Today's thoughts come a little late (I may have been half-marathoning season nine of Doctor Who yesterday), a little uncertain, and very much targeted at myself.
Confession time: I don't like being up in front of people. Offer me a stage, and I will more than likely turn it down for work in the sound booth. Suggest me for a leadership role, and I will gracefully decline for a support role. As long as there is someone else who is equally or better suited for the task, I gladly deffer to him or her. These are the confessions of a performer, teacher, orator, actor, and occasional leader.
I don't ever feel like I need to be the center of attention, or that I am the person best equipped to be in charge. In fact, I take a great deal of joy in doing my best work to help others accomplish their goals, dreams, and visions.
But I grew up on the stage. My Mother had me performing for audiences from a young age. With practice I improved in my ability to appear calm and move on with the show. So I can sing, I can act, and I can deliver a rousing speech (especially if someone else has written a rousing speech for me to deliver). Even still, if I think that I don't really need to be up there, then I usually won't be.
The same philosophy applies to interactions with crowds. I don't want to be the center of attention, and so I contentedly stick to the fringes where I can see and hear and enjoy the crowd without imposing my consciousness upon it.
With this in mind it will probably come as no surprise that I, for most of my life have ascribed to the evangelical camp of, 'I am going to live my Christian life without foisting religious conversation on the people around me.' The statement is something like this, and I've heard it maybe a hundred times with slight variations, "I just want to let people see my faith by how I live." That was me. Even when in high school I could look around and see that there was something I understood, something I had that others needed, I was too shy, too scared, and uncertain where or how to begin to share my faith...so I didn't. I just lived it...I think.
Before I step up onto a soapbox (the same one I will be using to beat myself over the head for quiet some time, no doubt) let me make one thing clear. As followers of Christ, the world ought to be able to see our faith in our actions. If they are watching, they should be able to notice and sense a difference in us; especially in regards to our hope, peace, humility, confidence, repentance, and forgiveness. They kind of expect us to be "holy" and "righteous", but what they really notice is when we follow through with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We absolutely ought to be living out our faith. James makes it clear that faith that doesn't produce action is dead. And certainly, there are numerous stories of people coming to Christ because they noticed how someone lived their faith.
An active faith is essential. But speaking is an action too.
Again, I am saying these things to myself first, because I'm still trying to figure this out and work past my own fears. But that's just it. So many of us use this excuse of solely living out our faith without verbally sharing it not because that is what we have been called by God to do, but because we are afraid to do otherwise. It is fear that motivates our silence, not faith.
But let me back up. Though I began with much this same evangelistic strategy, I have noticed more and more the prevalence of the same method among Christians in my life, and with each encounter I have become increasingly troubled by it. Especially as I have moved into leadership roles where I worked with youth much like my younger self. For years now these statements of living a silent gospel have grated at my heart, causing me to be simultaneously frustrated with these young people and angry with myself for living the same way. This weekend part of this issue finally clicked.
I was listening to a radio program where a group of young Christians were talking about various things in life. Suddenly one of the young ladies used the phrase, "I feel like more people are going to notice me just for being different." My mental response--and again, this is me talking to myself, not necessarily this young lady--was, "what makes you think so many people are interested in how you live your life? Why do you think everyone is watching you?"
The answer probably stems back to standard paranoia. They are always watching...
But seriously, what is it about this bloggy, vloggy, twitter infested, facebook wallpapered culture that makes us think that so many people are so closely scrutinizing our lives that we don't have to be overt about what really matters?
I'm not saying it is time to go out and do some Bible bashing among the heathen. James tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. But God doesn't tell us to be silent about his good news. There should be balance in everything. We must live love, but we must also speak truth. The two are not mutually exclusive. They both originate from God. They are two parts of the same thing, and we see them beautifully unified in the life of Jesus.
