Anchor Your Life to Jesus in a Constantly Changing World

For people inside and outside the church world, election week has been a roller coaster! As I write “Matt’s Thoughts” the election for President is still undetermined. The continual uncertainty is wearing on people. Enraged people across the country have taken to the streets. Other enraged people have taken to social media. A passage in the Psalms, written by King David 3,000 years ago, continues to turn over in my spirit. David, the skilled warrior and for forty years the king of Israel knew stress, anguish, and uncertainty. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalms 20:7 NIV) Every generation experiences stress, anguish, and uncertainty. The circumstances might be different, but the emotional roller coaster is nothing new. I have re-written David’s words in my mind to fit different scenarios. Some trust in Democrats and some in Republicans, but I trust in the name of the Lord. Some trust in governments and some trust in economies, but I trust in the name of the Lord. Some trust in preparedness and some in munitions, but I trust in the name of the Lord. People, political parties, government structures, economies, preparedness, and munitions all are insufficient and cannot answer the challenges of life. Often the mechanisms people trust in only lead to further stress, anguish, and uncertainty! I am convinced that the only sure place to anchor our trust is Jesus. As the writer of the letter to Hebrew believers stated, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV) Anchor your life to Jesus. He never changes in a constantly changing world.

Is it Possible to Please God and People?

Every person has wrestled with “people pleasing.” Adam was interested in pleasing Eve. The Apostle Paul, describing the average husband and wife, said, “A married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:33 NLT) and “A married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:34 NLT) Paul describes the reality of married life. The husband or wife who doesn’t care about pleasing their spouse will be miserable, and their spouse will be even more miserable. “Happy Marriages” comprise husbands and wives who seek to please each other. People pleasing is not a bad thing. Parenting is often about people pleasing. A doctor’s “bedside manner” is likewise about people pleasing. Customer service is about people pleasing. People pleasing is not bad, but it can go too far and slip into fearing people. King Solomon wrote, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.” (Proverbs 29:25 NLT) People pleasing, when it goes too far, slips into fearing people and fearing people is a NO WIN proposition. When I wrestle with “fearing people,” I ask myself “Who am I going to please? Which group am I going to please?” For example, When I started pastoring, the dress code for pastors was a jacket and tie. A pastor didn’t need to worry about “people pleasing.” As society became more casual and “casual Fridays” became the trend, pastors wrestled with pleasing the jacket and tie people or the casual Friday people. “It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.” [Marcus Aurelius] Why do we care so much about other people’s opinions? Jesus’ follower’s primary aim must be to please God. Pleasing people is often also pleasing God, but sometimes “displeasing people” equals pleasing God. Paul stated it this way: “Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10 ESV) Here’s the principle: Please people when it pleases God, displease people when pleasing them, would displease God. Stated another way: Always please God, even when it displeases people.

The Hard Work of Humility

Since I pastor a local church and have been in church leadership for 40 years, I follow the church world fairly closely. During times of crisis or transition and around elections, Christians often quote 2 Chronicles 7:14. The setting for the oft quoted verse is the completion of Solomon’s Temple. Solomon prayed a dedication prayer over the Temple and prayed for God’s favor and blessing. He then petitioned God to show mercy and forgiveness, when the people of God sinned against God and other people. One night following the dedication of the Temple, God appeared to Solomon in the night and spoke to him. “At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.” (2 Chronicles 7:12-15 NLT) God spoke the promise to Solomon regarding times when God might bring and allow hardship on His people. “At times I might shut up the heavens and no rain will fall; I might send grasshoppers and plagues.” It is under those conditions that God gave Solomon, his descendants and the people of God the if/then promise “IF my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, [THEN] I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” My experience is that Christians emphasize the middle part of the verses, “pray and seek my face,” but not so much on the beginning, “humble themselves,” and the end “turn from their wicked ways.” Prayer and seeking God’s face are the convenient and simpler portion of the verses. Humbling ourselves and turning from wicked ways is inconvenient and hard to do. The humbling process is hard and painful. Who of us enjoys admitting that they are ignorant, selfish, self-centered, and wrong? God requires humility AND turning from wickedness for him to hear our prayers. “Know-it-all” attitudes, pettiness and judgmentalism expose the sins of pride and arrogance. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 I’m on a crusade to humble myself! I depend on God’s grace, so I must humble myself.

