Shoutin’ at Walmart: a short parable

Tuesday, I was minding my own business, walking through Walmart, when suddenly a lady’s voice came over the public address system. She was yelling. Some of her words were indecipherable. From what I picked up, she was irate with her best friend. Evidently her friend had wronged her in some way. Now all the customers in Walmart were hearing the gruesome particulars of this wrong via loudspeaker. I’m sure that stunt made the situation even worse.

Wednesday, I was strolling through the mall, looking for a coffee shop, when an angry man shouted over the building-wide intercom, “Listen up!” The man’s voice was so loud, and alarming, that nearly everyone around me stopped walking. Within a moment the man began to berate his supervisor, and run down his current employer. He made vicious accusations against his company for everyone in the mall to hear. His anger was intense. Certainly, the man’s situation at work was not bettered by his mall tirade.

Thursday evening, I was spending some time perusing my favorite social networking site when I noticed a ‘friend’ had posted disturbing comments about his wife. He had written numerous complaints about many aspects of her habits, her personality and even her character. Frankly, I was stunned, and even embarrassed, to see such personal issues being aired in such a public forum. My heart sank as I realized that my ‘friend’s’ actions had harmed his marriage even more.

Friday morning it hit me. While few people would ever dream of airing their personal relationship issues over a loudspeaker at Walmart, many would not hesitate to do so via the internet. And yet, it seems that if a person is going to divulge personal issues to the hundreds of folks who read their social networking posts, then they might as well share that same personal information over the intercom at a department store.

Sunday, I determined to always ask myself one question before clicking POST: “Would I say this on the P.A. at Walmart?”

Reverse Contamination

Recently, my family and I traveled via plane on our vacation. While boarding the plane, I noticed a handful of people, sitting in different areas of the plane who were wearing surgical masks. The Swine Flu outbreak was at full tilt.

These folks were taking extra precaution to protect themselves from the virus. Regardless of how well the air purifiers were working on that plane, one cough or one sneeze by an infected person would pollute the air around them. The sickness would contaminate the pure air.

During our vacation, we visited a large metropolitan city. While there we traveled often on public trains and subways. As those who have done so know, it is nearly impossible to ride such trains without grabbing onto one of the many bars or loops to remain steady in transit.

When I placed my clean hand on one of those handrails, my hands became infected by the germs of thousands of passengers who had grabbed that rail previously. No matter how many times I’d washed my hands that day, no matter how many times I’d used hand-sanitizer, when my clean hands contacted that oft-touched rail, germs contaminated my clean hands.

So it is in the natural world. Germs, dirt, and viruses contaminate things that are pure.

But it’s very different in the Kingdom of God.

In the ninth chapter of Matthew when the woman with the issue of blood reached-out and touched Jesus’ garment, she was made well. Though she was declared unclean by Jewish law, rather than her uncleanness contaminating Christ, His profound purity removed her sickness and made her completely whole.

It was reverse contamination.

In the eighth chapter of Matthew, it was the leper who pleaded with Christ to make him whole. Jesus, without hesitation, reached out and touched the man, saying “be cleansed”. And he was. Though the leper was unclean under Jewish law, when he was touched by the Holiest of All, the unclean was made absolutely clean.

Reverse contamination.

And so it is in the Kingdom of God to this day.

When we come to Christ with our imperfections, faults, short-comings, errors, sins; He is never contaminated by our presence. Rather, when we reach out to touch Him, when we offer our imperfect lives into the power of His Spirit, we too are cleansed. We too are made whole. We are made entirely pure.

Our sin never contaminates Christ. Rather, His holiness purifies our sin.

It’s reverse contamination.

The King is Waiting

Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. Esth. 5:1 (NKJV)

I find it interesting the notation that the King was facing the entrance. In other words, he was looking for visitors.

He was not hidden away in his palace, ignoring the requests or desires of his people, but rather he was facing the entrance to his palace.

He was on the lookout for a friend, a companion, a petitioner.

