Give Up On Yourself (Counterintuitive 6)

CONFESSION:
I'm an Ultimate Fighting fan. Why? That's a topic for another post. I raise the issue here to share an observation I've picked up after watching grown men punch each other in the face with very light gloves: A short, direct punch- properly placed on the jaw- will send anyone to the canvas.

Why mention this? It reminds me of the teachings of Jesus. With a sentence, He rocks our worlds. His ideas connect with our souls and leave us trying to clear the cobwebs. Jesus' words can be disorienting. Like this little number:

Then he said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)

Read that again. And again. One more time. Could Jesus really mean that? Does He expect adults to approach Him like chidren? Is regression mandatory to follow Jesus? At least He telegraphs the punch by using that word- CHANGE. Jesus knows most of us are hard wired to grow, succeed, improve. We've learned hard work and perseverance will get us almost anywhere in this life. Anywhere except the Kingdom of Jesus. For that, we've got to give up on ourselves.

CLARIFICATION:
Still wobbled by Jesus' declaration, I wonder what He means exactly. What child-like traits are we to emulate? Reading the VERSES on either side of the world-imbalancing statement suggest one answer: Jesus wants us to be humble like little children. Maybe we shouldn't have asked for clarification. But why stop there? What does it look like for a grown-up to come to Jesus like a child? This STORY that might give us a hint. Two adults go to the same place (the Temple), for the same reason (to seek God)- but approach Him in dramatically different ways. The Pharisee (read religious guy) comes as an adult. The Tax-Collector (read sinner) comes as a child. (Surprised at which God is drawn to?) Could we do the same? Yes, with some changes.

CHANGES IN POSTURE:
Kids are pretty transparent. Want to know what's in their heads? Look at their posture. Joy, frustration, sadness, even the need to potty all show up clearly. Adults aren't much more veiled. Our postures reveal our hearts too. The religious guy is SELF-CONFIDENT. The sinner seems LESS SURE OF HIMSELF (but hopeful about God). Their bodies express their souls. And God RESPONDS to their postures. (Maybe there's something to kneeling in prayer after all!)

CHANGES IN VOCABULARY
What words do these guys bring before God? One comes full of SELF-ASSURANCE. He focuses only on his perceived strengths. The other pray-er brings radically different WORDS. Although he's surely gotten some things right in this life, he focuses on the bottom line of his status before God. Ever noticed how easily kids impress? They perform simple tricks or tasks and we squeal with delight. (Your 3 year old can use a computer? GENIUS!) Perspective reminds us that kids are just that. For all their "success" and "growth", they're still far from being wholly formed. Sounds like our state before God, huh? The tax-collector understood and expressed that with His words.

CHANGES IN REQUESTS:
Kids aren't afraid to ask for things, are they? Been given a Christmas list already by a munchkin? Me too. What does the Pharisee ASK for in this story? Apparently, he needs nothing from God. He'll take care of Himself, thank you very much. What does the CHILD-LIKE Tax-Collector seek? That which would meet his greatest need- MERCY. If we're to approach Jesus like little-ones, we've got to abandon our pride and illusions of self-sufficiency. Because, for good or ill, God will give us what we ask for. At least He does HERE. Both guys get exactly what they seek from God. What if the same thing happens for us?

FROM HERE:
By now the sting of Jesus' words is passing, but the implications are just beginning. What are we realizing? That we're going to have to keep a foot in each world. With others, we've still got to be adults- responsible, mature, dependable. But with God, we've got to learn to shift gears- and be humble, confessing, dependent. Almost sounds freeing doesn't it?


Isn't it just like Jesus to knock us on our butts to set us free?

Someday Is Now (Counterintuitive Week 5)

“Someday I’m gonna ________.”

What’s in your blank? Goals? (get my degree.) Procrastinations? (open that 401K.) Ignored priorities? (work less and see my kids more.) Chances are we all have multiple “somethings” for that blank. What would Jesus interject into this conversation? “That someday you are waiting for- is TODAY. Someday is NOW. Especially when it comes to God.”

