Wolves

Sometimes spiritual warfare seems more like a coliseum spectacle of slaughter – pitifully one sided.  The dangers are everywhere, yet we feel like we are stripped of any useful weaponry with which to defend ourselves.  Is this a colored analogy?  Am I just being pessimistic or melodramatic?  Before you answer, consider these two verses.  Jesus said:

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” - Matthew 10:16 &

“Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” - Luke 10:3

Now, admittedly these words were addressed to Jews in both an immediate and a prophetic “Kingdom” context, yet that divine strategy reflects a common practice in God’s typical schemes… a strategy that surfaces readily in an evaluation of His design for His children in this age too; in other words, it’s for us.  We believers in today’s world have also been commissioned to a very hazardous task.  

Don’t skip over this next passage:

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.   If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.” - First Peter 4:12-14

Who is to say “WHY” God has chosen reproach; pain and trials; danger and difficulty; hurt and oppression (instead of a more gentle route) to perfect His children, to reach the damned & to glorify Himself.  Most assuredly we know that if there had been a better way, He would have chosen that way.  Right?  Right!  God’s wisdom, power and goodness doesn’t leave any room for mistakes on His part; not even any space for the word “better” – no, no, 1000 times no.  He has done all things well.  He is always good.  He is the personification of every positive superlative in every way.  He is the best, the top, the only, the infinite, the highest, the first, the last, etc.  There is no improving on the ways of God.  Would you offer Him new council?  Can He learn from us?  Please!  Don’t EVEN go there.  It’s ridiculous… if not blasphemous.  Soooo…

Just assume.  Begin with the comfortable and comforting assumption that God does indeed have every detail of our lives in His mind… and that He is carefully maneuvering to bring the absolute most good possible out of our messes.  God can’t do a better job.  He is always doing HIS best… which is the absolute best possible work by any objective, eternal and transcendent standard.  Assume that.  Leave it alone.

Now, with that laid down firmly, let’s reflect on this “wolf” thing.  My kids are now in public school, and – there are wolves there.  Of course there are wolves in churches and in Christian schools too.  Only thing is, the varmints disguise themselves when they come to us.  When they are in their own lair they frequently make no effort whatsoever to hide their true nature (which, of course, can be to our advantage).  Now, don’t for one moment deny the reality that wolves are everywhere.  True, Jesus told His disciples in Luke & Matthew 10 that He was sending them out amid the wolves, yet “The Good Book” also warns against wolves that come to us:

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” - Matthew 7:15

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” - Acts 20:29

Now , a wolf is selfish, runs with other wolves, is cruel and destructive and picks on the weak.  In short, a wolf is a bloodthirsty carnivore feeding devastatingly on the innocent sheep of the flock… to his own satisfaction and evil benefit.  So, why does God send us out intentionally among the wolves?  Why does He say, “Turn the other cheek”?  Why, “Be harmless as doves”?  Why fire, flood and violence upon the redeemed and not upon our enemies instead?  Surely we can discover a piece of the answer in the person, life and commandments of Christ?  Let’s think briefly in that general direction.

Jesus came into this earth in a material form in order to lay down His life.  On the outside, His biography appears to some observers to be one of misery, defeat, loneliness, poverty, obscurity, pain and death.  From a secular and earthy standpoint, He was no conqueror.  From a naturalist perspective, He was an enigma at best and a fabrication at worst – but in no way a conqueror.  But, from God’s eternal and lofty angle, it is easy to see that He was a perfect success.  He came to defeat death, hell and the grave.  He came to put sin behind the back of the Father, and that He did.  He came to bring many sons to righteousness.  He did that and is still doing just that.  His definition of success differs markedly from any human definition.  Thus we see that His weapons were invisible, His victory was metaphysical and His revelation of reality is delayed.  Everyone will see it eventually.  It would make sense then that the operations of His disciples (us) would resemble his own, right?  And so it is.

The Bible says in Second Corinthians 10:3 & 4, “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)…”  Again in Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…”

Obviously we ARE to war a good warfare though we be lambs in holy armor battling imps with the darkest of intents.  But the method of conquest is unexpected by human intelligence.  Namely, we fight ourselves first.  We allow the Captain of our salvation to deal with our own heart, mind, will, attitudes, actions and words.  We surrender to Him first.  Then He begins to live His own life in us; a life of humility, truth, love, compassion, service, sacrifice and yes, boldness too… a strategy that (potentially) undercuts the ambition behind the most vile of Satan’s human soldiers.  The Spirit uses the meek spirit of Christ in us to literally dissuade the enemy from their cause and to get them to defect to God’s side.  It is conquest by redemption, not by annihilation. 

