Turning

In the late 1950's Pete Seeger wrote a song called Turn, Turn, Turn (yes, I was there).  It wasn't the most original song ever, because the words came, almost verbatim, from the text of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.  I am sure Mr. Seeger was focused on the last part of the passage, "a time for peace (that was a big deal in that time of social and political turmoil)." While I agree with the sentiment of peace (we need a lot of that these days), I want to focus on another part of this beautiful poem.  In verses 2 and 3 these words appear ... "a time to plant, and a time to harvest, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up."

The poem was penned by Solomon, who was called the wisest person ever (aside from Jesus).  However, Solomon's human wisdom didn't land him the warm, fuzzy, and wonderful life he had planned.  He dealt with numerous woman issues, political turmoil that broke the kingdom apart, and (if you read his work carefully) an unhealthy dose of depression.  Solomon concluded, in all his wisdom, "Everything is meaningless ... a chasing after the wind."  This is what happens when people become reliant on their wit and wisdom and fail to rely on the Word of a perfectly wise God.  But that is a story for another day.

I want us to spend some time on three verses from Ecclesiastes 3.  

1. A time to kill and a time to heal. If you look at these opposites, one wonders how they go together.  Then, you remember the New Testament words (Matthew 16:25) ... "Whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it."  What thing(s) are you/we keeping alive, preventing us from truly healing?  We were wronged?  Let it die!  We were cheated?  Let it die!  Our trust has been damaged?  For God's sake and perfect purpose, let it go!  These are the things we keep alive, blocking our ability to heal.  Remember ... we die to self so we can live for Jesus!

2. A time to plant and a time to harvest.  If you think about the agricultural year, it is a healthy cycle.  We toil in the planting (it's hard work).  We sweat in the summer heat, as we keep the crops alive, till the soil, and water the seeds.  We harvest at this time of year.  Many communities have festivals (our Peanut Festival and the Farm City Banquet).  As Christians (and traditional Americans) we have another day ... Thanksgiving.  As a Church, we plant seeds all the time.  It is hard work.  But remember ... we worship the Lord of the Harvest!

3. A time to tear down and a time to build up.  I love this passage.  Again, we see opposites.  And this phrase is interesting because it contrasts something easy and something difficult.  It is easy to tear down.  Our political candidates rip each other apart, not understanding they are also tearing apart the fabric of a nation.  Our ideological camps demonize those "other" people because it is popular, exciting, and easy.

Here is where, on this eve of Thanksgiving week, I want us to consider the wisdom of God's Word.  I believe it is time to take this passage to heart.  Life, and all parts of life, happens to every person on the face of the earth.  All of the things in Ecclesiastes 3 can/will/do happen.  It is up to us, the Body of Christ, to do what the old Shaker Song says "to turn, turn, will be our delight, til by turning, turning, we come round right."  The point of life, of turning, of seasons, of knowing what to kill-off and leave behind, of seeing past the obstacles, of knowing that there is a healing, planting and harvesting God calling us into a Kingdom of abundance ... is to know God is a builder, a creator and a lover of souls.  We have a reason to be thankful.  We can be part of harvesting, building, and healing.  WE CAN COME ROUND RIGHT!  Amen? AMEN!  

For The Monarchy

In Judges, there is a troubling story.  I have reminded you of this story several times because it is s story of priority, perspective, and place.  The story begins with Judges 19:1.  "In those days Israel had no king."  What follows is the most vile and decadent story of rape, murder, dismemberment, war (over 100,000 died), partial genocide, and finally a shacky peace.  The story ends with this statement (Judges 21:25) ... "In those days Israel had no king, and everyone did as they saw fit."

Let's talk about the Biblical idea of a monarchy.  God's kingdom is a monarchy.  There is a true, just, merciful, grace-filled, and beautiful King on the throne.  His name is Jesus, and "on His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed, 'King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:6).'"  God Himself made those inscriptions, so it is (and must be) true.  God's Kingdom is of the heart (Luke 17:21), on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10), and near (Luke 17:21).  It is universally known that the Kingdom of God is the primary teaching of Jesus.  Jesus begins His ministry with these words from John the Baptist ... "Behold, the Kingdom of God is at hand (Matthew 3:2)."

