The Otherness of God

In my personal Bible time, I’ve been reading through the book of Job. Job’s story has been an example and an encouragement throughout the centuries for millions. There are some tough events in the book of Job. Losing loved ones to calamity, losing life, property and health rock Job to the core. If you’ve never read slowly through the account of Jobs life, do so as soon as you can. Through the events and the subsequent wrestling with others and God, he gained a new understanding of the incomparable nature of God. There are no comparisons that clarify the otherness of God. Some have suggested that the otherness of God is like the difference between a person and an ant. Though a brilliant contrast, it falls infinitely short of the difference between God and people. Theologians use the word “transcendence” to describe God’s otherness. Transcendence describes the truth that God is not restrained by time, space, or physical laws. God is separate from His creation. He is not dependent on creation. God’s transcendence doesn’t mean that He is removed from creation. Theologians use the word “immanence” to describe God’s involvement in the lives of people. Though God is completely “other.” He is intimately involved in every aspect of His creation. He does not sleep, he knows the hairs on every one of the 7.5 billion people on the planet and He knows when a sparrow falls from the sky. As Job wrestled with the hardships of life and attempted to understand God’s actions, some of what he learned left him shaking. Job told a friend attempting to console him, “The Almighty terrifies me.” (Job 23:16 NCV) To a friend attempting to console him, he said, “I know that my Defender lives, and in the end I will stand upon the earth. … I will see him myself; I will see him with my very own eyes. How my heart wants that to happen.” (Job 19:25-27 NCV) Job was describing the tension of the “transcendence” and the “immanence” of God. He is completely “other” yet personally involved in our lives. God “transcendence” and His “immanence,” His otherness and personal involvement in His creation enables me to trust Him completely. As you read the Scripture in 2021, look for God’s otherness and His intimacy.

In God We Trust

After my morning run on January 6th, I joined with others from SWAG for a time of prayer on Zoom. Much of the time praying concentrated on the country, the rallies in Washington, DC and across the country. We prayed against violence, property damage and loss of life. We prayed that God would speak to his followers at the rallies to act and react honorably. Unfortunately, our prayers were not answered the way I had hoped. As the morning unfolded, my heart broke as I watched the events unfold in Washington, DC. Not since 1812 has the nation’s capital experienced anything like yesterday’s tragic events. Protestors defiled the space where every president has given their State of the Union address, laws have been made, wars have been declared and heroes of our country have laid “in-state.” Many of you have visited the Capital and experienced the sacred space that was violated. The debate over who the protestors were, and their motives will extend long into the future. In my mind, it doesn’t matter who they were or their motives, the desecration of the Capital yesterday is one of the saddest days our country has experienced in my lifetime. If God was involved in the formation of America, and I believe that He was, tears were streaming down his face. I believe God wept yesterday. Followers of Jesus must concentrate on obeying the truths of Scripture. We need to repent of shameful attitudes and, speaking words that bring death instead of life. We must focus on loving our neighbors and our enemies, praying for our leaders, our country, and standing against the forces of darkness that provoke evil. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalms 20:7 NIV) Follower of Jesus, will you turn from trusting in “red and blue chariots and horses” and trust in God? Will you live like you are trusting God? Will you speak like you are trusting God? Will you pray like you are trusting God? Will you love others like you are trusting God? The legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government will not redeem the shameful conduct of 2020 and the unimaginable events of yesterday. What “the enemy meant for evil, God can use for good.“ (Gen. 50:20: See the story of Joseph from Genesis 45-50, if you are not familiar with this verse.) God will only be able to work redemption if the followers of Jesus respond like Joseph the patriarch did almost 4,000 years ago. If Joseph had not responded as he did, with integrity and forgiveness, God would not have used what was meant for evil to bring about a good outcome. Jesus called the church the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The country will putrefy, and the world will continue to slide into darkness if followers of Jesus lose their saltiness and hide the light! Be as the salt, be the light, be Jesus to this lost and decaying nation. Matt

