Big word but a harsh reality.

( sub·ju·ga·tion the action of bringing someone or something under domination or control.) We are seeing  more and more the subjugation of God’s word and the, to be nice, the re-thinking of God’s word to fit the needs of societies various agendas. I am one who considers the issues of same-sex and other gender related issues to be more of a social issue and best kept in that arena. I know of no other issue that in my life time has held so the many different denominations hostage than that of same-sex and other related gender issues. There is no compromise, well there is if you accept their premise that scripture has been interpreted incorrectly or the meaning not clearly understood. There is the doctrine of inclusiveness which choses to ignore behavior or agendas that are contrary to current practices in order to remain relevant to a changing world. It is not as if we were kept in the dark or unable to think about these issues when seeking to follow God’s will in our lives. There is the bible, bible studies, denominational doctrines and much more that speak to living a christian life. Should you wish to go even farther there are always a large number of commentaries to read.  Commentaries are a systematic series of explanations or interpretations (as of a writing) and are quite common and have been present for, well for ever. With the rise of the Internet, many Public Domain or otherwise free-use Bible commentaries have become available online. With that in mind, I go to the very beginning.

Genesis 1  KJV

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 

There is the The Simple Truth, that starts here and is strengthened by all Scripture to follow. You will not find in God’s word any positive comments or approval of any number of same-sex occurrences in the Bible. We live in a world where people have for as long as I can remember pulled part of a scripture verse to boost their perspective and we can often find that when taken in full context it will not fly. This by the way, goes both ways. The truth can be controversial and sometimes it can hurt but at anytime it is necessary. I have always believed that the breath of life and this gift as given is to me the very soul of our being. Our bodies being only a vessel in which God has placed this wonderful creation of life. Our soul, our very being belongs to God and nothing or no one can take us from him. (from a recent post this past March) The simple truth is that what God has created cannot be taken from his hand (your soul) nor can it be changed. Sex in humans is usually determined by four factors and not all of these factors can be changed. Chromosomes cannot be changed. It was God’s intent, to put it in a secular tone, that there be male and female and all of scripture confirms that. Man cannot change what God has created. So to wrap this up…….another simple truth that is hard for most christians to accept. 

God’s love, mercy and grace is for all people. No one should be turned away from the table, even those who would be guilty of sin in God’s eye. Jesus Christ died that we might all be forgiven of our sins. The hard part is forgiveness requires repentance of our sins and judgement belongs to God. 

The other simple truth is that, Subjugation Of God’s Word to fit an agenda or changing social norms is not acceptable. It is not my intention to hurt anyone but the simple truth is found through prayer and in the word of God. Amen

Life is Good

jk

(As I continue to recover from recent heart surgery I have time to watch the news a bit more. Just a short blog on a topic that is in the news now. jk)

Definition of collusion:secret agreement or cooperation especially for an illegal or deceitful purpose / acting in collusion with the enemy.

How in the world did I tie Christianity in with such a negative action? Christianity, the belief in God and the ministry and purpose of Jesus Christ, is viewed by many throughout the world as having no place in their social order and is considered to be disruptive because of its beliefs and practices. It is the enemy and even banned in some places in the world. We of the Christian faith are destined to have many enemies, scripture confirms that. Over the past decades we have seen the Bible removed from our schools, prayer discouraged and in some instances forbidden. We have seen our faith attacked, suffered ridicule because of our beliefs and family and friends turn from us because of our Christian values. I could list any number of instances that prove my point but all you have to do is read, listen or watch the news to confirm what I have written here so far. To some people, governments, organizations and the progressive movements with agendas to push, we are the enemy. Take a moment to consider this. Do you have a deep abiding faith in Jesus Christ that governs your life and sets the values you live by? Does your behavior exemplify  that belief? Do you seek ways to share the good news with others? Do you attend church regularly, refuse to accept cultural and social norms that  are in opposition to your Christian values? If you have answered yes to these few, then most likely you are guilty of collusion. 

