The Bible – Trick or Treat or Both?

Posted on October 29, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle:  Being Justified, is more than being without sin. Being Righteous is more than being right.

Righteousness & Justice are the foundation of the Kingdom (Psalm 89:14)

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 Psalm 119:137-144 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 Luke 19:1-10

Growing up in Church I learned that being Justified – meant being  Just –as –if –I –never –sinned. I also learned that Zaccheaus was wee little man who was curious about Jesus. While this is true, it comes up so short in the true meaning of receiving God’s justice or what truly happened in Zacchaeus encounter with Jesus. This lectionary year is now in its final steps to being wrapped up. Year C will end with November and Year A will begin in December. (Years A,B,C cycle through the whole counsel of the Scriptures)  In the first post of Year C God does not keep secrets Posted on November 26, 2012  The Kingdom Principle was The prophets see signs in sufferings, the rest only see the sufferings. This is based on the call of the Prophet is to bring the Just and Righteous ways of God to a people who are not walking in His Justice or Righteousness – for the foundation of the Kingdom is Justice and Righteousness. (Psalm 89:14)

In the first post of 2013 –  The greatest need of 2013 Posted on January 1, 2013 stated that “The only way to enjoy Peace – is to move in Righteousness – as Peace is the Fruit of Righteousness.” It concluded with  “In 2013 – let us not get caught in the trap of meeting others needs, rather let us attempt to recognize our need to give away, all that we have been given in Christ. In this, Justice will be done in a manner which is Righteous. Light will shine into the darkness and the needy will be rescued and the oppressor will be crushed. All this, not because there is a need out there, but rather because there is a need in you – a thirst that cannot be quenched to love and to serve our great Master and King.” This year has been filled with passages that draw us into a deeper understanding of Righteousness and Justice.

This has come both as a treat and a trick in the Gospel of Luke (the focus of Year C) The tricks play to our hears when we hear things that are not what we expect, this is the very paradox of the kingdom.  Jesus welcomes the children, but turns away a rich ruler. Jesus pardons the “repentant” tax collector, but rebukes the “righteous” Pharisee. Jesus celebrates the one who lived wildly then returned, but chides the one who worked hard and remained loyal…. And those were all in Luke 15-18 – here we find ourselves again – in Luke 19 – discovering another reversal of fortune. Beware of a quick read or a Sunday school lesson may lead you to miss the truly revealing heart of Jesus.  His heart beats for Justice and Righteousness. For that is the very heart of the Kingdom of God.

So I ask- is the story of Zacchaeus about Justice or Righteousness? (I say both) Further is a Zacchaeus a sinner or a saint at the beginning, middle or end of the story?  Definitions for this question were provided in If Saints can’t lose are Sinners lost? Posted on September 9, 2013  Kingdom Principle: The King unconditionally accepts all into the Kingdom with uncompromising standards. Jesus came to save sinners! An encounter with Jesus; will leave you a fool-hearted or saintly. I present the idea, that Zacchaeus was a sinner based on Romans 5:19, not based on his evil actions or foolish behaviors. In fact I would hold the view that Zacchaeus was a self-righteous, God fearing Jew who really wanted to see Jesus not out of skepticism or curiosity , rather out of hunger and thirst for true Righteousness. What if Zacchaeus was a tax collector who actions were right(eous)? is that even possible? – can there be such a thing as a Christian Lawyer, or a God Fearing movie producer that makes fills about the sinfulness in the world? Zacchaeus had never come in contact with the hope that Jesus presented, but desperately wanted to know if it were true.  If Zacchaeus followed the Old Testament Law and knew the voice of the prophets he would be waiting for the deliverance of Habakkuk and clinging to the righteousness that is everlasting found in Psalm 119.

Let’s review just a moment to explain this position that is not normative….

Zacc may not have been right in the world’s eyes, but that does not mean his actions were unrighteous. As with Jeremiah – he may have simply walking down a “left” path verses the “right” path others had set for him. Left-handed, Left Out, & Leftovers Posted on August 20, 2013 Kingdom Principle: Being right in the world is not relevant. Our calling is not based on the right path, rather it is found only on the righteous path – Jeremiah was not on the right path according to the world, his family or friends….

What Zacc lacked was a relationship with the King of Kings – Jesus. In meeting Jesus his religion was going to be renewed. Renewed Religion Posted on July 25, 2013  Christianity is a religion that redefines your rights based on the rule of the King. After this encounter, Zacc was made Righteousness because of the relationship with the King. This is not presented on bases of repentance for his sin, in fact Jesus does not offer forgiveness nor seek repentance (Compare Luke 18:18-30) Further, when Jesus calls Zacc down from the tree he does so with Joy. Take Heart, Joy comes in the morning Posted on December 12, 2012  “Joy flows from the Heart, and is affected greatly by the circumstance. As Righteousness is to Peace – as Holiness is to Joy.” Therefore in that moment Zacc was filled with the holiness of God in his response to come down. He then could become a true “Ambassadors of Righteousness” embracing his call to go out and be in relationships of reconciliation. (Stewarding his resources)  As well as a  being a “Vessel of Holiness” called to live his life as an act of worship set a part form the world.   We cannot earn or get more righteousness or holiness, but we can grow into the covering given to us in Christ. For in this moment Zacc was made both Righteousness & Holiness, for he took his “position” under the covering and reign of the King.

What we lack is the rest of the story of Zaccheaus…. But I can rest assured – Zacc did not lack Peace. Lacking Peace? You may have a missing Piece! Posted on December 5, 2012 “The peace of the prophets is limited only by their righteousness.” Zacchaeus whose name means pure and is associated with righteousness – now is truly redeemed and living into his name.  Righteousness is found by faith (Romans 1:17, 3:22, 4:13), and faith is found by hearing and believing in the hope of the promises of God. (Romans 10:2-4, 9-15) Therefore we know that righteousness is not our right actions, however obedience & training in the scriptures (Romans 2:13, 2 Tim. 3:16) demonstrates that righteousness has taken root and will not be uprooted (proverbs 12:3).

Therefore –we are to seek Righteousness and Justice. This beings with our awareness and acceptance of being worthy of our calling. This worth comes from Christ, not of our own actions. Yet by the power of God to redeem our lives – goodness shall flow. We are righteous not by our right actions, but because of our righteousness, right actions will be prompted through faith. These right actions are better called goodness.  In this act of goodness it is our prayer that Jesus will be glorified in us, and that we will be glorified in him. (This paragraph is simply 2 Thess.1 personalized to us today)

The question of how then shall we live – was answered in If its not Right! Ask -is it Relevant? Posted on October 2, 2012  How do I walk in righteousness and claim justice over my life?

1. Prayer and Forgiveness. Prayer is our lifeline and connection to the Almighty. And in prayer we receive and extending forgiveness which brings about the Lord’s justice.  It nullifies the rights of the enemy which makes justice righteous. In Prayer and Forgiveness, we model peace and prosperity, trusting in God’s provision rather than our own rights.

