Perception, Reality and the Truth

Earlier this week I heard someone say, “the first casualty of the continual spiritual battle between good and evil, light and dark, God and the Devil is truth.” I can’t get that idea out of my mind. The Apostle Paul wrote, “We battle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces.” (Ephesians 6) The battle is real, but it is not what we usually think it is. The battle is a battle for truth and the truth. When an angry confrontation occurs, it is not just a battle of wills; it is a battle for truth. It’s possible that I’m angry because I believe something that is not true. It’s possible that the other person is angry because they believe something that is not true. Most likely, we both believe things that are not true. The untruth, deception, or distortion we believe leads us to take up an adversarial position. In an angry moment, the appropriate response is to check the story I’m telling myself. Do I have the right story or do I have something out of place. I need to check the story I’m believing before I worry about the story the other person is telling themselves. Often, we’ve told ourselves stories about situations and people that were distorted, imagined or simply not true. The battle is not with the other person. The battle is about perception, reality and truth. None of us can compromise the truth. We can’t back down, give in, or to surrender lies. Jesus’ brother Jude encouraged the early believers to “defend the faith.” “Dear friends, … now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.” Jude 1:3-4 (NLT) Jude’s words illustrate that the battle for moral purity and integrity is not a battle against flesh and blood but for truth. Stick up for the truth, don’t back down, and don’t give in. Stand firm in the faith. BUT IN EVERY INTERACTION, RESPOND WITH KINDNESS! We can “defend the faith” and stick up for truth without being ugly or unkind! That’s the Jesus way.

Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak and Slow to Anger

Jesus’ brother James wrote the letter, bearing his name, to Jewish believers. His letter is one of the oldest letters in the New Testament. He encouraged their growth as followers of the Messiah. James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem until his death at the hands of the Jewish establishment. They gave him the chance to deny his brother Jesus as the Messiah. He refused, and they executed him violently. James’s letter is filled with truths, challenges, encouragements, and direction for believers. Much of what he wrote is as important and relevant now as it was 2,000 years ago. One line of instruction recently caught my attention. “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” James 1:19-20 (NLT) “You must ALL be quick to listen.” James didn’t distinguish between men and women, young and old, mature, or immature. His instruction is straightforward – “You must ALL be quick to listen.” Listen first, talk next if necessary. Since people have two ears and one mouth, it's obvious they were designed to listen more than talk. “You must ALL be slow to speak.” I recently read some “Cowboy Wisdom” that says basically the same thing. "Remember to load your brain before you shoot off your mouth." Too often we are quick to speak and slow to listen, and it gets us in trouble almost every time. “You must ALL be slow to get angry.” This one is challenging. Anger results from a mixture of judgement, fear, disappointment, frustration, and pride. That’s the short list of ingredients when mixed, and left to stew, boil over. “Quick to listen” and “slow to speak” are less complicated than “slow to get angry.” We can control the speed of the first two by sheer willpower. Anger seems to ignite like gas from a slow leak. When enough emotional propane leaks out, just a little spark can ignite it and there is chaos and destruction. James continues, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” Rarely, if ever, is human anger productive. Anger may get someone’s attention, but it doesn’t hold it or cause forward progress for long. What would family life be like if people were quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger? How would the relationships between husband and wife, parents and children, and siblings with each other benefit? Wouldn’t you agree if people were quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry, relationships in work, community, and school would flourish? Will you take up the challenge to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger”? Jesus, help us!

Grief and Hope

I know I’ve written about grief and grieving at other times, but I’ve been thinking about grief again. Grief is a funny emotion. Grief has characteristics that make it unique. Everyone who walks through grief experiences it differently. For some, grief is very emotional, while for others, grief has a numbing effect. Grief isn’t just felt at the time of physical death. People experience grief over losing health, businesses, relationships, jobs, pets, homes, dreams and aspirations can all produce grief. Grief has multiple sub-feelings and mindsets that accompany it. Often swirling around grief is anger, regret, shock, and denial. As the grieving subsides, people move towards acceptance of the new reality. I have been thinking about a few different scriptures from the Apostle Paul. To the church in Thessalonica, he wrote: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV) Followers of Jesus grieve loss. God made people to grieve. God grieves losses, and He made us in His image so naturally people grieve. Mental health research has revealed the necessity of grieving losses and the toll failing to grieve takes on a person mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Followers of Jesus grieve, but not like those “who have no hope.” We have hope because God comforts those who turn to Him. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT) We also have hope because “death,” is not an ending. Someone has rightly said, “Death is not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.” Death is a move to a new chapter in a believer’s life with God. Paul also wrote, “We are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NLT) People often say to someone who’s loved one has died “I’m sorry for your loss.” Those who trust in God experience a loss, but the loved one is not “lost.” We know right where they are: “At home with the Lord.” Yet, we feel the loss, the emptiness, and the temporary disconnect. I’m telling myself, “Grieve, it’s good for you!” I’m at the same time striving to remember that buried below grief is HOPE and comfort.