  Definition of Christian Collusion: acceptance of Jesus Christ as our savior and Lord.  A commitment to live a Holy Life and colluded with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to share the “good news” preaching the gospel to the world.

Are you Guilty?

Life is Good

jk

 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; ………..Jeremiah 30: 17

The first seven verses of this chapter deal with a promise God has made to Israel. In verse 17 God promises Jeremiah despite all the troubles that Israel must go through, he will restore his children. In the first few words of this verse I find great comfort and share with you this week the power of this promise. Home now recovering from heart surgery has awaken within me a time of reflection and a greater appreciation of that which God has created and leaves me wondering at the awesome healing power of my creator. Also I have come to believe that healing to a christian is quite different from what we imagine in the secular world.The Bible speaks often of miraculous healing through the work of Jesus Christ and faith in God. It is these examples of the healing miracles recorded in scripture that we often go to in times of illness and emotional stress that give comfort and hope to the believer. There is within this life that God has created a depth and purpose far greater than the mortal mind can imagine, a depth that passeth all understanding. God is about life. Paul said that to die was to live, I find in these few words his remarkable sense of the promise of eternal life. The promise of eternal life through the blood of Jesus Christ as ordained by God the Father is the very ground on which the cross stands. We must ask ourselves how when the pain and hurt is overwhelming, how do we keep our focus on Jesus Christ and the promise? How do we remain faithful and somehow see the blessings of this life that surround us each day? I would suggest that we seek the Holy Spirit and look to strengthen our mind, body and heart as we seek the comfort of the promise.

Healing as we know it is the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again. Healing can also be therapeutic. For most of us healing is a process of doctors, hospitals, drugs and time but there is another factor, that which is found at the foot of the cross. It is the Promise. It is a God thing.

Genesis 2 King James Version (KJV) 2  7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

I have always believed that the breath of life and this gift as given is to me the very soul of our being. Our bodies being only a vessel in which God has placed this wonderful creation of life. Our soul, our very being belongs to God and nothing or no one can take us from him. With this thought in mind I find comfort in the final dispensation of my earthly life. No mater the circumstances of my passing from this world, my soul belongs to God and he alone will have dominion over it. This takes me to one of my favorite chapters in the bible. 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Please take the time to read and rejoice in the revelation of the resurrection.

I could write much more but believe it best to let the power of the Promise speak for me. The true healing for the Christian is the finality of the Promise, life everlasting as promised by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As I spend the days ahead re-gaining my strength I look forward to this life but rejoice even more in what is to come. Life is a God thing and I will cling to it as long as I can with the realization that it will be my spiritual health and the Promise that will carry me home.   

Life is Good

jk

Sometimes we confuse issues with causes and that tends to lead us in the wrong direction. We end up championing the cause and not dealing with the issue. This past week we have seen a good example of that very thing. You might say it was three days of agony and soul searching in an effort to bring to a conclusion an issue that had become a cause. The United Methodist Church finally put the issue on the table and the response was as expected. There are so many adjectives that can apply here. Bitterness is a word that is not strong enough here. The better word would would be rancor and adding to that disappointment, hurt, confusion, fear, uncertainty, a full range of emotions all held in check by prayer and Christian tolerance. There have been post Conference comments on FaceBook and other social media that indicate the issue is still on the table for many United Methodists after the recent special called gathering this past February.

The issue that became a cause? The current deep conflict within The United Methodist Church around issues of human sexuality. A conflict that is decades old is still not settled in the hearts of the people, still weighs heavy on their minds, and we find the door still not open but just slightly ajar. Every possible argument, for or against, has been run up the flag pole and the rope is quite frayed my now. I believe that the wrong issue which has grown into a cause has damaged this denomination. Having been a member of the Methodist Church for many years I am sadden by all of this. There was a song many years ago that had a lyric “the answer my friend is blowing in the wind”, Peter Paul and Mary. When I let the wind in my mind die down, the answer I hear is the real issue, Holy Living. What exactly is holy living? How do I live a holy life? We must separate ourselves from sin and any evils that keep us from having a relationship with God. We must seek an infilling of the holy spirit because we can only live a holy life through the presence of the Spirit in our lives. We are reminded that our God is holy and he calls us to be holy. 1 Peter 1:16 Leviticus 19:2),

