Some Thoughts On The Life of Faith Under Social Restrictions

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I wanted to share a few thoughts at the beginning of this time of restricted social gatherings.

1.  Technology helps, although not perfect

With the ability to use the internet and phone calls, we are able to stay connected even during times like these when we are restricted to our very small gatherings. The church must be proactive to reach out through the methods like never before to stay in each other's lives. Our phones have been a problem for so long that the idea of them being of such value now under these circumstances, is strange. Moving through different and strange times can be done efficiently through effective communication. Communication is work, however, that must be intentional.  Nothing beats in-person interaction, but for temporary struggles, we have many opportunities for alternative communication.

2. Solitude is a spiritual discipline 

Temporary solitude has been recognized as a spiritual discipline that was modeled by our Lord and Savior. This time is for a renewed focus on the Lord that is free from the distractions of normal everyday life. Normally this is a voluntary practice that one seeks to make a part of their routine of disciplines. During this time of restricted gatherings, one can take advantage of the time that is spent alone or with family units. No more extra activities that we recognize as being a threat to family units. For those with children at home, solitude may only be a dream for the future, but an increased time of family solitude can be an increased time of family worship and prayer. Regardless of your situation, find the best way to commune with God under these circumstances. 

3. Corporate worship will now be yearned for more than ever

I saw this mentioned by a fellow pastor in reaction to the closing of public worship and I believe he is right. We have seen public worship as just a part of our regular routine for so long. So much so that we have to work hard to engage with the Lord in worship and not just passively go through the motions. This interruption may have a positive effect on the other side where we actually learn to long for our time of worship together in order to meet with God as a family. I hope those that have viewed the church as a take it or leave it option will also see the value of community in Christ with more clarity. 

4. Change and challenges are a catalyst for growth

No one looks forward to challenges or hardship, but our Lord does proclaim that persecution, for example, is a trait and blessing of the believer's life. (Matthew 5:2-12) The refinement that happens when the church is attacked or challenged with hard circumstances is of great value and comfort. (Romans 5:1-5) With the first major interruption to regular in-person meetings of the church of this magnitude, I believe we will be better on the other side. Most good things come after sacrifice and struggle that builds your character and determination. This is true even in the life of faith. 

"Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;

be gracious to me and answer me!

You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,

O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,

O God of my salvation!

For my father and my mother have forsaken me,

but the Lord will take me in.

Teach me your way, O Lord,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they breathe out violence.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living!

Wait for the Lord;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!"   -Psalm 27:7-14

"If our hearts delight in God and his face, then we can contemplate losing earthly joys without fear"-Tim Keller

Who We Aspire To Be

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The understanding of who we are is rooted in the identity restored to us in Christ. But too often followers of Christ fall into the same pattern of persona building as the lost world around us. Most people make decisions about the way they live their life for the purpose of furthering an image that is most beneficial to their desires. The one that has been saved by the power of God, however, must embrace the purpose of the Gospel and God’s desire outlined in God’s word. In order to truly be “you” there must be a removal of the deceptive image building, and actively seek living out the character of God as one of the redeemed! This is seen as turning from the image that was built for survival in our culture. I believe we misplace our identity to find security. This is a false sense of security that is focused on a false desire for survival. In Christ, we have all we need for survival and validation.  The church must be called to repentance to not worry any longer about earthly perception and first seek to honor God. Be rooted In Him alone. 

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 6:5-11

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."   -Ephesians 1:3-10

Having Might In The Scriptures

• Read it
• Memorize it 
• Depend on it
• Hunger for it
• Enjoy it 
• Quote it
• Teach it
• Preach it

Above All

"I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased."  -Psalms 138:1-3


Just some thoughts:

1. To intentionally bow to the presence of God is for:
a. Worship
b. Devotion and Loyalty
c. Resisting all "others" in your life

2. God's Word and Name is exalted to prominent attention and authority
a.  This attention points to love and faithfulness of God present in our life.

