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Christian martyrs, by the millions in the twentieth century up to now

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If you want to get me spun up, pull this tired old chestnut out, about “how the church has ‘killed’ so many people, how the church is so ‘dangerous'”, I hear this nonsense all the time. Persecution against Christians has been going on since the very beginning. Starting with the stoning of Stephen right up to Christians being persecuted all through Africa, India, China, Southeast Asia. There were more Christian martyrs in the twentieth century then all the previous centuries, combined! No the dangerous segment of our society is the secular, responsible for World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Pol Pot, Joseph Stalin, Ho Chi Mihn, Mao Tse Tung, Hitler, Tojo, Mussolini, yea on and on, secularists, even pagans mindlessly killing millions, and usually targeting Christians.

Today we see Christian churches of all stripes whose relief agencies provide all sorts of supplies and support for those afflicted by natural and man-made disasters. Christians build and support hospitals, schools, orphanages, relief for the poor, the home- less, sex-trafficing, women dealing with unplanned pregnancies. The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, both have their roots from support of American Christians. America provides more relief and human support than any other country in the world, all because of the Christians in America, our Christian roots and heritage. Those who are secular put their trust in government to provide relief, Christians put their trust in private agencies, which are far more effective and provide for far more people than any government agency. We see that over and over again.

Yet, the persecution, the bigotry, the hatred against Christians continues. The biggest haters, by far, are the ones who love to call everyone else haters. They’re usually the ones who run to the church when their world is collapsing and no one else will have anything to do with them.

Matthew Harrison is the president of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and he talks about the mindless contemporary persecution of Christians, men and women who will run to bring relief to people in the darkest, deepest places in the world. Places where no one else will even think of going unless they are accompanied by a significant force of armed military, if it all. A long lady we met at seminary is now serving as a missionary in Kenya. This is a  young lady who just graduated from high school, she speaks numerous languages, is a musician, just an intelligent, accomplished young lady who is now holed up in a Christian compound because of a threat by Muslims in that otherwise peaceful country. I am going to quote President Harrison at length because you probably won’t see his comments anywhere else, especially in the secular media.

“The 20th century was the bloodiest in Christian history with the death of tens of millions at the hands of communist regimes. Now we are continuously shocked by Islamic radicals persecuting and killing Christians daily in the Middle East and Africa. Meanwhile, our consciences vacillate as we sense the cultural shift in the U.S. that has produced an increasing avalanche of harassment and is likely to get much worse.”

“I was in Ethiopia a few months back. In 1979, the leader of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (now approaching seven million Lutherans) was murdered by the Communist government. I chatted at lunch with the current president and general secretary of the church. The topic of persecution came up. Mind you, each of these men had themselves been repeatedly jailed in the Communist period for their confession of Christ. I cannot begin to imagine the horror of an Ethiopian prison. President Waksyoum Idosa leaned toward me across the table, raised his index finger, and said with all gravity, ‘Persecution is always good for the Church. Always.'”

“Since Luther’s hymn of martyrs is unknown (“A New Son Shall Here be Begun” written on the martyrdom of Johann Esch and Heinrich Voes) … I bid you pray for the modern martyrs soon to face death in Nigeria and elsewhere today. I bid you consider that your own ‘light momentary affliction in preparing for us an eternal wealth of glory beyond all comparisons’ (2 Corinthans 4:17). From Calvary itself, we know that God works the very greatest things through suffering and martyrdom – a ‘new song’ indeed.”

A New Song Shall Here Be Begun

1. A new song now shall be begun,

Lord, help us raise the banner

Of praise for all that God has done,

For which we give Him honor.

At Brussels in the Netherlands

God proved Himself most truthful

And poured His gifts from open hands

On two lads, martyrs youthful

Through whom He showed His power.

7. A paper given them to sign –

And carefully they read it –

Spelled out their faith in ev’ry line

As they confessed and said it.

Their greatest fault was to to be wise

And say, ‘We trust God solely,

For human wisdom is all lies,

We should distrust it wholly.’

This brought them to the burning.

12. Let men heap falsehoods all around,

Their sure defeat is spawning.

We thank our God the Word is found,

We stand in its bright dawning.

Our summer now is at the door,

The winter’s frost has ended,

Soft bud the flowers more and more,

by our dear Gard’ner tended

Until He reaps his harvest'”

[Matthew C. Harrison The Lutheran Witness June/July 2014 p 1.    A New Song Shall Here Be Begun Tr. F. Samuel Janzow, 1913 – 2001, setting by Carl Schalk, published by Concordia Publishing House 1982]

One thing persecution does do is to cull out of the church those who were in the church for the wrong reasons, those who are/were faithless. No one in the church wants persecution, but the reality is that persecution will become more overt. We are called to stand firm in the faith, the one true faith given to us by our Lord Jesus. Peter tells us in his epistle: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12) There will be trials, faithful Christians will be pressed more and more in the near future, it is not something strange or unusual it is an unbelieving world rejecting what is good and faithful. But we are also saved, whatever happens here is only temporary, it is what is eternal that matters.