There are scriptures that address human sexuality. I am not going to list those but will say, that they are not supportive of certain lifestyles and do not meet the intent of living a holy life and we must understand that apart from God this is impossible. We are commanded to love all people just as Jesus did. No one should be turned away from God’s table. There is a requirement we all must meet. It is not a rule, it is not a church thing, denominational thing. It will not be found in agendas, causes or any other place. It is a God Thing, a relationship with God based on repentance and Holy Living. 

I will be away from the pew for awhile due to needed medical procedures. I do not at this time know at what date the Pew will return.

God Bless

Life is Good

jk

Not sure how I got there but this weeks page turning in search of a topic led me to Mark 13:9-13

9 “As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. 10 And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 13 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

I suppose it might have been that word in verse 13, we have written how important it is to endure in the faith. Jesus had warned that his ministry and those loyal to him, could find themselves having to choose between their family and their faith, their circle of friends and their faith. It is not that big a stretch to believe that betrayal could strike very close to the hearts of believers just as it did to the Savior. In Luke we find the story of Peter and the act of denying Jesus, just as the savior had said he would. (Luke 22: 54-62)  There is of course the account of  Judas Iscariot a disciple and one of the original Twelve Disciples of Jesus Christ. According to the gospels, Judas betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin in the Garden of Gethsemane by kissing him and addressing him as “Rabbi” revealing his identity to those who had come to arrest him. 

Now about that chameleon…. Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized lizards. Their main claim to fame would be their ability to change color allowing them to blend in with their surroundings.That’s the one I’m interested in, this changing of colors to avoid detection when threatened, to blend in. I will pull a Pogo on you. We have been searching for that chameleon in the room and we found it. The chameleon is us! I certainly am not suggesting a fellow human is a lizard among us. I am using this particular species to point out that we too have a tendency to change our colors, blend in when threaten and the chameleon is a perfect example. Let’s all admit that we tend to attempt to blend in when we find ourselves in an uncomfortable situation.  Paul wrote: 

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12 New Revised Standard Version NRSV)

There is a little of the chameleon in all of us and we would do well to remember our Lord’s warning. Jesus had warned those loyal to him that they could find themselves having to choose between their family and their faith, their circle of friends and their faith. How often have you found yourself in a situation that was totally alien to your faith, demeaning to our God and put you at odds with God, family, friends and yes, even our workplace associates? How often have we allowed our faith to be marginalized so as not to be at odds with what has become socially acceptable? Our Christian faith should not be a PR campaign but rather a mission to save souls and increase the faith. I could drag this out by putting together a list of things we should do and not do. A list of what to avoid at all costs but all we need is to remember this. Micah 6:8,

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Don’t be a chameleon, do not change your colors or try to blend in. Stand out in the faith, be an example of God’s mercy, and grace and the gift of our salvation through Jesus Christ.  ENDURE in his name.

Come back next week, there is always room in the pew.

Life is Good

jk

Last weeks blog was about endurance, I had indicated that prayer was a big part of that and maintaining a relationship with God was of up-most importance. One of the devotionals I use on a regular basis is “Our Daily Bread” and I will draw from a recent devotion written by Arthur Jackson. The bible reading for that day was from Psalms 119. That Psalm and Adam Clark’s commentary are the seeds of todays blog.

Today we will be looking at verses 9-16 and 97-105. I recommend you read the entire Psalm, all 176 verses. Also you may find Mr Clarks commentary about these verses, especially the introduction interesting. How do we in  the world we have today continue to endure, keep the faith and be true to our God?  The Psalm we are studying today is remarkable in that it is in many ways a diagram of Holy Living. Adam Clark writes that all of the following are present in this Psalm throughout its entirety.

• Testimonies;
• Commandments,
• Precepts;
• Word;
• Law;
• Ways;
• Truth;
• Judgments;
• Righteousness;
• Statutes.

I never said that living a Christian life was easy and it might be that we at times in our passing reverence overlook the details. I believe that Endurance is nurtured by these things listed above. I realize that I am on a short limb with a crack in it but here is  another of my dirty little secrets of Christianity. Christians all over the world get up, clean up, put on their church face and go to their place of worship on the Sabbath. This is a time we celebrate our God and renew our faith and rejoice in our salvation. Simply put, we recharge our batteries and prepare to go out again praising God and sharing the message. You may not agree with some of the things I share with you today but that is alright. Being right with God, a favorite saying of the older generation is about living as Holy a life as you possibly can. Let’s take a closer look at Psalm 119: 9-16.

-consider the path we are now on and realize that sin separates us from God. We must study the word and through prayer discern what God has said and instructed us to do. We must make straight our path and preserve His way. Sin destroys mind, body and soul therefore we must do all we can to put it out of our life. We must not stray from a path of prayer and supplication, always seeking the good way, never allowing sin to separate us from God so that our prayers will not be in vain. 

-God’s word should dwell in our hearts and minds and actions at all times. The word of Christ should dwell richly in us. If God’s word is only in our  Bibles, and not also in our heart, we may well give in to the sins of this world. We should openly declare the consequences of sin so that others may realize the judgements that await them.

-As we gain strength in his word, living a Holy Life, we should rejoice at the happiness to be found in the path of obedience, giving our whole heart and strength to God.

-We must never forget what God has done for us, done in us, and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Like wise we must be true to the covenant we made to live a Holy Life and the vows we made to our God.

The above could be a path forward if you wish, the good way which includes some of the things that will help us endure.

Continuing with verses 97-105.  Some had thought that this Psalm was written by Daniel but whether that is correct or not there is an  important lesson contained in these verses.

-Obedience and love for the precepts of Christ, in his commandments in which we should delight; so much so that they become frequent points of our meditation.

-The wisdom of God exceeds all others. The breath of the spiritual nature of God’s law can lead us to avoid all sin as the spirit of this wisdom continues to grow within us.

-How much better is life when we are in communion with our God. This spiritual closeness with God leads us into a path of obedience and thus his grace.

-We are reminded that Proverbs 6:23; : “The commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” 

God’s word is a candle which may be held in the hand to give us light in every dark place and chamber; and it is a general light shining upon all his works, and upon all our ways. (Adan Clark)

Psalm 119 shows us a path to “The Christian Endurance” , standing firm in our faith, our God and the promises of Jesus Christ.

Thanks for stopping by the pew……Come back next week.

Life is Good 

jk

I could not help but let my mind wander to another question that I am sure many of you have asked and struggled with. Why does God let bad things happen to good people? One example is of course Job. Those of us who have read and studied that book know that God did intervene and why, and Job was tested severely. I have a rather peculiar line of thought that involves a very simple theory………life happens. It is what happens after the intrusion of a bad thing in our life that I believe brings about a  God powered blessing that we often over look. That blessing is Endurance. With Endurance, add hope and perseverance. I am not of the belief that God is in the business of hurt and hard times. Our actions or lack of can sometimes lead to bad decisions which have consequences. So that explains in some way my belief, life  just happens. It is not unreasonable to believe that our God is in control, what is sometimes hard is the realization that no mortal man  knows the mind of God. There is the endurance of athletic competitors, the seriously ill, those struggling to feed their families and many more examples to numerous to mention. Christian commitment, is easily understood in the example of determination to endure in the face of life’s difficulties along with the hostility, persecution, and the death of Jesus and his disciples, this endurance of Christians in the face of persecution and temptation underlies most the New Testament.

