Thursday, May 20, 2010

Some Final Instructions from Romans 12

One summer day, I was dropping Christine off for Vacation Bible School.  We were within sight of the church when a woman pulled her car across my lane as she was turning out of a nearby shopping center.  She had plenty of room to move completely into the left turn lane and out of mine; I brought that to her attention with a tap on the horn.  Nothing.  So, I stuck my head out of the window and asked -- really I did, I asked her to clear my lane.  Well, this little grey-haired woman sitting somewhere beneath the steering wheel of her terrestrial pontoon let loose this stream of obscenities and finger salutes I could not believe!  I got the gist -- NO!  Huh?  This woman for no apparent reason other than meanness refused to move!  Talk about frustration!  And her language!  What was that all about?  In front of my child?!  I was speechless -- no, really; I dropped Christine off and went about the rest of my errands.  Of course, who do I run into at the market -- well, not literally, though I would have liked to -- Potty Mouth!  And, believe it or not, she was singing church hymns as she pushed her cart along!  I've seen her more than once since that day, and each time that same hateful feeling rises from within, accompanied by the same thoughts, "So mean, so rude, hypocrite!"  I want to...  I think about... but I give myself the What Would Jesus Do speech and try to put it out of my mind.

Do you know this is not what Christ expects from us?  Romans 12:14 says to bless those who persecute us.  Should I smile broadly and wish her a fabulous day?  Nope, not that either, unless I really mean it.  God wants us to be genuine, Romans 12:9.  We should love others genuinely, even those who persecute us.  Don't we want the best for those we love?  Don't we pray God's blessings on them?  We should feel no differently toward the folks who hate us.  Matthew 5:38-46 tells us that Jesus wants us to love even in the most difficult situations, and says there will be no standing ovations for those who love only those they like.  That means, bless your enemies -- not just hold your tongue, not just avoid them at all costs, but pray for God's love to so fill your life that you see them as He does, and can genuinely pray for His blessings upon their lives.

I have stayed up all night crying with friends who have lost pets, broken up with complete losers, or didn't make the college cheer squad.  I know another woman who reads about the crack-smoking mom crying because her baby is sick with AIDS, sees the pregnant teen hopeless because she can't find a job without her high school diploma, and listens to the pleas of a convicted murderer as he begs a jury to let him live; she shakes her head and sucks her teeth in disgust.  This woman and I not only live in the same house, but we inhabit the same body!  I share emotion (no matter how trivial) with those I like, much more readily than I empathize with those I dislike, don't even know, have no desire to know, would rather judge, believe deserve judgment, are different from me...  Romans 12:15-21 has some very direct words for me.  "Share others joys and sorrows; live in peace and harmony with others.  Don't think so much of yourself -- it leads to cliques, castes and judgments that are not only unjust, but were never yours to make!  Do what God asks of you, and He will take care of the rest." 

When we let the cares and evils in this world, our own sinful natures, and society's philosophies and prejudices interfere with God's love in our lives, He cannot complete His work in us and we cannot be who He wants us to be.  By holding my tongue and not reacting to Potty Mouth, I didn't remove that feeling of "want to."  No amount of volunteering at the local women's shelter will change my haughty attitude or lack of empathy -- they may even get worse.  But God can change me.  When love, genuine Love is the motivating force behind everything I think, say or do -- I will change.  And so can you!

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." -- 1 John 4:8

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Instructions for Life 4

OK, I don't speak French, and I barely passed Spanish IV.  Welcome to Part 4.

In high school I was always involved in some sort of ministry, prayer group, church.  They all offered some sort of retreat or pep rally-type experience that allowed members to rejuvenate and recommit themselves to their goals.  I attended each one I could, and when they were over, always left "on fire" for the ministry.  After school, I immediately dropped off the grid.  I quit all of the above and joined the society of the world.  I did what I wanted to do.  I had no spiritual influence, no spiritual guidance, and no zeal for the Lord.  I did, however, seek to learn as much as I could about the world, experience as much as I could about it, and commit most of my time to serving it.  I wound up with a heart for the world, eventually leading only to disappointment and emptiness.  Point is, whatever you pour yourself into, that's what you're going to be excited about.  There is a reason employers offer workshops, morning meetings and retreats; it's to get people fired up, get them recommitted to their employer and their purposes.  You get folks in the boat, and before you know it, you've got a whole crew eagerly running the ship when you may have started with only a few.

Romans 12:11 says, "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."  Our Christian walk is no different than any other relationship to which we wish to remain committed.  Check out the "Relationships" section of your local bookstore or library; it is filled with books telling you to do all sorts of things to keep your relationship "kindled": communicate, do things together, set aside time just for the two of you...  Don't they sound like the same things God requires -- prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), serving others in His name (Galatians 5:13,14), quiet time (Psalm 1:1-3)?  No relationship is going to work if we just sit back on our laurels and watch.  It will die out like any garden we refuse to water, or any fire we are too lazy to feed, or any emotion that fades with time.

Verse 12 reminds us of the hope that God offers through Christ's death on the cross; we are not bound by sin, we have freedom from eternal death, and we no longer view things from an earthly perspective, but have the power to see them as God sees them.  If that isn't cause to rejoice, what is?  As for problems, trials and tribulations?  "Be patient."  God is in control.  God will work those things out for His good and ultimately, the good of those who truly love Him and wish to serve Him.  It may not happen this day or even this year -- maybe not in your lifetime -- but be patient and know that those who seem to be getting away with it, those who "don't deserve it," those who appear to be lost forever?  God is not asleep at the wheel; He sees it all and has it covered.  Meantime, pray.  Not like the old days, when they sent the expectant dad out to boil water -- just to give him something to do and keep him out of the doctor's hair.  Pray so you're in on it!  You're involved, committed, on fire!  There's that pep rally again.  God loves to hear from us, but prayer is just as much about our hearts!  Spiritually, it helps us to stay right where we need to be -- in the boat!

Lastly, verse 13.  Charity and hospitality.  Without getting on my political soapbox, charity is something instituted by God long before the United States government instituted taxes.  If each individual gave what they should -- large corporations right on down to the little guy -- we wouldn't need governemnt funded programs to do what private charities do.  There are some amazing non-profits the government can't hold a candle to; they can stretch a dollar until it screams, without everybody and their brother taking a cut.  And hospitality.  Be warm, friendly and generous to guests and strangers. 

On that note, I thank you for your hospitality, and hope to join you tomorrow for more "Instructions for Life" from Romans 12!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Instructions for Life -- Part Trois

Romans 12

I am reluctant to call this "The Laundry List," but Paul touches on so many important points in these next few verses.  In fact, 1 Corinthians 13 is commonly known as the "Love Chapter," and poetically it looks better on wedding invites and unity candles, but if there was a contest for that moniker, I'm guessing this chapter came in a close Second.  Paul's language is so simple a child can understand it, but so difficult to execute in our sin-affected society.

Verse 9:  "Let love be genuine."  What is love?  The Bible teaches us over and over: 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4:8, Proverbs 10:12, 13:24, John 15:13, 1 John 3:16-18 and on and on.  As for "genuine?" Honestly felt and experienced, literal, free from hypocrisy or dishonesty, sincere, true.  Paul doesn't distinguish between love for family or what is commonly known as "true love."  According to God, all love must be true; maybe not romantic, but true.  And familial love?  Well blood, biology and "family" are concepts that define us here on earth, but God's family is Heavenly.  Remember Mark 12:31?  "Love your neighbor as yourself."  That's the neighbor that mows his lawn at 7AM, or parties LOUDLY until 11PM.  The guy who loads up his cart with high dollar snacks and prime cuts of meat and pays with an ACCESS card.  The woman that has everything she needs while her children look like rag-a-muffins.  The Deadbeat Dad.  The alcoholic.  Love 'em!  Genuinely.

What about the second part of verse 9?  "Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good."  Turn on the TV, look at a newspaper.  We are a society that thrives on gory, shocking, despicable stories.  People who commit heinous acts get front page coverage; their deeds set the standard for our behavior -- panic instantaneously pays a visit when one child is abducted or one woman is raped.  We live in fear and bury our courage to stand up for the truth, or do the right thing, or minister to "the wrong kinds of people," or feed those in the "wrong side of town."  Are there low-lifes and scheisters in this world?  Absolutely.  We've all been one at some time or another.  Maybe our deeds weren't raunchy enough by the world's standards, to make headlines, but we've all done things for which we need to be ashamed.  And those "Boy Scout Saves Senior Citizen" or "Philanthropist Donates Thousands" stories?  Hidden on page six or scattered on the cutting room floor, unless the Boy Scout turns out to be a pervert, or the philanthropist gives to an organization that bilked half the population out of their retirement.

Verse 10: "Outdo one another in showing honor."  Years ago, a counselor told me that part of the fun in a relationship was "outdoing," in a playful way, one another in showing how much we loved and appreciated the other person.  Scott and I do it all the time.  He buys me a soda, I cook him breakfast; I write a note in lipstick on the bathroom mirror, he tapes a note to my dashboard.  And so it goes.  But what of those people outside our front door?  Do we honor them above ourselves?  Do we treat them better than we treat ourselves?  Do we even think that at any point in time we would want to?  I don't know how to spell that sound my husband and his mother make when they are completely repulsed, but if I could, it would be in this space right here.  Can you imagine saying, "Good morning" to the crossing guard who never says it back?  Would you ever want to smile and say "thank you" to the cashier who pointed to your total on the register and gave you your change like it was coming out of his pocket?  Can you fathom giving up your only child to someone whose hate for you is so strong they curse your name and defile what you have given them? (John 3:16)

I'm feeling pretty convicted at this point.  I think I'll let that sit for a while.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Instructions for Life -- Part Deux

Romans 12, an amazing, sort of sums-it-all-up instruction book in itself.  Not to single out one particular passage of Scripture and say, "This is it," but so much is covered, so succinctly and with such a timeless application.

Self-Esteem:  Know anyone with self-esteem issues?  Yeah, welcome to the 21st century.  It seems everyone has some sort of self-esteem issue -- "I'm not pretty enough, or thin enough." or maybe they over compensate -- "How fabulous am I?" or those who simply drop out, disengage, or disappear -- maybe not in the physical sense, but influential, valuable voices silenced by insecurity or low self-esteem.  Knowing that we were created by a loving God, who designed us specifically for the journey ahead, who has a plan for each one of us, who loves us enough to hold us accountable, who has our backs when we walk with Him, who will lead and guide us if we only ask, who expects us to treat ourselves with respect because, to quote an old saying: "God doesn't make junk" -- that's what verses 1 and 2 are all about!  And, sadly, that's what The Big Bang and Evolution have removed from the minds of school-aged children in the past forty years.

Valuing Diversity:  A nasty catch phrase among conservative Christians, and an anything-goes ideal for Liberals; we are a nation of extremists.  Verses 3-8 talk about valuing the gifts God has given us ALL.  I cannot relate to artistic types, I am crossword puzzles and Sudoku -- tangibles, definites.  The concept of "infinity" or "undefined" in algebra is maddening to me -- a complete sell-out.  However, I love art, and my music collection is nothing if not eclectic.  Art and music make this world livable, and I envy those who are awakened in the middle of the night by a song in their head, or those who paint things we cannot see.  This is not about loving only those things that come wrapped in a suit and tie, or arrive promptly at 7, or live only as we live and dress only as we dress.  Likewise, it is not an open door policy for every perversion, desire or "form of expression" that appears on a Lil Wayne album cover.  If we recognize God as the Creator, we must recognize the gifts He gives, the folks to which He gave them, and value them as we value Him.

Tomorrow:  Romans 12:9, 10

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Instructions for Life

Quirky is a word that applies to each and every one of us, I believe.  We all have our own little "quirks" -- things that make us unique, putting it politely, or just downright strange, to be frank.

In ninth grade we had a teacher, Mr. Ness -- quirky.  As children, and that's what we were, or at least how we acted, we ridiculed this man unmercifully.  Irony is, I never imagined just how many times in my adult life I would be reminded of, or refer back to something he said.  A class, a teacher that I had dismissed as a total waste of time (largely because of the "quirks" that made him different from me) became an important resource later in life.  Mr. Ness used to tell us that when people said, "Life doesn't come with instructions, you know!" we should know that it does -- the Word of God.  Mr. Ness never held back -- he spoke to us like the adults we would, hopefully, one day become (although it didn't look good for some of us); he shared personal stories -- things that, at the time, we labeled TMI (Too Much Information) and he answered truthfully all those we questions we asked, even though some were asked just to waste time or add more fuel to our already burning effigy.  I have always told my children that "the truth" when spoken is the truth -- I don't care if it comes from the homeless guy at the Dunkin' Donuts or the ignorant rich guy that just flipped you off at the Wawa five minutes ago.  If it's God's truth, He uses the most unlikely vessels to bring us to His throne.  Mr. Ness gave me the truth -- God's truth.  I know this because he never taught a class without backing it up with the Word of God.

So, today, for my highly underappreciated ninth grade teacher, Mr. Ness, I give you Romans 12.  Click on the link, read it, and tell me what you think.  Tomorrow I'll tell you what I think.