 

 

Please let’s start taking marriage and child raising seriously

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The following is from a post from a brother pastor, Eric Ekong.

“Is marriage obsolete? In a recent Pew Research poll, about 40 percent of Americans assert or strongly assert that marriage in America is obsolete. You probably know the dismal stats about the divorce rate in our country. Here are nine reasons people give that might explain the steady collapsing of marriage in America:

—I assume that the relationship is probably going to break up at some point, and the breakup will hurt less if we were never married in the first place.
–Marriage is an exploitative, chauvinistic anachronism that heavily favors patriarchal control. Liberated women will more likely get what they want on their own.
–From the male point of view, women are giving it away these days. You don’t have to commit to her to get sex.
–Single parenthood is the new normal. African-Americans are already there with single-parent birthrates in some places above 70 percent. White folks’ single parenthood stats are following.
–My mom was a single parent, and I turned out fine.
–Marriage is something you can think about when your kids are raised and you are secure in your job.
–Cohabiting preserves your freedom of choice.
–Movies and TV shows relentlessly portray young men as either uneducated, clueless, reckless, socially inept, or violent. Why would any woman want to lock in her life to such a high-risk partner?
–I’m not going to get married until I find the perfect soul mate.

Are these the attitudes you want in your children’s minds? In your grandchildren’s? In your own spouse’s? If you don’t, God has a better way. Let’s give the divine designer a chance to explain to us how to be happily married till death us do part and how to build a family life that will give him glory.”

Me – People love to talk about how smart they are today, when it comes to marriage, commitment, living life in a strong and faithful manner, way too many people, have way too little discernment. How do you think this affects society as a whole? When the burden gets to be too much on those who are trying to live responsible, faithful lives, how do you think it will work out for the rest.

Point one – Yes, I guess if you have a fatalistic view of marriage it will fail. Hey how about this, grow up, make a commitment, live a responsible life and decide that you will make it work. In the meantime stay out of bed with anyone who isn’t your spouse. Oh yeah, I get it, all the excitement, none of the responsibility. How do you really think that’s going to end up?

Marriage is a partnership, that too many men and women today think can be manipulated and played with. How about we all decide to be grown ups and truly commit to what is best for each other and children, and quit playing games. Exploitive? I’m not saying there aren’t bad situations, but the reality is this, the highest rate of poverty is on unmarried mothers. Married women, have a much lower rate of poverty, men will step up and provide. The nasty swill of those people that compose the media love to take isolated situations, make them the rule, distribute their extremely poor “work” to people who gullibly swallow it and there you have it. Broken families, no mutual responsibility and this nonsense that too many women believe that the government will give them all they want. Afterwards and I’ve seen plenty of “afterward” pictures, you have women living in substandard housing with children they can’t keep up with and the spiral continues down and down. Hey there are women that do step up and manage, but I would bet you anything that they would tell you it was much harder then it had to be.

Single-parenting is not a “norm”, it may be the situation, but if people were truly honest about their platitudes “it’s all about the kids”, they would try as much as possible to raise them in a family of a man and a woman. That is how children are raised the best, the research shows it over and over again. There are exceptions, but really, why would you want to try to be the exception, when you can step up and do what’s best for children. Be honest, it’s not about the kids, it’s just about you.

OK, fine, marriage and children are only for when you have a secure home. OK, when do you think that will be? Yea, right, come on. If that’s the standard, then a further standard should be this: “Until such time I am ready to raise children like that, I’m not going to put myself in the position where I could have children.” Yea, people like to get all righteous at one end, then the other end, ahhhh, not so much.

“Cohabiting preserves your freedom of choice.” and “I’m not going to get married until I find the perfect mate.” Seriously? I don’t even know how people can say this with a straight face. Yeah, “choice”, while you’re making your “choices”, what do you think the other person is doing? This is just a recipe for disaster for both of you. The person who says this thinks they’re cool and is showing they’re clueless. The “perfect mate”? There isn’t one and even more ironically, you certainly aren’t the perfect mate either. Hmmm, you want perfect, but you aren’t even close to being able to offer it. Yeah, let me know how that works out.

For a society that loves to tell people how smart they are, wow, “don’t care about tomorrow”, “don’t care about another person”, “don’t care about my kids”, “don’t care about the society I live in”, I could go on and on, but you get the idea. All the research and much more importantly God, emphasizes the importance of the family, of commitment, of sacrifice, of truly living like a mature human being. When you live like a mature human being, and everyone else does, we have a great society and it helps everyone to grow and be secure. When we have a society where everyone says “it’s all about me and the heck with everyone else”, well how do you think that’s going to end up? Find a way to make it happen, quit making excuses, quit trying to have it your way and then stick someone else with the consequences. You may think you’re smarter, but it will catch up to you and then all of a sudden just a world of hurt. And you’re going to sit there wondering why no one will help. Why? Because they’re busy being self-centered and selfish like you’ve been. Not so smart, huh?