It is not all that complicated when you understand the fact that the early Christians were not all that good in withstanding the times of persecution and temptations that were so common and overwhelming in their day.  We are reminded of the repeated failures of Israel to maintain faithfulness to God.  The New Testament writers  used these examples to provide Paul and others strong warnings of how not to behave. As is my habit here is the dictionary meaning of Endurance.

1: the ability to withstand hardship or adversity especially : the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity

 2: the act or an instance of enduring or suffering

 There seems to be for many of us a willingness to quietly accept what life throws at us accepting these bad times as just karma, a popular buzz word these days. For those of the way there is this thing I call Christian Endurance. Endurance of this type is characterized by a commitment of looking to Christ in the bad times of our lives. Endurance, should be an important part of our Christian faith. We can and will get through the bad times if we will just remember:

John 3:16 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

We serve a God whose love, grace and forgiveness is an inherent part of the endurance and faith expected of every Christian. We should all ask ourselves in every life situation this question.

John 6:68  “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  

True commitment endures by looking to Christ for the resources and the way that secures our faith and salvation as well as peace of mind, body and soul. To endure, to persevere, to hope we must have a strong prayer life. We cannot do it alone. Prayer is an important part of our Christian armour. Endure in Christ’s Name, AMEN

Life is Good

jk

The book of Luke, I don’t often go there and I cannot give an adequate reason as to why. First a look at Luke, the doctor and traveling companion of Paul. There are several references to Luke in NT writings. There is mention of Luke in 2 Timothy 4: 11 it is written that “only Luke is with me” alluding to Paul’s final time in prison. In Col 4:14 he is identified as the “beloved physician”. Irenaeus, the Bishop of Lyon, claims that Luke was inseparable from Paul. Luke actually was a fellow-laborer of the Apostles. Luke learned from the Apostles. 

Luke 1:1-4 

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. 

In these opening verses we also encounter the intriguing question..who is Theophilus. As usual there are many theories and thoughts about the who. The name “Theophilus” literally means “loved by God,” but carries the idea of “friend of God.” After some study I am led to believe that Luke was indeed writing to a specific person but the message applies to all Christians and is timeless. Every gospel has its own identity or characteristics and Luke gives us a Jesus that is compassionate and a friend to outcasts. Jesus is the savior sent to find and save the lost. I find chapter 4 interesting because it is an introduction to Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Reading from 4: 14-15: 

14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

There is the account of Jesus reading Chapter 61 of  Isaiah in the synagogue. I would like to take a closer look at these verses, Luke 4:16-21.   

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,  because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 

The return to Nazareth and to the synagogue is but a few verses but what we find here is precious to the eyes and ears of the believers. Now there is an order of service, if you will, in the synagogue as to reading and teaching. There is first the Shema, recitation of the Decalogue, the eighteen benedictions, the reading of the Scripture, the Psalms, the exposition, and the blessing. There would be people who were asked to led a prayer or a reading but here Luke gives us only part of that service. The Hazzan, or assistant would have handed Jesus the Scroll. It is possible that even in that day there were certain scriptures to be read, but Luke understood that Jesus himself chose this passage.

As we read this passage it is very clear that all Jesus does in the coming chapters occurs by the power of the spirit. The problem for some of these folks was that they found it hard to believe that God’s promises were for all people. We know that some of what Jesus said angered the people there that day. The Jews considered God to be theirs alone, they were jealous of the thought that others might be promised these things other than the Jews. They were so sure that they were god’s people that they tended to look down on all others. The wonder of it all does not stop here. Here was this Jesus, whom they all knew, preaching that all others, that meaning Gentiles also, which literally meant everyone, were favored in his message of grace and mercy. They were beginning to understand that this new message was unlike any they had dreamed possible. There is also a message here for us today. Jesus was always in synagogue on the Sabbath. There had to be many things that he found disagreement with and were a burden to him, but he went anyway. It was Jesus’ habit to join with those worshiping God on God’s day. How petty are the things that turn us from being among God’s people on God’s day.

Jesus brought the gospel good news. There are some other good things here. The grace of God has no boundaries, or limits. No one nation, church, group or race has any exclusivity in the promises of God. When we turn others away, we by our behavior turn away from God. There is a radical inclusiveness in the gospel that is all-powerful. At the same time, because of who we are, it sometimes produces in us barriers that keep us from loving all people. As long as we allow these barriers to exist, as long as we resist the teachings of Jesus as the gospel records, we can not be open to Jesus or the Holy Spirit. As long as we allow boundaries to separate us and limit our love for all God’s people, we can never truly be His. We will be blind, deaf and lost, just as those in that synagogue on that day so long ago were.

Thank you for coming by the Pew.

Life is Good

jk

As the early church came into being and  more people came to Christ it began to encounter the problems of an institution. Caring for those in need has always been a God thing. To care for those less fortunate than us is not a point thing. It is a command, given by God to his people. It is common in scriptural writings in the OT as well as the NT. Deuteronomy 15:11  There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

Giving is not a thing of tradition or a precept but an important block in the foundation of the Church. In Acts 6 verses 1-6 we are reminded how much of a part of our faith and our church is the command to give aid to those in need. We also see the creation of  the first real office-bearers. We are privy to the problems that develop when people of different station, real or imagined must learn to share. We also see the importance of God led people in determining thy will be done with the appointment of Stephen and six others to oversee the distribution of goods. The Jewish nation had always been generous to the less fortunate in their community and accepted the responsibility with much zeal. I do believe that we can say that our Christian communities do the same even now in the present day. This responsibility of caring for the less fortunate among us was a routine custom in the Jewish synagogues. The early church as it grew had a very large percentage of Jews who had heard the message, believed and some even heard and saw Jesus and it is clear that the early church had taken over this custom as it grew. But among the Jews themselves a rift developed over the distribution of goods among the people. This chapter, Acts 6, is rich in topics that show not only the efforts of the new christians to reach out but also the impending opposition to them, even to the point of extreme and violent acts. Today we will look at the first six verses. Other research will show that there was a well thought out understanding by the church to acknowledge that some needs were greater than others. There were two collectors that went around to the private houses and to the market every Friday morning. They took up a collection of goods and money, that would be distributed later in the day. This was known as the Kuppah or Basket. They even took care to access the level of need. There were those who were  given enough to enable them to carry on. Then those who were permanently unable to support themselves received enough for two meals a day for seven days. Along with this program was another house to house collection made daily for those whose needs were more pressing. This was called the Tamhuri, or Tray.

 In the Christian Church we are all of one faith, one God but we are different people. The early church saw an influx of gentiles as well as Jews. The Jews who at this point were of the larger number were involved in a dispute among themselves. They found themselves divided by language and country of origin. The Jerusalem and the Palestinian Jews, spoke Aramaic, a form of their ancestral language. They took pride in the fact that there were no foreign elements in their lives. There were also Jews from foreign lands, they had come up for Pentecost, heard about and discovered Christ and decided to stay. These had been gone for generations and spoke only Greek. The spiritually snobbish Jews looked down on the foreign Jews.The crux of the problem was a belief that there was an element of unfairness toward the Greeks in the distribution of food to the needy. This disrupted the harmony and spiritual togetherness of the community, resulting in complaints to the leaders, specifically the apostles. They set about to pick seven men from among the people to find a solution and get things in order.

It is interesting that William Barclay noted that these were the first office-bearers to be appointed. They were charged to not talk but provide a practical service to the growing church. Here is an interesting fact. In looking for a quote or bible verse to close with I remembered that famous quote of John Wesley. So I looked it up to be sure I got it right and immediately found myself in the middle of a dispute among scholars and such. Seems there is some disagreement that John Wesley ever said or wrote this. I am going to use it anyway, it says it all in few words.

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

 John Wesley

Come by next week, I will be here in the Pew.