Why am I bringing this up today?  In Jesus' last prayer (John 17) Jesus says that the disciples (including us) are "not of the world" but are "not to be taken out of the world."  In the song, Land of My Sojourn, Rich Mullins writes about America, saying, "Nobody tells you, when you get born here, how how much you'll come to love it, and how you'll never belong here, so I'll call you my country, and I'll be lonely for my home, and I wish that I could take you there with me."  This is precisely the Gospel meaning of Jesus' prayer in John 17 ... we are IN the world, but not OF the world.  We are Kingdom people, with a King (that is our priority), a perspective (we view the world through the lens of Jesus), and a place (we are "bound for the promised land").

On this day when we honor those who have invested their energy, love, blood, sweat, and tears in this experiment called America, I want each and every person to give thanks.  Our country is, with all of its flaws, the greatest country ever.  But as you pray, give thanks, and tell our veterans, "Thanks for loving us and your country enough to place everything on the table for us," never forget we owe ALL allegiance to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Also, I respectfully ask you, who is your king, and in whose kingdom are you choosing to live?  Evaluate your priorities, your perspectives, and your desired place of final destination.  Then, let's talk Sunday about Kingship and Kingdoms.  See you there!  Randy

The Holiness of Being

The Book of Acts explores various aspects of the early Church. Its central theme is "continuing in the faith." Faith is portrayed as a journey that teaches us to follow and depend on a God who is very much present in our lives. The power evident in Acts comes from the Holy Spirit, which empowers the Church, resulting in healing, significant events, and a sense of "heaven on earth."  But Acts is about one more thing.  It is about "being" the Church as the person of Christ is lived out through regular people.  There is a holiness to this that is beautiful and supernatural!

In Acts 16 we get a glimpse of "being the Church" vs "going to Church."  The believers were gathered together on the Sabbath.  It was how they lived.  It wasn't one option among many.  Gathering was part of the life of the Church, and it was as common as breathing.  The believers were seeking a "place of prayer."  The believers were a mix of people, very different from the gathering of Jewish men in the synagogue.  Paul is speaking to a group of women.  The Holy Spirit, amid Paul and his team serving in obedience, shows up in the heart of a woman named Lydia.  "One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth.  She was a worshipper of God.  The Lord opened her heart to respond to God's message (Acts 16:14)."

Five things are highlighted here ... five things we seem to struggle with in our "Pre-Christian," modern world.  Here they are:

1. Lydia was present.  I wonder if our modern rationalizations lead us to think we can be the Church in a non-connected and distant way?  One of the vows we make as we become part of our local congregation is the vow of presence.  Remember that Lydia was THERE and all of the other things happened because she first chose to be in that place of teaching and time with God's Church.  Are YOU present?

2. Lydia was listening.  The Bible, and lots of preachers, repeat certain things.  When you learn to critically read Scripture, you learn to pay special attention to those repeated themes and words.  They are repeated for a purpose, and one of those purposes is to lead us to listen.  "Faith comes by hearing," Romans 10:17 says.  We can't hear if we aren't listening.  Are YOU listening?

3. Lydia was worshiping.  Do you know the reason God claimed and called His people out of Egypt?  Most of us think it was about the Hebrews (just like we think the Church is about us).  The Bible tells us God brought the people out of Egypt "to Himself" so they could worship Him!  God (Exodus 19) calls us a Kingdom of Priests, a chosen people, and a treasured possession (i.e., we are His).  We are called to worship.  Are YOU worshiping?

4. Lydia allowed God to "open her heart."  When you walk into the church on Sunday morning, is your heart open or closed?  Is your heart full of your issues or empty to be filled up by God?  C. S. Lewis reminds us that one of Satan's ploys to distract us is to have us think about what is wrong with the church, the person beside us in the pew, or the preacher.  We fill ourselves with all of that "mess" and are not open to what God is actually doing.  Are YOU open?

5. Lydia responded!  The next verses in this story are all about Lydia's entering into the work of the Church.  She first responds by submitting to God in baptism, dying to self, and rising to live with Jesus in the life of the Church.  She invites the ministry team (Paul's leadership) to stay in her house and receive her hospitality.  Lydia responded ... do YOU respond?

Do you see what is happening here?  Lydia entered the "body of Christ!"  "You yourselves have seen what I did in Egypt (remember My actions) and how I carried you on eagles' wings (remember my provision) and brought you to Myself (remember your destination).  Now, if you obey My commandments (remember to follow ME), and keep My covenant (remember you are keepers of My promise), then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession (you/we / the Church is special to God). ... you will be for Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation (we are called into His holiness) (Exodus 19:4-6)."

Do you see it, hear it, and perceive it?  It is all connected to God and you are invited to be part of that connection ... to BE the Church!  What a blessing, honor, and responsibility!  Lydia got it ... do you?