Caesearea in Israel

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Herod the Great, the King of Israel, placed there by the Romans, was without question one of the greatest builders in Israel’s history. The reason he is called “Great” is for the many buildings, built during his reign. Israel has no real port on to the Mediterranean. Herod built this mostly to accommodate the Romans. It is a very Roman city with aqueducts, coliseum, made to be a very contemporary city of the time.

Being a Christian man is weak? Really??

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Being a Christian man is weak? Really?
First St Johns June 15, 2014

Father, we thank you that we are your men and women, that you raise up Christian men in honor and dignity. You expect a lot from those men who know Christ as their Lord and Savior, but you also give them the assurance of your presence and guidance. The Bible says David was a man after God’s own heart, a real man. A real man who did dumb things, as all men do, but also stood for You, honored You. When David did those “dumb things”, when he sinned, he didn’t run away, whining, blaming everyone else, like men in the world do. He stood up, took his correction and went back out and became a better servant of yours. You honor women; Mary, Abigail, the women who supported Jesus, Deborah, Esther, faithful Christian women here, but it seems Lord you have a special place for truly Christian men. Christian men today, endure a lot, take a lot of cheap guff from the world. Why? Because men in the world are cowards and bullies and think they can get away with it. Father, You don’t raise us to look for trouble, be belligerent big mouths and bullies, but you also didn’t raise us to run away, to escape when we are called on to be men of integrity. You help us Father to know when we need to take a stand for our family, for the things that are true and upright and of course for You, for Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus stood up to the evil of the world and was crucified, but was killed as a sacrifice for us, for your sons and daughters. We make our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son and in the Name of God the Holy Spirit and all those who are true men of God and the women who love their true men of God said … AMEN.
I am not going to beat up on guys, the world does that way too much today. Seems like the one person in this day and age that is fair game is the Christian adult man. I will say much of that comes from the church too. We expect guys to be kind of donkeys, doing the work, but otherwise, shut up, sit down and the church or someone who is not a man will tell us the way it really is. Believe me I know, especially as a man who is a Christian minister, I have more than enough people telling me “the way it really is”. Usually it is total self-serving nonsense and they usually realize it after a few sentences, but won’t even have the common decency to admit it. As a layman, I got that treatment in the United Methodist Church on a regular basis.
We have the world’s idea of a “man”, we have God’s idea of a man. The world seems to have convinced everyone that like Jesus a Christian man is supposed to be kind of a cream puff, a push over. The reality in the Bible is quite the opposite. That Jesus was kind of a milk-toast, too heavenly bound to be any earthly good and so any Christian man is going to be that way. There is the world’s idea of a man, the world says that a man should be: aggressive, should be kind of a lout, I want what I want and I want it now. He doesn’t take his issues to God, he doesn’t sacrifice for his family, he isn’t a servant, it’s all about him and his little world. Instead of going to God, he is cool and what does the cool man do? He pours a six-pack down his face. People in law-enforcement have a phrase “beer muscles”, you can always tell when a guy has had too much to drink, he decides he wants to take on the world, all of a sudden he’s Popeye. We were out on a patrol one night, nice weather, then one of the guys says he sees the silhouette of a boat, boats are supposed to have lights on when they’re in the water. Not only that but he was sitting right in the middle of a very busy channel into Boston. This is a channel that oil tankers use. An oil tanker coming down the channel would have never seen that boat and even if it had would have chopped it to splinters before it could stop. We go over, circle the boat to try to figure out what their issue is and all of a sudden the lights pop on and these two guys start telling us what we can do and where we can go, blah, blah, blah. I went on their boat with another guy who is bigger and had pretty much no sense of humor. Here we are two big, ugly guys, the other guy was uglier than me. We tell them what to do, move them where we want them, show them we have weapons and are ready to use them and instantly, as usually happens, they turn into instant cupcakes. These guys didn’t have a few beers on their boat, they had 4 cases, for four people. That’s the world’s answer to things, deal with everything with booze, drugs or sex and then they wonder why they can’t function after awhile. Needless to say they both received a matching set of stainless steel bracelets, courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard and not so deluxe accommodations at the Hull town Police Dept. I ask you, is this the type of behavior that you expect from a couple of guys who claim to be Christians?
Now I want you to be completely honest, ladies, of any age, do you want a dad, husband, brother, that is a Christian man? Seems that women today resent a Christian man. A Christian man is called to be the leader of his family. Seems that it’s ok to let the guy take the hits as the leader, do the heavy lifting, but well he’s just not smart enough to do the real work of the family. I don’t believe that. Have you ever really made the home a place where he can do what he’s supposed to? Seems to me everyone in the world today demands respect, but when dad demands it, he’s being unreasonable. There’s respect to a man who is trying to be godly and righteous, and there’s the guys who don’t do anything, struts around the house, “gimmee respect, you gotta respect me”. When I say that the husband should be leading, that doesn’t mean he’s not accountable. You’ve probably heard how God created husband and wife, He took the rib out of Adam’s side, so that he would know that his wife should always be at his side, not his feet, not his head but a partner, supporting, respecting, building up, challenging and also letting him make his mistakes. Most guys I know try their hardest to serve their family in many ways, it’s not always the best way, but when our wife gives us a hug and a little noogie, telling us, “I know you’re trying and I respect that, I respect and love you, but can we talk about…?” What guy in the world wouldn’t pull up a chair for his wife and then him and then say “go ahead, please tell me what’s bothering you.” Right?
The world often thinks that respect, upright behavior, treating people honorably and usually gently is weakness. Men in the world demand what they want and someone better hand it over, and fast. The world generally believes a man should be a lout and they are usually not disappointed. That is not a Christian man. He understands and lives by Jesus’ word, that He came not to be served but to serve and so it is with us. He takes the tough stands in his family and for his family. He stands up to the world when the world tries to force on us the things of the world. He stands up as a man of Christ when the world tries to push on us the corrupt and weak things. In Proverbs 1:7 Solomon is teaching his son: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The world resists that and tries to tell us we should fear man and resist being taught, being wise in the world. We know better. The world tries to tell us that to be Christian is to be weak. What is strength to the world? The guy who takes and covets, who is unfaithful to his wife and children, that the cure for what bothers you is alcohol, drugs, unfaithfulness, lust. Don’t turn to God for strength and guidance, turn to a bottle. That’s being strong? Sorry, but that’s weak and pathetic. There is no one stronger than a man who has the courage and conviction of Christ. He is strong and faithful, standing for what is good and right in Jesus. Those aren’t easy stands to take in the world, only a man of Christian courage and conviction will do that. The world will never take a stand by themselves, they will be big and tough when their buddies around, get them alone and they turn into whimps. In fairness a Christian man is never alone. Why? He always has the Holy Spirit and we know He will hold us accountable, the fear of the Lord will guide us to know how we should act in Jesus who is our Lord. Always be that man of strength and conviction and wives love, support and respect him so that he can continue to be strong in Him who was and is strong for us. He has a tough life and he needs a strong Christian woman to support him, respect him and strengthen him.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Shalom and Amin.Image