2. Live in the Spirit. Let your body and soul be cleaned and washed in the blood of Jesus – meaning – die to yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus.  Be fully are where you are at, in each moment. Don’t waste time asking, What if, Why me, or How come…..  rather sing His praises and trust in Him.

3. Ask God to examine your heart and mind. Submit yourself to God, rather than opening yourself up to the devil. Know that the devil will come against you, but when he does without right – Justice will be served. Therefore – remove the rights of the enemy to bring harm unto you. The enemy comes against you based on invitation or intrusion.

Posted in After Pentecost, Year C | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

I’m worth it, yet unworthy for it

Posted on October 25, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle:  Forgiveness & Humility clear the way for justice.

The worthy receive justice, and the worthless receive truth.

Joel 2:23-32 Psalm 65 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14

In the blog up to this point– I have not laid a foundation of our personal human worth – so consider this a preface to the lectionary Scriptures today –

Human worth begins in our being made in God’s image. (Gen. 1:26-27) We are created beings, fearfully and wonderfully made, and all the days of our lives were written in God’s book before we were ever born, confirming God’s prior knowledge and plan for our lives. (Psalm 139:13-16, Eph 2:9-10) Therefore no human being is worthless, regardless of their actions. However not all humanity has been made worthy.  God’s has chosen his children to be for the praise of His glory, and that we have an inheritance in heaven with Him. (Eph 1:4, 13-14)  This brief intro is intended to bring forth the value and worth which God sees in us, as well as establish that our worth is based on what God has done for us. (Romans 5:8) Our worth does not come from things we have done for ourselves, nor have we earned or deserved them. (Even justice as we saw last week is not deserved because we earned it – rather it is due us because the law of God established it.) This is why Christians joyfully proclaim “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. What is worse than simply being sinners, is that we “were dead in trespasses and sins”. (Eph 2:4-9) There is no worth in that which is dead. For this reason God imputed (gave to us) His own righteousness not because we were worthy of it, but because we were unworthy, unlovable, and unable to make ourselves worthy in any way. (2 Corinthians 5:21) But , because of this act and God’s love for us (John 3:16) – we now have infinite worth.

Therefore, we can conclude that our worth is not really of the “self” at all; rather, it is worth given to us by God. In fact apart from God we remain in an unworthy state of being. (Romans3:23) The truth is that this does not make us worthless – rather like an empty soda can that is not recycled – it has worth but it must be redeemed. This value and worth is given and established by God because of the price He paid to make us worthy—the death of His Son on the cross. It is only through the blood of Jesus that our lives are filled with worthy and are fully redeemed. (1 Cor. 15:10, Acts 20:28)

To conclude, our self-worth which is too often based on what other people tell us about ourselves it truly of no worth at all,  The one, true authority on our self-worth is Jesus Christ, and since He gave His own life up for us by dying on a cross, that should tell us just how valuable we really are. Now to the Lectionary This week:

We see in today’s text there is a great variance between Self-Righteousness  (which looks holy on the outside, yet is hollow on the inside)  and receiving the Savior’s Righteousness (which may leave you with holes on the outside, but is hallowed on the inside).

I am convinced that a life filled with Thanksgiving is a mark of Christ in you. And yet, the Pharisee this week is represented as one who is thankful, but is missing the gift of justification as Christ is longing to give it. His self-worth is high, but he remains un-redeemed in the eyes of Christ. So again we return to the fact that actions are not enough when the attitude is not matched with the love of Christ.  The Pharisee is thankful that God is good and that his life represents God’s goodness. The works of his life demonstrate his devotion and dedication to God’s law, therefore  he is especially aware of how good he is when compared to how bad it could be if his life looked like that of the tax collector.  This is contrasted by the tax collector who declares that his life is a mess and he is deserving of judgment, yet it is his desire is to seek the mercy and grace of God to that he might be redeemed.  For the Pharisee, he is already convinced that his own righteousness is complete in his works. This error is not as easy to see in ourselves as it is in others.

One key to seeing this in yourself clearly is to walk in humility.  Humility is at the edge of the Kingdom. Humility comes as you steward your sufferings.  If you lack stewardship of suffering – you will lack awareness of your need for God. If you lack stewardship of your relationships you will lack awareness of your need for others. While the Pharisee lacked these – he did not lack the stewardship of resources. Therefore he did enjoy the returns of this world.  The Pharisee is receiving his full reward. (Matt 6:5) Paul models stewardship on all fronts. As the end of his life is drawing near, there is no bitterness, regret or resentment.  Whether the metaphor is a fight, a race or keeping the faith, Paul seeks only the Lord’s approval and the Lord’s appearing.  He holds nothing against those who bring him harm and caries no resentment for his sufferings. This again is the mark of humility. This attitude is one of having no shame, based not in pride but in deliverance.  Again the tax collector’s hope is deliverance which frees him from his shame. By contrast Pharisee as well has no shame, but this is rooted in pride and elitism – this is rationalization of life in comparison to the world. The tax collector’s removal of shame is based in revelation.

Forgiveness and Humility build one’s worth.  Forgiveness as addressed above is the initial act of accessing worth.  It is a gift of grace. Humility is grown through our actions of stewardship and our willingness to forgive others.  A humble life anchored in receiving forgiveness removes the shame that can decrease or negatively affect our acceptance of worth granted by Christ.  Shame prevents us from seeking the justice which is to be granted by God.  Justice must be sought,  and as we learned last week will only be done by those who know grace and mercy. Knowing grace and mercy will yield a life of forgiveness and humility such that justice will flow freely.

Let’s look at what modern-day Pharisees’ look like:

First – they don’t seek justice – for they don’t think there is any need for it. They have been focused on their own righteous deeds rather than the righteousness of God our Savior.  Justice is based on what is due where an injustice is be leveled against you or it is the desire for judgment against sin. If we don’t see our sin, and at the same time consider ourselves to be better than others – justice is already being served.

Second, they don’t seek forgiveness – for their awareness of others sinful behavior is greater than their own.  Jesus deals with this greatly in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5-7) Modern-day Pharisees  focus other’s shortcomings, and their own actions of holiness that must be upheld. Therefore the focus is on calling out others sin so that it does not contaminate them,  which requires maintaining isolation and distance in order not to compromise their “holiness”.

Therefore – Bitterness fills their bones, rather than humility filling their heart. Anytime a sinner is justified, the focus for the Pharisee is on what should have been deserved.  (Bitterness begins with a  should list.) This is a win-lose mentality. In order for the Pharisee to win  – the tax collector must lose. However those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted. If both individuals were to walk in humility the Pharisee will enjoy greater  exaltation for he will enjoy favor  based on the fruit of faith (not earned) and justice based on the righteousness of God (not earned either). Yet, as it is, the Pharisee does not enjoy either, for he seeks to earn God’s favor through works-righteousness, and never seeks justice for it is already served.  This leaves the Pharisee to enjoy this life, which he does,(based on the stewardship of resources) but constantly aware of the joy found in others which is beyond his reach. When the modern-day Pharisee looks at others lack of effort and work, but sees their joy in deliverance, bitterness set’s in.  The only way to break from bitterness is through thanksgiving which is anchored in humility (mercy) and forgiveness (grace).

