When our faith becomes a tool that we employ for our personal gains and glory, it ceases to serve its intended purpose. 

When our victories incite arrogance, and someone else’s losses inspire schadenfreude, we need to take care.  We are in a precarious predicament. High places are slippery! 

When our prayers for God’s blessings upon us, do not include prayers for God’s blessings on others – we need to examine our hearts.

While our economy is rooted in the idea of scarcity – the myth that there aren’t enough resources for everyone – the false notion that if God blesses one, God cannot bless us all – the whole idea that there must be winners and losers- the haves and the have nots – this is not according to who God is!  This is capitalism not Christianity.

God is loving and compassionate. God’s grace flows from God’s rich, abundant, and loving character. One’s success and another’s failure are not contingent.  In fact true success for one means blessings for another.

We are blessed to be a blessing.  How is it that so many of us professed Christians are so out of step with God’s Spirit?

There are at least two possibilities. Either we knew God and turned away, or we never knew God at all!  

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’  

Matthew 7:21–23

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

A small stone can feel like a boulder when you carry it too long. Minor offenses become major rifts when they go unaddressed.  

Molehills become mountains when we don’t deal with them appropriately.  

An offense, a grudge, a little bitterness, a reoffense, a sleight, some abuse, neglect, unrepentance, hatred, violence – and the cycle continues…

So here we are. Generations confronted with repackaged versions of the same issues, refusing history’s lessons, because we give into apathy that keeps us drowsy and makes us numb. We’d rather be entertained than educated- amused rather than inspired…

And now the only thing that rouses us is the most intense pain and the overwhelming fear of mutual destruction.  

Why do things have to get so bad before we decide we need to pay attention?  

Why do we ignore the sages and prophets that warn us against selfishness, greed, and malice in our hearts? 

In times like these, I admit it, I have to guard my heart against the rage and bitterness that will only make things worse.  LORD, deal with my heart! 

Will you pray with me today? 

“ ^…Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of us speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 

Let no corrupting talk come out of our mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  

Ephesians 4:25–32

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Treating people the way you want to be treated is called the Golden Rule.  Regardless of how you feel about them, whether or not you understand them, whether or not they look or talk like you, whether or not you share common heritage or interests, or whether or not you even ‘like’ them.

The Golden Rule is the firewall against revenge, pettiness, slander, greed, vindictiveness, prejudice, or partiality.  And it is the only rule that inclines us toward a peaceful and compassionate community. But each time we transgress this Golden Rule, we devolve bit by bit towards inhumanity.  

Such a simple phrase with such intense weight levels us all.  The Golden Rule is an equalizer that erases categories of privilege and oppressed, and places the ability to change the world squarely in the hands of each individual regardless of the corrupt and unjust systems that deceive us into thinking we have no power or control. We still get to choose.  It is not always an easy choice but it is a choice nonetheless.

The Golden Rule demands integrity.  The Golden Rule demands tenacity and faithfulness that proves itself especially when one possesses great power or when one is under intense pressure.  And, it is impossible to obey without intentional humility and intense spiritual fortitude. God help us!

Perhaps this is why we abandon it so quickly.  It’s much easier and quite understandable to want to match energy, to retaliate, to return evil for evil.  But the cost becomes our own humanity along with the possibility of any real peace within or without.

So what will we choose?  While the lines that separate us become deep grooves and ruts – who among us will choose to be and to do differently?  

Jesus expects that anyone who follows Him would attempt to live by His rule – this Golden Rule.  Are you, are we among these?  

A tree is told by the fruit it bears, yes?  

God help us all to possess such integrity.  It is the only hope for our humanity.  

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Luke 6:31

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

The greatest challenge to the Church’s witness is not some extraordinary external enemy but an internal erosion of the ethics that should exemplify who we are.

In a courtroom, if a witness lies under an oath, they can be charged with perjury. To be a credible witness (per Brenda Salter McNeil), one need not be perfect – but at least be honest. To willfully lie under oath is a crime, and depending on the conditions, can carry jail time and fines.

The christian church in the West and in America is under a heavy indictment. Repeatedly landing on the wrong side of history by promoting oppressive forces or being silently complicit to abuse and bigotry, it’s a wonder that anyone would call themselves christian. It’s a wonder that anyone would trust such an unreliable witness.  

Thank God for those Christian communities that refuse to cede their witness to the powerful.  Thank God for those who advocate for those who’ve been shoved to the margins.  Thank God for those who value all human beings as precious and beloved!  Thank God for those who don’t separate their love for God from those made in God’s image.  Thank God for those working publicly to preserve and protect the dignity and rights of every human – every single one! 

History will be our judge.  Will we be found faithful or at fault? The jury is out, but the clock is ticking…

Does that seem way beyond us? Perhaps.  But what kind of witness are you? 

Good Morning, I love you all.

ihs,

just adam

There are some things that are consistent with God’s character and some things that are not.  There are virtues that reflect God’s heart, and there are those that do not.  Where there may be doubts, Jesus gives us clarity!

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus revises the interpretive lens.  Jesus repeatedly declares, ‘You’ve heard it said, but I say to you…’ But beyond declaration, Jesus’ Incarnation is the ultimate example – the ultimate demonstration- of how our faith should be lived out.

So, when I hear us talking about Jesus while demonstrating cruelty to strangers, callousness toward the poor, carelessness toward those suffering – I wonder – Who are we talking about??

Jesus welcomed strangers, touched the untouchable, embraced publicans and sinners, privileged the poor, blessed the last, lost, least, and left behind.  Jesus embodied compassion toward those who would otherwise be avoided, overlooked, or ignored.  This same Jesus was critical of the self-righteous religious, leery of the rich, and He made the powerful very uncomfortable. 

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:15

Jesus expresses and embodies the character and compassion of a loving God. Jesus is the Mediator of our relationship with God the Father and with one another.  Jesus is our Exemplar.  He teaches us how to love one another well.  Jesus points the Way, He shows us the Way, and He makes the Way for us!

Get it? Now, let’s go and do it!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs, 

just adam

Jesus bids us to follow Him.  Wherever He goes, we are called to follow.  Whether in sunshine or storm, He beckons to us to follow Him.  Wherever He leads,  Jesus calls us to follow – that is to surrender our wills, to relinquish the right to ourselves, to struggle if we must – Jesus calls us to follow Him.

And as we follow, we are promised comfort from the Spirit, peace that surpasses understanding, and even the fullness of joy.  

But we are not guaranteed a problem free existence, we are not promised that we will be comfortable,  we are not promised that there will be no struggle, we are not promised that we will not taste sorrow.  But Jesus calls us to follow Him.

When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”  We know Peter’s reply. And we know the blessing that followed.  “Upon this rock, I will build my Church…”  

Immediately afterwards, Jesus began to tell his disciples about the difficult times ahead.  Unfortunately, they were not quick to receive or understand His words. Peter even went so far as to pull Jesus aside to rebuke Him – can you imagine that? Peter thought Jesus needed correction.  But don’t be too hard on him. 

How often have we sought to be comfortable and certain,  when in fact Jesus is calling us to be comforted and confident? There is a difference.  Comfortability and certainty are circumstantial.  But to be comforted and confident – these are gifts from the Spirit. 

Can we relinquish our idols and follow Him or is our commitment only fair-weather?  

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matthew 16:24

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam