Truth

July 27, 2021 | Leave a Comment

Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you

One of my favorite things to do in ministry is to visit with church members who are getting ready to leave the church.

I’m kidding. It gives me an ulcer.

I remember, years ago in a previous ministry, meeting with a household that was very angry about a series of decisions the church leaders had made. I spent the hour in their living room, explaining the leadership’s actions and prayers leading to the decision, knowing the whole time that it was useless. They’d already made up their mind to leave. [Read more…]

September 19, 2020 | 1 Comment

This black swan event

Halloween, 2019. I had the collar, I had the robe, why not? Of course, I outweighed her by thrice, but, you know, I pulled my hair back and did my best. RBG.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death is heartache for her family and many Americans. It’s a cause for celebration for a handful of others.

More to the point, her death is being called a black swan event. That was a new term to me. I googled. A black swan event is “an unpredictable event that is beyond what is normally expected of a situation and has potentially severe consequences (Jim Chappelow, “Black swan,” https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/blackswan.asp). Is any death really that unpredictable? No. Was RBG’s death unpredictable, given her long battle with cancer? Not at all.

Yet, does her death have potentially severe consequences? I fear, yes. I fear it will unleash even further vitriol, during a season of such meanness and spite within America as I have not witnessed in my lifetime. I fear that ugly things I will hear and read out of people whom I have, until now, known to be kind of soul and demeanor.

I wonder if, instead, this black swan event may in fact be an opportunity for us as people of faith to walk our talk. Love your enemy (Matthew 5:44). Practice mercy (Luke 6:36). Love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:30).

My prayer for followers of Jesus in America is this:

That we followers of Jesus will put our allegiance to Him above party loyalty
That, out of that allegiance, we will recognize that every person–even those with whom we profoundly disagree–is a child of God, made in His image
That, out of that recognition, we will commit to stopping the name-calling and mud-slinging and yet be brave to speak the truth in love without fear of public shaming
That, out of that commitment, we will witness to the goodness and grace of our Savior and His hope

I invite others to join in this prayer, this allegiance, this recognition, and this commitment, so that Jesus will be glorified indeed.

January 24, 2019 | Leave a Comment

Finding the right words

In the summer of 1997, I was hired by Westminster Presbyterian Church in Belleville Illinois to run a summer outreach program to the apartment complex adjacent to the church property. Many of the folks in our part of Belleville were from big extended families that had migrated from the south. They had thick southern accents.

One day, a mom had walked her son at the church and we could see that her eye was swollen, almost shut. Can we help you? “Some-um my eye,” she said. Okay, okay. I walked with her into the church and got the first aid kit out. We had eye wash cups. I gave her one and stayed to help her use it. Her eye was still swollen, but better. Before she left, though, she stopped.

“Ha yu be say,” she said. What?

“Ha yuuuu beee say,” she said a little louder. I’m sorry, ma’am. What did you say?

She’s looking at me like I’m an idiot at this point. Finally, “Haw you (I got that word) say-ved.”

“Have I been saved?” I said. “Yah!” she exclaimed. “Yes,” I replied, much to her relief. “I’ve been saved.” And we exchanged goodbyes, and she left.

I remember thinking it was such a strange question. I mean, after all, I was working at a church. Why would she ask someone at a church if they’d been saved? But, it’s also just a really strange question for me, because that’s not how I speak about my relationship with Jesus.

Ask me, “Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?” I can say yes without reservation. “Do you put your trust in Jesus?” Yes. “Do I believe He is the Son of God, died and risen for all humankind?” Yes.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” Jesus commanded his followers (Matthew 28:19), so we are called to find our own way to speak of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

A good place to find the right words is in scripture. Jesus is Son of God, Savior, Lord, and Messiah. Some dear people find their words for Jesus in hymns and praise songs. How great Thou art, my Savior God to Thee. Christ is alone is Cornerstone.

However and wherever we find the words, I encourage us to find them. As recipients of the grace and great benefit of trust in Jesus Christ, why would we not want to share it with our family, friends, neighbors, and anyone sorely in need of the confidence and courage that comes with faith?

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