Humbly receiving spiritual direction… and DOING what we’re commanded.

“Remember <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30249L" data-link="(L)”>those who led you, who spoke <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30249M" data-link="(M)”>the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30249N" data-link="(N)”>imitate their faith…
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30259B" data-link="(B)”>they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.  Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”
(Hebrews 13:7, 17)

When I consider what the writer of Hebrews is saying here to the early Church, I am struck with a couple of easily-overlooked insights.  But before I get into those, I have to begin with some ground-level understandings:

• The human tendencies of the church (and human beings at large, for that matter) have not changed, in all of its history.  We want to call our own shots, and when anyone or anything except our own conscience or our own understanding makes any real or perceived attempt to instruct — let alone command — our behavior or correct our thinking, we usually resort to one of two responses:

                1)  aggressive rebellion; or
                2)  apathetic dismissal and distance (often including scoffing condescension)

• Our “Americanism” (whereby the “supreme law” of our land — the U.S. Constitution — begins with the infamous “We the People”), our love of individuality, and our esteem of democracy is far more deeply entrenched in our worldview and our church life than we ever recognize.  In other words: we don’t see ourselves through the lens of Scripture… we see Scripture — and church life — through the lens of ourselves.
• No matter how dignified we’d like to think ourselves, the God of the Universe calls us “sheep”.

So, having established these cautions, I would assert the following.

Verse 7 does not merely suggest, but commands us to not only consider the importance of solid, biblical leaders, but also to emulate their lives and “imitate their faith”.  Make no mistake: this commanded imitation pertains to some very unpopular and personal aspects of life:

• How we attire ourselves, in all situations
• How we approach “birth control”
• How we approach “dating” and marriage
• How we allow ourselves to be entertained
• How we enact our children’s education
• What we allow ourselves to find humorous
• What line of work we pursue
• What roles ought to pertain to our gender

…and SO many more.  Ultimately, what’s being communicated here, if I may paraphrase it, is this:

“If your pastor and elders are practicing what they preach, from the whole of Scripture, then do what they do.  Period.“

For example:

• If your pastor intentionally wears something nicer than jeans-and-a-t-shirt to your worship gatherings, do the same.
• If your pastor’s wife would never wear any clothing that would highlight her physicality (ladies), do the same.
• If your elders are content to live on less income, that they may devote more time and attention to their families and to the ministry, do the same.
• If your pastor’s family seems to be fruitful and multiplying in spite of the world’s demonstrated disdain for multiple children and in spite of their financial inability to make sure every one of their children can be sent to an ivy league university, do the same.

Listen, God’s Word commands us, in verse 7, to be imitators of our leaders, insofar as they are genuine imitators of Christ.  So let’s stop pretending that it’s our mission in life to discover reasons why we shouldn’t have to admire, respect and emulate them, all while asserting that “they’re only human, after all”.  Yes, they are.  But they are doing a pretty darn good job at following Christ with every fiber of their being, faults-and-all.  So let’s quit criticizing them and start emulating them.  I think that we’ll then be surprised by how wise, in fact and in Christ, they really are.  It’ll be a worthy endeavor.

Now, on to verse 17.





As far as our pride is concerned, this verse is where the rubber meets the road.  And, if you consider the account of Jesus and the centurion, submitting to biblical authority is what separates the men from the boys, as far as the Kingdom of GOD is concerned.  Nevermind trying to establish your own kingdom by acting within your own authority and individuality.  King Jesus died to redeem His Church, and it is SHE that He is coming back for.  There is an authority structure He has ordained within His “family“, and it is those who are the servant of ALL who will be called greatest.  As for me, I want to endeavor to be a joy to those in spiritual authority over me, and to make their calling — that is, to serve and lead their local body of Christ, on earth — as pleasant and mutually encouraging as possible.  Therefore, unless blatantly and clearly proven otherwise, I’m going to assume the following of my own pastor:

• That he (yes, “he” — not “she”) is fully devoted to Christ, and has unreservedly resolved to preach the whole Word of God, whether it is en vogue or not.
• Is a very humble man before God, who spends vast quantities of time and attention combating his own flesh and pride.
• That he is immeasurably vested in the spiritual growth of all within his care.
• That he is rightfully sobered by the gravity of his role in the Church, both locally and Kingdom-wide.
• That to live out what he teaches his flock, from Scripture, is the highest possible goal I could aim for, as a believer in community with the saints.
• That he does not choose so-called “open-mindedness” over Scripture-informed conviction.  Because after all, the latter seems to be in short supply these days.

I pray you find the joy that is available from humbly receiving “the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”  (James 1:21)

Individuality is Over-rated

Disclaimer:  I know (from my parents — twice) how painful divorce can be.  I’m not here to condescend or unfairly judge anyone who’s been through it.  What I am here to do is to figuratively smack idiotic men upside the head with a 2×4.