How to be set free…? Embrace God’s willingness to pour out His Spirit on all people. Joel  is a prophet of humble status – this is the only text of all three years lectionary, we don’t know when it was written, nor who he really was… And Joel  exalts the female servant to be on par with the elderly sage who is a man is beyond the comprehension  of most as they both are to receive the Spirit.  May we be released in this life from the need to have our expectations met. May we seek only the Cross of Christ to be our rule and judge. At the foot of the cross my we find mercy and grace such that we enjoy the forgiveness of God much more than any justice that may be served on our behalf.

A man should carry two stones in his pocket. On one should be inscribed, ‘I am but dust and ashes.’ On the other, ‘For my sake was the world created.’ And he should use each stone as he needs it.

Posted in After Pentecost, Year C | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Get what you deserve – Justice!

Posted on October 17, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom principle: Seeking Justice means you have known Grace & Mercy

Desire Mercy, Be Thankful for Grace, Never Give up on Justice.

Jeremiah 31:27-34 Psalm 119:97-104 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 Luke 18:1-8

Since our Prayers don’t change God – they change us…. the passage in Luke is not about being persistent to get what we want. If persistence gets you what you want then prayer is based in possibility thinking and law of attraction. (see last week- it’s not).  The self-absorbed judge of Luke 18 is not like God and God is not like that judge…. God is far more like the widow in His pursuit of Israel so that his people will come to know Him and love him.  Yet, God is the ultimate and final judge, therefore we are to come to Him with our cries for justice. The understanding in the story of the widow – is that her persistence is based on her awareness that justice is due her, and her faith leads her to continue to cry out in faithful expectancy. This very assumption is what we believers are to cling too. God has sufficient mercy and grace for us – and if we do not receive it, then to cry out in prayer for justice is the expectation. When we pray we are not to “bugging” and “nagging” God until we get what we want, or else our actions are not prayer. We are to cry out for the promises that God has committed to us.

First, we ask for Mercy – That God would withhold judgment against us – for we are sinners and death is what is due us all. When we receive Mercy we respond with Thanksgiving (see last week). Our Thanksgiving is an indicator that Grace has been made complete. If we are unaware of the Mercy we receive, meaning Mercy from God was granted, but our unawareness of such action leads us to wonder, “Where is God?” We must pray for Grace. This cry for Grace is that God will give us what we don’t even deserve. When we receive Grace from God, we experience His leading, teaching, guiding, and conviction. (see 2 Timothy regarding how the Word of God is to be preached) This work of Grace is an act of the Holy Spirit granted unto us by the life and blood of Jesus Christ.  When we acknowledge Grace in our lives – we are stewarding our sufferings, relationships and resources – this increases our faith, joy and eternal rewards.  Where a faithful follower of Christ is not encountering Mercy or Grace – the Enemy is thwarting the very desire and will of God. There are two main reasons for this thwarting to take place – either the enemy is intruding, or we have invited. Where there is intrusion we are to CRY for JUSTICE. The Widow was crying for Justice.

God’s justice is the overriding rule that the peace and prosperity of the Kingdom are to be yours in abundance. This commitment is not simply spiritual or eternal, it is that if the fruit that was due you, has been stolen and thwarted by the enemy, God will deliver unto you the Justice of the Lord.  If there is not intrusion, there is no need for Justice. Justice is served when the enemy or an agent of the enemy intrudes into a believer’s life. Sometimes we go as far as to invite the enemy, and nothing happens – in this case Mercy was executed over us. When we invite and the enemy brings chaos, tumult and destruction – this is only stopped by an act of Grace.  It is for this reason that God’s children are called to put on the righteousness of Christ and mediate on the Word of God. Further this is why we are saved by grace through faith.  In Christ’s righteousness, which is grace given to us, is there no invitation of sin. Therefore every time the enemy moves against you, as you are clothed in righteousness – You are deserving of Justice.

  • Invitation – When we invite destruction through sinful actions or passive agreement with our flesh nature or desires.
  • Intrusion – When Satan breaks the Spiritual laws violating the rule & reign of the King.

Let us be quick to invite the LORD to rule and reign and just is quick to never invite the enemy. While Grace and Mercy are given freely we must seek, cry out for and demand for Justice. This Engagement is an act of prayer that shifts our focus from what is happening to what can happen. Prayer shifts our focus from the reality of this world to the realm of the heavens. When we pray and lament to God for what was due us and how the enemy has tormented us – we are asking for what we deserve –that is Justice. Again grace is being given, what we don’t deserve. Prayer guides us in the journey of faith, teaching us the will of the Father. When we say, “Prayer Changes things”, the very “thing” that is being changed when you engage in prayer is You. Justice being delivered restores you to the rightful place in which God has already seen you. Therefore this is not a change in you, it is a confirmation of what we hoped to be true- now realized.

Finally –

There is no longer any shame in the life of the believer who has received Grace. (Romans 1:16, 2 Cor. 10:8, Phil 1:20, 2 Tim. 1:8, 12, 16; 2:15,  1 Peter 4:16) (It is complete much like our hope for justice) This is because where we have received grace, and anything that happens in our lives is that is not of God can and will be re-paid with Justice. If we error and sin – making an invitation to the enemy to bring destruction, we simply confess our sins and he is faithful and just. (1 John 1:8-9) This nullifies the shame of the act, but does not remove the consequences. So all this to say – Be Alive and full of live in the Kingdom of God. Boast in your weakness, be not ashamed of your life. God is at work in you and for you. Cry out to him and you will see – the Mercy, Grace and Justice that he is longing to bestow on you.

Posted in After Pentecost, Year C | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Possibility thinking is not enough…

Posted on October 9, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Gratitude is more than a perspective/attitude, it is faith in action.

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 Psalm 66:1-12 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Luke 17:11-19

In the world of facebook and social media – people plaster their lives out there lives for others to respond… While this has served well in many areas – I also see how often people without any anchoring of faith respond with – “Sending you positive thoughts” – while I’d rather have positive thoughts than negative or no thoughts at all – I have to wonder – what is the difference between those positive thoughts and prayers.  Is positive thinking enough to make change happen?

I wish I had a positive answer to every time  Jesus tells me to do something I will immediately do it…. But loving my enemies sometimes causes me to stumble, turning the other cheek doesn’t always appear to me to be an option, and abiding in the Father,  while always being a great idea, does not always reach my “to-do” list.  But what if – is was made a little bit more simple (as if it was not simple enough) what if all I had to do was to remember what Jesus did, and Say Thank You! Could it be that simple? – That practice would set me in the right direction for my faith to increase, and my life to be transformed. What am I waiting for – Let me Remember & and be Thankful.

There is a fundamental starting point for this Kingdom Principle – It is that God is in control and I am not, further that God is Sovereign and I am his Servant(leader). In this God does not owe me a Please or Thank you for he is the Master, and it is my duty (privilege) to serve him. (see last week) May it suffice to say that – the Lord calls us to be Thankful. This is certainly not limited to this passage – it is a key component to the Kingdom of God… which began with the creation of the world, and is the message Jesus came to proclaim.  Elsewhere I have labeled this as either being Bitter or Blessed.  In life,  you are going to live your  life becoming bitter, or, you are going to see life through the lens of God’s Blessings and live in abundance. This is not based as much on your circumstances and experiences as to your response to such events. But as the Principle says – Thanksgiving is more than attitude.  While an “attitude of gratitude” is great – it is the actual faith in action which is at the heart of thanksgiving. Here is how this is different.