The Son of God will indeed stomp the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of the Almighty (in due time) making an end of the incorrigible enemies of the cross – but, that will be His battle… not mine, not ours.  He is here is us now; in His church; in His body for the purpose of bringing forth fruit; souls.  Souls saved from sin, from death, from hell, from the world, from the curse, from damnation and destruction, from immorality and defeat, from misery, senseless fleshly pleasures and human pride.  Souls rescued from evil and delivered up to the higher plains of righteousness, godliness, life, heaven, eternal bliss, sincere worship, blessedness, construction, immortality, morality, victory, peace, purpose and yes, humility.  Our mission is to be God’s ambassadors of mercy, sharing the words of truth… words that literally have the power to conquer the sinner’s temporal thirst for amusement and entertainment; words that have the power to instill in the newborn saint a fresh new appetite – a hunger for the eternal joy that comes in intimately knowing the holy Son of God.

Put simply, we are in the business of delivering the potent seeds of spiritual transformation; seeds of the gospel that have the power to convert a wolf into a sheep.  Logically, there is no better way to plant those seeds than by venturing into the pack where the wolves are.  Is it frightening?  Honestly, of course it is.  Is it dangerous?  Could we become distracted and defeated?  Yes.  But the mission remains intact despite the grave risks.  Let us trust the Good Shepherd and lay our lives on the altar of His eternal purposes.  After all, we do not have to walk through this valley alone.  Wherever He sends us, well, He is already there and He will never no never no never leave us nor forsake us.

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” - Luke 12:32              

WELL GLORY!!!

 

Hard Questions

Recently I’ve encountered some tough questions.

There are certain kinds of inquiries that I find rather difficult to address.  It’s not philosophical stuff necessarily; not even deep.  The thing that makes certain questions hard to answer (for me) is the fact that the answers affect people.

If advice, council and opinions could be offered in a vacuum (affecting nobody), I could rush ahead with confidence: “This is the Bible verse for you.  Here is a reasonable answer.  (or) It’s been my experience that…”  See, there would be no hesitation.  But nothing occurs in a vacuum.  There are personalities, life stories, circumstances, loved ones, friends and futures – all that can be affected. 

Perhaps you have heard of the butterfly effect.  The idea behind the butterfly effect is that small variations in life today may produce very large variations in the future.  Or, to say it another way, “If anything matters, then everything matters.”  Now, I don’t want to go overboard with this idea.  After all, our God is ultimately in control.  He has the power to alter consequences to His on liking to such an extent that He is even capable of bringing a terrifically wonderful good out of the most horridly evil of cases (the cross, for example).

Yet truly, a small thing that may at the moment seem insignificant (to you and me) can actually have grave or glorious consequences eventually.  So, when a “HUMAN” problem is presented to me, I take it seriously.  If I could work within a world of abstracts and academics, I would feel no intimidation.  But, in a world of hearts and emotions; souls and eternities… sobriety reigns (or, at least it should).  There is no room for experimentation; for trial and error ministry.

Hence, the necessity of a genuine faith in The Sole Source of wisdom becomes apparent.  I can’t know everyone’s past.  I can’t understand everyone’s perspective.  I can’t predict anyone’s future.  Only God can do these things.  And, He does these things well; perfectly in fact! 

If I am on my own, I will make a mess every time.  But, if I am an actual tool of the Almighty – humbly sensitive to His leading – then (and only then) I can proceed with a certainty that help rather than hindrance is a real possibility.

Should I marry this person?  My husband is abusing me, what do I do?  My child is suffering from “problem x, y or z” – what do I do?  How can we reach this individual with the truth?  What strategy would work with this problem person?  Why didn’t God do this thing differently regarding so-and-so?  Who should teach this class?  …and the list goes on and on.  Tim Gelatt once told me (tongue-in-cheek), “The ministry would be great if it weren’t for people.”  Of course he went on to point out that people ARE our ministry.  “Where there are people there will be problems,” he went on to say.  I doubt he thought these things up on his own.  The observations are classic.  Still, since people are 1) created in the image of God & therefore 2) going to live eternally somewhere… our effects on one another become very significant.

The hardness of many questions centers on the importance of the person asking it and the value of the people that they have the power to influence.  Proverbs 25:11 reads, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”  But, how about a word that is out of place?  James taught that the little fires (simple words that we speak idly) kindle great flames of destruction. 

