Course Corrections

Have you ever watched a small boy pretend to drive? Invariably he puts his little hands on his pretend steering wheel and moves the wheel back and forth continually. This has always struck me a strange. Why does he do that?

Surprisingly, he does that because that is exactly what he sees when he watches adults drive. We may think that we hold the wheel steady as we drive, but really we are continually making small adjustments to the wheel. Even on a relatively straight road we make little adjustments to keep the car in the right lane position, adjust to slight curvature in the road, or to correct for slight errors in direction -- I am particularly aware of this right now, teaching two teenage daughters to drive.

If you don't believe it, just try closing your eyes on a "straight" road for 20 seconds. As straight as the road may seem, we can't afford to neglect steering. Even a very slight deviation will cause your car to leave the road before very long.

Obviously, my aim here has little to do with driving instruction.

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Hebrews 2:1-3 (emphasis is mine)

Just as with driving, we need to give diligence to our spiritual direction. We need to make corrections to stay on course. We can't afford to neglect the direction of our spiritual journey. If we do so we are sure to drift. The rhetorical question, "How shall we escape?", has an obvious answer. We won't. How tragic it would be if, after having received God's grace and the gift of salvation, we lost it through neglect.

Where are you? Are you keeping it between the lines? Are you still on course, or have you become side-tracked? What course corrections do you need to make?

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Lo, I Thought

In 2 Kings 5 the text describes how Elisha healed Naaman of leprosy. Although he was a leper, Naaman was the commander of the Syrian armies. When Naaman came to Elisha's home, Elisha didn't even come out to see him, but sent a messenger who told him, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times and you will be healed."

I don't know why God through Elisha chose this method of healing. Perhaps Naaman needed humbling, so instead of actually seeing and speaking with the prophet a servant was sent to him. In any event, Naaman didn't appreciate it. He was furious, clearly taking offense at the lack of respect the prophet displayed toward him.

Besides, this just wasn't the way this was supposed to happen. Naaman said, "Lo, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.'" Naaman was looking for some ceremony, some demonstration of miraculous power on the part of the prophet. He was so put off he nearly went home without following the prophet's instructions.

Naaman's attitude is not unusual. So many turned away from Jesus during his earthly ministry because He didn't fit what they had in mind for a Messiah. When His teachings were hard to understand or difficult to accept, they "walked no more with Him" (John 6:66). We should know better. Isaiah 55:8-9 states the obvious, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways, says the Lord." But we seem intent on fashioning a God after our image. We need to remember, "Know that Jehovah, He is God. He has made us, not we ourselves."

An obvious parallel with Naaman's situation is the New Testament doctrine of baptism. In Acts 2:38 Peter told those assembled to "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." In Acts 22:16 Paul was told, "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins." In Mark 16:16 we are told, "Those who believe and are baptized will be saved." The New Testament clearly teaches that water baptism (immersion) into Christ is the point at which we are cleansed of our sins -- saved.

But many stumble on baptism. They immediately start in with "Lo, I thought..." "I don't see what baptism has to do with the forgiveness of my sins." "Why baptism?" "I feel that I'm already saved, but I haven't been baptized." I could attempt to answer these questions, but the bottom line is this: God chose baptism. Are you going to submit, obey and be saved, or not?

If Naaman had packed up and gone back to Syria the story would have ended tragically. But, with some good advice from his servants, Naaman did eventually wash in the Jordan as he was told. He was healed as promised. What will you do?

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Double minds

What do you want to do? On the surface that is a straightforward question and ought to have a straightforward answer. But when we start to dig into it we realize that the answer isn't always simple.
If I ask my wife if she wants a piece of cake, she might answer, "Yes and no". Yes, I'd love to enjoy the sugary, creamy, fattening goodness of that piece of cake. But, no, I don't want one because I'm trying to control my weight. Similarly, someone might ask me, "Do you want to lose 10 pounds?" I'd answer "sure", but my actions indicate that I'm not willing to make the sacrifice necessary to make it happen. I want both, but I can't have them both. I have a double-mind.

We understand the struggle of being double-minded. On the one hand we want some long-term objective. On the other hand we want some short-term, immediate satisfaction. Do I take immediate gratification now, or do I defer that gratification to achieve a longer-term goal?

