls us to love our neighbor. Our neighbor is everyone around us. And how do we love them? We put the needs of others first (Philippians 2:3-4). We sacrifice for them even as Jesus sacrificed his life to save us, his people, from our sins. So, I can't give much weight to a mask being uncomfortable or difficult in some way. It is the loving thing to do to wear them to protect others from harm.

Second, we are called to submit to rightful authority over us (Romans 13:1). In our state, we are now essentially mandated to use them in public. Even before that, they were recommended and some businesses already required them. The only claim we can make to not obey an authority over us is when they require us to sin. I'm going to assume no one is seriously arguing that wearing a mask to prevent the spread of disease is sin.

Finally, I won't offer thoughts on whether or not they are effective against COVID-19. My expertise is not medical. However, those in public health are strongly recommending them. I don't have a Biblical case for their effectiveness, but that's hardly the purpose of the Bible. It seems wise to trust the public health and medical community in their area of expertise, particularly when there is a logical case to be made as it is a physical barrier.

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, let me encourage you to love and submit well by wearing a mask.

Wrestling with God's Steadfast Love

I'm working on a read through the Bible plan and have come to Psalm 136. If you follow that link, you'll see it is like a responsive reading, where a phrase is stated, followed by a refrain of "for his steadfast love endures forever."

For the first several verses, the refrain follows naturally after each phrase. We give thanks to God because of who he is (v. 1-3), then because of his awesome work of creation (v. 4-9). In both these things, we can know and trust that God's steadfast love endures forever.

However, we then get into the exodus and settling in Canaan. Verse 10a may be jarring to us: "to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt." This is followed again by the refrain "for his steadfast love endures forever." How are death and the plagues on Egypt connected to his steadfast love? One may experience a similar dissonance with verses 17-20, speaking of the destruction of kings and their people in settling Israel in the land of Canaan. Again, how does this connect to God's steadfast love that endures forever?

Let me point you to Romans 9. Go read it and come back. 

As we see here, God will have mercy on whom he chooses. He has set his love on his people. These are the people who he called to himself, to whom he gave his law, and who he redeemed out of Egypt. It is also who he has called out of darkness to light, out of sin and guilt to be free of our sins, who he has clothed in righteousness not our own. It is the people that Jesus suffered and died for, taking on our penalty. 

This love is not for the world. All people are justly condemned for their sin. We all deserve death of body and soul, including pharaoh and all the firstborn of Egypt, and the kings of Canaan, and you and me. 

But, God's love is indeed for those who trust in Christ's work alone to be saved from our sins. We are forgiven. And, our God will fight for his people against this remaining wickedness in the world, whether in Egypt, Canaan, or Sylva, NC, on behalf of his people.

And that is indeed a love that is steadfast, and endures forever.

The Powerful Word

I think many Christians are familiar with the passage in Hebrews 4:12:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Every now and then we get a reminder of this. I got one this morning. 

Deuteronomy 12:18 says

And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all that you undertake.

For some context, this verse is in the middle of a charge to the people of Israel to be faithful to take the land of Canaan and to worship in the place and manner God commanded. Specifically, it is in a passage about how the people are allowed to eat certain kinds of meat prepared in a certain way. Admittedly, this is a passage I am tempted to gloss over as these regulations don't apply in our day under the new covenant.

Now, for some context about me. I'm working through a plan to read the Bible in a year, which is looking more like two years given my current pace. That explains why I'm reading in Deuteronomy. Our family is also trying to sell our house and buy a new one in the area. I'm having a lot of anxiety over this. It's a huge decision and and awful lot of money, at least to me. This one part of a verse pointed to the "thoughts and intentions" of my heart. I wasn't rejoicing, but worrying. Quite a bit, actually.

I took two things away from this experience. One is a reminder that the systematic reading of God's word is indeed effective in our lives. You never know what verse may pierce through you, show you your life in a very uncomfortable light, and point you to God's way for our lives. I encourage you to participate in a plan for reading systematically through the Bible, even if you're on a multi-year plan to do so.

The second is I'm working on applying that verse and making an attitude change. This is the harder part, but I should rejoice in this undertaking of buying a house. It is a great blessing to possibly move out of our place to have some more room. I have so many other things to be grateful for, too. That is what I should think about and set my heart on.

Image Source: By Søren Niedziella from Denmark (Albion_Ljubljana_Medieval_Sword_16) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Plodding Habits - Bible Reading

As we approach Christmas and the end of the calendar year, I want to encourage those in our church and any other readers out there to adopt some habits that will feed your soul. First, consider making a plan for reading your Bible every day. This is a habit I have tried to pursue in my own life. When I stick to it, it has fed my soul and helped me see more of what God has to teach us in his Word.  I have found that the more I read through God's Word, the more I want it. God has often used passages I have read to guide me in current situations in life. We have the great privilege of abundant access to God's Word, and I encourage you to use it.

There is no one way to pursue this. Nor is there a command in Scripture that we must read part of it every day. It is not a sin to skip a day; God's love is not manipulated by your level of consistency in Scripture reading. However, we are to hide it in our hearts and we cannot do that if we do not read it.

Here are a few suggestions and resources that may help.

Evil vs. The Anchor

The list of wicked deeds in the news seems very long lately. A shooting at a concert in Las Vegas. A shooting at a church in Texas. Terrorists trying to drive into and harm as many civilians as they can. Even in our little community in Cullowhee, we have two recent shootings, one fatal. Celebrities are called out for sexual assault, opening a flood of accusations. Never mind the everyday wickedness we all face of being cheated, lied to, put down, or in some other way sinned against. It is heartbreaking and frustrating.

