The angst and the lightning

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟰:𝟲 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀. 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁.

…

𝟮𝟰:𝟮𝟳 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻.

So much turmoil in Matthew 24! So much cataclysm and soul-wrenching upheaval. The life of a Jesus follower is to be marked by the animosity of the world and endangered by the reaction of sinful humanity towards the message of the cross and its living out. The war in the heavenlies will become war on earth.

In fear, there is a settling of conviction or an alignment with anyone and anything that seems to alleviate the threats. That is why Jesus said to not be alarmed. Far from just turning off the alarm switch, the peace that a believer can have is based upon faith that Jesus remains in control although it looks like the opposite. Believers will be put to death in an effort to stop the move of God’s Kingdom (some have tried, see Josef Stalin). Still the end is “not yet”.

It does little good to hand-wring and development of worry warts in advance of the end times. Even less good is the perverse glee who imagine the coming of Christ – verse 27 – without the unpleasant events leading up to it – verses 1-26. Even less useful than that is the false prophecy that portends to know the time of his arrival and makes survivalist preparations (absoLUTEly without scriptural instruction). This is to the shame of God’s people, for it is cultic, and driven by anything but love (which has grown cold).

There is a hopeful sobriety that awaits the second coming of the Lord, come what may. Trusting God with today’s events is always the way to live in Christ. His Word is a lamp, not a floodlight (Psalm 119:105). Because, when Jesus does return to planet earth, no one will be mistaken. No false messiahs or false refuges will compare to the true glory or speed of his descent.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

“How”, not “when”

Luke 17:20-21 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

The question was a “when” question that Jesus answered with a “how” answer. And in his answer how, he answered the “when” question with “right now”.

Having seen the miracles Jesus performed and listening to his teaching, many in Israel thought he would bring the kingdom of God as a political force that would rule the world from Jerusalem. There was no shortage of national pride in that expectation.

This was not the reign that Jesus was to bring. Instead, it was conquest of the human soul, a personal transformation paid for by his own sacrifice, the very opposite of the actions of the ruler they expected. They were both unwilling and incapable of understanding and experiencing the kingdom in their midst.

Jesus went on to explain to his disciples the dire times that would bring God’s kingdom in power upon the earth. It would (and will) not be a desirable period in which to live. Yet, it was not to happen in the lifetime of his hearers.

It is healthy for believers to long for Jesus’ return. There is only One who can deliver this world, and his appearing and final reign is before us all as a blessed hope.

But we should never assume that any man-made or -sustained system on this earth to be the expression of God’s kingdom “in our midst”. It is mine and ours, to have the reign of God within our hearts and the conformation to his image (Romans 8:29) be the signature work of power in this life.

Jesus instructed his followers to NOT chase after predictions of the times of his return (Acts 1:7) yet people act like the Pharisees in their speculation and relentless scheming. Let me stay away from that foolishness and treasure the Kingdom that is in our midst and in me. Amen.

Affirmed by rejection

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟮:𝟭𝟬-𝟭𝟭 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: “‘𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲; 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱’𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀’?”

This analogy of the builders with the rejected stone (see Psalm 118:22) has much more than meets the eye. The building experts, trained and experienced in their craft, get things so fundamentally wrong that they discard the most important piece of the foundation of the building. Far more than an expose of human ineptitude, which is in all honesty a healthy part of growth in any field of endeavor, the metaphor speaks to a more profound rejection – one motivated by hurried expedience, misguided attraction or outright jealousy.

Jesus HAD to be rejected by people or he would not have been the Messiah:

𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝟱𝟯:𝟯 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗻, 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁.

Jesus was referring to himself in the quotation, directly confronting his accusers and detractors to their face. Yet he is the Cornerstone, the foundation upon which lives of faith are to be built.

His rejection did NOT stop him from continuing his ministry, and walking out his destiny of death on the cross, resurrection and ascension. THAT is what is marvelous in our eyes! Persistence, unceasing love and movement towards God. Despite rejection.

Can I own this? Can I be rejected by people of various types, particularly by those in authority and power, and still walk the way everlasting (Psalm 139:24)? Retracting and retreating from who I am and what I am called to do based upon God’s call is the desire of the kingdom of darkness. This is not an ambitious thrust into prominence; indeed it might be encouragement to stay obscure and yet powerful in ministry to God and others.

Rejection is affirmation if we listen to the right voice. It cements us as the beloved into the house of God, constructed of living stones as a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). For the One who will never reject us sees His building blocks with the keenest of eyes and knows the end from the beginning.

Let us rejoice, for it is marvelous in our eyes!

Leaving scorn behind

Acts 17:9-10 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.  This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

There are those who make the decision to become a rock in your shoe.  Often, they are searching for prominence and affirmation that has been lacking, so they go on the attack.  Other times, they cannot assume the humility that is required to walk with Jesus, aligning it with human shame, which is a very bad mistake.

The one being led of the Lord in life becomes subject to their scorn and the life-giving message is cast as foolishness or worse.

Paul’s response was to simply leave and go somewhere else.

He spoke for two years in the lecture hall of Tyrannus!  Given his pedigree of scholarship and academic theological acumen – the guy loved to teach – that would be the equivalent of graduate study at a seminary, the absolute finest training one could receive.  Students can spend multiple semesters studying just one of his letters.  Those in Ephesus received the letter itself, spelled out and expounded upon by the author himself.