In many respects the struggle between the flesh and the spirit is similar to this struggle between immediate and long-term physical gratification. The flesh, this body, desires things. Many of these desires have wholesome means of satisfaction, but the body doesn't really care. The flesh just desires satisfaction, regardless of how it comes. If we are ruled by this carnal, this fleshly body, if our mind is a carnal mind, then we will live "according to the flesh" (Romans 8:13) and we will die. "For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption" (Galatians 6:8). A carnal mind is selfish, self-willed, and uncontrolled.

One who is led by the spirit seeks different goals. The spiritual mind seeks to please God, to be morally pure, to love and to serve others. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). The spiritual mind is in submission to God. The spiritual man sees beyond the immediate pleasures of life to the goal of eternal life with God.

The fruits of the Spirit are almost universally acknowledged as good, yet too often we see instead hatred, anger, sadness, strife, impatience, cruelty, and selfishness. Surely we realize that these behaviors won't lead to happiness. "The flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish" (Galatians 5:17). We are double-minded. We know what is good, but we give in to what gives our flesh immediate satisfaction.

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ..., envy, murders, drunkeness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).

Let us, therefore, live according to the Spirit, keeping our eyes on the eternal prize.

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A Devout, Lost Man

In Acts 10 we find the conversion story of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion. In the first few verses of the chapter we are introduced to Cornelius.

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
Acts 10:1-2

Consider what we learn about Cornelius in this short passage. Cornelius was a devout man. He feared God (i.e. showed piety and reverence to God). His godly influence extended to all his household. He gave alms generously to the people. He prayed continually to God. He was clearly a man doing all that was in his power to serve God, to please God, to be acceptable to God.

There is one more vital thing we learn about Cornelius in this chapter -- he was lost. I know this because Peter was sent to preach the gospel to him. I know this because in Acts 11:14, where the events of chapter 10 are retold, the angel had told Cornelius Peter would, "declare to you a message by which you will be saved." Cornelius was lost and needed to hear the gospel.

How can this be? Here we have a man who is devout, god-fearing, generous, and constant in fervent prayer. How could such a man be lost?

When we ask such questions, I fear we have forgotten why men are lost and how they are saved. A man is lost because he has sinned, transgressed God's laws. So, although Cornelius was a devout man, he was still a sinner. A man is saved from sin when he puts his trust in Christ Jesus, accepts God's mercy on God's terms, and obeys the gospel from the heart. Despite his piety and generosity Cornelius was still lost. He was missing something -- faith in Jesus Christ.

The real test of Cornelius' character came when he heard the gospel. All too often men react pridefully to the message, "You are lost. You need to repent. You need to humble yourself and obey the gospel." It would have been so easy for a man like Cornelius to think, "But I'm a devout man. I'm just as righteous as any of those Christians I know. I'm just fine the way I am." Cornelius didn't react that way. He heard the gospel and embraced it. He was unafraid to humble himself and admit that he needed the grace of God.

Have you accepted God's grace on His terms as revealed in the New Testament?

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Lost and Found

In Matthew 16 Jesus tells his disciples,

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Matthew 16:24-26

This passage presents a great challenge. Naturally, passages such as this one call to mind the many martyrs throughout the centuries who have died for their faith. Do you desire eternal life enough to give up your life now in order to obtain it? Are you ready and willing to die for your faith?

Have you already died for your faith?

I'm convinced that Jesus is not presenting us with a hypothetical, maybe-someday situation. Dying for your faith in Christ is not optional, it is mandatory.

"Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." The loss of life here is not a physical death, but a figurative (though very real) death to self and sin. Our conversion, expressed beautifully in baptism, is a spiritual death and rebirth. In Romans 6 we read

How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
Romans 6:2-3

Paul expresses this change of life in Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Also in 2 Corinthians 5, Paul writes

For the love of Christ constrains us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

When a martyr faces the sword of persecution, he is not giving up his life for his faith. He is refusing to hold on to what he has already surrendered to Christ. "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

I am not my own. I have been bought at a price. I've been redeemed, purchased by the blood of Christ. I belong to Him. Am I reflecting that in the way I live each day?

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Hard to be Humble

As a teenager I heard a song by country music singer Mac Davis, "It's Hard to be Humble". The lyrics featured the phrase "it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way". The song was a humorous view of a man with a very high opinion of himself, but it also provides some insight into a common view of humility.

