The Ministry of Crying, Part 1

As a general rule I don't like to cry.  I much prefer to laugh.  Laughing is fun, enjoyable, and contagious.  Everyone likes it.  Yet, for several years now, God has been teaching me to cry.  He's been directing me to weep, mourn, and grieve as I fellowship with him.  Here's how it began.

I spent ten dark years seeking God for a child.  I was like Hannah whose sorrow was so great that as she cried out to God no sound came from her lips.  Though, unlike Hannah, many sounds came from deep within me as I struggled through the many emotions of unfulfilled desire: rejection, self-loathing, abandonment, loneliness and the theological implications of it all.  It was a difficult time in my life, to say the least.

But, as so often happens, out of great suffering came glory.  God used this time to challenge and correct  misconceptions I had about him, myself, the world, prayer, etc. etc. etc.  It became a abundant time of learning and drawing near to God.  It became a time of great intimacy.  From it God gave me this great truth:

"Suffering is the currency that buys you intimacy with God."


This is more than my personal experience.  It is a Biblical and historical pattern. The Apostle Paul testifies, "I want to know him, the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings."  In Romans 8:17 he adds, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." If you look up the word "suffering you will find many Pauline passages that mirror these words.  He willingly endured hardship and pain, yes, for the sake of the gospel, but also to fellowship with Christ.

Recently, I read an account of a former Muslim believer who was imprisoned for more than two years in a metal shipping container in the Assab, a port town on the Red Sea.  Heat indexes reached 140 degrees.  He was fed very little and given only a small cup of water a day.  When asked how he was able to bear such suffering his response was, "Never have I felt so close to Jesus as when he was with me in prison."*

Why are we surprised at the rich fellowship that suffering produces?  After all, we serve a suffering servant.  Jesus life and death were both marked by great suffering.  He never ran from grief or pain, but embraced it fully.  Yes, on the cross, but also at Lazarus' tomb, in his family, his town, with his people. He experienced all the same reasons for suffering we do: loss, rejection, poverty, betrayal.  And many more most of us have yet to experience: persecution, an unjust trial and public execution.

Many believers desire greater intimacy with our Lord, but are unwilling to meet him in the place of suffering.  Who of us would abandon a spouse diagnosed with cancer, or a child wounded in a terrible accident?  Would we not rather embrace them, draw near to them, and stand by them.  This and much more is exactly what our Jesus does when we are the ones with the bad report, the one who's lost a loved one, or experienced rejection or betrayal.  He offers us his very presence, his companionship, his intimate fellowship.  Does it make sense to turn it down?

And so I encourage you, don't run from the tough, the difficult, and the painful.  Run into the arms of he who is familiar with suffering and pain. What you will find there will there will eclipse your suffering and transform your perspective.

But wait, there's more.  Don't forget to check back for Part 2.

*Live Dead Journal: 30 Days of Prayer for Unreached Peoples, 30 Days of Challenge 

Relevant or Counter-Cultural

Yesterday, as I talked with a friend the questions came up, "should the church be relevant or counter-cultural?"  Wow!  What a big question!

Of course, much has been written on both sides of the issue for many years. Each side has its proponents and detractors.  The divide between them can at times seem as the American church's own demilitarized zone in which each side lives in idealogical safety, periodically lobbing bombs across to the obviously deluded.

The question itself is the problem, since it allows for only one answer.  The Biblical mandate is for the church to be both relevant and counter-cultural.  Jesus exemplified this dynamic in his life and teaching.  He preached the gospel of the kingdom in such a way that people could "relate" to it.  He used analogies and parables from their everyday life and experiences, making deep spiritual truths "relevant".

At the same time he called for an ethic beyond their current culture.  He called his followers to love their enemies, choose service over position, and embrace a standard of righteousness greater than that of the Pharisees.  He walked a path marked by such extreme counter-culture, that at the end of his life, he had almost no one who remained by his side.  

How do we, as the people of God, live out this same dynamic today?  The answer is in the gospel itself, which calls us to take up our cross daily and follow our Lord.  You see, without a crucified life, one quickly moves from counter-culture to self-righteousness.  Without the cross, being relevant can become being comprising.  Both of these pitfalls are covered over with the lure of self-interest, self-protection, and self-pride.  The cross, praise Jesus, is a trully effective method to kill self.  

The answer to the question of what parts of a culture the church should relate to and what part it should counter is, no pun intended, relative.  It all depends on the cultural element in question.  But before we run to our side of the zone and pick up our weapons, let us instead run to the Lord and pick up His cross.  From here we see Him, the gospel, people, and ourselves much more clearly, avoid pitfalls and, by His grace, walk in His ways.  

Get It In Writing

Genesis 15 tells the account of Abram cutting covenant with God. God made him a promise and Abram said, “how canI know it’s really going to happen?” God’s response would be the modern equivalent of saying, “I’ll put it in writing.”

He used the then method of committing to something: he made a covenant. Today we would write up a contract and sign it. A contract signifies obligation. The person is obligated to keep their commitment under legal penalties. Of course, there is no one greater than God, who can force him to keep his commitment. So says in Hebrews 6:13, “When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself.”

God reassured Abram by sealing his commitment in a culturally appropriate manner, he cut covenant. Today we have the written Word of God. What promise of God do you need reassurance of today? Look it up. He’s put it in writing.

Mary, Mary quite contrary

I have been pondering the account of Jesus' visit to the home of Martha, Lazarus, and Mary (Luke 10:38-42). The main question- "Why did Luke include this event in his gospel?" How does this account fulfill Luke's purpose of letting his friend Theophilus know the certainty of the things he had been taught. (Luke 1:1)

Mary is mentioned three times in the gospels, twice in John and once in Luke. Mary, of course, is famous for two things in particular. One she sat at Jesus feet and listened (this is the event Luke records). Two, she poured expensive perfume on his feet just before his death (recorded in John). These two acts have one very interesting commonality (no I'm not talking about feet). I'm talking about the fact that she was rebuked for doing both of them.

Picture the scene with me. Mary and her sister and brother were most likely in Jerusalem for the celebration of a Jewish feast. (These being the main times Jesus traveled to Judea.) Since their house is not far away, they take the opportunity to invite this fascinating teacher into their home. Undoubtedly they were impressed with his teaching and were on their way to believing that he was the long promised Messiah of Israel (a fact both Mary and Martha openly testify to in John 11).

And so as a result of Martha's invitation THE LONG AWAITING MESSIAH is a guest in their home. This had to be exciting! I will not contrast Mary and Martha's response to Jesus' presence. This has been done by many before me. I simply want to point out that Mary's desire to "sit at Jesus' feet and listen to what he said," seems to me perfectly logical. After all, this was a man who people traveled great distances going without food just to hear speak. And he is "HERE IN OUR HOUSE!" Wow, who could help themselves.

Yet Mary gets rebuked. She doesn't get called aside and reprimanded in hushed tones. No she gets called out in front of everyone including the guest of honor. Actually, the lady of the house (undoubtedly her older sister) asks the guest of honor to publicly rebuke her. Can you imagine that split second between Martha speaking and Jesus replying. How did Mary feel? Had she done wrong? Had her sister misunderstood her intentions? Had other?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who can relate to Mary in this situation. I am sure there are others who have been misunderstood and perhaps openly rebuked for choosing Jesus in a way or at a time that others felt was inappropriate.

That brings us to Mary's second rebuke. Again there is a gathering at her home. Jesus is there with the twelve. Tensions are high as Jesus may be arrested at any moment. Martha is serving and Lazarus was at the table. Mary pours expensive perfume on Jesus feet and wipes them with her hair. The rebuke is quick and direct. She is accused of being wasteful and uncaring towards the poor. Since Mary was surely a woman of wealth, this rebuke was calculated and precise. A rather low blow. Again we can relate. Our attempts at offering and worship misunderstood and used as fodder for calculated insults.

Yet I have only told half the stories. You see both times Mary was rebuked someone came to her defense. That someone was the Lord himself. He did not sit by and think to himself, "I'm sure this will work itself out." He spoke up, just as boldly as the rebuker. Martha he answered with compassion and defended Mary's choice as better. "It will not be taken from her." Judas received a slightly stronger rebuke. After all his intentions were far from pure.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” Could it be that Jesus was defending not just her act but her intention? Could it be that Mary perceived something most failed to see? Something to think about.

And so I come back to my original question, "why did Luke include the account of Mary and her siblings?" Was it to let Theophilus know that choosing Jesus may earn him rebukes even from those close to him? Was it to let him know that he might be misunderstood and maligned? Was it to encourage him and other believers that in those times Jesus would be their defender?Whatever his reasons, he's sure encouraged me and I hope you too.

The Purpose of Suffering

All of life is perspective. EVERYTHING! What is good, what is bad, it is all perspective. James says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.." . How can I be joyful in the midst of trial or suffering? Because! “…because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” I can be joyful if I have the proper perspective. If my focus is on what my trial is producing, perseverance leading to maturity, then I can be joyful. If my perspective is on the trial, then I cannot.

Right now I am in a suffering a great trial. My son is sick. If I focus on his illness and the complications that can result from it, I experience all manner of torment. But if instead I ask this simple question, “Father, what are you doing in this situation?” Then our Father willingly shares his perspectives with me.

“Control is an illusion.” This is one of the perspectives the Father has shared with me. I so desire to protect my children, yet, the truth is, I am unable to. I am not God. I cannot protect them from all the possible harm that can befall them. This does not negate my responsibility to parent them. But it does change my perspective.

“I can do nothing without Him.” Children are an entrustment from the Lord. I have to confess I am not always faithful with this entrustment. There are times, more times than I care to acknowledge, that I fail to put their needs above my own. I am a selfish creature and having children has not cured this, it has just revealed it. In this, as in all things, I need the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

“My son needs an encounter with God.” This is one of the ways the Father has led me to pray throughout all of this. He has also directed me to lead my son to direct his own prayers to the Father, to cry out to God for healing, and to depend on him for grace. I pray that through this he will know God in a personal way.

These are some of the perspectives the Father has given me throughout this trial. I am sure there will be others. The greatest perspective, of course, is that all of our lives exist to bring glory to the name of Jesus. May this be true of our family through this time.

Remember, suffering is not the worst thing. Suffering that produces nothing, is the worst thing!

Question Normal

It just hit me today. I put way too much stock in my own opinion. Truth is I don't have a clue what truth is. I have an internal sensor that tells me when something is right or wrong or normal. But just how trustworthy is this sensor? I'm sure professional assassins think they have a sensor they can trust, as do all kinds of other criminals and perverts.

What is normal? Really it just means average, common. ordinary. In an insane asylum normal is being insane. Normal is usually determined by the majority. Yet history has taught us that the majority can all view as normal some pretty awful things.

So this morning I asked myself, "Is there anything in my own definition of normal that is totally and completely off?" And what did myself say? Well, what could it say? How would it know?

Now you see that I lean a bit toward the philosophical and like philosophers of old I could drive myself insane (which in some circles would be normal) trying to figure out if I am normal. What am I going to do? How can I determine normality which is really another word for right or truth?

Truth is I can't. I can be sincere, yet mistaken. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). 'The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9).

What am I to do? Is there anyone out there who can help me? Is there anyone who is not encumbered by their own history and experiences and has a truly objective point of view? Yes, there is. He is God.

There are so many marvelous things about our heavenly Father but two of the things I love the most is that he always tells the truth and he knows the truth to tell it. You see, God is the only normal there is. He is the standard of all things. Boy, how people hate that. Yet, hating it does not negate it.

I love how often before speaking Jesus would say, "I tell you the truth." How comforting that is. How great to know that I can know the truth and though my own opinions my be totally off, I am not left to their mercy. I can go to him who not only knows the truth, but is the truth for all my definitions of normalcy. This is may not be average, nor ordinary, nor common, but it is right and normal.

Worship and Feeling Unworthy

"Do you know there are people who can't enter into worship because they feel unworthy?" a friend recently asked me. My response was quick and seemingly insensitive, "What does their worth have to do with worshiping God?"

If you've ever felt this way let me say very sensitively....

We worship God because HE is worthy. Notice the statements of heavenly worship recorded in Revelation 4 and 5. Several times they begin, "You are worthy..." Worship is based on God's worth, not ours. Where ever did we get the idea that in order for me to worship God I have to be a certain kind of person. Worship is not an expression of my spiritual attainment but an expression of the God's holiness, glory, majesty, power, etc, etc, etc.

I can understand the feeling of hypocrisy that might arise from singing a song whose core message is "I will always obey you," when perhaps you have not been living in obedience. Perhaps you have even been living in blatant disobedience. In a situation such as this you may feel that your worship is lie. I am not encouraging you to lie. But to realize there are many ways you can worship God that have nothing to do with you!

GOD IS ALWAYS WORTHY OF WORSHIP! No matter my mood, my condition, my situation, my health, my trials, or anything else that starts with "my"! That is what is so AWESOME about God and worthy of worship that HIS WORTH DOES NOT CHANGE! He is ALWAYS WORTHY. "He does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:16

No matter what else is shifting in our lives, including us, HE DOES NOT!

Something else that may surprise you is that you don't have to be a Christian to worship God. Hold on a minute. My core definition of worship is to "make God God." In other words, whatever you worship is your God. But there is another aspect of worship. The understanding and declaration of truth whatever your personal commitment to it.

Read Daniel 3:28

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God

What Nebuchadnezzar is doing here could easily be described as worship. He recognized and declared God's worth above all other gods even above his own authority. Does this mean that Nebuchadnezzar became a follower of the Hebrew God? That is a question for future discussion. Right now though we can learn that I can always worship God, declaring his worth no matter my current feelings on my worth.

Am I encouraging duplicity? Am encouraging you to say one thing and live another? Personally I cannot believe that you can declare God's greatness and worth and be unaffected by it. You may feel like a hypocrite because at that moment you might be. I can guarantee you one thing. Abstaining from worship because you feel unworthy is not going to produce anything!

So forget about yourself and worship HIM. This may or may not bring about a change in your life (doubtful as that might be), but it will give God the worship due his name. And that is what worship is all about.