And his audience was not a contentious group of aspiring graduate students, it was the common Greek folk of Ephesus.  They would bear great fruit for Jesus and become arguably the strongest church outside of Jerusalem.  Yet they would also need to have their love restored later (see Revelation 2:1-7).

There is no need to put up with abuse. That extends way beyond preaching and teaching the Word, but it is particularly true when the discipleship of God’s people is going on, and I would argue discipleship happens in all kinds of places and circumstances.

Also, the fruit borne by giving one’s gifts with abandon far exceeds the investment of time and energy.  When there is an open door, if one is measured in giving, the church is cheated out of part of its inheritance, for Jesus did not give a toe or finger for the church, he gave his life’s blood and entire body surrendered on the cross.  That bought my salvation; may it inspire my giving all.

Gospel as life force

Acts 20:30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

There was no church in the New Testament for which Paul had cared more and on behalf of whom had  exerted more prayer, ministry and overall effort  than the church at Ephesus.  It was by all accounts the gold standard of churches in Asia at the time of this account.

In the tearful good-bye that Paul had with its elders, he cited many examples of his selfless ministry, his devotion to the truth and his overall life of giving.  Now Paul was not one to boast so his motives in saying all that was to present an example for the leaders.  They were to keep the work of the gospel going even as he had.

The warnings he gave were not vain “what if” statements – they were very real trends he had already seen and encountered in his leadership role.  Indeed, by the time of the writing of the book of Revelation, the Ephesian church had lost its fire, its first love and was in need of revival.

One of the kinds of event that led to its decline was the invasion of the church by those who did not have the gospel as their life force.  They were described as wolves who would come in and prey upon the people, enticing and convincing them to abandon the truth of Christ.  Then Paul said the statement above, pointing to the very leaders he had in front of him.  There would be leaders that would build their own flocks, making up their own truths and stories to gain a following.

The word “disciples’ – “mathetes” in the Greek (from which we get “mathematics”) – are those who don’t just follow, but learn from a teacher.  So the leader(s) that would divide the body would gain those who would be their life-students.  And that’s where the lure is for a to-be-wayward leader.

There is little question that every leader has a distinct style, philosophy and approach to leadership.  Each leader is his/her own person, with an individual mix of gifts and attributes.  However, this verse speaks to the goals of leadership, not the style.  Is it a leader’s goal to create his/her own following at the expense of following Christ.  Too many gravitate towards giving Jesus lip service while dedicating their real effort to guaranteeing their own exaltation.  The underlying motivation is pride – lifting up self above others and at others’ expense.

So, it needn’t be a pursuit of wealth that marks the work of such leaders.  Indeed, pride may be taken in the superior sacrifice of being poor.  The question to ask is who is ultimately being followed in a ministry – Jesus or the local leader?  And it’s a cop-out to say “both”.

May I debase myself, be a blundering, blubbering fool in order to follow Christ.  And if I am tasked and charged with leading others, may I point solely to Him as the teacher.  Of course this means that I must be first a follower.

May I be sure to choose leadership that likewise humbly follows the Master, for self-exalting leadership spawns more of the same; I have seen it.  If pride is seen as normal and good, how terrible will be the demise of the one who practices it.

The peace of belonging

Scripture:

Romans 14:7-8 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Observation:

In the set of beliefs held by some of those in the early Roman church, there was a shunning of certain foods. It wasn’t held by all, which was a problem. Those who did not hold the dietary conviction ignored it, to the offense of their brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul addressed the conflict in chapter 14, advancing the law of love over the law of food. Believers should never consciously do anything that hurts the faith of another. The community is what counts, and that is what the 2 verses above proclaim. Believers are not isolated – they are part of a body of people – the Body of Christ. Anyone who acts independently of the body of Christ breaches this bond. Furthermore, believers belong to Christ, for whom and in whom they both live and die. (The dying here is not necessarily physical but spiritual – dying to selfish ambitions, for instance). So, by belonging to Jesus by faith, the church belongs to each other. This directly opposes the staunchly independent individual, even if that person is in Christ by faith. There are no Lone Ranger Christians. This is not to say that believers do not have private lives – they do and must – but when they regularly gather together, there is a relational bond of love that comes from the Lord, who loved so much He died for each one. That .. is church.

Application:

So where do I stand? Am I one who positions myself off to the side, commenting on this one, judging that one and refusing to even talk to that other one? That cannot be. I need to allow God to break down the walls in my heart if that is my practice. And take direct steps to both know and love my fellow believers. In the Church, I will meet (indeed, have already met) a person I do not like. And I will meet the person who does not like me. But those sentiments are born of the flesh and learned over the course of life. The Lord can and will show me how to love – even enable me. And it won’t be the love of the hypocrite – with all smiles outside and knives within. Disagreements were what Paul wrote Romans 14 about; they happen. Persistently, repeatedly. He was in the vantage place of observation, not embroiled in controversy. From there he could help people see what they were doing. Whether or not I am one in conflict, I too can achieve the perspective of observer and break down what is going on. This is the work of a peacemaker, God’s referees in this world. The secular world is also a place where I can practice this peace as well, not expecting those without faith to think and act like those who do. Finally, I cannot produce love in another but I surely can allow the Lord to produce love in me. Whether I live or die, I belong to the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, I cannot love the way I need to. I need Your help, Your perspective, Your new life in my heart to awaken me to my cold heart and to warm it again. Grant that I could embrace even those with whom I disagree. To You be the glory forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.