As part of our Israel travelogue, I am putting the pictures I took in Israel on display, this was a church trip we did back in the Fall of 2012. This picture is of the Roman city of Scythopolis it’s north of Jerusalem south of the Sea of Galilee on the west bank of the Jordan. It was part of a chain of ten Roman cities called the Decapolis (ten cities). There are three references in the Bible where it is referred to as Decapolis, it’s the only one of the ten cities that was in Israel proper. It was build by the Romans, as a Roman administrative center. I’m not exactly sure of the history, but it was supposed to have been built while Jesus was growing up, so it’s thought it could be a possibe that he worked with his father as carpenters on the building of the city.

The entrance is set up so you have to step to the side and when you do, this is the panorama that is set before you. This was an extraordinary site. The hill is man made, it was a temple to either Artemis or Diana. It was a fascinating place to explore. Please let me know if you want to see more pictures of this site.

Our daily bread. How far does that go?

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I’m not trying to be snarky or a wise guy, but I am going to be frank. Ya, we are promised our daily bread and even at that, it’s what we “need”, not what we would like. I’ve heard plenty of people lean over the counter at Burger King say “ya, I ‘need’ a Whopper”. We kind of throw the word “need” around a little loosely. Believe me when I tell you, I can directly relate to what many are coping with in today’s corporate world. We as Americans and business people continue to try and reconcile the “American Dream” with being Christians. Like it or not, they are irreconcilable. Paul writes: “ESV Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” I think this really kind of cuts to the chase.
I would never say and frankly I don’t think Paul would either, to stop striving, to not follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. Does the Holy Spirit lead us to strive and succeed in any aspect of life? Yes, He does. But if we look at the people most intimately involved with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit (yesterday was Pentecost), we, as Americans, would look at these men and not call any of them a “success”. All things being even, we’d probably think of them as fanatical hippies and dismiss them as unrealistic and certainly not worthy of being role models or any kind of mentors. What would you say your “emotional needs” are? I think I know, believe me, I know the drill, by now in my career I should have had an MBA and was the CFO of a mid-cap company, nothing huge maybe $500 million cap. But at the same time, I’ve realized that it seems a little like Paul who was all set to go to Asia and he has a vision to go to Greece. We will never know, but it seems that had to change the course of history. For whatever reason God chose Europe to be evangelized and the part of the world Paul would have gone to is probably the most contentious part of the world. In that same sense, the Holy Spirit can move us in the opposite direction we intended. Jesus promised us life and life more abundant (John 10:10). Do we have life “more abundant” in Christ? Yes? Just by virtue of Him being our Lord we have abundant life. Is that “abundant life” necessarily in this life, that is do we realize the complete abundance of life in Christ in the world? No. When? In the resurrection, when we will be restored to our bodies, to the world as it was meant to be. Not a world fallen in sin and death, but an eternal world that is restored in Christ’s return to where the Father had intended the world to be.
We as men, as Americans, as people in a time and place that even two generations ago would have been unimaginable. Do we have emotional “needs”? Yes, they are fulfilled in the peace, joy and provision of the Lord. Brother I know where you’re at. I wanted the esteem, the recognition, the prestige. Let’s face it, no matter how high we go there is always higher. I was just watching an episode of Frasier. He is receiving a “Life-time Achievement” award and realizes, maybe he’s at the pinnacle of his life, “what to do with the rest of my life.” We have expectations of our own, of our spouse, children, the rest of our family, our peers, on and on. I know the drill, I’ve known the drill in corporations, in the military and yes, believe it or not, I’m kind of going through that right now in the church. I’ve only been ordained, not even four years, and I’ve got those thoughts rolling around in my head, more, bigger, faster. Frankly, I feel that I’m under spiritual attack and I think that those who are resting in Christ are going to be under even more attack. There are many stories of saints overtly tempted by Satan with many kinds of earthly desires. For we Christians, we will be tempted and challenged in Christ. Peter tells us: “ESV 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” Something strange is not happening to you, whether it’s your own ego, your spouse, dad, kids, peers, ad infinitum, what matters is what is in Jesus.

Now you may not like the following, but I will say this, you’re a guy. Guys are supposed to go out and slay the biggest animal to eat, have the biggest fanciest cave, be the most accomplished among our peers, but it’s not about us, it’s about Him and what He has for our life. Thirty years ago when I started with Chase Manhattan I would have laughed in your face if you had told me that I would be a Lutheran pastor in York, Pa. (I’m from the Boston area). I was, at best, a nominal/cultural Christian. Frankly I really wouldn’t have probably understood what you were talking about and wouldn’t really have cared that much. The Holy Spirit took me in hand and there’s been a lot of events in my life that could have only been Him and He puts me where He wants me. Do I think this is it? Frankly no, but it could be and at this point in the game, I doubt I would be surprised either way.
Now the not so gentle part. I see you getting “tunnel-visioned”, I certainly understand why. Many reading this are guys, probably about the same age, we’ve done a lot and we were expecting the American dream, which means a senior level job, seven figure salary, (at least mid-six), a fat retirement account, at least one nice car for everyone in the household (read Mercedes level), of course one doesn’t summer where one winters, does one? At our age that’s beginning to slip away, in fact in our age group we stand a very good chance of not retiring or continuing to work to some degree until we’re called to be in His presence. We’re tempted to dump it on God and say “hey, that wasn’t supposed to be the deal”. As an American? Ya probably. As a Christian? No we have to be open to the Spirit’s leading. Even if you did have all the ego gratification and material gratification, would that mean that the Spirit wouldn’t be pushing on you? Those in the Acts church gave everything they had in common with their brothers and sisters. Have you really taken it in prayer to the Father? Have you really asked Him what is His will? Are you afraid of the answer? Do you think He is going to tell you to sell everything, learn some unknown language and move to some exotic place? I doubt it, but maybe He’s moving you to take your skills, any/all of them, to apply them for others, maybe in His church, maybe for some other deserving civic group? We all get way too caught up in our careers and more and more material/ego gratification and we tend to shut out the Holy Spirit and what He is guiding you to. Take some serious time in prayer, take some time in Bible study, in journaling. Write down what the Spirit is really putting on your heart, be open to Him and His leading and try to put aside your pre-conceived notions. God told us His ways are not our ways. What He is trying to do in you is probably something that would never have occurred to you and maybe you have cut yourself to any leading other than your own. I do understand, we all go through that regardless of our position. But yes frankly I think middle-aged, professionally trained men are especially susceptible. Look for His guiding, in 35 odd years He has led me to places I would have never expected and He truly has always provided, maybe not to what I wanted or expected, but certainly to what I needed, I really can say that I have never wanted and quite often have received more then I expected.

If you are not a part of a church body I would definitely encourage you to be, you are certainly welcome at First St Johns. If you are at a church sit down with your pastor and discuss further with him. You are definitely not unusual, this is a struggle we all have, may God richly bless you and help you to see His will, when we are in His will we will know joy, peace and prosperity, even while the things around us may not seem that way. We are starting a Men’s Group at First St Johns, maybe associating with Christian men in a small group setting might help you to get a better perspective, help you to feel less isolated. And our Coffee Break Bible Study meets at the church 140 W King St in York, Pa. 10am Wednesday mornings, park right behind the church and go in the back door.
Pastor Jim Driskell

Satan prowls to inflict trials on us

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Satan prowls to inflict trials on us
First St Johns June 1, 2014

Lord we raise up to You Jesus’ prayer that we are Yours, that we are in the world, but subject to the attacks of the world, subject to maliciousness of Satan and his demons, the malignant attacks of Satan to inflict death. We know that Your Holy Spirit protects us, but we also know that being foreigners in this world that we will be attacked. We are behind enemy lines and while we are faithful to You, we will be hated and people will speak evil about us. We know Father that You watch over us, protect us and ultimately return us to be with You, in the world You intended for us, to be citizens of the New Jerusalem. We make our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son and in the Name of God the Holy Spirit and all those who are saved and protected in Jesus Christ said … AMEN!
He has risen! He has risen indeed Hallelujah. We are now at the end of the Easter season, we held Ascension Day worship on Thursday, only a few of you are probably aware of that… Our Gospel reading this morning is part of Jesus’ great priestly prayer. His prayer could be characterized in legal terms of His summary argument, He is at the end of His ministry in the incarnation. Only about half His prayer is in today’s reading, the prayer is a lot of what Jesus’ entire purpose was in the incarnation: “I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou has given Me to do.” The Greek word teleio,w this same word is used by Jesus shortly after His prayer, John’s Gospel says that Jesus’ last word on the cross was tete,lestai which is the passive form of teleio,w In His “Priestly” prayer, He is saying that the goal He has been sent to accomplish has been achieved. On the cross He is saying that the goal He has been sent to accomplish has been achieved through Him. In the Coast Guard while you are conducting a mission, there are a series of messages sent to the next level of command, at my station we would send what are called “sitreps” to Group Boston on the progress of the mission, there would be a final “sitrep”, situation report, that would report the outcome of the mission. In Jesus’ final “sitrep” He is reporting to the Father that I have “glorified” You in My life. He goes on to say I have also organized a group of disciples who will be going into the world to be our avpo,stoloj our representatives, our messengers. They are still disciples, still learners, as Christians always are, but now they are God’s messengers, which we also become when we are taught and confirmed in the faith. Jesus is saying I have accomplished this goal of the incarnation. When Jesus is on the cross He is saying that the goal of redemption has been accomplished through Him, the sins of the world have been redeemed, they have been paid for, it has been done/finished through Him.
In His “High Priestly Prayer”, Jesus now goes on to say: “I have given them Thy word; and ‘the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” When we are in Jesus we are like Him, that we are not of this world, we are of Him, in this world. Jesus goes on to say: “I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” The “evil one” can be translated to be the “vicious one, lewd, malicious, malignant, one who inflicts pain, causes calamity, affliction”. When we hear the word “malignant” what do we usually think of? … A malignant cancer. What is a “malignant cancer”, a cancer that causes death. The “evil one” Jesus refers to, Satan and his “malignant demons”, cause death, our sin gives them the opportunity to inflict death. Jesus is praying for our protection and we are certainly protected. But we are still subject to attack and it is how we respond to those attacks that is what truly matters as disciples and apostles of Christ.
Johnny had been misbehaving and was sent to his room. After a while he emerged and informed his mother that he had thought it over and then said a prayer. “Fine” said the pleased mother, “If you ask God not to misbehave, He will help you.” “Oh”, Johnny said, “I didn’t ask Him to help me not misbehave, I asked Him to help you put up with me.” As the Father’s still imperfect children, we still misbehave, as Peter points out Satan still continues to prowl about seeking someone to devour, Satan continues to try to find ways to provoke us to misbehave and we trust that God will continue to put up with our misbehavior in response to Satan’s provocations.
I have this big brown “Day-Timer” that I keep reminders of the tasks that I want to accomplish day to day, I also keep some reminders/promises that God makes to us all and one of them is this quote from Peter. I would encourage you to keep this as a constant reminder; “Your adversary the devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Instead of “someone” though I substitute “Jim”, so it’s “the devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking Jim to devour.” This is a very compelling warning. I like to remember that the reality is, we are the foreigners, we are the outsiders, Jesus refers to Satan as the “prince of this world” (Jn 16:11 KJV). It is to recognize the reality that Satan is still very much a malignant force in this world, he inflicts death and pain and misery and provokes sin at every opportunity. When Peter tells us to remember that Satan is prowling to find someone to devour, who is he talking to? What kind of person would be reading the Bible? Christians!
The beginning of our epistle reading says: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” I’ve often had people do just that, “how can God do this, why would He let this happen to me?” First off, God isn’t “doing this”, God does not inflict evil. But He does permit Satan to inflict evil. The non-Christian just can’t seem to comprehend the world around them, they do not understand that evil can afflict them, I’ve heard so many people say something to the effect that they are somehow entitled to be protected, they shouldn’t be subject to evil. The more accurate question would be “how can evil not happen to me?” Those who are so worldly, who think they are so sophisticated in the ways of the world, demonstrate amazing ignorance when their attitude is that they should be somehow immune to the “fiery trial”. The sad part is that they are not just subject to trial here, but through eternity they will continue to suffer. While we Christians are subject to trial, we are still under Jesus’ protection. Last week I referred to the Book of Revelation when God removes His protection from the earth. We think the earth is evil now, we whine about our trials, we are protected, because of Jesus’ prayer, we are cared for and watched over. As Christians, we do have a target on our back. Let’s face it, for those who do not know Jesus, for those who are lost, those who are condemned, there really isn’t much point for Satan to attack them. For those of us who do know Christ, who are saved in Him, who are not of this world, but still in this world, we are the targets, we are going to be subject to the roaring lion, Satan wants to undermine us, wants to deprive us of the perfect world that we are going to and he will never know. But since we are protected by the Holy Spirit we are spared the worst. Even if we die as a result of Satan’s attack what happens to us? We are in the presence of the Lord. Death for the Christian is only the start, the next stop on the road to the perfect life in the resurrection. Peter points out something that we should be regularly and painfully aware of “…the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” What you are going through maybe difficult, but there are Christians that are experiencing pain and deprivation even as we sit in the comfort of our beautiful church and that pain is a result of their faithfulness to Jesus. In our times of trial we need to remember Peter’s assurance: “…the God of all grace, … will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you…”
Don’t be surprised by the “fiery trial”, it will happen. We can’t allow ourselves to be devoured by Satan in our bitterness. Spend some time in your journal and really dissect this passage from Peter. What trials are you going through, relatives, friends, those who the Holy Spirit puts in your life to witness to? How can you give them hope and strength through this promise of Christ? The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Shalom and Amin.

Fear and awe of Him who wants what is best for us, He loves us very much.

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This is from Henry Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day “Those who perceive God as a benevolent and gentle grandfather will treat their sin superficially. They will worship halfheartedly. They will live life on their own terms rather than God’s.”

That really is the way we are in this day and age, it’s all about me, I know best, everyone/ everything is here for my convenience, my pleasure. Come on, you know what Blackaby is talking about. We think of God today as an indulgent, enabling, kind of senile, out of it old man. We reject the Old Testament, because “oh my that has to be a different God…” Really? How do you figure? We paint Jesus to be a sort of milquetoast, meek and mild. This is the same guy who said, ““Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matt 10:34 ESV, Bible Hub) Cleansing the temple, confronting the Pharisees. In the Old Testament, Yahweh directed Israel to destroy the people in Palestine. These people were profoundly evil, sacrificing their babies, temple prostitution worshipping false “god’s” by trying to pacify evil “gods”. Yahweh wanted His people, Israel, to go into a land where they would not be influenced by evil of these people. To give them a chance to be isolated from the pagan evil around them. They didn’t, the Old Testament is all about Israel/us playing around with evil, getting in trouble, being saved by God, rinse, repeat.

God is perfectly just, He does not tolerate sin. Hey I’m as guilty as anyone, justifying sin as a “mistake”, an isolated incident, misjudgment, whatever gratuitous phrase we like to use. I don’t see anywhere that God has suspended the Ten Commandments, yet we all break them without so much as a “how do you do.” Yes we are all sinners and we do offend God, but for those who are in Christ they are forgiven. They do fear God, fear in the sense of respect, awe, treating Him in the manner that we should treat the Creator, Sustainer and Judge of everything. I really think that deserves profound respect, instead of the casual nod we usually give.

“One of the great condemnations of our day may be that we have lost the fear of God. We promote Him as a ‘best friend’ who saves us and ‘lives in our hearts’, but we do not fear Him.” For many of us, our human dads were stern, they could be fearsome. Often they would act angrily and lash out. Hey, dads are human too, I’m one, I know. But come on, our dads wanted what was best for us, they wanted to send mature, responsible, decent people into the world. To do that, yea sometimes their wrath would be manifested (like that little turn of phrase?). We should want to grow closer to God, to His nature. We can’t achieve that, but that’s where we should be moving. Instead we move towards self-idolatry, living in our self-absored adolescence, convinced that it’s all about us and we don’t owe anyone, no less God anything.

  The world is a dangerous place, no less spiritually then physically. Frankly spiritually it’s far more dangerous. Physically most of us will be fairly safe and die from some break down in our body. Spiritually? Heck check out television, all the people around us, what government is moving towards compelling us to do, what it already does impose. The world is continually trying to position us to compromise our relationship with God. Too often we go along with it expecting that God is supposed to just give us a wave. That’s not the lesson of the Old Testament, heck ever read Revelation, New Testament? 