Quick to Listen - Slow to Speak

A couple of months ago, I wrote about trying to “listen” more. I have been trying to listen to the various sides of the issues that are plaguing society. One reason I’ve been trying to listen is because I know so little. The professor in the first class I took at NWU started his lecture saying: “When you are done with this class, you’ll know how much you don’t know. You might not know much else.” My immediate thought was, “What am I paying all this money for? I’m not here to learn ‘how much I don’t know.’ I’m here to learn, so I know more!” The professor was correct, then and correct now. Every month that passes, I realize how much I don’t know. I realize how much I don’t know about what has occurred in history. I realize how little I know about science, relationships, and communication. I realize how little I know about God and His ways. I must admit I am constantly humbled by my ignorance. I have often said, “there are too many books and too little time!” I recently heard someone describe taking the position of a juror instead of an attorney. The idea struck a cord, and the light went on. Too often I slip into attorney mode and argue my point with vigor. What if instead of slipping into attorney mode, I sat in the jury box and listened to all the facts and both sides before coming to a conclusion? A few years ago, I served on a jury for an assault case. When the prosecution was done with questioning, it was apparent that the assailant was guilty. That is, until the defense was done with their case. The assailant had clearly acted in self-defense and the jury found him innocent. King Solomon put it this way “The first to speak in court sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.” Proverbs 18:17 (NLT) Jesus’ brother James instructed disciples to listen first and speak second. “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) I’m striving to sit on the jury more and wear the suit of an accusing and defending attorney less. I confess, I know so little about what is actually going on in the world BUT I do know the one who knows everything about everything!

Resilience and Perseverance

I have been thinking about the resilience, perseverance and endurance that you and I need in our life. Every day something happens that threatens to deflate us emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. In my almost 40 years of leadership and ministry (33 years at SWAG,) I have never experienced a prolonged season like we are in right now. Resilience is the quality of “bouncing back.” Resilience is taking a punch and getting back up. Resilience crashing your bike and getting back on. Resilience is “getting back on the horse.” Resilience and perseverance are more than “simply holding on to the end.” (Oswald Chambers) Resilience is one reason Job has been an example over the centuries for those in a season of trials. After losing his children, property and health, he declared: “Even if God kills me, I'll still put my hope in him. ... No matter how things turn out, I'm sure I'll still be saved.” (Job 13:15-16 NIrV) Job was convinced that his life was in God’s hands and that ultimately, he would see God face to face. He understood that God is sovereign, and that life’s future is in God’s hands. It was his trust in God that he could bounce back from one blow after another. Resilience and perseverance is developed over time and through trials. Jesus’ brother James encouraged early believers who were in the midst of a long season of trials. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NLT) This is a once in a century opportunity to allow resilience, perseverance and endurance to grow in our lives and even be “fully developed.” Rejoice in this season of hardship. Don’t give in. Like Job, declare “even if God kills me, I’ll still put my hope in him.

A Surrendered Life

Countless men and women throughout history have impacted and transformed their generation and culture. A list of those men and women might include politicians, business leaders, professional athletes, entertainers and social activists. Every few years “Time” looks back at those who were at one time important influencers. Where are they now? What are they up to? Has their influence continued? The review of influencers has included people like Madonna, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Bart Simpson, Ric Flair and Einstein. Some of these people are familiar to you, some may not be. Most influencers influence dies with them. Jesus' influence over humanity has never stopped. Jesus’ influences steadily grows exponentially. Every day people around the world speak Jesus' name. His name is spoken more than the name of any other person, dead or alive. People speak Jesus’ name in the hills of Indonesia, the jungles of Myanmar, the streets of Copenhagen, the remote regions of the Amazon and the islands of the South Pacific. “I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus is easily the most dominant figure in all history.” H. G. Wells. “When the drama of history is over, Jesus Christ will stand alone on the stage. All the great figures of history … will realize that they have been but actors in a drama produced by another.” Helmut Thielicke There has never been anyone like Jesus. A life surrendered to politics, sports, fame, money, pleasure, entertainment and education can end up a waste. A life surrendered in repentance to Jesus, no matter how long or short, is never a waste. Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.

Choosing Growth and Freedom

Viktor Frankl, a survivor of the Terezin concentration camp (Theresienstadt) authored 39 books. He dictated to a team of assistants “Man’s Search for Meaning” over a 9-day period. His life and writings have inspired countless throughout the years. “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lie our growth and our freedom.” Viktor Frankl We each find ourselves between stimulus and response. We live in that “space.” We find ourselves in the “space” between many forms of stimulus. “The stimulus” could be relationship struggles, health challenges, the countless aspects of the pandemic, the nation’s economic situation, racial tensions, protests, riots, political wrangling and division. What will our “response” be to the “stimulus?” That “space” is where I have the God given power to choose my response. My response carries with it the nucleus of growth and freedom. When the people of God that Joshua led were in the “space” between survival and destruction, he challenged the crowd. “So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols …Serve the LORD alone… as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15 NLT) In the “space” they could throw away their idols and serve God or continue to serve their idols. What is the “stimulus” bearing down on you? What “response” are you considering? The “space” is where you have power to choose growth and freedom or shrinkage and bondage. Jesus always wants his followers to choose growth and freedom. Exercise your power to choose. Choose growth and freedom!

The Mission of Reconciliation

Two thousand years ago the Apostle Paul described what societies and the world would look like when people continue to walk away from God, God’s revealed character in nature and God’s spoken revelation through the prophets and New Testament writers. If someone didn’t know where this sketch of humans in rebellion against God came from, they could assume that the picture was written last week. The characteristics described describe life in the western world. “Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1–4 ESV) It is into that environment that God has called his church (you and me) to engage in the mission of reconciliation. There is no greater opportunity and privilege in life than working towards reconciling rebellious people to God! “God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NIV) Pray for those in your life circles who need reconciled to God. We live in tough times. Every sign is that life will get more difficult in the weeks, months and even years ahead. Do not surrender to fear. Surrender your fear to God. Pray and work to see as many people as possible reconciled to God through Jesus.

Do Everything without Grumbling and Arguing

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi about not grumbling and arguing. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:14-16 NIV) What is grumbling and arguing? When does addressing issues in a relationship, in a job, a church, a community, or nation become grumbling and arguing? Grumbling and arguing is pointing out faults, problems, and obstacles without offering and working towards a solution. It is easy to point out faults, problems, and obstacles -- it is more difficult to suggest and seek solutions. People are grumbling and arguing in every stratum of society. People’s standard of living, their level of education, their faith background, or their political leanings, seem to be irrelevant. They all grumble and complain! They grumble and argue about COVID-19, BLM, the environment, the economic situation and outlook, and the fiscal policies thrust upon them. This grumbling and arguing are testing social structures and revealing the cracks at every level. Couples see the other person as a foe. Instead of working together to determine how they are going to get their boat through the rapids, they fight each other with the paddles. Children grumble and argue with parents and vice versa. Politicians and political parties grumble and argue, when they could collectively seek solutions that benefit the whole. They stonewall and blame each other, ignoring tested social structures. They are tasked with building a bridge to lasting change and solutions, but instead they grumble and argue about the bridge that is crumbling. What did Paul say? “Do everything.” Everything is a big word! It is only 10 letters but encompasses all of life. Everything means everything. Where does “do everything without grumbling and arguing” start? With me! With you! With us! With Jesus' followers! Jesus wants US to be the ones shining in our society like stars in the sky as we hold firmly to the word of life.

Learning to Live in the Awkward Silence

I have been reading about a practice that fleshes out for me, one directive given by Jesus’ brother James. James wrote: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19 NIV) James might have heard Jesus teach about being quick to listen and slow to speak. He was probably aware of the words of Solomon in his collection of Proverbs. Solomon wrote: “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” (Proverbs 17:28 ESV) “The Rule of Awkward Silence” is the practice that I’ve been reading about. The Rule of Awkward Silence or being “quick to listen, slow to speak” requires time. Too often in the rush to feed “instant gratification” we waste time giving answers that are incomplete, shallow, not thought through, and not helpful. But we swim in the pool of instant gratification. Everyone is looking for Immediate responses. People expect an answer to their email the same day, and they expect texts answered immediately. The person who texted is likely looking for the “ellipsis” showing that a response is being typed. (What about when the “ellipsis” goes away? It’s as if the other person started responding and then changed their mind…what’s up with that?!) People don’t connect the dots of life well when they don’t think critically. Critical thinking involves pondering, studying, and analyzing. Critical, deep, reflective thinking requires time. Time to consider subjects, ideas, and concepts. “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” (Proverbs 18:2 ESV) I’m trying to slow down and think. I’m trying to understand. I don’t want to be the “fool” who is only concerned with “expressing his opinion.” Silence can be awkward. I’m trying to learn to live in the awkwardness of silence so I can learn, understand, and think.