When you see the blessings or share the perspective of thanksgiving, yet fail to put that into action your thanksgiving will not result in humility or hospitality, rather it will puff up and actually lead to greed. Here is how…

If you begin to see that an attitude of gratitude is powerful in life and will yield great rewards (the perspective of positive thinking or law of attraction) you will eventually begin to see this tool as a means to ensuring that good things come into your life. I am not against or discredit positive thinking or the law of attraction; however I believe these are a s way of getting what you want in life and can faith be a foundation of all that you do and say. The problem is that Jesus has taught me to pray – THY will be done, not my will be done. God does not owe you anything because you have the right answer or perspective.   YET – when your gratitude is moved by faith into action, the power of positive thinking is left behind. It is not that I am simply thinking positive, or attracting the desired outcome, rather now regardless of the situation in my life – I discover thanksgiving.  I am actually being able to see that that which is in my life is positive and the desired outcome is thanksgiving regardless of circumstance.

It is clearly not the desired outcome of Jeremiah for Israel to go into captivity, but God reveals how to bring prosperity in the midst of calamity. It is not to simply remain positive. Actually the call is to move in the opposite direction of what may seem positive at all. The desired outcome or possibility thinking is that captivity will be short-term (see Jeremiah 28 to see who a prophet who thinks this way fares). But God reveals that positive outcomes can come only from action that calls upon God to do the impossible, not our possibility thinking.  This is why we must remember everything that God has done and continues to do (Hope) – and remain positive about God’s moves rather than our own (Humility). This will free us from being ashamed and move us confidently into all we have to do. (see 2 Timothy) Positive and possibility thinking is a great perspective, to believe in yourself (not ashamed) so that you can achieve what you want (confidence), but it is not what God is calling us to. God is calling us to call on Him, to fix our minds on the things above, not on earthly things – but rather on Christ (Col. 3:1-4) God is calling us to find our identity in Him (confidence) then in all of life, not matter what comes your way (success or failure) you will not be ashamed for it is God who is with you there.

Jesus clarifies and simplifies putting our faith into action as a form of gratitude; the story of Luke makes it as simple as remembering to say Please and Thank you.  When we say please we are requesting Mercy (something we don’t deserve) when we say Thank you we are replying to Grace (something we can’t earn) In the Please and Thank You of life we are acknowledging and putting into action our thanksgiving for what we have and desire to have in our lives.  Further – in many languages (at least German, Dutch, Italian and Hebrew) the same word is used for Please and You’re Welcome…. Where You’re Welcome is the response to someone saying Thank You. So the dance of Mercy & Grace is the flow of Thanksgiving in your life – which is faith in action.

English

Please

Thank  You

You’re Welcome

Dutch

Alstublieft

Dank u

Alseblief or

 Geen Dank

German

Bitte

Danke

Bitte

Italian

Per favore (formal)

Prega (permission)

Grazie

Prego

Hebrew

(spoken)

Bevekshah

rav todot

Bevakasha

Biblically

Mercy Requested

Grace Received

Mercy revealed

Say Please to God more often – Then Respond with Thank you (that he heard you – not that you got what you asked for…. When you hear God say – You are welcome – then you know that both Grace and Mercy were exchanged….

Posted in After Pentecost, Year C | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Want more – beware you may get it

Posted on October 2, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Stewardship of suffering yields increased faith.

Faith yields a fruit of favor. Favor is experienced as grace and mercy.

Lamentations 1:1-6,3:19-26 Psalm 137 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Luke 17:5-10

Garth Brooks made famous the song – “Thank God for unanswered prayers” there are many times we might ask God for something, when we have no clue what the impact of that request is going to be. The answer Jesus gives to the disciples at their request to increase their faith is basically- NO. Jesus continues, (my paraphrase) “You don’t need “more” faith, the problem is that your focus is on your need, rather than the needs of others– you are being greedy. It only takes a mustard seed of faith, and clearly even that seems to be lacking at this time.” But let’s not be too harsh on those disciples– they could interpret what they just heard from Jesus as “Don’t ever make a mistake by leading people astray, but if anyone one else makes a mistake – then you must forgive them – over and over and over again.” SAY WHAT? So they cry out in desperation – Jesus – We are not there yet… increase our faith, so we will be able to act in such a way….  NOPE. Further Jesus continue – not only are you not getting more faith, you are going to need to go all this with not so much as a thank you – for this is what you “signed-up” to do.  In much the same way you don’t need any new information to understand the principle; nor by applying it are you all of the sudden going to be awarded any new prize. You simply need to deepen your understanding of what’s already been given.

What Jesus is calling the disciples (and us) to do is the also found in the charge of Paul to Timothy in one of his final letters before his death. “Fan into flame the gift of God” – this gift is Faith, it is in you, but it must grow. Paul elsewhere says to continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. (Phil 2:12-13) This verse follows, the demonstration of how Christ served and gave more than his very life and did so in humility and suffering.

If you have followed the blog, the words Stewardship & Generosity are nothing new. We are to leverage, manage and invest in our relationships; we are to give, distribute and bless with our resources. This week we see it take yet another angle – we are to Steward are sufferings and to be generous with others out of our growth in experience.  To understand this principle we must be reminded of many things we have covered in other principles:

God uses wilderness (pain & suffering) to conform our will to His. Pain and Suffering are universal to humanity, says Seth Jethani in his book “With”. Out of suffering comes the world’s desire to control and minimize painful experiences and to at the least make sense of it all. Here we discover that the call to steward our sufferings means they have become assets of ours, which we can leverage, manage and invest to yield a greater return, that return is an increase in faith.

Faith is the foothold of the Kingdom  –  it is by faith that we discover a Disciplined Body, Developed Soul and Directed Spirit. God is the author and perfect of our faith and faith is given as a gift. The question for us is, has your faith taken root in your heart. Faith can be based on knowledge and information or experience of your heart.  In the Parables of Mark 4, we see growth in the seed placed in the soil. It is by faith that the seed grows without the work of the farmer or the seed – somehow rather it is from the soil (experience)…. The soil is the gift of God as faith.

Faith in the Kingdom yields a “fruit” of Favor. Favor is the Power & Authority of God displayed through Wisdom. Favor is a “fruit” of faith, and like any fruit – it is not there until the right season (we are called to be prepared in season and out), it must be rooted and established (in love), and finally fruit is the demonstration that the plant has grown healthy and is fulfilling its purpose.  When you want more Favor in your life, the call is to plant more seeds of Faith.  A great mystery will take place in this act of faith and as the seed sprouts – your Credibility will grow and be tested – resulting in your Character being forged. This is the process of pain and suffering,  and why favor is not about getting out of suffering, but getting more out of your suffering.