He was looking for fellowship. When Esther approached Him, He was there waiting and watching for his bride.

The same is true today.
The King of all Kings, Jesus Christ, is not hidden away somewhere.
He is not secluded in a far off place, ignoring the interests of humanity.

Rather, the King of Glory is facing the entrance to His kingdom.
He’s on the lookout for one who would enter.
He’s searching for that next one who will come to petition Him.
He’s focused on the entryway,  seeking fellowship, a friend, a companion, …..His bride.

(at times I simply end the introduction at this point)

Furthermore, you should know this:

In the previous chapter of Esther, it is noted that there are prerequisites to entering the King’s court. In fact, it says this:

2He (Mordecai) went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. Esth. 4:2 (NKJV)

When one was to enter the King’s gate, there was no more need for sackcloth.

Sackcloth was worn as a sign of mourning, or to signify anguish. But sackcloth shouldn’t be worn when entering into the King’s gate.

Why?

Our King doesn’t want His people to be in anguish or in mourning.

In fact, the reason to remove the sackcloth is that the King desires to replace the mourning and anguish in the lives of those who will approach Him. He has better garments for us to wear.

The Psalmist records it like this:

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” 11You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Psa. 30:10 – 12 (NKJV)

In this service today, I want it to be clear to all:

Our King is facing the entrance to His Kingdom, waiting, looking in anticipation for those who would enter.

And His message is clear. Put away your anguish and mourning and enter into His gates to receive dancing and gladness.

I hope all will accept His invitation!

In Your Life or In Control of Your Life?

If you are here today and you have yet to allow Jesus Christ to be a part of your life, I hope that you will open your life to Him today.

I hope that you will recognize the awesome opportunity that we have to have Jesus in our life.

I hope that you will desire to have the blessing and direction of the Lord in your life.

And there may be some here today who have already made this kind of decision. You have seen the value of a relationship with God and have allowed Him to begin a work in you.

Yet, I have come to recognize that there is a segment of our society that has become adept at compartmentalizing their spirituality.

A group of people who like to have Jesus as part of their lives, but really don’t want Him to be any more than that.

They are happy to enjoy Christ on Sunday, but really don’t acknowledge Him often on Monday thru Saturday.

They are thrilled to be able to bring their problems and concerns to Him in prayer, but they have not discovered that He is more than an “emergency repair man”.

You see, Jesus Christ wants to be more that simply a part of our life, He desires to set the direction for our lives.

Yes, He desires to be in our lives, but He further desires to be in control of our lives.

His greatest desire is to lead, guide, and direct our lives. When we allow Him to do this, then we enjoy His greatest benefits.

Do allow Jesus into your life today.
Furthermore, allow Him to set the direction for your life.

Draw Near to God, version 2

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
(James 4:8, NKJV)

1. A Promised Response: He will

We have the promise that He will draw near to us, but notice that we are to take the first step.

2. He draws near, after we draw close to Him.

God is a perfect gentleman. He will not simply barge into anyone’s life. He only works in the lives of those who invite Him to do so.

Thus, it is my hope/prayer today that all in this audience would draw near to God, and allow Him to draw near to each of us.

3. We draw near to Him through prayer. Simply talking to God.

4. You can talk boisterously or quietly, either is fine.

5. Regardless of loud or soft, we must be sincere in our prayers. Be real with God.

Not false, half-hearted, or shallow. But real.

Let’s draw close to God today.

6. I hope that all will take a big step toward God.

If not, hope that you would at least take a small step toward God.

If not that, hope that you would at least lean in His direction.

If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. And I’m confident that you will enjoy His Presence.

Draw Near to God, version 1

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
(James 4:8, NKJV)

A Promised Response: He will

If we were to calibrate our nearness to God on a 1 to 10 scale, no doubt each of us would find ourselves at various places on the scale.

Some might say, “I have attempted to draw near to God my entire life. I do all that I can to keep my relationship with the Lord current.” And thus, this person might feel like they are near to a 7 or 8 on this scale.”

Others could be thinking, “I haven’t been in a church for months.” Or “I can’t remember the last time I prayed.” And thus might be thinking, “I’m likely near the low end of that scale.”

Yet the truth is, no matter where we may find ourselves on the ‘Nearness to God’ scale, we all have room for improvement.

8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
   Isaiah 55:8 – 9 (NKJV)

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are his thoughts and ways higher than ours.

We’ve got a lot to learn.

As one old hymn-writer penned, “I’ve got a long way to go to be like the Lord”.

Thus, regardless of your location on the “Nearness to God” scale, I invite all of us to realize our need to learn more of Him.

I hope that we can all recognize that none of us is yet perfect. If uncertain of that fact, ask a family member.

And once recognizing our need to improve, I pray that we would also determine to make progress today.

That each of us would use this opportunity to get closer to God, that we wouldn’t waste it, that we wouldn’t lose it, but rather that we would genuinely engage our minds and spirits toward knowing God in a greater way…..today.

Believe, Desire & Respond

(I start this introduction by making a similar comparison to ads in the Sunday paper, or even to email that I receive. i.e. Though I believe the ad that I read is true, though I desire what the ad is offering, I still cannot possess the item until I respond.)

The only way that any of us, as individuals, is going to enjoy what the Lord has for us in this service is to believe the Word of the Lord.

We must have faith in what God’s Word says.

In no way can I expect to obtain what God has declared unless I believe that His Word is true.

Yet, I’ll tell you that belief alone is not sufficient.

I need to believe, but I must also desire.

It’s one thing to believe that God’s Word is true, it’s another to desire His Word for my life.

I have to want what God has promised.

And yet faith and desire do not complete the package.

Faith and desire need to be followed by response.

In order to receive God’s Word for my life, I have got to open my life up to Him.

I have to reach out to Him in prayer.

I need to let Him know that I am willing to receive His Word for my life.

My faith and desire must propel me to respond to God.

Upon hearing the Word of the Lord, I can’t just believe it and want it, but I must also open my heart and respond to it.

It’s my prayer that today, everyone in the congregation will respond to all that God is offering.

The Be’s of Sainthood

When using the term sainthood, I am simply referring to those attending a local church. I am speaking of the congregants, the people who make up the crowd.

In observation through the years, it appears to me that there are a number of possible stages that saints will live in, or pass through. There are some roles that we are likely to fill as saints.

Be Fed

The first of these is to be fed. When in this role saints participate in the church in order to be personally fed. She attends for the preacher to feed me, to talk to me, to minister to me. This is clearly a phase of sainthood that is self-focused. The saint is thinking: “I need a blessing, a healing, encouragement or inspiration. I’ve come to get what God has for me today.”

This is certainly a common stage of sainthood, and a necessary one. All people need to grow in Christ. All folks have needs to be met by Jesus. Even those who seem to have all things in order in their lives, those who have great marriages, wonderful careers, and excellent health still need Jesus. Jesus is the only one who can cleanse mankind from sin. Thus, all men must visit the phase of sainthood known as being fed.

However, at some point in our Christian growth, maturity dictates that we are no longer solely dependent on others to feed us. We become capable of feeding ourselves. Saints can, and should have their own feeding times. Maturing saints are to have personal times of prayer, reading, study and meditation. As I grow in this devotion, the congregation plays a different role in my life. Sure, I’ll still enjoy and need fresh manna from the pulpit, but I’m not depending on that to survive. I’ve been eating on my own.

The role of church leadership for this group is to make sure that they are being fed. Leadership must guarantee that proper spiritual meals are being prepared. That all food groups are being presented and that the meals are nutritious and filled with vitamins. 

Be a Feeder

With proper exhortation and motivation, saints recognize that their role as Christians is not only for their own personal growth. Church participation is not just about me. While maturing, saints begin to look beyond self and toward others. Thus, he participates in church so that he can serve others. No longer simply being fed, but now becoming one of the feeders. He is in the congregation to see someone else be blessed, be healed, or be encouraged.

Being a feeder may take place while serving in organized leadership (i.e. Sunday School teacher) but it doesn’t need to. The attitude to serve others is not dependent on position. This is an attitude. Nehemiah wrote, “Remember be, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.” A feeder is focused on doing something for others.

The role of church leadership toward people in this stage is to create an environment that encourages them to it. Further, leadership needs to release saints to fulfill their personal ministry, and create systems and programs that train them on effective fulfillment of the same.

Be Frustrated

When a church doesn’t feed those who need to be fed, or it doesn’t facilitate those ready to be feeders, saints will be frustrated. Frustration is that feeling of dissatisfaction when your expectations are not being realized. Rueben was frustrated when he went back to the pit to remove his brother Joseph, but found that he was missing. Unable to realize his plans, he tore his clothes in anguish and frustration (Gen 37:29 NLT).

A frustrated saint is one who has a desire to fulfill their place in the congregation, however that opportunity is not afforded them. A saint may genuinely need to be fed from the Word of God in order to face a life circumstance. But if the message is not shared in a manner understandable, or applicable, then that person leaves without having found substance for their circumstance. Or possibly, a saint has talents that would benefit the local church and the Kingdom of God, but the leadership does not offer means for that talent to be used, or released. In either case, unmet expectations will lead to frustration.

Church leadership needs to recognize that frustration is not rebellion, or a bad attitude. Frustration is simply the result of folks who have higher expectations of the congregation. And since we are in the business of propagating the Kingdom of God, higher expectations are a means to improve the church’s impact in this world. Thus, leadership can be on the lookout for saints who may be falling prey to frustration, and create an atmosphere and a means for folks to share their concerns. Thus allowing the church to recognize valid concerns, and improve its ministry accordingly.

Typically, folks won’t endure long in a state of frustration. They’ll either be fed, be a feeder, or they’ll be finished.

Be Finished

In modern culture, folks not being fed, or feeding others will not remain long in a frustrating atmosphere. They are too accustomed to finding other options, and other options are usually available. If there seems no end to the frustration, folks will find another church that provides the ministry they need, or assume that all churches minister the same and quit altogether. Since we’d prefer they stay, the church must constantly evaluate its ability to feed those who need it, to develop saints into feeders, and to provide means for them to use this skill.

A Vehicle for Progress

I love my bike. I’m an avid cyclist and I thoroughly enjoy the time I spend involved in the sport. For me, the opportunity to experience the outdoors, its scenery and air, are a wonderful way to unload concerns. I look forward to the physical investment in cycling. Over the past few years I’ve logged over 9,000 miles on that bike. It’s a great form of exercise that I intend to maintain for the rest of my life.

But bikes are more than sporting gear. They are vehicles for progress. They are modes of transportation. One can use a bike to get from point A to point B. In fact, in most places around the world, that’s exactly how bicycles are used; for progress.

Part of my venture into cycling has been to understand that the best bike to ride is the one that fits you best. Sure, there are different bikes for different styles of riding. But the biggest revelation to the cycling newcomer is that there are different sizes of frames for different sizes of people. Far beyond the ‘off the rack’ bike of the typical department store, specialized bike shops offer numerous sizes of bikes to very closely fit the individual rider. In fact, those with plenty of money, and the desire to spend it, can be measured and uniquely fit for a custom-made bike. The reach to the bars, the angle of the fork, the stand-over height; every detail is created exactly for that owner.

Why?

Because cyclists know that the most successful cyclist is the one who rides a bike best fit for him. Cycling comfort and achievement is directly proportional to riding a bike that fits the rider. Even the most talented, able or gifted athlete will not meet her full potential as a cyclist if she is not correctly fitted to her bike. The rider will not progress as far or as fast if riding a bike that doesn’t fit his frame. The success of the rider is connected to the fit of the bike.

Organizations are also tools for progress. They exist to take their constituents from point A to point B. Assuming that all the participants know where point B is, they still can not be effective in reaching their destination if their organization does not fit them properly. The most effective group, the one that readily and often meets its goals and gets to its destination, is the one whose organization fits its size.

A transportation company that is just getting started with two small client contracts doesn’t need a fleet of 25 trucks and a logistics program to service thousands of monthly deliveries. That level of organization wouldn’t fit the size of the business. Likewise, a food service company serving a 2,000 bed hospital will not be successful with two residential grade ovens and three employees. This business is much too big for that scale of organization.

Here’s the bottom line. Organization is distinct from the business just as the bicycle is distinct from the rider. Organizations, like bicycles are merely vehicles for progress. If a business, or a group, or a church, is going to continue to operate successfully, it must continue to allow its organization to grow accordingly. While the business, church or group might be a wonderful, healthy, even God-ordained entity, it will not achieve its greatest success unless it is correctly fit to the proper organizational structure. The success of the business is connected to the fit of the organization. Thus, businesses must be willing to reorganize as the scale of business or ministry demands.

A Public Service Announcement

I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did (2 Timothy 1:3, NIV).

Public Service Announcements (PSA’s). You’ve heard them. Those educational commercials that are offered simply to make you and me, the public, aware of some particular issue, activity, or opportunity. There are PSA’s on the airwaves to warn teens against smoking, in the newspapers to notify potential plaintiffs in a class action suit, and plastered on billboards to make voters aware of the issues espoused by various candidates. These declarations, by design, are made to concisely and clearly state the facts. They are prepared to allow the public to be informed.

In his brief writings to Timothy, Paul issues a PSA of sorts. He makes a public announcement that he serves his God. While his declaration may have numerous implications, I believe that two become readily apparent. Primarily, Paul was not at all ashamed to state publicly his allegiance to the Lord. It’s one thing to say what we believe and in whom we believe in private, but it is quite another to state the same publicly. It is easy to declare our allegiance when among those of like precious faith, but more challenging to make the same statements among those who have differing beliefs. Paul was not satisfied to be a private follower of his Lord, but rather made his faith known to all. His was a public declaration. Similarly, as children of God, we are called to make the same declaration. It is not enough to stand for our God and His truths only among fellow saints, but we must make our commitments a matter of public record.

Additionally, in making this public announcement, consider Paul’s choice of words. He said that he served his God. Service. Many in our society cringe at the concept of men serving God. Instead they would prefer the opposite: God should serve men. It’s great to be told of an Almighty God who is at the disposal of mankind, but it isn’t as exciting to be asked to submit my life in service to Him. We are comforted to know that He can deliver from addictions, renew broken relationships, heal illnesses and endue with Holy Ghost power. In contrast, we are challenged when called to serve the Lord in various capacities. He has called us to teach His doctrines, preach His message, witness to the lost, work in the fields and fight spiritual battles in order to expand His Kingdom. These things demand our efforts, talents and time. In the face of what might be inconvenient, or against human nature, serving God is a pivotal part of His plan. We are called into His service.

Reviewing the life and accomplishments of the Apostle Paul quickly reveals the profound effect that he had for the Kingdom of God. He was a man who started churches, trained disciples, wrote books and made converts. Quite a resume. Indeed, he served his Lord in a very public way. Jesus Christ is still in need of people who will willingly follow the path of Paul. Our current culture needs Christians to respond to its pressing concerns. In fact, the Lord’s church will always need those who will interrupt their typical programming to make a Public Service Announcement.

In our cultural climate, publicly stating one’s beliefs is not always acceptable. Time and again preachers have pointed out the double standards that are applied to the Bible in our world. It seems fine to state Bible doctrines openly as long as they are in line with the current philosophies. Otherwise, believers are told to tone down our message or we are simply labeled intolerant. Regardless of the attitudes and inequities in our world, we can not relinquish our obligation to openly declare that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world. He lived, died and rose again so that we can find salvation. This is our Public Service Announcement.