Often when I think of humility I focus on my view of myself. I am humbled when I consider my short-comings. I am humbled when I realize all the mistakes I've made. I am humbled by the foolish things I have said. I am humbled when I compare myself with others who are smarter, kinder, more accomplished or more talented than I am. I am humbled when I consider the many blessings I have received that I realize I don't deserve. I am humbled when I consider my sins and my weaknesses. I realize I am far from perfect, so I have every reason to be humble.

But, have you ever considered that someone can be humble even if they are perfect in every way?

For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be held on to, but emptied Himself, and took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross -- Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus was humble, but he had no short-comings or imperfections to be humble about. Why should He, of all people, be humble?

For Jesus humility was not about His view of Himself, but about His view of others. Jesus was humble because we needed Him to be. Jesus emptied himself and took on the form of a servant not because that was His natural position, but because that was the position we needed Him to take. Humility in this case has less to do with what He thought of Himself than with how much and how often He thought of others.

Jesus was Almighty God incarnate. He was worthy of all glory, honor and praise. He never denied that was His rightful position. He accepted worship. He acknowledged that He was the Master. Yet, He came as one who serves. He was obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. He served God in doing so, but ultimately He served us. The Creator humbled Himself to serve the creature.

If ever you are in the extremely unlikely position where you undoubtedly are the smartest, the most talented, the most experienced, the most gifted, or just the best looking person in the room, consider. For the true servant of God humility isn't about you. It's about others.

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Rabbi! Rabbi!

Speaking of the Pharisees in Matthew 23 Christ said,

But you must not be called Rabbi, for One is your teacher, Christ, and you are all brothers. And call no one your father on the earth, for One is your Father in Heaven. Nor be called teachers, for One is your Teacher, even Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Sometimes we may scratch our heads when we read this verse. Didn't Christ give some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and some teachers (Ephesians 4:11)? Didn't Paul call Timothy his "own son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2)? Didn't Paul call himself the father of the brethren in Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:15)? How then does Christ say we should not be called fathers or teachers?

The answer, as always, is in the context. In the preceding verses in Matthew 23, Jesus is speaking of the Pharisees and notes,

And they love the first couch at feasts, the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the market-places, and to be called "Rabbi! Rabbi!" by men.

Jesus is primarily warning about those seeking preeminence. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging that a man does the work of a teacher. It is another thing to called teacher and to be elevated above your brethren. Note the contrast that Jesus draws in His admonition. "Call no man Rabbi, for One is your Teacher, Christ, and you are all brethren." There are several applications I think can be drawn from this passage.

Equal Servants

First and foremost we should observe what Jesus was clearly teaching in this passage. All Christians are brethren and we all stand on an equal footing before God. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28).

There is no place in the kingdom for those that are ambitious for power, prestige and recognition. If you want a place of honor and distinction, you don't know the Lord that you serve. He "emptied himself, and took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross." (Philippians 2:7-8).

We are all servants of the same master. We don't have task masters, but fellow servants. Even those in leadership positions (elders, aka bishops, pastors) are often the greatest servants of the church, sacrificing time and energy, and patiently enduring mistreatment and abuse. If you want to be great in the kingdom, you need to be the servant of all.

Equal Disciples

A disciple is a learner and a follower. Christ never intended that a few disciples should learn and tell the rest what to do. In the early church there was no clergy. Unlearned men were Christ's apostles. Anyone who could hear and remember the word could teach it to others. The gospel is not complicated. It was never intended to be the subject of Th.D. dissertations. Jesus said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes" (Luke 10:21).

We all have the responsibility to learn for ourselves. We need to study the scriptures and know that we can understand it as well as or better than the seminary student. We need to put aside the preconceptions of centuries of theological theorizing and just read the word. Chances are any particular passage means exactly what it seems to mean. And when we understand it, we need to live it.

Beware the Title

Finally, I think it is fair to question the use of "honorifics". Why does anyone expect to be called reverend? Christ could as easily have said, "Call no man reverend, for One is to be revered, your Father in heaven." Does that not fit the gist of His teaching? I believe we need to be very wary of those that seek out such titles. The scriptural work of an evangelist is to preach the word, not to build large multi-million dollar church-businesses. The work of an evangelist is to reach the lost, not to create a larger-than-life television personality. Though many such endeavors may begin with honest and good intentions, it is all to easy for things to get out of hand. It can eventually take on a life of its own and, instead of glorifying God, it can become all about the servant -- his power, his prestige, his income, and his fame.

"But you must not be called Rabbi, for One is your teacher, Christ, and you are all brothers."
Amen.

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