Wisdom in the Middle of Trials

One of the last books in the New Testament is a letter written by Jesus’ brother James. He wrote to a group of Jesus’ followers who were experiencing the spectrum of life’s hardships. The Jesus followers had scattered to the corners of the Roman world because of ongoing conflict in Israel. The second sentence of James’ letter sets the tone for the rest of the letter. “Count it all joy, … when you meet trials of various kinds,” and “blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trials.” I don’t know about you, but I feel that “counting it all joy,” and “remaining steadfast,” are MUCH easier read about than done! There are a variety of trials addressed in the letter. Some were relationship trials such as partiality and preferential treatment. Some trials were rooted in disobedience to the principles laid out. Some had to do with the interchange between faith and “works.” Misuse of the tongue, fighting, not praying, or praying with wrong motives, jealousy, boasting about plans, and the behavior of the wealthy, round out the roster of trials. How does a Jesus follower “count it all joy” and “remain steadfast” under trials? One word – WISDOM. James encourages those who he commands to “count it all joy” and “remain steadfast” under trial to ask for WISDOM. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5 ESV) Every one of us is “UNDER” a litany of trials. “Trial” could be the 2020 word of the year. James encourages and commands those under trial to ASK GOD FOR WISDOM. Start today, start right now, while you are reading this - ASK GOD FOR WISDOM. You might have heard me or someone else say, “Each of us is either just coming out of a trial, in the middle of a trial or headed into a trial.” That is the nature of life! ASK GOD FOR WISDOM.

Defeating Hopelessness

As I’ve been studying hope, I’ve come to see that hope and the lack of hope (hopelessness) are linked to and fed by what a person focuses on. Prisoners in the concentration camps and prisoners of war experienced and wrote about focus as a tool of hope. Their experiences and those of their fellow prisoners reveal that those who focused on the future suffered differently than those who focused on their circumstances. In the first century, a church leader wrote a letter, known through history as “Hebrews”, found in the New Testament. The letter was written to encourage a group of Hebrew followers of Jesus. This group of disciples were suffering persecution. The hardship and suffering were enticing them to denounce Jesus as the Messiah and to return to traditional Jewish practices. Their leader encouraged them: “We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.” (Hebrews 12:2 ERV) The church leader encouraged the disciples to focus on Jesus. Jesus, the leader and completer of their faith. The author of the letter points to Jesus as the model of focus. Jesus “accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing,” because of what he could see out in front of Him. Jesus didn’t focus on the circumstances of his arrest, trial, beatings and execution. He focused on the joy waiting for him. Jesus was full of hope because of the joy he could see awaiting him on the other side of the events he was about to endure. On the other side of His arrest, trial, beatings, execution, death, and burial was the resurrection and the birth of the family of God, the church. Look beyond your trials, testing and hardships. Look beyond the instability and uncertainty of these days. Look out on the horizon. Look to Jesus. “We must never stop looking to Jesus.”

The "First Blow Against the Enemies Schemes"

2020 has been a crazy year filled with all sorts of twists, turns and “I didn’t see that coming” events. The stressors on people have left many in relationship turmoil. People feel isolated, fractured and confused. Uncertainty abounds. I have watched people avoid interactions with others in stores and community settings. As I talk with people I find them reticent to enter into conversations because of an uncertainty of where the conversation might lead. I have found myself asking the question “Is this conversation going to lead to conflict and disagreement.” If, as Jesus said, “a kingdom divided cannot stand” then one of the tactics of the enemy is to divide and conquer. The enemy hasn’t conquered yet but he’s definitely at work dividing. King Solomon warned his son to guard his heart. Obviously it was a warning to guard against giving in to temptation and corrupting influences. His warning is applicable to relationships, emotional wounds, rejections, and conflict. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) Solomon’s first three words “above all else” have always grabbed my attention. Before anything else, the first thing to do, the number one priority is to “guard my heart.” John Eldredge combined Solomon’s words and the Enemy’s tactics when he wrote: “Caring for your heart is the first blow against the Enemy’s schemes.” Forgive, be generous, give the benefit of the doubt. When you take this attitude you send the “first blow against the Enemy’s schemes.” The Apostle Paul wrote, “We are not ignorant of the enemy’s schemes.” (2 Corinthians 2:11) Don’t give in to the enemy’s scheme of dividing and schisms. Don’t just be on the defense against the enemy. Go on the offense. Guard your heart, forgive, be gracious and generous. Don’t give the enemy a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27)

What is the Target in Relationship Struggles?