Rest For My Soul

The Genesis account of creation details God creating a body out of dust of earth, and then breathing into the body the breath of life. When the breath of life flowed into Adam’s body, he became a “living soul.” The soul is the integration of the outer physical man and the inner man. When the outer person is hurting, the inner person hurts too. When the inner person is hurting, the outer person often experiences the effects of the inner turmoil. King David described the connection between the inner person and the body. “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.” Psalms 32:3-4 (NLT) David was experiencing physical effects because of unconfessed sin. The connection between the body and the inner person is undeniable and unbreakable. No one can escape the cause-and-effect connection. Undealt with anger produces stress. Stress produces physical consequences like hypertension, insomnia, and digestive issues. Hypertension, insomnia and digestive problems affect a persons’s emotions, ability to process information and make healthy decisions. Physical struggles impact a person psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. David again described the soul, the connection of the body, and inner person. “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” Psalms 32:5 (NLT) Jesus is an expert at restoring the soul. David declared in Psalm 23, “He restores my soul.” Jesus said, “Come to Him … he will give you ‘rest for your souls.’” Jesus cares about your soul. He wants you to have a healthy soul. Keep turning to Jesus.

Keep Talking

During almost every graveside or memorial serve I’ve officiated; I spend a few minutes giving my thoughts about “What do I do now?” I hope people will consider what they should do as they walk away. THOUGHT #5 - LOVE ONE ANOTHER. THOUGHT #6 - LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BUILD WALLS. DON’T BUILD WALLS. TEAR DOWN EXISTING WALLS. THOUGHT #7 – KEEP TALKING The idea of “cancel culture” is not new. People have been “canceling” others from the beginning of time. Walking away from others, breaking off friendships, not talking, and not listening is as old as humanity! People have “canceled” siblings. Remember, the first murder recorded in the Old Testament was Cain “canceling” Abel. Joseph’s brothers sought to cancel him. (Genesis 37-50) Aaron and Miriam, in jealousy, sought to cancel Moses, his leadership and speech. (Numbers 12) If we are honest, we too, have canceled people. Someone says something we don’t like so we give them the silent treatment. Someone disagrees with us, and we don’t invite them into future conversations. If someone doesn’t like an idea we have, we hide that idea from them. The better way is to listen, continue talking, invite those who disagree into the discussion, talk with the person who is angry and find out the source of the anger. This is the better way. “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17-18 (NLT)

Stay Alert

The Apostle Paul experienced many trials during his 30 years as a follower of Jesus. Some trials were the mistreatment by people, some attacks by spiritual forces of darkness, and some were both. Paul was wise regarding these trials, tribulations and suffering. In one of his letters to the church in Corinth he encouraged the church to forgive a wayward member “so that Satan will not outsmart us.” (2 Corinthians 2:11 NLT) Paul knew that unforgiveness, grudges, and bitterness play into the hands of Satan and his desire to “kill, steal and destroy.” (John 10:10 NLT) Paul continued his instructions, reminding the church that “We are familiar with his [Satan’s} evil schemes.” (2 Corinthians 2:11 NLT) Satan and the kingdom of darkness have evil schemes to destroy people’s lives and to destroy Jesus’ work on earth. Paul and the Corinthian believers might have been “familiar with his evil schemes”, but I’m not sure that believers in the 21st century are. Let me clue you in or remind you of some of Satan’s evil schemes. Keep people from forgiving each other. If Satan can keep people from forgiving, unforgiveness grows unabated and eventually the fruit of bitterness ripens and sends out bitter seeds to everyone the bitter person encounters. Divide people so they can be conquered. If Satan can divide a person’s heart, divide them from their family, church family, and community; complete domination is not far behind! A primary strategy of war has always been to divide and conquer. Jesus taught “a kingdom divided cannot stand.” Induce fear. People who allow fear to creep in and grow become paralyzed. People living in the grips of fear make bad choices, push other people out of their lives, and hide in guilt, shame, and panic. Provoke anger. Satan will use any and every means possible to provoke people to anger. He uses, disappointment, hurt, confusion, frustration, and alarm. Anger gives the enemy a “foothold” to climb the wall of protection around a person’s life. (Ephesians 4:27 NLT) There are plenty of other “evil schemes” that Satan uses. The Apostle Peter reminded the early believers to pay attention to what is going on in their lives. “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT) Stay alert my friend! The enemy is marching at double speed to produce havoc in people’s lives. Stay alert!