On top of these, is the sin in ourselves. This is the part we hate the most, or ignore the most, or perhaps both. We, in our anger, pride, lust, greed, and other forms of selfishness do as we wish.

All these together can be overwhelming. The darkness seems so great. What can we do against the evil without and within?

Our pastor gave a timely sermon on Sunday from Hebrews 6:13-20 on hope. First, we flee for refuge to our God who can save (v. 18). Second, we must remember we have an anchor for our souls - Christ himself (v. 19). This anchor is secured in God, who is "behind the curtain."

That is what we do when we are overwhelmed and hopeless, as if in a boat in a storm. Flee to Christ, believe the Gospel, and know you have a sure anchor for your soul.

John 16:33 says "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." We are not promised perfect happiness, wealth, or health in this life. We are promised tribulation. However, we are also promised that our anchor has overcome the world. Flee to Christ, trust in him as your secure anchor, and trust that those of us who are in Christ are secure until the end.

Image source

Reformation Day

I know Halloween is the more popular thing going on today, but today is indeed Reformation Day. That is, the day Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door of Wittenberg. He wanted an academic debate to reform the church over practices he saw that were contrary to scripture. In the 500 years since, yes there are the many fractured branches of the Protestants. And the reformers were still sinners. Luther, Calvin, Knox, to name a few, had their clear faults.

However, what was recovered was the doctrine of justification; that we are dead in our sins, but that God, solely out of his mercy, has chosen to love his people and forgive them, placing the punishment for their sins on Jesus. We do not and cannot earn God's favor.

What else was recovered was worship. We, the regular folks, got to participate again, to sing, to hear God's word in our own language, and to take both elements of the Lord's Supper.

So, I encourage you who are my brothers and sisters to be thankful today for what was recovered. And, we can pray even now for the whole Church to be reformed, indeed conformed, more and more to what our God would have us believe and do.

Can Introverts Qualify to be Elders?

Ironically, I've thought more about this question after I was installed as an elder than before. Still, it is a fair question. Another is how could someone who is drained by social interaction serve well as an elder? We have plenty of examples in scripture of men who appear to be extroverts, such as Peter, James and John (Sons of Thunder), Paul, David, Nehemiah, and more. Looking at these, we may think introversion is hardly desirable in a leader in the church.

However, we have the confounding factor that an extrovert will stand out more than an introvert as a consequence of the behavior associated with each. The extrovert will draw more attention (and perhaps more narrative) due to their higher levels of social interaction. It is not necessarily so, but could be.

Our better guide is to look at the qualifications set out for being an elder. Let's take a look at I Timothy 3: 1-7.

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

There are many aspects of a man's life to consider in these qualifications. We can summarize most of this by saying we should look for maturity and leadership. Maturity encapsulates most of the personal morality references to being above reproach, self-controlled, gentle, etc. Essentially, is he along the road of sanctification? Leadership includes aspects such as able to teach and leading his own household.

When we look at those two major categories of maturity and leadership, neither plainly disqualify an introvert. Maturity can clearly be true of introvert or extrovert. Leadership is the same. Though an introvert may have to push through some very social situations, that doesn't eliminate leadership qualities. Of course, neither category eliminates an extrovert either! Perhaps an extrovert would have to push through being self-controlled in the time he spends socially, but the fact of being extroverted would not disqualify him.

So, based on the general categories and specifics of the qualifications for elder, the introvert may have to overcome some things and the extrovert may have to overcome some things. Neither is disqualified just by being on the introversion/extroversion continuum. Not being mature enough to press on with his duties in spite of introversion/extroversion being a barrier in a given situation would be a problem and perhaps indicate not being qualified. I think this is one of the beauties of the Presbyterian system where a church is run by multiple elders. Hopefully, elders with complimentary gifts (and weaknesses) will be found on a Session so they can encourage each other.

Image Source: photographer:☻☺ (the only name given), title: "the prayer continued," used with no modification under Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 2.0; source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/c0t0s0d0/2334183401

Memorizing Scripture

Memorizing Scripture is not a popular topic. Memorization in general is not a priority of in our culture. I work in the education field and see a focus on the higher order skills such as critical thinking, evaluation, and creativity (to oversimplify) as much as possible and as early as possible in a student's life. On the one hand, well and good. I certainly want my fellow humans to engage in critical thinking and creativity. And, if you need a fact, you can look up something on Google on your smartphone in a few seconds.

However, I don't know what you would think critically about if you don't have some thoughts to begin with, some material knowledge to work on.

So yes, in our 21st century Christian life, we can pull up our Bible app and search for verses by keyword as we need them. I suggest that is very different from memorizing scripture passages. Key verses you memorize not only stay with you; they shape our thinking about our circumstances. When you are in trouble and anxious, the memory of Philippians 4:6-7 may come to mind and encourage you to prayer and trusting God's promises. Also, we have the positive example of Psalm 119:11 to hide or store God's word in our hearts to the end that we would not sin against him.

The older I get, the worse I am at memorizing (not that I was ever that good). But, I'm going to make an effort and encourage you to do the same. Don't start by trying to memorize an entire book of the Bible. Start with some key verses and work at a pace where you do learn but push toward becoming better at it. I recommend this list for some verses to start memorizing.
First 15 Bible Verses to Memorize