Pulpit Perspective

  As a pastor, I have conditioned myself to see others from the perspective of their spiritual state and need. I rejoice over seeing people growing or show spiritual maturity in their life. There truly isn’t a greater joy than seeing someone grow in Christ. You can see it in the way they interact with others and the conversations you have with them. Their participation in the community of faith increases. Spiritual growth is easily perceived when the individual is in full commitment. Likewise, I am concerned over lack of growth or stagnancy that I can perceive in the life of others. My perception is in the context of ministering to each person as they are. Everyone has the need to make a necessary response to God at all times. Being able to perceive someone’s need can also very difficult, however, if the evidence is saying stagnancy. The behaviors of others can only serve as evidence but cannot be trusted as conclusive all on its own. Maybe perception over time is the best indicator of one’s condition of the heart. Careful consideration of the intention of your perception as a believer is vital. Condemnation is never the goal, but urging others to join you on the journey of spiritual growth is. If Individuals are completely without trust in Christ, then sharing the “good news” of the gospel is the first priority. But in the community of faith, there should always be an atmosphere that urges continued growth in Christ. This pulpit perspective is a blessing in that I am driven to focus on what is truly important to see in others. What is truly important is in rejection of the superficial standards of the world. Rejoicing and concern are the appropriate feelings for all believers to have in relationship with others, depending on the current circumstance. Jealousy and condemnation in evaluating others are of the sinful flesh and influence of the evil one, that still plagues our current state. One must be diligent to make sure the intention is righteous, according to God’s Word, in rejoicing and concern for others. Believers are looking through the lens of God’s Word that one is devoted to consuming daily in prayer to God. This lens is the correct way of existing and interacting in a fallen world. I call it pulpit perspective because of my call to pastoral ministry. Disciple perspective might be a better term, as I see this as important for all who trust in Jesus as Savior. All people saved by the power of God are to engage with other Christians from this perspective. All people saved by the power of God must seek to engage with a lost word from this perspective. Are you perceiving the spiritual need of others? Are you listening to those who perceive your spiritual need today? Let us encourage each other to grow in Christ, with all grace and humility!

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”  -Hebrews 10:19-24

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”    -Romans 12:9-21

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”    -Philippians 2:1-4

Sermon Sadness

When is your lowest point? I’m talking about the depths of sadness that is so solemn that you almost can’t speak. Mine is interesting in that it is right after I deliver a sermon. The temptation to be hard on myself is irresistible for things I said or didn’t say as clearly as I wanted. My theory is that when you truly give your all to something you are drained of all emotion. Preaching is by nature spiritual which involves emotion. I can even feel the physical effects as I am putting in the effort. So maybe it is not sadness at all. This feeling could be the reaction of great effort and still a sense of falling short of the great task. Preaching is enjoyable and an honor in the greatest sense. I thank the Lord that He is able to use my sermon that I have genuinely and with great effort prepared. That moment of declaring truth has been the culmination of prayer, study, and application for the purpose of God doing an amazing work. The fruits of the hours of preparation and prayer are desired greatly. When the fruits are not visibly evident, one can be greatly discouraged. In the moment of sadness, the only appropriate act of obedience and attitude of the heart is to trust God more. Those that preach and teach must proceed over the long-term with an understanding that the change and growth of all people begin from within the heart of the conscience. By turning to greater trust in the Lord to work, you will find the confidence to build upon a long-term life of obedience that will eventually bring a harvest of spiritual growth within the congregation. This growth will become visible through the spread of discipleship and evangelism. Sermon sadness is strange and could just be my struggle alone, but I am grateful for it. This struggle is a reminder of my weakness and that the task of being a Pastor/Preacher is bigger than my abilities. I must trust in the one who provides all things as the Creator God. Let us be prompted by our struggles to turn our attention to the Lord. 

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”  1 Corinthians 1:10-17

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” - 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Critique Culture

Much has been said about our current cultural climate of outrage. This is no doubt an accurate discussion that has identified the destruction of being offended by everything and being in constantly in pursuit of what to be offended by next. With this mindset comes the extreme emotions that leave us fatigued and depressed. When thinking of this issue in how it impacts the culture of the church, it is easy to see its presence among the people of God. I do not believe, however, that this is a new problem. Outrage can also show up in subtle ways expressed in the remarks we use in response to something in the life of faith. As we interact with other believers in our own church or among believers that attend other local churches, it is easy to express discontent in the form of critiques. We may even express discontent in the form of suggestions, which are cloaked critiques. As I ponder the problem with constant critiquing and suggesting among the body of Christ, I can't help but think this does nothing but distract us from who we are and what we are doing. When gathering with fellow believers for worship, or other ministry efforts, our goal is to maintain a focus directed towards the purposes of God. In other words, we are there doing what we are doing not to satisfy our own preferences or the preferences of others. I am there to function and exist as one whom God has redeemed. This means some things are to please God and not to please me. Those who are truly honoring God are only focused on His desires. Every task is for the purpose of honoring God even if I don’t particularly enjoy the process of what I am doing. True service to others for the purpose of honoring God is not distracted by the critiquing of the task. This does take great maturity and discipline in Christ and we must be patient with those that are growing towards maturity. For the faithful, a good thought is “This is not for me to critique, this is for God!”. If the task of the church is in conformity to God’s word, then no matter what I prefer, I can participate joyfully as is honoring to Him! This frees the individual from having to be pleased by the task itself and instead is able to find joy in the outcome of glory being appropriately attributed to God. May we all grow to do all for the glory of God!

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” - 1 Corinthians 10:31