MATTHEW 25 @ 30,000 FEET
Flying back and forth to Raleigh, I’m finding things to like about the commute- like the instant change in perspective. Things look much different at cruising altitude than at ground level. If we want to understand why “someday in NOW”, we need to see Matthew 25 from a broad perspective. Take a few minutes to read this chapter like you are looking down from 30K feet. Don’t worry about details- listen for the main idea.

What do you hear? What is Jesus talking about in these 3 stories? Notice any recurring themes? My take? Jesus explains the Kingdom of Heaven to us by comparing it to an authority figure WHO IS AWAY. Those who are accountable to Him are dealt with based on what they did WHILE HE WAS AWAY.

We tend to think that Heaven starts someday after we die. Jesus says we are living in the Kingdom of Heaven today- while the bridegroom is gone, the master is away and Jesus is waiting to return. Although there’s a pending wedding feast, homecoming and judgment day to come when everything is fully consummated- we are in the Kingdom of Heaven right now.

Not sure? Check out Matthew 11:12, 12:28 & Mark 9:1. In each verse, Jesus discusses the Kingdom of Heaven in present tense. And He spoke those words 2000 years ago. What if Jesus is serious? What are the implications of living in the Kingdom of Heaven here and now? Good questions.

ZOOMING IN
As the plane descends, perspective shifts. Wide angle becomes telephoto. Forest becomes individual trees. To understand what it means to live in the Kingdom of Heaven today, we need to zoom in a bit on the stories in Matthew 25.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR KINGDOM RELATIONSHIPS
In the wedding story, why did the groom refuse entrance to some bridesmaids? He didn’t know them. Some conclude the the point of Jesus' Kingdom is to punch tickets to Heaven. I don't buy that. Jesus wants people to go to Heaven- but He came for more-to restore relationships. Jesus came to bring a ruined, rebellious creation back to it's Creator. And the time for that relationship with God is today. We don't have to wait until we die to know and love God. You and I can look into the eyes of our Maker and embrace Him today. How? Jesus knew we would ask.

THANK GOD FOR THE NEEDY
When Jesus tells 3 consecutive stories, He isn't just filling space. The yarns in Mt 25 are strung together intentionally. As I read them, the final story helps flesh out the first two. As the Good Shepherd talks about sheep and goats, He tells us how we can know and love Him while we walk the earth. When we engage people in need, we engage Jesus. When we love and serve them, we love and serve Him. What if this is really true? It means that our relationship with the groom/master/shepherd can happen even while He is away. And we tend to think we're the ones helping those in need!

NOW IS THE TIME TO DO THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM
In 2nd story, what does the master judge his servants on when he returns? The work they did while He was gone. What work has Jesus left us? Spreading His message. What is the message of Jesus? "Go to heaven and avoid hell"? (SIGH) God Almighty forbid that we accept or propagate something so shabby. The message of Jesus is RESTORATION. Sin wrecked creation. The painful effects are everywhere. Jesus came to put things back as they were meant to be. And we can help. In the final story, Jesus' applauds certain actions- feeding hungry folks, tending to sick people, etc. What do these things have in common? They scream restoration. God didn't make a world that included hunger, thirst, evil or illness. We let that crap in. Now Jesus bids us to pull these weeds wherever we find them. He'll plow the whole thing up and replant it eventually. Until then, we do our part of the Kingdom work.

SOMEDAY IS TODAY
So here I sit- typing in the Kingdom of heaven. There you sit- reading in the Kingdom of heaven. Talk about a perspective shift! Sorry, I'd love to talk some more, but I've got Kingdom relationships to build and Kingdom work to do. Wanna join me?

The Great Thanksgiving

The Great Thanksgiving is the name for the prayer which we pray before sharing communion. Very often, it is prayed in a trinitarian form: the first part is addressed to God our Maker, the second part recalls the ministry of Christ (particularly the Last Supper), and the third calls upon the Holy Spirit. Although it is addressed to God, it is often prayed while looking at the community of people who are gathered around the table. Over the centuries, this prayer and this practice of sharing a meal have taken many forms. Below I have linked some of the scriptures from which I have drawn this particular prayer. May we share many such prayers and meals with God and one another.

Almighty Maker, in the days after you had formed the heavens and the earth, and streams came up and watered the whole earth, you knelt in a land rich with onyx and gold and aromatic resin, and formed us in your image from the rich soil and breathed into us the breath of life. You made us to be salt for the earth and light for the world.

When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through the prophets.

In the fullness of time you sent your son, Jesus Christ, who healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. When he left this earth, he promised he would always be with us in the Word and by the power of your Holy Spirit.

On the night in which Jesus gave himself up for us he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread and shared it with his followers saying, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

After the supper he took the cup, gave thanks to you, and shared it with his followers saying, "Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out of you and for many others for the forgiveness of sin. Do this in remembrance of me."

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of loaf and cup. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, so that we may be for the world the body of Christ redeemed by his blood. Make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world. Amen.

Counterintuitive Week 3

"Image is Everything."
Who knew Andre Agassi was so prophetic? Or that a late 80's commercial would nail our way of living 20 years later? But he was and it does. Our culture values image over substance. As a result, we buy things that don't measure up to the commercials, order food that doesn't look as good as it does on the menu and vote for politicians we know are faking it.

Not that we are exempt either. We try to put our best foot forward at work, with friends, on dates- and even with God. Somewhere we've all got an M.A. in Image Management matted and framed. (OK- maybe not all of us, but we do tend to think that people who don't care what others think are jerks- right?)

Once again, Jesus calls us to a way of living that requires a sharp u-turn as He urges us to forget about managing images and focus on substance. True to form, He does this with a simple STORY. In Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus describes two radically different approaches we can take in our life with God. One values image management. The other, substance and action.

"Yes Sir, Dad." (With a smile.)
Jesus describes a vineyard owning father who asks both of his children to go work in the family business. One son is enthusiastic. Tells Dad he's been looking forward to it. Can't wait to get his hands dirty. But as soon as Dad is gone- the son hits the links (or lake, or bed, etc.). Win-win. Dad thinks he's a good son, AND he gets to do whatever he wants.

Sound deceptive? Shallow? Religious? Right on all 3. Jesus uses this son to picture folks who say yes to God- and then do whatever they want. RELIGIOUS PEOPLE have always had a knack for this, but image management never fools God. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus previews a CONVERSATION He will have with those whose spiritual lives have been all image and no substance.

Read it through a couple of times. Would you want Jesus to say those words to you? I'd rather pass. And we can. How? The passage gives us a couple of clues:
1. Focus on knowing Jesus, not just using His name.
The image driven will tell Jesus about all they accomplished by using His name. Jesus doesn't care. He wanted more than miracles. He wanted a relationship. The temptation to use Jesus (for friends, peace of mind, self-improvement, $, etc.) is still there today. Jesus wants more for us.
2. Focus on doing what God wants, not just what sounds good to us.
Did you hear what Jesus called these miracle workers? EVIL. Why? Because they did the things that furthered their religious image instead of doing what God wanted. Are we so different?

"The P.R. Nightmare" (The Good Son)
Fortunately, Jesus gives us an ALTERNATIVE to image management. The son that Jesus praises in the story was rebellious. He told his Father no- straight to His face. Ever done that with God? Me too. When it comes to image, this kid is a PR nightmare. So, how does he end up as the "good one"? He CHANGES his mind and heart. He leaves his past behind and obeys his father. God doesn't need us to project the perfect image or live perfect lives. (Good thing, huh?) He only needs us to soften our hearts and turn towards Him. What does that look like? Great question.

Personalized Substance
In this story, Jesus keeps referring to JOHN as a key figure in the lives of those who were moving past image management. As the hype man for Jesus, John's MESSAGE called for the substance of life-change. Fed up with religious spin doctors, John demanded action from those who wanted to embrace Jesus and His way of living. Read this ACCOUNT. What does John ask of those wanting to change? More Bible reading? More prayer? More temple time? Nope. He wants real life action. He urges us to live like we are a part of Jesus' Kingdom now, with the substance of practicality. What does John tell each group to do? Something that was doable for them, given who they were.

I won't lie to you, image management is easier than a life of action and substance. But does it lead us where we want to go? Good question. And here are a couple more to chew on:
1. Which son in the story best describes my life with God today? Is this what I really want?
2. If I were to wade out and meet John the Baptist in the river, what kind of action would he ask me to take today as proof that my desire for Jesus is sincere?