We have the most wonderful news in all the world. Why do I find it so hard to talk about? I'm still trying to figure out how to have those conversations. I pray that God would give me the wisdom to know how and when, the boldness to step out, and the love for others that would drive me to break through my fears and to speak in faith.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Sunday, September 11, 2016
The Voice of God
Children can be humorous creatures. They can also be treacherous, back-stabbing, tattle-tales. Just the other day in one of my younger classes there was a moment during instruction when one of my delightful, little students decided to make a sudden, though brief, outburst. The incident was not surprising. However, the response of the other students did catch my attention. One of the students in particular felt the need to immediately point at the offender either to assist in the investigation or to avoid any accusations in his direction. I gently informed my finger flinging friend that it wasn't his job to point fingers, and that I have very good hearing and knew exactly who had created the sudden din. Then I turned to the entire class and--so as to inspire a healthy, though not dangerous, fear--said, "as a music teacher I have very good hearing."
As if other teachers aren't scary enough with eyes in the backs of their heads, music teachers are even more terrifying. When standing with their back to the class, they can not only tell when something is afoot, they can also tell who is involved, what they are planning, whether or not they have a cold, what pitch they are speaking, and how much milk they had on their cereal for breakfast. Yes, there is a difference between cold-voice and dairy-voice. Fear the ears.
Of course I understand that there are a great many people beyond music teachers who have impressive hearing abilities. It is incredible the way God made our aural systems to differentiate and identify sounds. How many of you even need caller ID when a friend or family member calls? I mean to identify them, not screen them. That's another issue entirely that you should probably stop avoiding.
Our ears can enjoy our favorite songs. They can pick voices out of a crowd. They can differentiate frequencies. They can detect a vibrating phone in luggage on the third night of camp when campers were supposed to turn in their phones on the first day. (It was his mom calling. Parents, we call that enabling. Unless you're doing it to get them caught. In that case we call it team work!)
Even with all the voices my brain has heard and catalogued over the years it is still capable of differentiating and identifying a crazy number of voices. (Now if I could just remember their names.) But one area in which my ears don't seem to be much help is identifying the voice of God.
When Jesus was describing his relationship to his disciples in the Gospel of John (chapter 10) he said that he was the good shepherd and they were the sheep. Once you get past the sting of realizing just how stupid sheep are, you realize that the comparison is rather fitting. The good shepherd looks after and takes care of the sheep even when things get dangerous; even when the sheep wander off into foolish situations...again...for the hundredth time. The good shepherd is always there, and will always fight for the good of his sheep. More than that, Jesus tells us that the good shepherd knows each of the sheep by name (why shepherds were naming each of their sheep back then, I don't know), and that the sheep know his voice.
My understanding is that in those days it was not uncommon for shepherds to use a community sheep pen at night so that the sheep wouldn't wander off and the shepherds could help each other keep watch and protect the sheep. Just imagine what it would be like in the morning to have to sort out the various flocks. I would think it could take all morning if it weren't for the ability of sheep to identify their shepherd's voice. Every morning the shepherd would call, and his sheep would hear and follow him to green pastures and calm waters. "When he has brought out all his own," Jesus says, "he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."
What a beautiful picture! There is only one problem. As finely tuned as my ears are, I have never heard the physical voice of God. It's all fine and dandy for the sheep to hear a shepherd, but how are we supposed to hear and know the voice of God? The question was recently put to me in these terms, "How are we supposed to differentiate the voice of God from the voice of the world around us?" This is a crucial question, because Jesus goes on to explain that there are other players at work than just the shepherd and the sheep. There is a thief. He comes with one trifold purpose: steal, kill, and destroy. If we aren't listening to the good shepherd, then we are following the thief. So how can we tell the difference?
The entire situation can become paralyzingly frightening, but don't fear. It is not as impossible as the enemy wants us to think. Jesus has already assured us that the sheep know his voice, and the shepherd knows the sheep. God knows each and every one of us intimately. He knows how best to communicate with each of us. To make things even more clear, He has given us His own words in the scriptures, the Bible. If you're not sure which voice is His, then read what He has written. His voice and his heart fill the text. With all the voices vying for our attention in this world it can be easy to tune out God's voice. So what if we spent more time reading the Bible than we do reading the news (or facebook, twitter, reddit, pinterest, etc.)?