I am afraid…

Matthew 12:37, “By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.”  This verse makes me want to be intensely careful about how I answer folk…  When I (or you) get cocky and self-confident as teachers of good things, we had better get nervous too.  Our talents and abilities can be quickly polluted and turned for the cause of evil if we step away from sincere reliance upon the God who knows.  No degree, to title, no experience and no certification equips us sufficiently to handle the delicate matters of real humanity.  Human wisdom is not current and tailored like God’s wisdom is.  He alone sees and understands all things.  In other words, it is not my answers that people need, it is God’s answers that people need (initially anyway). 

And that brings me to a second step in my struggle: what if God doesn’t give us an answer? That’s fine.  Here’s why.  Ultimately it is not even the answers from God that will suffice us anyway; no, conversely, it is (more precisely) the God of the answers that will satiate our curiosity and quench our inquisitive spirits. 

Illustration: little Billy rides quietly in the back seat of the minivan as Dad drives his family toward their vacation destination.  Billy could make a million inquisitions (and he probably will).  Yet, in reality it is the loving and sure relationship with his Dad that comforts Billy about the outcome of the trip, not his Dad’s articulation of the details of the travel route or the glories of the destination.  Billy might ask.  Dad might answer (in some form).  But it is simply Dad’s “being Dad” that Billy needs, not just some driver answering all of Billy’s questions. 

Even so it is with us.  I need to learn this lesson well and remember it always.  People might be helped with good answers.  God might choose to give you and me the wisdom to advise others.  However, we should be primarily focused on pointing people to the person of Christ.  He is love, life, salvation, strength, comfort, wisdom and power personified.  What this world needs is not education, therapy, support, religion or doctrine… what everyone (saint and sinner alike) needs is our one and only Savior and Friend, Jesus.

Maybe the questions are hard.  But then again, maybe… just maybe God didn’t call us to answer all the questions in the first place.  Perhaps He just wants us to direct traffic into the straight and narrow road that leads to His feet.

Is this an oversimplification of life?  I don’t think so…

Answers are great when (and if) God gives them to us.  But, we must expect that those answers are not the end, they are the means to an end.  God is the end.  He isn’t going to give us all of the answers.  So, faith in His goodness and sufficiency must take over… not where revelation ends, but while revelation is still ongoing, so that when God does decide to be silent… our confidence in Him will not be shaken by that silence.

So… can I say it?  “I don’t know.  I just don’t know the answer.  Thankfully, I know SOMEONE who does know all of the answers, but I can’t guarantee that He is going to give us an answer.  And, honestly - I’m OK with that.” 

The Object Makes the Difference

The blue lights come on behind you… right away you start thinking of what you should say to the officer.  He will be at your automobile window momentarily, what will you say?  Will your answers to his questions bring mercy… or a ticket?  Honestly, to some extent the officer is going to judge you based upon the motive that he or she perceives in you.  That might show up in your attitude.  If you are belligerent, accusatory, defensive, deceptive, argumentative or disrespectful… my guess is that your efforts will be counterproductive.  However, if you will just be honest, humble, sincere, remorseful, apologetic and respectful, well maybe this minister of God in uniform will let you off with a warning. 

But hey, let’s step this scenario up a notch.  What if you are speeding along the highway and a good lawman therefore forces you to the side of the road.  In this case though (upon arriving at your window) he discovers that you have a passenger who has accidently severed their left hand from their body.  They are bleeding profusely.  You have tears running down your cheeks as you frantically ask the policeman to lead the way to the nearest hospital.  The object of this brisk commute will drastically change the actions of that officer toward you.  The object of your trip can be the key factor in defining the outcome of the traffic stop.  The object that caused you to break the speed limit helps the officer in his obligation to discern the morality of the item that was of an interest to him, namely, the excessive speed of your vehicle. 

Even so there are many words that we encounter in the Bible which we judge immediately.  We evaluate them and understand them to be intrinsically righteous or thoroughly evil.  Yet in many cases the object of the word determines its worth.  A word that is commonly perceived as “bad” may in some cases be very good, and vice versa.  I encountered one of these in my devotional reading today.  It got me to thinking about other words that also can be either very positive, or very negative – depending on the context.  The word was “abomination” – so let’s examine it first.

