2017 Lent Day 7

John 3:22-36  Church Drama - isn't there always church drama?  Being a woman I usually only hear the woman church drama.  You know the type - so and so said this and that.  Or it starts with I really don't think that's the way we should do things ....  Well here is some good ole baptizing drama in John 3. 

Basically a stiring of the pot, asking John about Jesus baptizing people too and your followers are leaving you to follow that other guy you talked about.  What I love is Johns response. He reminds us who Jesus is and the part he plays. Look at verse 30: 

He must become greater; I must become less.

This is the same for us when we witness, Jesus should become greater in a believers life and we should become less. We don't want believers worshipping us.  

Now look at the end of the chapter verses 35 and 36:

The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

John clearly got the message and shared it with anyone who would listen. We don't read any where that Jesus had a heart to heart with John yet. How John the baptist loved God!

Next time you hear some church drama I bet if you quote John 3:35-36 it will stop them in their tracks. 

2017 Lent Day 6

John 3:1-21

Born again ... we must be born again.  I remember when this terminology became popular; many people didn't like it.  If memory serves me right my dad thought this was the work of contemporary worshippers.  I grew up Missouri synod Lutheran with the red hymnals (traditional, conservatives).

Most people would consider the topic of rebirth Jesus and Nicodemus discuss the most important aspect of this section of scripture.  I'm not a theologian to argue but these aren't the verses that jumped out to me today.  From The Message:

19-21 “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”

Did you know (of course you did), church membership in America is declining.  There are numerous articles with theories why the decline is happening.  Could this be the reason? Men and women everywhere ran for the darkness?  I like how The Message words it ... they were not really interested in pleasing God.  Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. I wanted you to read it again, that's why I repeated it. How often do we find people lying, pretending to be something they aren't because they fear exposure?  

Jesus' words ring true today " This is the crisis we're in," I suggest the reason is still true today. I know there are plenty of times I'm more interested in pleasing Cynthia than God. Do we become numb to God because we are so consumed with ourselves, our plans, our problems, our friends, our families, our flesh?

Lent - a time to examine the area's of our lives where we fall short, feel defeated, or have grown cold.  And we do so not to beat ourselves up but prepare for God's gifts. (Max Lucado, He Chose the Nails pg 16).  Not in our own strength can we accomplish this - it takes surrender, repentance, seeking the God-light. Id much rather be in the second part of this scripture - working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.

2017 Lent Day 5

  

John 2:13-25 Jesus clears the temple. This is a very familiar passage. Verses 15-16:

"So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get those out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!"

We don't have sacrifices to offer today - so we don't have money changers in our churches. But I keep thinking would Jesus want to make a whip at our churches today? I can't remember going to a church that just focused on worship - NOT ONE. We make announcements, we have bulletins full of announcements, we have special presentations, slide shows, video clips, etc. For me these can become distractions from worship. I'm not pointing fingers - I've made announcements, I've written announcements, I've used video clips and slide shows - I'm guilty.

They are GOOD things too - but they aren't worship.  We can get hung up on the number of hymns we must sing, what creed we say, how long the pastor talks, our rituals.  We find comfort in our rituals don't we - OK I know we are going to sing the doxology after the offering.  I'll be honest I like to know what the order of worship is going to be and I certainly want to follow it correctly.  It has been printed up and I've studied it.  Yes I notice if there is even the slightest deviation, and I begin an in-depth analysis to determine the root cause.  Look out the whip just passed down the aisle.

What if we started to concentrate on worship - allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts?  One where we didn't worry or rush.  What if we don't do announcements - don't print a bulletin?  We listen intentionally and open ourselves to be changed by the potter.  One of the sweetest worship services I remember is when all the power went off for a week because a tornado knocked down all the towers.  I don't remember how the word got out - but we showed up for one worship service.  We sang and I remember we shared our experiences with people during this unusual place we all found ourselves - unplugged.

I think I need to be more deliberate on my preparation before worship so I can stay focused on what is important - my Father in His house worthy of my praise, thanksgiving, and confession.