——————–

Over the last 21 years, I have been in contact with many friends (guys) who say how glad they are that their wives are not the “needy” type (so-called), and oh, how they brag that they can go and do their own thing, without having to include their wives in most of their activities.  They say these things as if to say “Look, MY marriage is healthy, because neither of us has lost our individuality by being married.”

You know what?  Most of those guys (if not ALL of them) are no longer married.  They got what they wanted: their individuality.  And yet, here I am, ecstatically married to the very happy wife of my youth; I’m blessed to be the happy father of 6 beautiful, happy, secure children. (That’s a lot of “Happy”, isn’t it?)  Make no mistake, I certainly do not get the credit for my present status — all credit goes to my Heavenly Father, Whose Word gives clear instructions about how to “do” marriage.

If you want a thing to work, and last, you follow the Designer’s instructions… not your own, nor the culture’s.

So, if you are one of the aforementioned “individualistic” husbands, BEWARE…

You might just get what you want.

 

“In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”  (Ephesians 5:28)

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with <sup class="footnote" value="[c]”>someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.”  (1 Peter 3:7)

What do YOU call it?

Dear friends:

I greatly desire us to be educated and committed in a certain manner of thinking, speaking and doing. Here it is…

This Sunday must be called RESURRECTION DAY, not “easter”. The latter word has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with WHY the day is commemorated. The day is set apart from every other day of the year, ONLY because it is a celebration of the physical and bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, the Word Made Flesh.

Not because of bunnies. Not because of eggs. Not because of buffet brunches… although I like those things as much as the next guy. 🙂

Rom 12:2 (ESV) “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Those of you who are Christ-followers, stand up and be counted. REFUSE to call this Sunday “easter”, and refer to it boldly as “Resurrection Day” instead.  Well-meaning people — even church-attenders and pastors (!) — will inevitably dismiss you, give you trouble or ridicule you for taking this stand. Let them. Remember that *words have meaning*, and continue to call it Resurrection Day, knowng that the very phrase points everyone DIRECTLY to the Gospel of the Only Savior, Jesus Christ — WITHOUT taking a confusing and conformist detour through paganism.

Mat 12:36-37 (ESV) “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Thank you for your consideration. Have a blessed week.

–Ric

Truth & Fiction

Photo courtesy www.authenticfx.com
 

Disclaimer:  This post is unapologetically aimed strictly at fully-devoted Christ followers.

—————————

I saw a video recently, whose producers went to great lengths to make something false appear very real.  All of the bystanders (caught on multi-angled candid camera, of course) were visibly and understandably freaked out about the staged “outburst” of telekenesis.  However, having been made privy to the actual and elaborate staging procedure beforehand, we YouTube viewers were nothing more than amused and entertained.  It’s all in fun, right?

Well, think about it, for a moment.

If something genuinely disturbing and unprecedented were to be caught on camera — say, the “stoning”/persecution of Christians on American soil in Dearborn MI, for example — wouldn’t the public have a similar reaction?  That is, being virtually unaffected, lulled into complacency by all things two-dimensional?  In other words…

…is YouTube (and its ilk) a benefit or a detriment to our pursuit of dwelling on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute”? (Philippians 4:8)

Think before you watch:  Is that video clip before you, something about which you’d want have an uplifting spiritual conversation with Jesus — if He were sitting in the seat next you?  Could you assert to Him, as King David did, “I will set no worthless thing before mine eyes”?  If I seem to be throwing stones here, just know that I’m aiming at my own glass house, first.

Have a fruitful day.

Law vs. Grace… Off with the Kid Gloves!

Friends:

Yesterday, I had an intense conversation (a “holy argument” that made my wife a little concerned, as she observed) with another believer (an acquaintance) after a church service: a continuation of the pastor’s examination of Grace and the Law.  This brother was asserting that the measure of a believer’s true walk with Christ was that he would have a greater and greater desire to follow the Law — i.e., the Ten Commandments.  I stated that “no, the measure of a Christ follower is by how much his life emulates the grace and truth of the Savior.  We MUST ask for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to follow God from the heart, not merely aim for keeping His law.  GOD IS NOT THE LAW, AND THE LAW IS NOT GOD.”
Unfortunately, after my “discussion” with this brother, I learned from the pastor that the brother said he could no longer attend that church.  Being somewhat of a newcomer to that fellowship, I apologized profusely to the pastor.  To my surprise, the pastor smiled and warmly told me no apology was necessary.  The pastor then informed me that his own attempts to break through the man’s legalism were met with equal resistance, and he believed the man to be trying to clean out dust specks out of the eyes of others, while being visually impaired by his own log-ridden myopia.  God’s providence prevailed, he told me.
Lest I think that I have “won” or “arrived” (hardly!) in this familiar issue of Law vs. Grace, as of today I’ll be studying — taking a HARD look at — the New Testament book of Romans with my Bride (and my children).  First off, I’m telling you this for accountability’s sake.  Feel free to ask me how it’s going.

Secondly, I think it’d be great if you would join me; that is, if you’re not already into a book study, of course.

Let me know how it affects you…

Have a fruitful day.

–Ric