Are You Spiritual Enough to Find Solutions?

This week a comment was made to me that really hit home personally. This person said, "Too many Christians are spiritual enough to find what is wrong with the church, but not spiritual enough to offer solutions." The church is made up of imperfect people, so no group of Christians will ever be perfect. There is a continual need to examine ourselves, to improve, and to "stimulate one another to love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24). We must continue to find ways to improve ourselves, our congregations, and the kingdom at large.

However, it is easy to point out things that are wrong. Anyone can identify weaknesses and points for needed improvement. It is much more difficult to find solutions. I once heard someone say that you should not ever make a complaint unless you also have a plan of how to correct the problem.

We must not only have a plan for correcting problems, but we must be willing to step forward and lead others into a solution. It is true, too many of us are spiritual enough to spot problems but not strong enough to lead in constructive improvements.

For example, many are strong enough to identify, "this church needs a more organized youth group," but are not strong enough to lead teenage Bible studies in their home. It is easy to have the strength to say, "too many people are falling away from our congregation," but not have the strength to lead a program to go and find those who have become spiritually lost. Many more examples could be given, but you see the point.

Yes, it is easy to point out deficiencies in the church; most of us are rather good at it. Do you have the strength to not only suggest solutions but lead the way to improvement?

Christians Leap for Joy!

Jesus said that Christians are blessed when we are hated and insulted for our beliefs. In fact, Jesus makes a bold statement about the attitude we are to have toward being persecuted for our faith:

"Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven" (Luke 6:23).

Leaping for joy when we are persecuted, huh? Wow, how is that possible? It seems Jesus is going overboard...or is he?

Too many people let their happiness be dependant upon exterior circumstances. Jesus instructs that Christians are not to be this way. If I am able to detach myself from material things and physical circumstances, my happiness is no longer dependant upon those things. The Biblical teaching of self-denial is learning to find joy in God, not in situations and things.

C.S. Lewis gives a helpful analysis of how Christians can "leap for joy" even when difficult days come:

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot image what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased" (The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses. 1965).

The inner peace and joy that God offers pales in comparison to any joy that can be found in the externals of this life. Let us look for the "holiday at sea" that God offers us and stop finding joy in "mud pies."

Strong Feelings About a Lie

Jealous over the favoritism that their father showed toward Joseph, his brothers first conspired to murder him. Reuben, however, convinced the blood-thirsty brothers to throw their little brother in a pit. Judah then persuaded them to sell the boy to a band of traveling traders bound for Egypt (Genesis 37:28). These heartless brothers then devised a plan to cover up their sinfulness by taking Joseph's coat, dipping it in blood, and presenting it to their father (37:31-32). When their father saw the bloody coat, he jumped to the next conclusion, "It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!" (37:33). As a result Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and began a period of intense mourning for his son whom he believed to be dead (37:34). Jacob's grief was so intense, his emotions so ravaged, he refused any comfort that his family would offer (37:35).

A clear application from this story is that we can feel very strongly about a lie. In fact, we can feel just as strong about a lie as we can the truth. In truth Joseph was not dead, no matter how much it felt like it. Emotions are an important part of who we are and should not be quickly dismissed. God does not want us to have a completely intellectual faith devoid of emotion. Jacob was certainly not wrong for feeling the way he did.

But the application that we can draw from this story is that truth is not based upon emotions. Truth is truth. Too many in the religious world today base their convictions and beliefs upon what "feels" right. Thankfully, what Jacob "felt" eventually was proved to be wrong--he son was really alive and well in Egypt. However, if we base our faith upon emotions we may find that we have been wrong all along--and at Judgment we may not find such a happy ending (cf. John 12:48). Biblical truth is based upon hearing God's word, not listening to the language of our emotions (Rom. 10:17). We may feel strongly about something, but if it is not based upon actual truth, we may find we have had strong feelings about a lie.

The Power of Jesus' Salvation

A friend sent me a link to this extremely moving video. As I began watching it, I thought it was weird and kind of "cheesie." But as I continued watching it, I was moved to tears. I almost did not post this link for fear that some people would think I am endorsing dramatic performance, dance, or instrumental music in worship. I stand opposed to these things because there is no Scriptural authority for them in our worship. But I felt compelled to share this with you because it is such a powerful ILLUSTRATION of what Jesus has done to save us! Please be patient and watch this entire video, you will be moved to tears because of what Jesus has done for you! (YouTube Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FVJqRLU3J0I).