The last few weeks, I have been reflecting on the Apostle Paul’s instructions to Titus. Paul visited Titus in Crete after a brief visit. He sent Titus instructions to help him establish and strengthen a community of disciples on the island. Crete, like many other places where churches started and sought to take root, was a target of teachers presenting an array of “lies and heresies.” Paul wrote strong, even harsh words about some who were causing trouble in the community. “There are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers ... They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” (Titus 1:10-12 ESV) Paul coached Titus and commanded him about how to manage oneself during conflict and strife. He commanded Titus to pass on the coaching to the community. Paul understood that self-control is difficult in relationship struggles. He also understood how difficult it is to coach toward godly living when relationship storms are brewing. The verse I’ve been contemplating is Titus 3:2. What Paul commands is, as we say, “Easier said than done!” “Speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people.” (Titus 3:2 ESV) WOW! Really! Can that be done? No one? Avoid quarreling? Gentle? Show perfect courtesy toward ALL people? Give me a break! Get real! It may be way out there --- BUT IT IS OUR TARGET!

God, What are You Doing?

Early in 2020, I wondered what God is doing. Churches across the world ceased for a time to meet in person. Government measures to contain COVID-19, hamstrung world economies. Travel and tourism ground to a halt. The last time a pandemic impacted the world in this way was 100 years ago. I’m pondering a couple of verses while asking: God, what are you doing? What do You want the outcome to look like? In what ways are you wanting to change me and change the church I lead? In the middle of world turmoil, the prophet Habakkuk asked God what He was doing. God responded, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.” (Habakkuk 1:5 NLT) What God spoke to Habakkuk is true for me, I “wouldn’t believe even if someone told [me] about it.” God is doing something so big and so grand that it is global. I heard from people in SE Asia, Amsterdam, Nigeria, Uganda, Germany and Liberia this week. The story is the same. Virus, people sick, government restrictions and economic hardship. It is easy to judge what is happening in Washington State, but people are suffering and government restrictions are changing life around the world. God spoke to the Jewish people who were also experiencing turmoil. “Do not forget this! Keep it in mind! Remember this, … Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. ... Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” (Isaiah 46:8-10 NLT) I take comfort and assurance from God’s voice through Isaiah when He says: “For I alone am God, and there is none like me. … Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” I for one am practicing surrender every day. Most of life is out of my control, but I trust the one who alone is God and everything He plans will come to pass. “I trust, help me when my trust wavers.” AMEN

Love Does

Five years before the Apostle Paul’s execution in Rome, he wrote to the church in Corinth. He provided them with instructions about living a God honoring life. Paul’s expectation was that the believers in Corinth would become imitators of Jesus and follow the ways of Jesus. The central trait that concerned Paul was imitating and following Jesus’ way of love. Love motivated everything Jesus did and said. Love for his Father and/or love for humanity. Love should be the motivating factor of everything that a Jesus follower does and says. “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT) If I could correct every lie of fake news, if I could combat the injustices of vote counters, if I could set straight every wrong by BLM protestors or by corrupt police, but didn’t do it from a motivation of love, my actions would not be beneficial for me or society. If I could foresee election results, policy outcomes and legislative shortcomings, but did not act and speak in love, I would be nothing. If I stood between every protestor and police officers on behalf of protestors or on behalf of the police, If I added my voice to the cacophony of sounds against injustice, but if love didn’t my actions and speech, I have gained nothing and others have gained nothing. The actions and speech that Paul described are good things, superb things, but only if the motive is love. Nothing is accomplished from speeches and activity motivated by self-righteousness, hatred, vengeance, jealousy, or revenge. What is said and done without love only adds to the darkness, pain, and suffering. Paul clarified love this way: Love is patient, kind, not jealous, boastful or proud. Love does not demand its own way, doesn’t get irritated, and doesn’t keep score. Love does not rejoice at the sight or sounds of injustice, but rejoices when truth is the winner. Love keeps trying, keeps believing, keeps hoping and striving. Actions and words rooted in love will last forever. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Matt's paraphrase)

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.