Blackaby closes by saying “If you find that you have become complacent with God’s commands and have become comfortable in your sin, you are completely isolated from God’s holiness. Take time to meditate upon the awesome holiness of God and allow the Holy Spirit to instill into your life a proper reverence for almighty God.” There can be no question that God loves you, if you are in Christ you are His adopted child. As His child He expects to be treated as the great and awesome God that He is. He wants what is best for you, He is God, He knows what is best for you. If we understand that, why wouldn’t we want God’s way in our lives and put aside our adolescent understanding?

Vocation doing good works for our neighbor.

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I’m going to do you a big favor, I am going to bring you a little up to speed on our Coffee Break group on Wednesday mornings, 10am at First St Johns. We are studying Dr Gene Veith’s book God at Work. If you are a Christian and you work you should, at least, read this book and really should be part of a group that’s sharing and studying this book.

Anyway, Dr Veith talks about good works “which are primarily done within vocation, are the fruits of faith.” He goes on to point out an issue which is important whether we are talking about vocation or any aspect of life: “Good works are done not for God but for the neighbor. The whole purpose of every vocation is to ‘love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt 22:39).” Let’s face it, for most of us our neighbor is the person in the cube next to you, like it or not, you’re going to know that person a heckuva lot better than the folks that live in the house next door to the house you live in.

Dr Veith goes on to make a point that cannot be stressed enough, vocation is something wherein we are serving and not harming. I’ve heard stories of people claiming to be “strippers for Jesus” or someone who is pushing different kinds of activities that are really about feeding our base desires, versus uplifting us, helping us to be more in touch with God versus just feeding our appetites, that is making us the idol of our life. I’m not saying we can’t have fun, we can’t enjoy life but when it’s something that’s violating commandments or Jesus’ word, that’s not acceptable. Come on, if you’re watching a woman taking her clothes off aren’t we talking Matthew 5:28? “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” And that goes for ladies lusting after beefcake. If we are pursuing politics hatefully, and that goes both ways, trying to make pariah out of people versus dealing with the issues. The “Good time Charlie” guy I wrote about recently, and, sorry if this offends someone, the pawn broker, the pay day advance guy, the banker who charges $10 to cash checks written on their bank. These are pure and simple attempts to take advantage of the poor, Jesus of course says “…‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matt 25:40) I’ve heard all the arguments, but one has to ask themself, as a Christian should I be tempting my brothers/sisters with sex, greed, gluttony, envy on and on. “If follows that not every occupation or way of making a living can be a vocation. Being a drug dealer is not a calling from God. This particular job does not involve loving one’s neighbors; rather it harms them. Occupations such as thief, embezzler, contract killer and other crimes would also be outside the pale of vocation. They are intrinsically sinful. They show no love and service. God is not hidden in them. Only the Devil is.”
“Even some legal jobs are not legitimate vocations. An abortionist is not loving and serving his neighbor, the child in the womb … Making or selling products that are legal but harmful is no vocation from God. Nor is making or selling products that do not benefit the neighbor – all of the legal scams, bogus medicines and wastes of money that are on the market today. Being a member of the ‘idle rich’ is no vocation, unless the wealth is used somehow, throug productive investment or philanthropy, to be of benefit to someone else.” He goes on to discuss those in the entertainment industry. I will discuss that later.
I realize I’m preaching to the choir, those who are probably reading this are striving to be faithful in their vocation. We have all had interaction with things that do not build up, that we have failed at, at one point in our life. We may have failed, and we have repented, been forgiven and God has taught has and taken us forward in our life. That doesn’t mean that others should do the same things, maybe we went through experiences to be a positive influence on others. But there will be folks you are going to come into contact with who are going to push these thoughts on you. The whole discussion of the “Adult Book Store” being put in, yea the abortion clinic, other places where kids really don’t need to be hanging out at. Are these places or occupations that are building us up, trying to make us better people in a better community, serving Christ or is it serving our individual lusts and desires? You’re not going to be popular making a stand for a Christian world view, Jesus told us that the world would hate us. But are you concerned with character and integrity or are you more concerned with being “popular”?

Lifting up concerns like this at work, may not be a good “career move”, but maybe your neighbor in the next cube needs you to stand up, maybe he/she needs you to serve them directly. God doesn’t usually give us “easy” issues and when it comes to our vocation, or seeing others abuse their vocation, it is definitely difficult. Yea, you want to pray over these things, and maybe in terms of “am I serving the Lord, first and foremost, am I serving my family in terms of my vocation, am I serving my neighbor.

God bless, park right behind the church, take the door right off the parking lot and it’s the first room on the right for our “Coffee Break Bible Study”, First St Johns 140 W King St. Image