But why stop there. God is not an impersonal god who can only be heard through written text. Like the bleating sheep who is lost and trapped, we can call out to God, and he hears us. The best way I have discovered to get to know someone's voice is by spending time with them and talking with them. God tells us time and again to come to Him with anything and everything that weighs on our hearts and minds. Bring Him your cares and concerns, and bring Him your joys and thanksgiving. Then, as in any conversation, we need to quiet ourselves and listen. I don't know about you, but that can be the hardest part for me. I still want to do it, because I want to be sure I hear Him when He has something to say.
We may not be able to hear God with our ears, but we can rest assured knowing that we do not worship a silent God. Our God is not a mute idol or a cold text. Ours is the God who spoke creation into existence. His words formed the mountains, the oceans, and the stars. And He is still speaking today. He is the good shepherd, and the sheep know His voice, and follow Him.
As if other teachers aren't scary enough with eyes in the backs of their heads, music teachers are even more terrifying. When standing with their back to the class, they can not only tell when something is afoot, they can also tell who is involved, what they are planning, whether or not they have a cold, what pitch they are speaking, and how much milk they had on their cereal for breakfast. Yes, there is a difference between cold-voice and dairy-voice. Fear the ears.
Of course I understand that there are a great many people beyond music teachers who have impressive hearing abilities. It is incredible the way God made our aural systems to differentiate and identify sounds. How many of you even need caller ID when a friend or family member calls? I mean to identify them, not screen them. That's another issue entirely that you should probably stop avoiding.
Our ears can enjoy our favorite songs. They can pick voices out of a crowd. They can differentiate frequencies. They can detect a vibrating phone in luggage on the third night of camp when campers were supposed to turn in their phones on the first day. (It was his mom calling. Parents, we call that enabling. Unless you're doing it to get them caught. In that case we call it team work!)
Even with all the voices my brain has heard and catalogued over the years it is still capable of differentiating and identifying a crazy number of voices. (Now if I could just remember their names.) But one area in which my ears don't seem to be much help is identifying the voice of God.
When Jesus was describing his relationship to his disciples in the Gospel of John (chapter 10) he said that he was the good shepherd and they were the sheep. Once you get past the sting of realizing just how stupid sheep are, you realize that the comparison is rather fitting. The good shepherd looks after and takes care of the sheep even when things get dangerous; even when the sheep wander off into foolish situations...again...for the hundredth time. The good shepherd is always there, and will always fight for the good of his sheep. More than that, Jesus tells us that the good shepherd knows each of the sheep by name (why shepherds were naming each of their sheep back then, I don't know), and that the sheep know his voice.
My understanding is that in those days it was not uncommon for shepherds to use a community sheep pen at night so that the sheep wouldn't wander off and the shepherds could help each other keep watch and protect the sheep. Just imagine what it would be like in the morning to have to sort out the various flocks. I would think it could take all morning if it weren't for the ability of sheep to identify their shepherd's voice. Every morning the shepherd would call, and his sheep would hear and follow him to green pastures and calm waters. "When he has brought out all his own," Jesus says, "he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."
What a beautiful picture! There is only one problem. As finely tuned as my ears are, I have never heard the physical voice of God. It's all fine and dandy for the sheep to hear a shepherd, but how are we supposed to hear and know the voice of God? The question was recently put to me in these terms, "How are we supposed to differentiate the voice of God from the voice of the world around us?" This is a crucial question, because Jesus goes on to explain that there are other players at work than just the shepherd and the sheep. There is a thief. He comes with one trifold purpose: steal, kill, and destroy. If we aren't listening to the good shepherd, then we are following the thief. So how can we tell the difference?
The entire situation can become paralyzingly frightening, but don't fear. It is not as impossible as the enemy wants us to think. Jesus has already assured us that the sheep know his voice, and the shepherd knows the sheep. God knows each and every one of us intimately. He knows how best to communicate with each of us. To make things even more clear, He has given us His own words in the scriptures, the Bible. If you're not sure which voice is His, then read what He has written. His voice and his heart fill the text. With all the voices vying for our attention in this world it can be easy to tune out God's voice. So what if we spent more time reading the Bible than we do reading the news (or facebook, twitter, reddit, pinterest, etc.)?
But why stop there. God is not an impersonal god who can only be heard through written text. Like the bleating sheep who is lost and trapped, we can call out to God, and he hears us. The best way I have discovered to get to know someone's voice is by spending time with them and talking with them. God tells us time and again to come to Him with anything and everything that weighs on our hearts and minds. Bring Him your cares and concerns, and bring Him your joys and thanksgiving. Then, as in any conversation, we need to quiet ourselves and listen. I don't know about you, but that can be the hardest part for me. I still want to do it, because I want to be sure I hear Him when He has something to say.
We may not be able to hear God with our ears, but we can rest assured knowing that we do not worship a silent God. Our God is not a mute idol or a cold text. Ours is the God who spoke creation into existence. His words formed the mountains, the oceans, and the stars. And He is still speaking today. He is the good shepherd, and the sheep know His voice, and follow Him.
Sunday, September 04, 2016
The World Has One Rule
Here we are enjoying another relaxing Sunday afternoon. Per my general routine, I found myself revisiting a movie from my small (but oh, so good) collection while eating a delicious lunch (today it was leftover pasta with ground beef in a red sauce). The cinematic selection was a philosophical film from 1979 called The Frisco Kid. In this comedic clash of cultures a Jewish rabbi from Poland named Abram (played by Gene Wilder) ventures across the United States to deliver a Torah to a new synagogue in 1850's San Francisco. The rabbi is obviously out of his element when Tommy--a scruffy looking bank robber, played by Harrison Ford--meets up with him. Tommy offers help a little at a time until next thing you know the two are trudging through the snow of the Rocky Mountains.
It is at this point in the film where I encountered a line that had in the past only been a humorous jab, but today packed more of a poignant punch. The unlikely amigos are bedding down in a stable when Tommy suggests staying put for a few months to wait out the bad weather. Abram insists that too much time has been wasted already, and Tommy gets flustered because some of that time has been due to Abram's strict adherence to the Sabbath.
For those who don't know, God commanded the people of Israel to not work on the Sabbath--what we would call Saturday--and because of this the Jews made a lot of rules to ensure that no work would occur on the Sabbath. Among the rules is a statute forbidding them from riding on the Sabbath. They won't ride a train or a horse...though I wonder how Abram managed to cross the ocean without jumping overboard for a Saturday swim.
Here comes the part that caught my attention. Abram reminds Tommy that it is against his religion to ride on a Saturday. To which, Tommy replies, "I got me a new religion too! And one of the things you ain't allowed to do is die!"
I don't know how many times growing up I heard my Dad say, "if you want to get rich, start a new religion." So the notion of Tommy inventing a new religion so that he could get what he wanted was just another comical gesture...until today. This time as I was enjoying my afternoon amusement I realized that Tommy was stating the most important tenet of the most religious majority of people in this world; Thou shalt not die.
We were discussing this very thing in Sunday school this morning as we considered the implications of a creator of all things. If there is a creator of all things, then there is a God and it is not me. He is the one who determines the how and the why. He sets the standard of morality, righteousness, and justice. He makes things as they are and I have no place trying to make them anything other than what he created.
However, if there is not a creator of all things, then the only god in my world is me. There is no higher authority unless I submit myself to some other thing. I say what is right and wrong. I say what should and shouldn't be. I can look at what is and find no qualms in spending a great deal of time, effort, and resources in making it other than what it is. There is no standard that really matters. If I can do something, why shouldn't I?
Though there is a problem with being god. If I am god, then my story ends with god dying. Therefore, we as gods need one rule; you're not allowed to die. And we have tried to follow that rule. Countless resources and man-hours--nay, man-lives--have been given to the search for immortality; yet to no avail. Again, if there is a God then we have no right to change what is to what was not meant to be.
Yet, age after age the world reels against the flow of time. Day after day over 150,000 people cry out, "I'm not supposed to die!" It's against their religion.
Is this all they are living for? Another day, another chance to survive the cosmic lottery. They believe that lottery is what jump-started life from a primordial ooze. But do they realize that in such a universe the lottery is still running? Only now it is not a gamble to start life, but to end it, and each day we are playing against the odds.
