A challenge . . .

Sitting in my husband’s hospital room while they took him for a test, I grabbed a deck of cards and played a very mindless version of solitaire that is hardly ever won. As I played game after game (it goes quick), I started to think how I was willing to do this over and over without much chance of success, yet not as willing to share the gospel over and over for the same reason. Success, as in having the listener respond to Jesus, is just about as rare.

Chamber says in today’s reading that behind that excuse of “what’s the use” is that I might have certain affinities that keep me from speaking the good news, that is, an unwillingness to suffer the rejections that are part of the package. He quotes Paul who said:

For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. (1 Corinthians 4:9–13)

Being considered the scum of the world and treated like garbage is a lot more loathsome than repeatedly losing a game of solitaire. Chambers says this repulsion is part of the flesh, mere humanness. When the ordinary person comes in contact with baseness and immorality and treachery, “the recoil is so desperately offensive to human goodness that the heart shuts up in despair.”

He is right. I do recoil in horror to baseness, even when others are treated like scum. A patient in the room next to my husband was overheard yelling at a nurse saying she didn’t belong in Canada and should go back where she came from. Another nurse told me that patients sometimes strike her. Such things offend me, even though they are not happening to me.

Christians are told we are idiots, brainless, and all sorts of other negative descriptions just for believing what we believe — whether we share it with them or not. Many times, their concept of our faith is skewed, but no matter; the criticism is enough to silence me . . .  at least far too often. I am repelled by rejection and verbal abuse.

But Peter wrote, “Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you . . . .” (1 Peter 4:12) Chambers says that if I think that the fiery trial of rejection is a surprise, it could be because I am craven-hearted, another word for “cowardly.”

That could be true (do I want to admit it?), but whatever the reason, Chambers reminds me that I am free to be “saved by the skin of my teeth” and do nothing at all, or I can say: “I do not care if I am treated as scum as long as the Gospel is proclaimed.” This begs the question: who am I the most in love with – Jesus or myself?

Servants of Jesus Christ are willing to go to martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. I don’t know if I would die for the good news. I do know, as Chambers says, the marvel of God’s redemptive love is that the worst and the vilest sinner can never get to the bottom of it.

God loves me, vile or not. He loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die for those who will believe in Him. He also gave each of us who do believe an incredible purpose . . . to be like Jesus. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal his son in me.”

Jesus died for me so my sin is forgiven, but also so I can reflect the image of Jesus Christ. How selfish of me to be willing to reflect only His glory and not His suffering.

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Bob was given the good news that he can finish the healing process at home. I picked him up at noon and we will celebrate. May this month of viruses, germs, fever, bruises, shortness of breath, weakness, and other nasty things eventually be only a memory! We are grateful to the Lord for His grace and comfort, and to all who prayed and expressed their concern and love. Thank you!

Love cares enough to correct

Everyone in high school envied Gail. She was beautiful, had all the boyfriends she wanted, and her parents did not restrict her freedom. She sat next to me in class and one day handed me a note. It read, “I am so envious of you and your sister. Your parents discipline you. Mine do not love me enough to correct me.”

I was puzzled and thought someone else had written that note, but she told me it was from her. This made a huge impression on my life. While I do chafe under correction, I’m far more upset if someone knows I am making a mistake and doesn’t say anything. Love cares enough to correct.

This is true of God. The Bible says His love includes correction. If it didn’t, how could I worship Him?

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:19)

Repentance is easier when I know God asks for a change that is good for me. Besides, He does it with such gentleness and discretion. God rarely hangs my follies out where everyone can see them. (I can do that all by myself.) Instead, He approaches me when I am alone and whispers rather than shouts. I have a sense that He even hugs me when I get that loving smack that says, “Stop that!”

Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. (Job 5:17)

“Blessed” can mean “well-spoken of” or “happy” so God uses reprove to improve my reputation and make me happy. No one likes sin and selfishness. Those whom God corrects are respected. He knows that removing my sin and changing my ways will also bring me joy and peace. As I grow in my faith, I know it too. He is not against me but for me. My enemy is sin and self-centeredness, never God. 

I don’t know what happened to Gail. From rumors, she looked for love in all the wrong places. I hope she found it, but I know that even the best human love is cannot fulfill our greatest needs. The love of God does, for it produces peace and changed lives. The affliction of being corrected is short; the blessings last forever.

A Grave Danger

In many parts of the world the Christian church does not have a very good reputation. Some of it is because the world does not understand or accept the message of the Gospel. To them it is either foolish or offensive; no one likes hearing they are a sinner. Jesus even said that some who believe in Him will be opposed by their own family members.

Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. (Matthew 10:34-36)

However, some of the bad rap the church gets is valid, in part because Christians do not obey God, and in part because the church has been infiltrated and inundated with false teaching. When Christians disobey God and follow lies they not only offend God but eventually offend everyone else. We cannot say we haven’t been warned. Jesus said it over and over.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (Matthew 24:11)

Paul’s concern for the church was also repeated several times.

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. . . (Philippians 3:18)

For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives. . . . (2 Timothy 3:6)

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers . . . whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. (Titus 1:11)

I’m noticing that the danger is not just to the church but to “households” indicating that families are affected. This is not the same kind of division that Christ brings in which people are divided in matters of faith. Instead, this is a messing of the minds of families by false teachers who are doing it for some sort of personal gain.

Most families and most churches would not invite an obvious enemy into their company, but this is not about obvious. As Jesus said, they come disguised. False teachers may look like sheep, like one of us. They pretend to love Christ and pretend to be Christians. They might even reach positions of spiritual leadership, but eventually they bring division and rebellion into the lives of their followers.

Personally, being on guard against such things involves knowing what the Bible says, but also remembering that I have blind spots just like anyone else. In my areas of strength I might not be careful because I think I am okay, but I’ve had enough battles with evil spiritual forces just this week alone to know that I can be duped.

Besides, the real enemies are not flesh and blood, but the “principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” spoken of in Ephesians 6. For that, God gives armor to protect me and the weapon of truth from His Word to fight back.

For my church and my family, I also need to be alert and on guard, thankful that God is our fortress and shield, but also quick to test everything we hear. Not all of it is from God. I need to remember that false teaching can sound good at first, but all teaching needs to be tested against Scripture. I need to stay in the Word of God.

If I don’t do that and follow someone’s lies, this would ruin my life and rob me of the joy of following the truth. That alone would be terrible, but such error could also make me a partner in ruining the reputation of Christianity.