Life is Good

jk

Dilemma is a difficult situation or problem in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, neither being easy or comfortable. I had wanted to start this New Year off on a positive foot but my mail box contained an article that I believe will have a great influence on the future of the “church” worldwide. Again we find the Methodist Church sorting through a dilemma that has been with them for decades. In May of 2018 I posted a blog about the situation in the Methodist Church at that time “A Great Denomination….. A Greater Dilemma”. Now, February of this year another step in the process will convene. As the years have gone by I must admit my views have changed a bit but it must be said that the change is due to the increased study of scripture, prayer and biblical commentaries from various authors. I have tried hard to stay clear of emotional agendas, statistical essays, societal guidelines and trends. You might say that I am quite alone here in the weeds of public opinion. A letter published on December 28, 2018, by the Council of Bishops, United Methodist Church got my attention once more. It is a reasonable and well thought out letter that seeks to comfort and at the same time make some sense of the dilemma that continues to disrupt the lives of those involved in its community of interest. I want to keep this as simple as possible even though the view from the pew is one of frustration and confusion. Please consider as you read this that it is my opinion, while some thoughts from the “pew” have also made their way into by thinking, I take full responsibility for what I write here.

First the letter or more actually the first of two. The first was and open apology from the Bishops to the LBGTQ community in general. The second being in the form of an explanation of the reason and need of the Special Session of General Conference and an expanded apology for the continuing hurt and discomfort that such discussions bring to their community. My view of these letters is one of acknowledging the hurt and seeking to repair it. I see nothing wrong here but I do see a lot of words that are like more trees planted in the forest, which we can’t see for all the trees already there. This brings me to another article recently published. 

“Unity in the Church: Sacred or Scandalous?” by Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst January 2, 2019. The article was in The Call which is a  United Methodist publication. The Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst offers a scriptural context to the current debate within the church. Her plea, my words, is the necessity of unity as being necessary for the mission of the church to be successful. I appreciate the use of scripture as a foundation of her belief that unity, even in disagreement is a Christian value and necessary for productive dialog.  This is not in any way meant to be disrespectful to the author. There seems to be an attitude of dismissal toward people and views we don’t agree with. Value can always be found even in disagreement and to dismiss the belief of another removes an important step in our learning process. As a layman I am overwhelmed by the avalanche of paper and words that have buried the real issue here. In John 8:12-30 we see that the Jews had become so involved with their own ideas, so intent on their own way, so sure of their own conception of what religion was that they had become blind to God. In some ways we as the “church” today have become blind to what is a sin? We know that sin separates us from God and the acceptance of Jesus as the Son of God, repentance, following him restores that relationship and leads us to salvation. Most discussions, debates or the many words that have been written leave the church with no real answer. I am one that left the Methodist Church because of the turmoil and uncertainty of the direction we were traveling. I did not leave because the Pastor was not to my liking. He is still there and a great Pastor leading a vibrant congregation serving the Lord in their community. I was there thirty or more years and I am still dedicated to the Wesley tradition of living a holy life, striving every day to go on to perfection, serving my God to the best of my ability. Here is what I hope you remember after reading this. 

I left because I believed and still do that the Methodist Church is abandoning the very core of christian values that “it” has held and taught for more than fifty years. They are doing so in the mistaken belief that social relevance is important and that the agenda of societal change must be embraced even debating scriptural dictates and changing them to meet their needs. I could go on and on but there comes a time when it is just best to get on your knees and be obedient to God’s will. There are a lot of trees in this forest, step back and accept one fact that is never talked about. It is the judgement of God, before which all of us will stand, that is important in this time of crisis in the Methodist Church. No one knows the mind of God. 

We are required to love all people, no one should be turned away from God’s table. Here lies our dilemma…. By whose judgement are people accepted or rejected at the table. Of all the paper and words I have read the following seems to be the best “Way Forward”. Please read and God bless.

http://wesleyancovenant.org/2019/01/10/the-modified-traditional-plan-faithful-fair-and-gracious/

Join me again in the pew next week…..

Life is Good

jk