Favor is not about what you can “get” from God – it is rather being able to give everything away – even your own rights, security and well-being. Here at the crossroads of Faith yielding Favor is the reality of Forgiveness. (refer back to the Luke texts of this week) Favor from God is revealed through the heart of Forgiveness. The Favor of the Lord is not yours to give; rather it is yours to steward for both eternal rewards and temporal joy (last two weeks).  In this you can give Forgiveness, Finances, Freedom.

Giving such things does not increase your favor – rather it is an indicator that you are in not need of more favor, rather you demonstrate though actions/deeds that your faith is alive. This faith trusts in the King which can replace/redeem all things it in a moment of time. The way in which we come to learn this is by applying the Grace of God.

Grace grows us from a “child-ish” attitude to “child-like” faith. Grace is the means by which salvation and life transformation (sanctification) take place. Mercy is God’s withholding punishment. Grace is God giving possibilities to those without power.  Grace is the giving of Discipline, such that growth might take place.

Grace is Free – but it does not lead to Freedom from actions (to do whatever you want), rather is makes your actions all that much more costly.  Obedience (Discipline) is the result of applied Grace. Mercy frees you to invest your life, not fearing it will be consumed by the world. Mercy causes your eyes to be focused on the Power of the King, rather than the neediness of ourselves. Thanksgiving is the result of Mercy. Compassion is the movement of the Spirit uniting the two. Mercy opens the door to Grace.  Grace deepens our understanding of Mercy.   We don’t deserve mercy, we can’t earn grace. But in receiving grace we grow to demonstrate the mercy of God to others.

Therefore – when the Disciples ask for more faith – what they really need is more suffering. Then the mustard seed of faith will grow – beyond their wildest imagination. This process of growth will yield the favor that they so long for. This favor will be experienced both at Grace and Mercy.  We are to apply this pattern to our lives  – as has Israel, Jesus and Paul… only Jesus did it perfectly!

Jeremiah laments over Israel’s poor example applying Grace and being thankful for Mercy.  In fact they did not work out their salvation with fear and trembling, they exchanged their faith in God for the gods of their neighbors and were left empty handed.  Paul’s charge to Timothy is that we shall never be empty handed or lacking enough faith if he simply guards that which has been entrusted to him.  This is not our work alone – it is the very work of the Holy Spirit.

To Steward your Sufferings:

1. Discover the difference between Sufferings for Greed and Sufferings for the Gospel. When Greed is rooted in our heart – suffering will occur –(see Israel) and when the Gospel is rooted in our heart – suffering will occur – (see Paul). Only the Suffering of the Gospel will yield both eternal rewards and worldly joy. (Stewardship of relationships and resources is the first step, but you multiply your return through suffering.)

2. Be Generous with your sufferings. Share the story of your life… by leading with your ears. The sufferings of your life are there to be given away to others. (2 Cor. 1:3-7) If you learn to lead with your ears, rather than your mouth – sharing these sufferings will produce in others  more than if you simply tell the story.

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Want a Profit margin? -or- Prophet message?

Posted on September 26, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Stewardship of resources yields joy in this world.

Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-31

YES – choose both. Why not have both a profit margin – where you are enjoying  all the worldly riches the Lord has provided, as well as a prophet’s message that says be rich in good deeds,  generous and willing to share with those in need.  I have worked in not-for-profit organizations all my life. I have also had many jobs with for-profit industries. (Entertainment, education & sales) No “job” (where you receive financial compensation) will last without making a profit. The difference between the not-for-profit and the for-profit is who benefits from the profit. The same is true for your life… you need to have a profit margin in your personal life. But the benefits and the benefactor of the profit is the determining factor on how much joy it produces (eternal or limited)

In this season of After Pentecost or Ordinary Time – the focus in this year C has been heavy on financial matters.  The crux of this message was captured on 7.20.13 knowing that Greed sucks the life out of you, and thanksgiving expresses your abundance. There we established that Thanksgiving and Generosity root out greed. Last week the focus was on the stewardship of relationships to yield eternal wealth – This was done living a life of Generosity – celebrating what you have, with others.  This week the focus is on the stewardship of resources – accomplished living a life of Thanksgiving made possible by contentment – celebrating others, with what you have.  So stewardship for the Kingdom is both celebrating with others as well as celebrating others. (relationships & resources)

The rich man was neither generous to nor thankful for Lazarus while on earth. God is generous to all… yet those who do not live a life of Thanksgiving and Generosity – miss it altogether and are left with bitterness and jealously when they finally realize what they missed. Jeremiah demonstrates the provision and peace of God to the earthly king through buying land that has no value in the current/impending threat of captivity and destruction of Judah. Many choose to be bitter when opportunity comes at bad timing… but Jeremiah moves in thanksgiving led by God to purchase the land.

The life you live on this earth is to be a foretaste of what you will enjoy for eternity. The veil is torn between Heaven & Earth – his angels are here and we pray His kingdom come. We are closer than you many realize to heaven.  God’s desire is not for you to be miserable; rather it is for you to be saved from the Kingdom of darkness. (1 Tim 2:3-6, Colossians 1:13-14) Joy and contentment are the roots of thanksgiving in the midst of trials and troubles in life. (James 1:2, Romans 5:3-5, & Philippians 4:10-14) Further because of your salvation by faith, your life is to be filled with Good works. (James 2:14-24 , Romans 12:1-3, 9-21, Philippians 2:19-22, 25, 4:2-3)  Therefore, in Jesus we have all we need to enter into that life of faith and fulfillment. For, it is not a sin to be rich, but it is the temptation to be rich which ensnares many people and a sin to pursue that desire for it will lead to ruin and destruction. How much more we are called to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness, for out of such things generosity and thanksgiving will flourish.

So what about the $$$ – Steward what you have generously and with thanksgiving. Lazarus died just like the rich man died– you too will die, so don’t fear or avoid death. Rather pursue life, the materials of this world are not eternal, but what you do with them is….  The Rich Man found himself in a place of torment seeking comfort and pity from Lazarus, whom all his earthly life he had not the slightest compassion toward – and now he is asking for the good deeds he never offered.  Death and punishment has prompted the rich man to see the true value of money. (much like last week – the manager’s fear opened his eyes) Money has no value in the life to come – so the call is to figure out the value of money in this life. That value is two-fold; for those in need, AND for your enjoyment. (Anyone who quickly reads this and thinks – I have need – is missing the point that if you have Jesus – then – No, you don’t have any need – for all needs are met in Him. Thus we must discover what is true joy in this life if our hope is to increase the impact of money in both this life and the life to come.

The prophet message: Enjoy your money now and for eternity by investing in the lives of others.

The profit message: Enjoy your money now and ensure you always have enough, seeking more of it by whatever means possible.

The hardest part about the passages this week is to navigate the stories and learn the principles without getting lost in the unanswered questions: Is Hades the same place as Hell? Can people in Hell – watch/see people in Heaven? Is Abraham’s bosom/side Heaven? Does everyone have guardian angel’s assigned to them? If so then why do bad things happen? Where did Jeremiah get the money to buy the land?  Why does Paul only say we need food and clothing – what about shelter and family? What is the command that Paul is call us to keep? You get the point – so the answers to those questions are not the point. God provides richly, everything for our enjoyment! Read that again – God provides richly for our enjoyment. So enjoy all that God has given you, focus on his presence, provision, peace and protection (all expressed in the Psalm) so that you make take hold of the life that is truly rich.

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Can I Borrow $$$ to buy new friends?

Posted on September 20, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Stewardship of relationships yields eternal wealth

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 Psalm 79:1-9 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13

It is intended to be offensive that I would buy new friends, further despicable that I would have to borrow money to do so….  Yet, it is quite the point of this week’s scripture. Much like the offense of thinking that God would direct painful events in my life to redeem then and draw me to my knees.  Yes – we are called to leverage everything for the Kingdom. If you are willing to give me your money, I will invest it into the lives of those who have little – I will take your money and make new friends. While it may seem offensive to buy your friends, isn’t that what I am doing if I take people out to eat or treat them to a coffee or pay for their housing? They will by sheer thanksgiving want to remain in relationship with me – even if their motives are not pure.  How many times can I buy lunch for a “friend”, before I am buying their friendship and time? I think it depends on how much money I have verses them. If have an endless supply of money and I enjoy our time together, further if the “friend” has little money, but enjoys our time, what’s wrong with me spending the money to have lunch together each week. (Sounds like discipleship to me) Let’s remove the veil… do it as often as you can afford – and do so in such a way as they come to know Jesus, so you can dine with them for eternity at the Banqueting Table. But what about those who aren’t rich enough to live like that  – You & I must become a Great Stewards. A true steward owns little, but is never poor or without goods to manage.

A concept behind the text this week is that God can and will redeem everything which is given to him. And redeemed love looks at all things through a God lens. Even money that is “dirty” can be cleaned and redeemed, therefore how much more can the “dirty” choices of the people be cleansed by the blood of Jesus redeemed by the work of the Cross.

Many wonder how a God of infinite power can sit idly by and do nothing during times of great atrocity and massive destruction. (From genocide by dictators to natural disasters)  The Lectionary turns this back around on the church and followers of Jesus and asks, “How can those who have access to the power of God and promise of the King; not move with confidence and conviction to steward all the resources that God has at his disposal?” This act is done through the power of prayer.  I am truly convicted this week how little I have been “on my knees” lately.

The texts this week can be very confusing with just a quick read…. It can look like; Jesus is rewarding dishonesty, that Paul doesn’t care about the Jews and that God is angry…. None of the following are the purpose or truth presented in the verses… Yet, Jesus is telling a parable highlighting a principle that: a little pain and suffering motivates people to act. The reaction in the parable is the change to return to the thinking/acting they were “supposed” to be doing, but for various reasons did not.  Paul is sharing that we must be in prayer for all people, especially rulers and those in authority, and that his calling and commissioning is as an Apostle and Teacher to the Gentiles. Finally in the same way we have looked at how it can appear to others that we hate someone when it is comparison to the love we have for God. God will not allow for his people to continue disregarding his ways. Their continued rejection of God and shameful ways are bringing upon them the consequences of sin – which is experienced as if God is angry.

Therefore let’s get to the heart of it – for us! Are you living via the Principles of the Kingdom or the patterns of this world? (Romans 12:1-3) If you are identified with the principles of the Kingdom – you are a steward (manager) of all of God’s resources here on earth. In this way, as you manage God’s resources He is preparing you to lead in His Kingdom.  Trusting in the Provision, Protection, Promise and Peace of the King is the way of a steward. This freedom cannot be matched by any other; in this way you are to use all resources for eternal reward. If you have access to money – give it away to the poor, even if that money was “dirty” when you received it, invest it for Kingdom Purposes based on Kingdom Principles. According to the parable this week give it to the poor or better said make friends with them in this way. I’m not talking about simply giving it away, invite a needy family over for dinner and feed them, buy clothes for kids who have holes in their shoes, provide gas money for a college student so they can drive home to see their family…. There are many types of poor and yet it is the poor who learn to be great stewards. (Unfortunately in our culture – credit cards and debit have undermined this reality in many places.) For the poor in spirit already have eternal rewards, so be a shrewd steward for the Kingdom and give it away. The parable shows how shrewd the steward can be if he chooses to apply the principle of stewardship – even while he is doing this for worldly gain… the principle still applies. The poor in spirit will have huge mansions in heaven, while those who have huge mansions on earth may see nothing of heaven. (next week’s passage.)

Jeremiah is lamenting, crying and weeping to God that the very destruction that he is proclaiming can be avoided…. He does not want to see the pain the people are about to endure. We (kingdom servantleaders) are to be stewards of God’s mercy – cry out for this… God has so much it is like giving it away for free… and it doesn’t cost us anything if we are stewards.

  • Proclaim the Freedom of the Lord to those who are in bondage, slavery and broken under oppression.
  • Pray for the leaders of Syria (even the ruthless dictators) and the warfare of Congo.
  • Pray for those who look the other way in leadership while sex trafficking takes place in their city.
  • Pray for our government leaders and city councils that they may come to know God’s justice and mercy. …. Jeremiah will later teach this to the people in exile, “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city – Pray to the LORD for it, for if it prospers so shall you” (Jer. 29:7)

The Parable this week of the Shrewd Manager teaches us that if you are a steward of little, then you will be trusted with much. So while you may only be one person, if you do what you can, then you will be given authority over many. Once in authority, teach and proclaim the truth so that they steward what they have. Now you multiply your impact by each of their lives…. Regardless of increasing your wealth, it is the eternal return which we are seeking.

Finally – We are to do this all in humility and hospitality. Paul describes this as living peaceful and quite lives in godliness and holiness. Serve God, and let your money serve you… or else you will find yourself serving money. And no one can serve two masters. (Matt 6)  So let’s make some new friends… invite someone over for dinner, take a homeless person for a burger, donate school supplies to your local school. And if you don’t have the money to do such things –become a greater steward, both of your own money, but more directly of the relationships around. Be a steward of relationship around you helping them to help others through you if needed. And for those who have no financial resources, steward your time in prayer to demonstrate the resources of the King by praying over them the blessings of heaven…

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If Saints can’t lose are Sinners lost?

Posted on September 9, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: The King unconditionally accepts all into the Kingdom with uncompromising standards.

Jesus came to save sinners! An encounter with Jesus; will leave you a fool-hearted or saintly.

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 Psalm 14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10

This post has nothing to do with why I am sending my children to San Dimas High where they will be “Saints”. But I can guarantee you once this comes to pass they will always identify as a “Saint” and never a “BearCat”. Identity is a huge theme of the Kingdom and it is the goal of this blog to assist followers of Jesus to identify with the principles of the Kingdom.  So – do you identify more with the term sinner or saint? Those who find their identity in the Kingdom are saints. (this may be a bit presumptuous– but please don’t think – “I’m Not Perfect, but Forgiven” – for me that is just an excuse for Christians to identify as being just like everyone else – just better, because their sin doesn’t send them to hell. We (those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ) are saints because our identity becomes rooted and established in Christ & His Love alone, and in Christ there is no sin. This is the gift of His righteousness. I can expand on this, but biblical defense will be enough here (read for yourself )

The principle today is that regardless of who you are, or what you have done – you can and will be accepted into the Kingdom by the standard of Christ Jesus.  If you do not enter by the King’s standard then you do not enter. Those who enter are saints, which live their lives as servantleaders of the great King. Those who have not entered are Evil, Fools, or Sinners.  I will define all these terms (being greatly assisted by the Word of God, and the book Bold Love.