IF, however, there is indeed a God and creator of the universe, then our lives--each and every one of them--has meaning and a purpose. Because that means that God chose to make YOU. He didn't have to do it. It wasn't enough for this world to have me, your weird cousin, and the guy who makes sure the printer at the New York Times is running. He wanted to make you. His plan isn't complete without you having some role in it.
Our lives are not by chance. We are not just giant fruit-flies; here to pester the world for a few days while we try to eat as much as possible and lay our eggs before we die so that our descendants can continue to torment the world for ages to come. We are so much more. We are created in the image of God so that we can have a personal relationship with Him. Do you want that? I should warn you, there are no rules about not dying. But He does promise that you will live with Him forever. If you ask me, that is infinitely better.
It is at this point in the film where I encountered a line that had in the past only been a humorous jab, but today packed more of a poignant punch. The unlikely amigos are bedding down in a stable when Tommy suggests staying put for a few months to wait out the bad weather. Abram insists that too much time has been wasted already, and Tommy gets flustered because some of that time has been due to Abram's strict adherence to the Sabbath.
For those who don't know, God commanded the people of Israel to not work on the Sabbath--what we would call Saturday--and because of this the Jews made a lot of rules to ensure that no work would occur on the Sabbath. Among the rules is a statute forbidding them from riding on the Sabbath. They won't ride a train or a horse...though I wonder how Abram managed to cross the ocean without jumping overboard for a Saturday swim.
Here comes the part that caught my attention. Abram reminds Tommy that it is against his religion to ride on a Saturday. To which, Tommy replies, "I got me a new religion too! And one of the things you ain't allowed to do is die!"
I don't know how many times growing up I heard my Dad say, "if you want to get rich, start a new religion." So the notion of Tommy inventing a new religion so that he could get what he wanted was just another comical gesture...until today. This time as I was enjoying my afternoon amusement I realized that Tommy was stating the most important tenet of the most religious majority of people in this world; Thou shalt not die.
We were discussing this very thing in Sunday school this morning as we considered the implications of a creator of all things. If there is a creator of all things, then there is a God and it is not me. He is the one who determines the how and the why. He sets the standard of morality, righteousness, and justice. He makes things as they are and I have no place trying to make them anything other than what he created.
However, if there is not a creator of all things, then the only god in my world is me. There is no higher authority unless I submit myself to some other thing. I say what is right and wrong. I say what should and shouldn't be. I can look at what is and find no qualms in spending a great deal of time, effort, and resources in making it other than what it is. There is no standard that really matters. If I can do something, why shouldn't I?
Though there is a problem with being god. If I am god, then my story ends with god dying. Therefore, we as gods need one rule; you're not allowed to die. And we have tried to follow that rule. Countless resources and man-hours--nay, man-lives--have been given to the search for immortality; yet to no avail. Again, if there is a God then we have no right to change what is to what was not meant to be.
Yet, age after age the world reels against the flow of time. Day after day over 150,000 people cry out, "I'm not supposed to die!" It's against their religion.
Is this all they are living for? Another day, another chance to survive the cosmic lottery. They believe that lottery is what jump-started life from a primordial ooze. But do they realize that in such a universe the lottery is still running? Only now it is not a gamble to start life, but to end it, and each day we are playing against the odds.
IF, however, there is indeed a God and creator of the universe, then our lives--each and every one of them--has meaning and a purpose. Because that means that God chose to make YOU. He didn't have to do it. It wasn't enough for this world to have me, your weird cousin, and the guy who makes sure the printer at the New York Times is running. He wanted to make you. His plan isn't complete without you having some role in it.
Our lives are not by chance. We are not just giant fruit-flies; here to pester the world for a few days while we try to eat as much as possible and lay our eggs before we die so that our descendants can continue to torment the world for ages to come. We are so much more. We are created in the image of God so that we can have a personal relationship with Him. Do you want that? I should warn you, there are no rules about not dying. But He does promise that you will live with Him forever. If you ask me, that is infinitely better.
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