Sermon Video: When we exasperate God - Mark 8:1-21

 God gets frustrated with human beings. That shouldn't be surprising given what people say and do. After a second miraculous feeding of a large crowd, Jesus becomes frustrated with the self-righteous pride of the Pharisees who demanded a new 'sign', and of the hard-hearted blindness of his own disciples who didn't see the spiritual lesson he was attempting to impart to them. What is the solution? Letting go of self-righteousness would be a smart place to start, secondarily, we must do what Jesus did for his disciples when they erred: refocus on the kindnesses and power of God.

Sermon Video: Jesus was indignant? Mark 1:40-45

 When a man with leprosy comes to Jesus asking, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus' emotional response was to be indignant or compassionate? The textual variant here involves the reading in Codex Bezae (the only Greek manuscript to contain it) which may be evidence that copyists had 'fixed' their text to avoid answering the question of why Jesus might be indignant. The answer is simple enough. When confronted with disease, and the hurt that it causes, who wouldn't be angry? Whichever variant is original, Jesus next move it clear: He reached out to touch the man, demonstrating compassion, and healed him. Jesus was willing. We don't always know when God will be willing to miraculously heal, our role is simple: pray, show compassion, kindness, and love.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Impeachment aside, the President mocking the prayers of the Speaker should be disconcerting to all Christians.

Americans are evenly divided on the question of whether or not the President of the United States ought to be impeached and removed from office, multiple polls over the past few months have confirmed it.  This is, of course, no surprise given the increasingly antagonistic partisan nature of the political 'discourse' (an ironic term in the current climate) that takes place each day on television and social media, not to mention the vitriol coming from the politicians themselves.  America has had bitter divisions like this before, and survived them, but at great cost.  One of the things that, in theory, helps hold our nation together is the willingness of Christians to pray for God's blessing upon our nation, for peace and justice, even when their own party is not currently in power.  From the Christians I've known, and from being honest with my own heart, I've at times wondered how consistent and sincere our prayers are when 'they' are in power and not 'us'.  I know that some Christians are deeply committed to their prayer for the nation, and elections don't change their attitudes or habits.  But other Christians, who knows how many, treat their prayers to the Almighty as an extension of their own political preferences, beseeching God to give our 'holy and righteous' side victory and smite the 'vile and wicked' ways of the opposition.  Perhaps an equal number of Red and Blue Christians in America are committed to praying no matter what, and an equal number pray only in partisan terms.  {And here is where I'll lose some of you, upon reading that last sentence you'll either say to yourself, 'What Blue (or Red) Christians, they can't possibly be Christians if they support...Yes, that's a further symptom of how dangerously our politics has infected our theology.  I'm saved by the Blood of the Lamb, that and that alone, as is every Christian (and Old Covenant saint before Christ) who has every lived, my politics (or lack thereof) are NOT a factor, how could they be?}

Which brings me to the current example of our polarization.  I have no intention of offering an opinion regarding the President, the Speaker of the House, or Impeachment (If you expected that, you've not read my blog before).  What I am willing to speak about, however, is prayer.  I have doubts about the sincerity of the faith of a number of politicians, on both sides, who seem to utilize that faith when it will get them votes and ignore it when it gets in the way of tactics or their own moral choices.  Then again, I have doubts about the sincerity of the faith of a number of famous 'Christian' leaders, who seem more interested in power, wealth, and fame than in being a servant of the Gospel.  I also wonder about the sincerity of the faith of some of the people I know personally, for whom faith seems to be a matter of convenience more than conviction.  I have these doubts, and I believe them to be a healthy amount of skepticism, as Jesus reminded us, "16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:16-20)
In response to the impending Articles of Impeachment, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, issued a public letter written to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.  Among many a political invective in the letter is the section below:

Even worse than offending the Founding Fathers, you are offending Americans of faith by
continually saying "I pray for the President", when you know this statement is not true, unless it
is meant in a negative sense. It is a terrible thing you are doing, but you will have to live with it,
not I!  {READ: President Trump Sends Pelosi Letter Protesting 'Partisan Impeachment Crusade'}

I don't know if Speaker Pelosi prays for the President or not, but I know that she says that she does.  I don't know what the content, attitude, and tone of the Speaker's prayers might be, perhaps they are infected with partisan attitudes, or maybe she rises above that and prays for the good of the country even if it means the success of her political enemy.  The point is, I don't know these things, and neither does the President.  The sad thing here is that an assumption is being made, one with a cynical heart: that a Democrat cannot possibly pray with sincerity for a Republican (and vice versa).  If we have descended this far into tribalism, if we are being asked to accept that the Universal Church can only contain people who think just like we do, then we're also being asked to write-off millions of Church going, self-professed Christians who claim that their faith is in Jesus Christ, as not simply still Lost, but our enemies. {My favorite example of this attitude is from an episode of Cheers - Woody Boyd : I love you, Kelly - that's why I'm now a member of the Lutheran Evangelical Church of America. Just like you.
Kelly Boyd : Oh, Woody! You saved our marriage... What a wonderful sacrifice! Now when we die and go to heaven, we won't be separated by barbed wire and barking dogs (for context, Woody was already a Lutheran, just a different branch of the tree)}.