Evil  – Person who is cold-hearted, and delights in destructive behaviors. With no ability to be empathic it is through craft and deception, they strip others of hope and inflict shame and hatred.

Fool – Person who is angry, arrogant, and self-centered which leads them to reject wisdom and in exchange seek to increase pleasure and feed their own pride. They disregard all consequences and reject constructive discipline; therefore they avoid intimate relationships that call for integrity.  (An Evil person is a fool who continues to become hardened until their heart becomes  stone.)

Sinner – Person who is capable of evil and at times acts like a fool. Sinners fail to comprehend what it means to live with wisdom, and in the challenges and confusion of life they do not seek wisdom.  Sinners struggle with envy, greed and poor judgment, their focus remains on their problems rather than in discovering solutions and growth.

Saint – Person who is capable of evil and at times acts like a fool. Saints surrender to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and in wisdom seek repentance and forgiveness. Saints may continue to struggle to honor God with all of their life, yet their focus remains on the Center-ness of Christ in their lives.

These terms are not intended to simply be labels by which you can judge others, rather they are to serve you in your purist to identify with the King. Paul – was a fool who was a blasphemer, a persecutor and violent man – who killed Christians – but that does not make him evil. For he acted in ignorance and when he encountered Christ, he became transformed to a Saint.  I believe those who struggle with sin – do so because they focus on the sin not the Savior… their focus is on the uncompromising standard (which is true) rather than the unconditional acceptance. (which is love) To focus on the standards is to earn ones acceptance and to identify with the world.  The Fool has no understanding and does not listen… because it is a matter of the heart. (The Proverbs tell this well) It is their heart which is corrupt; it is for this reason the saints are called to pray, because prayer brings wisdom which changes the heart.

There is much behind this quick reminder of identity – Wisdom wastes no time with a fool and walks away from evil, and to righteous anger is what moves a saint to know when to walk away.  We are not to simply cut off from relationships, rather the goal is reconciliation. Further the only way to remove the barriers in relationships is through the leading with our ears that we love others.

Therefore the standard by which we are accepted into the Kingdom is Love.  Are you Loved? Do you Love? The acceptance of being loved by God is the movement of the King upon His People and only after this movement can there be a mission to love others. Rejection of this love is a foolish reaction, but it is an option. Sinners do not enjoy the peace and prosperity of the Kingdom because their identity is rooted in world and sin. Remaining in this place will call for a foolish expression even to say there is No God.

I’m a saint – by LeCrae

This Sunday – we engage the training on Listening – “Listening is the act of leading with your ears” and the only way to overcome fools and love sinners.  Leading with your ears is also the gift and presence of the Holy Spirit that can be given as a gift to other saints. (I do love that the lectionary gave us these Scriptures this week… God is truly Sovereign!)

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Know how to say No!

Posted on September 5, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: It’s easy to say Yes to Jesus, if you don’t say No to the world.

Being a Kingdom ServantLeader requires you to say No, more than Yes.

Jeremiah 18:1-11 Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 Philemon 1:1-1:21 Luke 14:25-33

As you re-read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 – you see a summary of the characteristics of a Kingdom ServantLeader. We have laid the foundation of being a Servant and a Leader as well as begun to unpack the calling of being a ServantLeader.  Servant Leadership while being a paradox in the world, is in alignment with the Kingdom of God. ServantLeaders of the Kingdom make the choice to say “No” to the expectations of the world.  In fact, you are bound to say “No”, more than you say “Yes” as a ServantLeader. This may seem contrary to your first thoughts… thinking that if you are servant leader then you are to help those in need.  However, if you are truly first a servant of the King, then a leader in His Kingdom – you are only following His leading rather than a slave to the world you are free from the world and have become a bondservants to Jesus. (The gospels are full of references, but glance here to see if your name is listed here.)  Jesus reminds us that the poor we will always have in the world. (Matt. 26:11) While your service is a gift to the King alone, the world is going to observe your gifts, talents and ability to move in Authority and Power. In response they are going to invite, recruit and offer to pay for your services, for they desire to have that same Authority and Power for their cause. And here is the rub – if you say “Yes” to them, often (but not always) you end up saying “No” to the Kingdom in exchange of the time and attention you give to their plans.  This is not a call to retreat and certainly not a plea to only work for “Christian” companies. (I don’t even see a divide between the secular and sacred – a future post…). This is a call to increase you time in prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit. (Training on listening is Sept. 15, 2013) The concepts of saying “No”  as the leading of the Holy Spirit have been approached  and can be reviewed here –  Don’t be busy, Carry-less, and God’s in Control, and the fact that Not praying changes more things than praying).

Here is the point today – You are going to be defined more by what you say “No” too, rather than how much you can accumulate in your life or on your resume by saying “Yes”.  When you say “No” the impact is beyond what you can measure.  Sometimes this impact is not pleasant, but when the No is directed by the King, the impact is what you need. However, for most saying “No” is based on their time, ability or desire and saying “Yes” is  based on how it makes you feel, your gain from those around you or the need of the pressing commitment. (Refer back to last week about who you invite to dinner – and think about why they say Yes…)  If you say “No” to a dinner invite is sends a much louder message to the host than if you say “Yes”.  Saying “Yes”, confirms for the host that they have the “sway” or “relational” power to get you to their house…  but if you say “No”…. much more will be revealed  about you than the host. One assumption I am bringing is that God allows for His Kingdom ServantLeaders to be invited into more places of leadership and impact than they can or “should” take on. This is done in order that the ServantLeader may be refined and define not overwhelmed and burned out. (How many have you and I missed this and fallen prey to the Enemy.) Back to the dinner invite, many well intentioned people would not say “No” for fear they might “hurt” another feelings even though they have not checked with God to see if He is directing them there– they would simply offer an excuse or politely ask for another time hoping it never comes. This is where we compromise our No and in effect we are saying Yes to – is the world. (I often find that God gives great freedom in this area, but still wants us to check in – because again – when God says “No” we learn more about Him very quickly. If you don’t get a No,  that does not mean Yes…. But this is a learned process.) A good book on how relationship can get messy and finding a way to know what to do in difficult situations and how to get out of unhealthy relationships is called Bold Love.

In the passage this week Jesus’ fame has grown and he has crowds following him… but they are not following him because he walks to the cross. (great video) They are following him because he has said “No” to the powers of their political system. (which they love, but fear to say “No” themselves.)  In this fan fare – many are saying “Yes” to Jesus… but few are saying “No” to the world or the very system that Jesus is rejecting. It is easy to say “Yes” to Jesus if that “Yes” has cost you very little. It is hard to say “No” when it costs you everything. But it is that “No” that defines you the most.  Jeremiah shows how the Potter has the responsibility and power to say “No” to imperfections, this is matched with the opportunity to rebuild and start over. Israel is given the offer by God, and they become defined by what they say “No” to – verse 12 continues after the Lectionary section and makes it clear they are saying “No” to God.  Philemon was a slave owner (acceptable and normal at the time) and Paul urges him to say “No” to taking Onesimus back as a slave, but rather now as a brother in Christ. The “No” is to what is normal and acceptable. This ties beautifully as to why Jesus can say, we are to say “No” to our father, mother, and family for the Kingdom. The “No” to the family is a contrast to the “Yes” to the Kingdom, but the “Yes” to the Kingdom does not have to mean “No” to our families… but it might. This is a priorities and heart issue, not an actual call to hate those who love us… remember Jesus calls us to love those who are our enemies… it would make no sense to hate those who love us. Yet if we are choosing to say “No” to the demands of our families (after checking in with God) that are in conflict with the calling and leading of the King, then they will likely experience this as hate.

God is our true Father in that he has planted His seed in you by the power of the Holy Spirit or else you remain dead in your transgressions. God is your Mother in that He has formed you in the womb and knit you together. All of those who are children of God are our brothers and sisters…. So your family is those who are in the Kingdom. (Luke 8:20-21, 18:29-30)

If you are defined more by what you say “No” too – who/what are you saying “No” to?

Sometimes this process is more passive than you might at first see – If you choose to say “Yes” to working 80 hours a week – it means you are saying No to many other things. While you may not consider this a choice it is… especially if you believe that God can and will supply all of your needs.

Make a List of who you are saying “Yes” too – who/what gets your Yes?

If you have children, they can quickly demand most of your time…. this can bring an imbalance to your life and theirs – They need to hear “No” from you, because they will hear “No” from God and God has placed you in their lives to come to know Him. As you make your list of who you say “Yes” too…. Think about how this “yes” is in alignment with the will of the King. If Jesus were to call you to say “No” to that person/or act in a specific tangible way – what would be the fall out? Consider this for both  you and others. (Be it your child, your spouse, your employer, your aging elderly parent….. )

For those who want a challenge: Take a stroll in Orthodox Christian Theology and the attributes of God– They do not attempt to define or explain what God is, rather they approach God based on what they know he is not. Make a list of the ways and images of how you have come to know God based on what he is not.  Orthodox Theology fully embraces that God is beyond our comprehension – so as soon as we say – this is what God is… EX. All-Powerful… we have attempted to put the incompressible into our terms, but to say that God is Not Weak or that God is not limited… I have moved closer to what/who God is , by eliminated what he is not (saying No).

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Last Place and Placemats – do you know your place?

Posted on August 27, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: At the outermost-edges of the Kingdom are Hospitality & Humility.

Jeremiah 2:4-13 Psalm 81:1, 10-16 Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 Luke 14:1, 7-14

In October 2012, we established that the doorway to the Kingdom is opened only by Submission to the King. While Obedience will lead you up to the door, it will not open it, for submission is a matter of the heart, while obedience is a matter of right actions. Inside the Kingdom, hospitality is clearly expressed in the lives of those at the entrance and Humility “guards” the back door.” The guarding is not out of fear that people will escape out, rather against those who attempt to “sneak in” rather than through the front door.  This reference highlights the difference between the approach of the institutional church and the Kingdom of God. The local or institutional church does everything they can get people in the front door, then locks the back so no one gets out… It has been my suggestion the church is to have both a front door and back door and neither are to be ever locked or closed. My hope is that the front door of the local church and the front of the Kingdom will become more closely associated.  The front door of the Kingdom is opened by submission; the front door of the church is opened by invitation. Today we connect these two concepts with hospitality & humility.  (This does not make us the doorway… and all too often we prevent others from entering by getting in the way (this builds on last week’s post, in having a desire to be right.)….  Any desire of ours to be right, popular, needed or important indicates we are moving in the opposite direction of hospitality and humility.

Character is at the center of both Hospitality and Humility. This week we are presented with the notion that God’s character does not change, yet His people do not always choose him. If they would choose to submit to God’s will verses their own, then they will walk with confidence, knowing that the Lord will never leave them or forsake them. However, many do not listen to the Lord, and many try to outright prove themselves and their ways as superior to God’s ways. Jesus confronts this thinking in the Luke passage – and it is demonstrated as leaving those who choose the right ways of the world as humiliated, rather than choosing to submit to God and out of humility being exalted in the Kingdom.

There is a saying in my house, “A place for everything, everything in its place.” This is about order and structure – much like in the Kingdom. For my wife, it is truly important that things get back in their place, in my 15 years of learning to love my wife, I have learned this value and not only accepted it, I have come to benefit from it. (Let’s see if she reads this….! Another saying is Cleanliness is next to Godliness – see what I have to say about this one…) Do you know your place in the Kingdom of God, and if you do, invite others to that place….  Your place is to offer hospitality to everyone around you – including and especially strangers, and to do so in a way of humility.  Hospitality welcomes another into your place. Humility demonstrates you are aware of your place without a need to advance or take another place. Humility is not thinking less about yourself, it is thinking about yourself less.  If you practice Hospitality without Humility – when you are welcoming others – you will defend your place or try to find your place at the same time. If you practice Humility without Hospitality, then you greatly decrease your chances of Credibility (read here to connect Character & Credibility). The Parable immediately following in the Luke Passage (Luke 14:15-24) must be connected with this to understand the content…   Simply Put – if you invite because others can grow your status – is it Hubris (pride) not Hospitality. And beware You can’t invite a few “token” poor, crippled, lame, & blind people… for if you do those you seek to impress will not come either. You must embrace the Kingdom as a way of life, in this you discover what is relevant.

The Hebrews passage ties this all together – It is Love that is given in the name of Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever. It is love on every level, the most intimate of relationships (the marriage bed) to the messy missional engagement of welcoming strangers into your home.  Regardless of whom you love – may it be done as a sacrifice and offering unto God.

Thoughts to keep you moving…

The number #1 excuse people give about not being hospitable is they don’t want to invite people to their home because it is too messy. How might a messy house indicate a spiritual reality? And how might this lead you to either ask for help – growing your humility, or cause you to identify a deeper reason why you fear hospitality. (Don’t take this too far or you end up with Spiritual OCD…)

The number #2 reason that people avoid hospitality is that they are too busy…. (refer back to caring-less and being too busy)  If we are too busy we are apt to miss the calling and directions of God. The irony of this is that while our business is a “mistake” we maintain this pace for fear that we will fall behind or make a mistake that others will call us on.  (Remember the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37)

Finally  – You cannot fake Humility.  Hospitality does not require a house to invite people to… Humility & Hospitality are identified by others, not established by you.  This takes place when you naturally invite others to feel like they can be themselves (Acceptance & Appreciation) and they enter a state of peace around you.  How can you this week can you think about another person, and create a way to value them right where they are.

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