Proverbs 29:27 says, “An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.”  Something that is abominable is disgusting.  That is the primary definition.  Good men detest the actions of evil men, and evil men despise the actions of good men.  They disgust each other reciprocally.  It makes sense that this would be true.  But, in one case the disgust is wholesome and good, yet in the other it is an indication of a problem.  Being disgusted with something is not wrong, as long as the object of one’s aversion is despised by God too.  Homosexuality for example: the Bible describes God’s attitude toward that vice as one of hatred (along with pride, deceit and other abominations).  God hates it because it is evil.  It is damnable and destructive.  It is not natural, it is not acceptable, it is not tolerable; it is sin.  That disgusting lifestyle should be an abomination to every God-fearing person on the planet.  Its practice should bring an unbearable stigma upon the guilty individual in any society.  It is not a moral alternative; it is an immoral alteration of God’s designed plan.  We should hate it.  And, according to the verse I gave you in Proverbs 29, they can’t help but hate our righteous stand against them just as we despise their perversion.  It’s logical and inevitable.  We are right to be nauseated by such defilement; they are wrong to loathe the truth.  But neither side should be surprised by the opposite’s vehement opposition.  Oh, if only we Christians would be as disgusted by our own sins as we are (justifiably) disgusted at this one (& hey,  please don’t tell me if you’re not disgusted by it).

Word 2: “Covet.”  Well, this one is found in and known by the Decalogue.  “Thou shalt not covet!”  But, that is an incomplete rendering of the commandment.  You should not covet your neighbor’s wife, his house, his job, his Harley Davidson… anything that is rightfully his, and not yours.  It is not OK for me to covet anything that God has already granted to someone else.  I should simply rejoice in their possession as I see them enjoy it.  Now, obviously we would be wrong to covet anything that is forbidden by God; anything that is inherently evil.  Yet, if you look at First Corinthians 12:31, you find that we are also commanded to “covet earnestly the best gifts…”  See, the object of our craving determines whether the covetousness is wholesome or profane.  Indeed, covet that which is in God’s hand; yes, even those things that He alone has the power or the prerogative to distribute.  These things are holy, godly, good, glorious, honorable and pure.  These things please the Father.  I long for and covet those things which the Father would be pleased to see in my hand.  Jacob wrestled which God and coveted a blessing from Him.  He was rewarded with just exactly that.  Jacob became Israel and inherited the whole earth and heaven too.  He was blessed because he coveted that which God was happily willing to grant.  I covet evangelistic success.  Only God can give it.  I know He has it in His hand – will I claim it?

“Love” – that’s word # 3.  Is love a good thing?  That depends.  Love the Lord your God with all of your heart!  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  Again, the object is the crucial defining factor.  Set your affections on things above, not on the things of this earth.

Before I go on, let me show you why this matters.  I was witnessing to a lost person yesterday and he was puzzled by the temptations of Christ.  The humanity of Jesus demands human traits, right?  If the Bible presents Jesus getting angry, not knowing something or being late to an appointment, don’t these things indicate his fallibility?  This is a legitimate question from an unbeliever.  I had to point out that there are some things that our society deems as intrinsically wrong, which in actuality are not.  Anger is one of them.  So, “anger” (# 4) can be either bad or good, depending on who is angry and why they are angry (and depending on what they do while they are angry).  Anger is not just an emotion felt by fallen man.  It is an emotion that flows forth first from our holy God.  His anger is just.  It is right.  It is good.  It is perfect.  Should you and I get angry when we read in the newspaper that a convicted pedophile has moved into our town?  I would like to go on record with an affirming, “Yes, we should be upset!”  The object is the fundamental matter determining if any particular moment of indignation is appropriate or inappropriate.  Both good and bad men will be angry… and usually it will be aimed at each other.

Well, I’m sure you get my point.  Know your words and how they are used.  Let God define evil, not our fickle society nor our feeble minds.  There are many others words which represent things, attitudes and actions that can either be black or white, good or bad, wholesome or debauched.  See if you can figure them out on your own. 

·         Lust

·         Repent

·         Hate

·         Imagine

·         Tempt

·         Evil

·         Jealous

·         Faith

·         Weak

·         Pleasure

…and I’m sure there are many more.  Ask yourself, “What is the context?  What is the object?”  The ultimate object of every intention, action, communication, decision, direction and desire of our heart & life should be the glory and pleasure of the God of heaven.  As soon as the object becomes something or someone else, we have fallen.  “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).

God is our object.  Jehovah God… Father, Son and Spirit; the eternal, invisible, immortal God of the Bible; the One; the Only; the Creator of all things; the Judge of all men; the First Cause and the Last Word… God, and only God, is our object. 

Footnote: it is unadvisable to cut off appendages in order to garner sympathy from a patrolman in order to avoid traffic fines.  J