Perhaps it is hopelessly optimistic of me to believe that as Christians our faith ought to transcend our politics and even our citizenship as the defining characteristic of our lives.  Jesus, of course, told us he would accept no less, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26).  As I read about Church history, I find plenty of examples of people for whom faith was seemingly the third or fourth most important thing (often behind their pursuit of wealth/power/fame or their own prejudices and hatreds), their stories could confirm that we shouldn't expect any better.  But I also read powerful stories of self-sacrifice, principled stands in the face of danger, and service to others, even to those who were considered to be "them" and not "us".    Men like William Wilberforce, and women like Sojourner Truth, hold the cynicism of reading history at bay, as do redemption stories like that of Saint Augustine, and the principled martyrdom of Jan Hus or Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  If men and women of extraordinary faith like that existed then, they are here among us now too.

To my fellow self-proclaimed Christians for whom politics is the primary lens through which you see the world: Do you pray for the opposition?  With sincerity, hoping that they will be transformed by the power of God's Word (if need be), not to see things as you or I see them, but as God would have them be seen?  If you are willing to pray for them, and they are willing to pray for you, perhaps I'm not as hopelessly optimistic as it seems.

Sermon Video: Real Love - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Christians are supposed to be known for their love, love for each other, and love for even their enemies.  This, of itself, is beyond our capacity, but when viewed through the Apostle Paul's explanation in 1 Corinthians as to what constitutes real, genuine love, it would seem to make a difficult situation hopeless.  Thankfully, God has given his Spirit to his people, has empowered them to live like Jesus here in this world, because he has called us to embrace all 14 of the aspects of love that Paul highlighted (and perhaps others as well, it is not an exhaustive list, although it certainly is comprehensive).  What must our love be?  Patient and kind.  What must it be free of? Envy, boasting, pride, any willingness to dishonor others, selfishness, anger, and record keeping of the wrongs of others.  Give up yet?  In addition, love must rejoice in truth while rejecting the lure of utilizing evil (even thinking, 'that good may result', a false lie).  Love must always protect, trust, hope, and persevere. 
This is not a question of focus, willpower, or determination.  We cannot accomplish this on our own, not even close.  Once again, we must depend upon the transforming power of the Spirit of God, must embrace our role in the community of believers (for help, guidance, and support; mutually so), and must move forward, toward Christ-likeness, in faith because we all need real love.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video: Put to death your earthly nature - Colossians 3:5-10

Having told the people of the church at Colossae that following Jesus Christ necessitates setting their hearts and minds on "things above", Paul then proceeds in strong terms to emphasize the need to "put to death" the earthly nature that Christians retain (despite their salvation and the receiving of the Holy Spirit).  After listing some manifestations of our "earthly nature" (sexual immorality, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language); all of which must be eradicated, not simply controlled, Paul then adds one further warning to those who follow Christ, we must not lie to each other.  In the end, in Christ we have put on the new self, we have been transformed by the Holy Spirit, and we therefore must abandon the attitudes and actions of our former fallen nature.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video: The Wisdom that comes from Heaven, Part 1 - James 3:13-18

What is wisdom, how do we recognize it, and where does it come from?  Important questions, no doubt, to which James offers the answer by explaining that wisdom is something that is reflected in how a person lives as it must result in a "good life" and in deeds done "in the humility that comes from wisdom."  This active wisdom comes from above, having God as its source, and stands in opposition to human wisdom, which revolves around envy and ambition.  How we conduct ourselves, our attitudes, tactics, strategies, etc. must reflect God's wisdom, not man's.  It is unacceptable for God's people to behave in a way that brings shame to his name, acting as if the ends justify the means, or as if a win at all cost mentality were acceptable to God.  God does not require, nor does he desire, unscrupulous or immoral defenders.  By way of example, one such self-proclaimed defender of the faith who by his actions has proven that God's wisdom is lacking, is Pastor Steven Anderson.  When our speech is filled with invective, when our zeal causes us to claim that other Christians are following the devil (as he has with his KJV Only rants), it cannot thus be God's wisdom we are speaking.  {For a video from Dr. Michael Brown on the topic of Pastor Steven Anderson's ranting, click on the following link: Dr. Brown on Steven Anderson}
God's people must instead be peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial, and sincere.  That is what real wisdom looks like, and that is how we must act as the people of God.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video: Be Slow to Anger - James 1:19-21

How much better would our world be if everyone followed the advice of James that we ought to be, "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry"?  Sadly, the opposite is often the case for many people as they are instead, slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry.  For the Christian, this path is not optional, as we are commanded to be disciples of Jesus Christ, ever growing toward Christ-likeness by learning to value other people enough to put our own impulses and desires aside.  When we make progress toward that goal we will be able to listen to other people, because we care about them, hold on to our tongue to avoid saying things we shouldn't, because we care about other people, and keep our anger in check, whatever its cause, because we care enough about other people that we aren't willing to hurt them to indulge our anger.
Anger is the key to the point that James is making about our attitude as Christians.  Anger simply does not lead to righteousness.  We are not the righteous judge that God is, nor do we have our anger under control, so that even our "righteous anger" at evil tends to run away with us.  It is better for us, as Christians, to not allow anger a place in our hearts, we're in far less danger of giving in to the temptation to sin without it.

To watch the video, click on the link below: