The Newborn Jesus

Our reading is Luke 2:1-20, the traditional Gospel reading for Christmas. You know the story. There was a young woman by the name of Mary. In her world life began young because life ended early. Biblical scholars tell us she could have been as young as fourteen or fifteen years old. Her world saw her as a nice and respectable young girl. However, God saw more. I have no clue how many women have ever lived in the history of the world, but God chose Mary to be the mother of His son. Sexually innocent, the Holy Spirit came upon her and she conceived. Her pregnancy changed and complicated her life. She would need some help raising her baby and that help came in the name of Joseph. When he married Mary, he didn’t just sign up to help raise another man’s son – he signed up to help raise the son of God. The baby was born in Joseph’s hometown of Bethlehem. As directed, they named the baby Jesus, which means “Savior.”

According to the Centers of Disease Control, approximately 9,800 babies are born each day in America, 3,577,000 annually. According to the United Nations, approximately 385,000 babies are born each day in the world, 140,525,000 annually. That is a lot of babies, but Mary’s baby was different. Jesus was the only baby of divine origin. Jesus was the incarnation of God. In other words, Jesus was God! Just ponder that fact for a moment. God left the perfection of heaven to enter this imperfect world. It is more than the human mind can grasp. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) said, “The incarnation of God is beyond all human understanding.” The newborn Jesus changed everything. Consider three things with me.

First, the newborn Jesus demonstrated the depth of God’s love for us. In other words, Jesus exposed the heart of God. He wasn’t satisfied studying us from heaven. God chose to enter this world and become one of us. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” God came into the world to tell us that He loves us!

Danish theologian and philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) told the story of a prince who was running an errand for his father one day in the local village. As he did so, he passed through a very poor section of the village. Looking through the window of his carriage, he saw a beautiful young peasant girl walking along the street. It was love at first sight. He could not forget her. He returned to the village, day after day, just to see her. His heart yearned for her, but there was a problem – how could he develop a relationship with her? He was the prince and she was a peasant. He could order her to marry him. It was within his power to do so, but he wanted this girl to love him from her heart, willingly. He could put on his royal garments and impress her with his regal entourage, drive up to her front door with soldiers and a carriage drawn by six horses. But if he did this, he would never be certain that the girl loved him or was simply overwhelmed with his power, position and wealth. The prince came up with another solution – he moved into the village dressed only as a peasant. He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language. In time, the young peasant grew to know him, and then to love him. In time, they married. That is the story of Christmas! The newborn Jesus demonstrated the depth of God’s love for us.

Second, the newborn Jesus revealed our greatest human need. Many believe our greatest human need is money. Some believe our greatest human need is to be loved and accepted. God knows our greatest human need is to be forgiven. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Someone once wrote these memorable words:

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;

If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;

If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

You cannot earn your salvation by your good deeds. Our only hope of salvation is with Jesus. Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? The newborn Jesus exposed our greatest human need.

The purpose of your life is a fundamental human question. Some of the greatest minds in human history have tried to answer it, Socrates (470-300 BC), Aristotle (384-322 BC), Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) and Albert Cumus (1913-1960). American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” The Westminster Confession of faith says that the purpose of life is to glorify God.

Third, the newborn Jesus is the origin of our divine purpose. 1 Timothy 3:16 says, “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” That verse tells us the difference Jesus has made in our world. The question is how much of a difference has Jesus made in your life?

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, the newborn Jesus is the origin of your purpose. If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you know two things. First, you know you are going to heaven. Thirty-three years after his birth, Jesus died on the cross for your sins. He was the perfect sacrifice. Jesus did all the work. Your salvation is the greatest gift you will ever receive. Second, as a person of integrity, you are going to find a new way every day to thank God for saving your soul. Your purpose is not your vocation. Your purpose is not your testimony. Your purpose is to glorify God. What have you done lately to thank God for saving your soul? We are to be practicing today what we are going to do in heaven for eternity. The newborn Jesus is the origin of your purpose.

The newborn Jesus changed everything! First, the baby Jesus exposed the heart of God. His love is so deep he became one of us. Second, the birth and mission of Jesus revealed our greatest human need, forgiveness; He is our only hope of salvation. Third and finally, the newborn Jesus is the origin of our divine purpose which is to glorify God! English writer Charles Dickens (1812-1870) once wrote, “It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty founder was a child himself.”

An American Tradition

Historians tell us the first recorded thanksgiving took place in Jamestown, Virginia. The winter of 1610 had been harsh at Jamestown. Many settlers died. The group that once totaled 409 had been reduced to 60. Tradition tells us the survivors prayed for help, without knowing when or how it might come. When help arrived, in the form of a ship filled with food and supplies from England, a prayer meeting was held to give thanks to God, and the tradition continued.

The Thanksgiving Day we recall annually occurred in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. The Pilgrims wanted to go to Virginia, but they arrived in New England in November 1620. There was no time to build permanent shelters, so they survived that first winter in crude temporary housing. In time, disease and death came, only 51 of the original 102 saw the arrival of spring. When the warmer weather came, the Pilgrims were forced to make a painful choice. Their ship, the Mayflower, was a rented ship. They could stay in the New World or return to England. Obviously, they stayed and their fortunes began to change. Friendly Native Americans helped them plant 30 acres of wheat and build permanent shelters. By the fall of 1621, their homes were built, and their crops were harvested. They decided to observe a day of thanksgiving to thank God for His blessings. The tradition of gratitude continued.

In 1783, George Washington (1732-1799) declared a “Thanksgiving Day” because the Revolution was over. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) proclaimed the last Thursday in November 1863 as “a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father.” Each year afterward, for 75 years, the President formally proclaimed that Thanksgiving Day should be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) set it one week earlier to help the struggling economy. Expressing gratitude is an American tradition. That takes us to our scripture reading.

Our reading is Luke 17:11-19, the traditional Gospel lesson for Thanksgiving. Jesus was traveling near the border of Samaria and Galilee. As he travels, he encounters various people, including ten lepers. The disease still exists in the world today. In the United States approximately 100 cases of leprosy are reported annually. Leprosy is a highly contagious skin disease caused by a certain bacterium. Today, it is treatable. In Jesus’s day, it was not.

In Jesus’s day victims of leprosy were forced to live in isolation, away from family and friends, in leper colonies. That is the story of the ten men in our reading. They are living with leprosy without any hope of a cure. Their only hope is Jesus, because he was known for his healing power. The law prevented them from having contact with Jesus, so they yell at Jesus as he passes. Their plan worked and Jesus heals each one. They are inspected by a priest and reenter society. However, the story does not end there. Only one of the ten returns to Jesus to say, “thank-you.” The other nine resume their lives. That fact does not escape Jesus. Never underestimate the power of gratitude. How many truly grateful people do you know?

History tells us the multimillionaire, Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) gave a distant relative a one-million-dollar gift. At the same time, Carnegie gave $365 million to various public charities. The relative cursed Carnegie because he only received one-million-dollars. That is like receiving $17 million in our world today. He wanted more. Maybe that is the story of our time? God has given us so much, but we complain because we want more.

In this blog, I want to help you cultivate a grateful spirit. I am going to ask you three questions. These questions are not original; they come from the Japanese self-reflective practice called Naikan. There is a balance between these three questions. If you answer these three questions honestly, you will find yourself more grateful. In the end, you will be like the one leper who returned to Jesus to say, “thank-you.”

Thanksgiving is rooted in hardship. One of the perks of being a pastor was sharing sacred moments with my parishioners. Sometimes, a joyful experience like a wedding, birth or baptism. Sometimes, it is rooted in some of life’s most challenging moments. I talked regularly about others’ health and diseases. I visited nursing homes and visited people who didn’t remember me. I heard about their broken relationships and their disappointments. Those things never wore me down. They had the opposite effect. Daily, I would return home and think, “I have no problems.” Other people’s challenges made my little problems disappear. Years ago, I learned hard times make you appreciate the good times. That is what makes this Gospel story so perplexing.

This is question number one: what have you received? In the story, all ten received healing, but only one came back to express gratitude. How much have you received in your life? The list is endless, so think of the basics. God has given you life, free will, providence, relationships, and the opportunity of salvation. When was the last time you said, “Thank you!” for the basics of life.

Henrietta “Hetty” Green (1834-1916) was a stockbroker. Some called her called “The Witch of Wall Street,” because she was a stockbroking legend. When she died in 1916, her net worth was $200,000,000. Today, she would be worth $4 billion, but she hated spending money. There is no other way to say it, she was cheap. Her only piece of clothing was a long flowing black dress. She lived in her office and abandoned her apartment to save money. People hated going to her office because she turned off the heat to save money. For a long period of time, she only ate cold oatmeal because heating it cost too much.

W. Clement Stone (1902-2002) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He once said, “If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.” That is exactly what he did. Over his lifetime he gave away over $275 million. He gave to civic groups, mental health groups, Christian organizations, the Boys Club of America and the National Music Camp. He once said, “All I want to do is change the world.” Can I ask you a question? Are you more like “Hetty” Green, the cheap-skate? Or are you more like W. Clement Stone, the philanthropist?

This is question number two: what have you given? You don’t have to give a million dollars away, but you must give something away. It is all part of being in a community. It is all part of being a Christian. You can give financially. There are many non-profits who need help, including your local church. You can give your time and talents. In other words, volunteer and use your skills. You can give tangible goods, like some homemade items or care packages. You can give away kindness by helping a neighbor or listening to a friend. What are you going to give away to help someone else this Thanksgiving?

Several months ago, the FBI released the hate crime statistics for 2024. The numbers aren’t pretty. There were 11,679 incidents reported that year, creating 12,443 victims. The crimes were rooted in racism, religious intolerance, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Things are not getting better. The number may be worse at the conclusion of this year. If you are reading this blog, there is a good chance you are not guilty of a hate crime. However, that does not mean you are completely innocent.

This is question number three: what harm have you caused? Romans 3:23 says, All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” That means you and I are sinners. What sins have you committed? The Seven Deadly Sins are a grouping of major vices within the teaching of Christianity. Do you remember them?

1. Pride

2. Greed

3. Lust

4. Envy

5. Gluttony

6. Wrath

7. Sloth

Which one of those seven do you relate to the most? What harm have you caused? How grateful are you? How did you answer the questions? I hope you are cultivating a grateful spirit because expressing gratitude is part of the American tradition.

Expressing gratitude is an American tradition. The question is, are you going to continue the tradition? Thanksgiving is more than a meal. It has been said many times, Thanksgiving is not a holiday, it is an attitude. How grateful are you?

Great Expectations

According to the Bible, Abram was selected by God to be the father of a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) His descendants were to be as numerous as the stars of the sky. To emphasize the point, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. Abram means “exalted father.” Abraham means “father of many nations.” Yet, Abraham only had one child with his wife Sarah – Isaac. They were advanced in age when he was born. Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety.

According to our reading, Genesis 25:19-26, Isaac was sixty years old when he became a father. Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, gave birth to fraternal twin boys. The boys’ relationship was stormy from the very beginning. Genesis 25:22 says they even wrestled with one another in the womb. At birth, their differences were exposed to the world. The first baby was red and hairy. He must have been a handsome lad. They named him Esau, which means “hairy.” The second baby, named Jacob, had a fighting spirit. He came into the world grabbing his brother’s heel. Jacob means “seizing his brother’s heel.” The differences between the two did not vanish as they grew. They became more pronounced. Esau, the hairy one, became a great outdoorsman. Jacob, the heel grabber, stayed near the tents.

In many ways, before Esau and Jacob took their first breath, the die was cast for their lives. There were expectations placed on them. Those expectations came from different sources. There were societal expectations. There were family expectations. There were divine expectations. Those same expectations are influencing us. No, we are not masters of our own destiny; we are not the captain of our own lives. To a certain degree, we are products of our surroundings. They are one of the reasons this ancient story speaks to us. Like us, Esau and Jacob were products of their surroundings too. In this blog I want to look at those three expectations.

There are societal expectations. Sociologists call them societal norms. They are unwritten rules of behavior, thought, and conduct that are accepted as appropriate within a specific group or culture. Let me give you a few examples. They are in no particular order:

1. Giving Christmas presents

2. Leaving a tip for a server

3. Saying please and thank you

4. Avoid burping in public

5. Chewing gum with no sound

6. Chewing food with your mouth closed

7. Cleanliness

8. Brushing your teeth

9. Opening the door for a lady

10. Surrendering your seat to an elderly person

Do I have to go on? You get the point. There are certain things our society expects. Obviously, society expects different things from men and women. It is true of our generation, and it was true of Esau’s and Jacob’s generation as well. From the moment they entered this world their culture was telling them how to act. From the moment you enter this world our culture has been telling you the proper way to act. We are influenced by societal expectations. If you don’t believe me, then don’t give any Christmas presents this year.

There are family expectations. My youngest daughter, Anna, and I graduated from the same college, the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. As a matter of fact, her major was the same as my major, Business Administration. In several classes we had the same professors thirty-four years apart. My father never told me two things. He never said to me, “I love you.” He never said to me, “I am proud of you.” Now, it is too late. I didn’t want to make that same mistake, so I have told Anna countless times those two things. I told her on the day she graduated from college. Anna responded by saying, “Dad, I don’t know why you are so impressed. I thought we were expected to go to college!“

What does your family expect from you? Studies tell us most follow the same political party as their parents. Most are the same religion as their parents. The food we eat is influenced by our parents. Our behavior and values are influenced by our parents. Our goals and skills are influenced by our parents. The way we communicate is influenced by our parents. Our priorities are influenced by our parents. When I ask couples getting married, “Whose relationship do you admire the most?” They don’t say David (born 1975) and Victoria Beckham (born 1974). They say their parents. Esau and Jacob were influenced by their family too. Have you ever considered how your parents influenced you? Have you ever considered how influential you are on your children?

There are divine expectations. The World Population Review studied various factors in 184 countries to discover the happiest country in the world. According to them, Finland is the happiest country in the world. Then comes Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Israel. The most unhappy country in the world is Afghanistan. I am not surprised. I was surprised the United States is the twentieth happiest country in the world. I find that interesting. Obviously, money can’t buy happiness. The United States holds 32% of the world’s wealth. The question is: why are we number twenty? Many have been trying to figure out our low ranking. You can point to the rising cost of healthcare, political division or inflation. Those factors don’t help, but there is a spiritual answer that cannot be ignored.

Someone asked Jesus the question, “What is the greatest commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36) Jesus answers the question, “You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) That means you are to love God completely. In other words, God is to be the top priority in your life. That is what God expects. I believe we are number twenty because God is no longer a priority in our society. We are no longer preoccupied with our divine purpose. Today, we are preoccupied with our incomes. Many entered their vocation because of the high earning potential, ignoring personal satisfaction. That would explain why the Harris Research Group reported recently 40% of Americans are unhappy at their jobs. Money isn’t everything and money can’t buy happiness. Have you ever considered what God wants you to do? America is spiritually out of balance. How great of a priority is God in your life? Let me end with this story.

A young psychology student serving in the Army decided to test a theory. Drawing kitchen duty, he was given the job of passing out apricots at the end of the chow line. He asked the first few soldiers that came by, “You don’t want any apricots, do you?” Ninety percent said “No.” Then he tried the positive approach: “You do want apricots, don’t you?” About half answered, “Uh, yeah. I’ll take some.” Then he tried a third test, based on the fundamental either/or selling technique. This time he asked, “One dish of apricots or two?” Although soldiers don’t like Army apricots, 40 percent took two dishes, and 50 percent took one!

Expectations are influential. It has always been true. The society in which you live influences our lives. The families in which you were born influence your life. God should be influencing your life. How much is God influencing your life? American inventor and engineer Charles F. Kettering (1876-1958) once said, “High achievements always take place in the framework of high expectations.”

Childish Is Not Childlike

It was the custom for mothers to bring their children to rabbis for a blessing. They wanted their children to receive a divine touch for a good life. That is what is happening in our reading, Mark 10:13-16. This is not an isolated case. It must have happened many times. The Gospel of Mark emphasizes the great crowds that followed Jesus, so it is safe to say that many mothers brought their children on that day. The only problem was their timing.

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and his showdown with the orthodox leaders of the faith. At this point in his ministry, Jesus has become a controversial figure. Some loved him. Others hated him. Jesus was in the eye of a great storm. The adults recognize the seriousness of the situation, but the children missed it. Trying to protect Jesus, the disciples tried to dismiss the children. He had enough on his mind. When Jesus saw what the disciples were doing, he does something truly amazing. During that stressful time in his life, he takes time for the children. To Jesus, children were important.

Look at the text with me. Verse 14 quotes Jesus. He said, “Let the little children come to me do not hinder them for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” In verse 15 Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” So, what can children teach us? In this blog, I want to examine three great childlike qualities. They exist naturally in the young, but we need to reclaim them. The first one is gratitude.

Years ago, a baby boy was born blind. Naturally, his parents were devastated. During those dark days, the boy formed a special relationship with a little stuffed teddy bear, which he had never seen. The bear was worn and only had one eye. The boy didn’t care. When the boy was five years old, his parents took him for his annual physical examination. It was at that appointment; their doctor gave them some hope. A new kind of surgery had been developed at the Massachusetts General Hospital, that may give their son sight. Several months later, the five-year-old boy, his worn one-eyed teddy bear and his parents flew to Boston. They met the doctor. The doctor met the boy holding his one-eyed teddy bear. After the boy’s examination, the doctor believed the eye surgery would work. The doctor wasn’t wrong. When the patches were removed from his eyes, the boy saw for the first time. The first thing the boy looked at was his one-eyed teddy bear. The boy’s parents began to cry, and the doctor smiled. Everyone looked at the boy. He held out his best friend in the world, the one-eyed teddy bear, toward the doctor and said, “I have no money to give you. Please take my teddy bear. He has a hard time seeing too! Thank-you!” Today, on the tenth floor of the White Building of the Massachusetts General Hospital there is a display case. Inside that display case is a one-eyed teddy bear. In front of that one-eyed bear is a card that reads: This is the highest fee I have ever received for my professional services rendered.”

The first childlike quality you need to reclaim is gratitude. Adults tend to feel self-important. We tend to feel like we deserve everything we have, because we work hard and take great pride in our accomplishments. That is not the story of children. Untouched, children are naturally humble and thankful for what they have. How grateful are you? The second childlike quality you need to reclaim is love.

Will Willimon (born 1946) served as a United Methodist Bishop for eight years. At one point, he served as Dean of the Chapel at Duke University. He is considered one America’s most known and most influential preachers. He tells the story of one Christmas Eve while he was at Duke. His wife was away helping her sick father, so he was left alone with their children. He rushed his children into the car for the annual Christmas Eve communion service, because he was running behind. Somewhere between their home and the church his youngest daughter, five-year-old Harriet, got sick, the kind that required a bucket! There was no time to go home, so he took his daughter and his other children to the service. He paced Harriet in the last row of the balcony, far away from anyone. He placed his other children near the front. It was the best he could do. He confessed, once the service began, he forgot about them. When communion was served, he looked down and there was his youngest son, seven-year-old William. He took the little wafer and a cup of juice. William then took a second wafer and little cup pf juice. Willimon was going to correct him, but his hands were tied. He was in front of a large crowd. William disappeared for a second but then he reappeared. However, he wasn’t near the front of the chapel. He was in the back row of the balcony sitting next to his little sister, giving her the wafer and the little cup of juice. He sat next to her, and she placed her head on his shoulder. Seven-year-old William taught his father a very important lesson. No one should be forgotten. Everyone deserves some love.

The second childlike quality you need to reclaim is unconditional is love. Adults tend to love selectively. Children love unconditionally. Mother Teresa (1910-1997) once said, “The greatest problem facing the world today is that we draw our family circles too small.” Children love everyone, even those individuals that we have forgotten. How loving are you? The first childlike quality we need to reclaim is gratitude. The second childlike quality we need to reclaim is love. The third childlike quality we need to reclaim is trust.

American author Tim Hansel (1941-2009) told a story about his son, Zac. They were rock climbing, when Tim heard Zac yell, “Hey Dad! Catch me! Zac then jumped and Tim miraculously caught him. For a few minutes no one talked. Then, Tim asked Zac, “why did you do that?” He responded with remarkable calmness: “Because you’re my Dad.” Zac could live life to the hilt because he trusted his father.

The third childlike quality in your life you need is trust. Adults are more independent. We do our best to handle all situations and that is not all bad. However, sometimes our problems are larger than our resources. Untouched, children trust the adults in their lives. How far do you trust God? Abraham Lincon (1809-1865) said, “Let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear.”

In the 1930s a prayer was released named “Two Prayers.” It is the perfect ending to this blog.

Last night my boy confessed to me:

Some childish wrong;

And kneeling at my knee

He prayed with tears –

“Dear God, Make me a man

like Daddy – wise and strong,

I know you can.”

Then while he slept

I knelt beside his bed,

Confessed my sins

And prayed with low bowed head,

‘Make me a child

Like my child here-

Pure, guileless,

Trusting thee with faith sincere. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Living in the Light

Meteorologists tell us the darkest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is December 21, the winter solstice. In my hometown we experience 14 hours and 56 minutes of darkness on that day. However, I do not consider December 21 the darkest day of the year. I consider January 2 to be the darkest day of the year. We experience 14 more minutes of sunlight on January 2 than on December 21, but darkness reigns on that day. Christmas is over, and Christmas lights have grown dark. I have always found Ohio winters to be hard, not because of the cold, but because of the darkness. I much prefer living in the light. I am not alone. That takes us to our scripture reading, Genesis 1:1-5.

Tradition tells us Moses wrote the Book of Genesis, along with Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Together, they are called the Pentateuch. They were written approximately 1,400 years before the birth of Christ. Genesis means “birth,” “genealogy,” or “history of origin.” It is the perfect title for the book because it summarizes the theme of the entire book. Our reading tells us how it all began. They are the opening words to the creation story.

According to the Bible, God created the world in six days, resting on the seventh. God is the main character in the Bible. In the Bible, God’s existence is never questioned, he always existed. In our reading, the original language, Hebrew, exposes Jesus was part of the creation because Jesus is divine. The first verse says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In verse two we learn darkness reigned until God acted. In other words, only chaos, disorder, danger and the unknown existed. In verse three, God introduces light. It is the opposite of darkness. Light brings order, safety and knowledge. In verses four and five, we are told God was pleased with the light, so he separated the dark and the light. The darkness was called “night” and the light “day.” I find it interesting everything began when light was brought into the story. This is certainly not the last time light is mentioned in the Bible.

The word light is used 272 times in the Bible. Sometimes, light means something that glows, like a campfire, firefly or a flashlight. Sometimes, it means more. In the Bible, light symbolizes God’s presence, purity, truth and spiritual illumination. In 1 John 1:5, God is described as light. In John 8:12, Jesus described himself as the “light of the world.” That verse says, “Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” I have been walking in that light for over fifty years. I feel sorry for people who are groping in the dark because life is hard for everyone.

When you live in the light of Christ, you are forgiven. Ephesians 1:7 says, “in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Forgiveness in the Christian faith runs contrary to our world. According to the Bible, we are forgiven by God when we forgive others. That is the point of the parable of the unmerciful servant, Matthew 18:21-35. True peace with God is only possible when we forgive others. Who do you need to forgive?

When you live in the light, you have hope. Roman 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. According to a recent Harvard Youth Poll, 51% of young Americans feel hopeless. That is a sad figure because they live in a wonderful country. America is still the land of opportunity. However, with that opportunity comes responsibility. It was a wonderful day when I discovered it all didn’t depend on me. God has been taking care of me from the very beginning. Living in the light means I am not alone. God is with me, and God is with everyone who is living in the light. Those who chose to live in the darkness only see loneliness. Matthew 19:26 says, “With God all things are possible.”

When you live in the light of Christ, you have a purpose for living. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Discovering your divine purpose is vital. I am fortunate that my vocation and my purpose were one. For many they are not. God created you for a purpose. You were not born to be a consumer. You were not born to amass wealth. You were born to glorify God and work in his kingdom. What are you doing to glorify God?

When you live in the light, you have salvation. John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” This is the unpleasant reality – no one gets out of the world alive. We are all terminal from birth. However, that is not the end. For those who live in the light there is more. One of the great promises in the Christian faith is salvation. When I leave this world, I will go home. In other words, I will be in heaven with fellow believers. Are you still questioning your salvation?

Years ago, I was visiting someone in the hospital. They were in the intensive care unit. On my way out of the ICU, I stuck my head into the family waiting room. You never know who you will find. On that day, I found a woman I knew. She was surrounded by her family. She gave me a hug and introduced me to her family. Everyone greeted me warmly, except one brother. He was having a hard time. They told me their other brother was a patient, and things weren’t going well. I asked them if I could pray with them. They all said, “Yes!” except for the struggling brother. He looked at me and said, “No! What the hell has your God done for me?” The family apologized for his harsh words, but I wasn’t upset. I felt sorry for the hurting man. He was struggling because he was living in the dark. He only saw chaos, disorder, danger and the unknown.

How many people do you know are living in spiritual darkness? I prefer living in the light because life is more tolerable. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) once said, “I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun – not because I can see it, but because by it I can see everything else.”

Five Christian Qualities

Our reading is Ephesians 4:1-6. The epistle to the Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul in the year 60 from a Roman prison cell. I had the good fortune to Ephesus, located in present day Turkey, several years ago. The ruins are a reminder of her glorious past. In Paul’s day, Ephesus was the most important city in western Asia Minor because it was on the intersection of international trade routes which made it a commercial giant. Paul stayed in Ephesus for two years to export the Gospel to every corner of his world. This epistle does not address any bad problems or heresy. The church was perfect, but that is not good enough. Paul writes this letter to challenge the Ephesians to expand their understanding of God’s plan of salvation. He reminds them, and us, to never be satisfied with our spiritual state. It is not enough to claim our salvation and rest on our laurels. We must press on to perfection. In the first three chapters of Ephesians Paul explains the role the church must play in God’s plan of salvation.

In the fourth chapter, Paul addresses the qualities each church member must develop in their spiritual journey. There are five qualities true believers must develop. There is no other way to say it – Paul sets the standard high and expects a great deal from us. You can call these five qualities a challenge to grow spiritually. We should never be satisfied with our present spiritual state. We should always be striving for perfection, because we are supposed to be a little more like Jesus every day. Paul challenged the Ephesians to grow spiritual, so I have the license to challenge you. I want to challenge you because I don’t want you to be the weakest link of your church.

The first Christian quality is humility. It is interesting to note that the ancient world despised the word humility. Even today, humility is looked down upon. We look up to people who are confident, if not arrogant. However, humility is one of the most misunderstood words in the English language. Humility does not mean you lack any confidence or skills, it means something completely different. It is identifying your strengths and using them for a greater good. If you want to be a humble person, then you must do two things. First, you must know yourself. You must know what you can do and what you cannot do. You must know what you believe and your core values. You must accept yourself as you are. God does not make junk. Do you know yourself? Second, you must compare yourself to Jesus. Let’s be honest, there is no comparison. If you do those two things, then you will use your God-given gifts to God’s glory. God has created you for a specific reason. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) once said, “Christian humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” Do the people in your life consider you a humble person? There is humility.

The second Christian quality is gentleness. Being gentle or meek does not mean you are a doormat. It does not mean you are passionless. It means you get upset about the right things – moral issues. What upsets you? Are you more upset that the Guardians’ ownership is cheap or are you more upset, according to the United Nations, approximately 25,000 people die daily from starvation in our world? Does income disparity upset you? Do human rights violations upset you? Does it upset you that many in our world lack clean drinking water, quality education and healthcare? There is nothing wrong with getting upset about moral issues. What upsets you? Jesus was gentle or meek, and yet he got upset. Remember, Jesus got upset when the temple was used for personal profit. American author Elizabeth George (born 1946), from my hometown, Warren, Ohio, once said, “Gentleness is strength under control.” Do the people in your life consider you a gentle person? Do the people in your life consider you a meek person?There is humility. There is gentleness.

The third Christian quality is patience. Christian patience is the spirit which never admits defeat, regardless how often we are disappointed or discouraged. Yet, there is more. Christian patience never retaliates even when opportunity represents itself. Christian patience never considers abandoning Jesus. We wait patiently until Christ returns. Do the people in your life consider you a patient person?There is humility. There is gentleness. There is patience.

The fourth Christian quality is love. In Biblical Greek there are several different words for love. There is passionate love. There is community love. There is family love. The word that Paul uses here is unconquerable, benevolent love. In other words, it is the kind of love you have for someone who hates you. That kind of love is not rooted in emotions. It is rooted in self-will. There is nothing simple about that kind of love. It is reserved for the spiritually mature. Have you ever loved someone who hates you?There is humility. There is gentleness. There is patience. There is love.

The fifth is peace. There are different kinds of peace. There is political peace. There is relational peace. There is spiritual peace. On the day you accepted Jesus, you had spiritual peace and were at peace with God. Peace is vital if we are ever going to reach our full potential. It is true in the world. It is true within our families. It is true in our communities, and it is true at church. Peace is vital! Do the people in your life consider you peaceful? There is humility. There is gentleness. There is patience. There is love. There is peace.

One of the most influential preachers in my life is a man named Tom Tewell (born 1951). Today, he is the Director of the Zick Preaching Scholar Program, which helps young preachers reach their full potential. When I became aware of him, he was the pastor of the historic Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. I first heard him preach when he served as Chaplain of the Week in Lakeside, Ohio years ago. For a period, I followed him online. I listen to his sermons weekly. It was during one of those sermons he told a story that still haunts me. It still haunts me. I hope it haunts you too. This is the story.

When he was young, he had to be interviewed to be ordained. He was interviewed by a small group of Presbyterian ministers in an empty church in the middle of the week. He said, they covered various topics: systematic theology, church history, his personal life, self-care and his holy habits. He felt good about the interview, and he felt like he would be approved. That all changed in an instant. The oldest man on the interview team said, “Tom, we only have one more question – are you making any progress in the Christian faith?” Tom said he opened his mouth, but no words came out. He didn’t know how to answer the question. He was stumped. It is an excellent question.

How do you answer that question? Are you making any progress in the Christian faith? Your answer cannot be NO! Your answer cannot be I HOPE SO. Your answer cannot be I HAVE NO CLUE. Your answer must be YES because Jesus expects you to grow spiritually. You just can’t claim your salvation and rest on your laurels. Our world needs more spiritually mature Christians. The church needs more spiritually mature Christians. Are you making any progress in the Christian faith, or do you have some work to do?

C. S. Lewis’ Three Surprises

Our scripture reading is from Second Kings. There was a time when First Kings and Second Kings were united and simply called Kings. It was divided into two literary pieces in about the year 400. The division comes chronologically. King Ahab, the northern king, reigned at the same time as Jehoshaphat, the southern king. Ahab is remembered as one of the worst kings because he encouraged the people to abandon God, Yahweh, and worship the false god, Baal.

Jezebel, which means wicked or shameless, was a Phoenician princess, daughter of King Tyre. In time, she would marry King Ahab. Together, they had three children, Ahaziah, Jehoram, and Athaliah. Jezebel wanted more than the perks that came with the crown; she wanted influence. She influenced her husband to commit the most heinous of sins. She encouraged Ahab to reject the one true God and worship Baal. Together, they encouraged their subjects to worship Baal. There is no other way to say it – Jezebel was a sinner, and her death was not pleasant. Our reading, 2 Kings 9:30-37, contains her unpleasant ending.

According to the text, Jezebel is in the city of Jezreel, an ancient fortress. She was locked in a power struggle with the new king of Israel, Jehu. He is coming to seize his power, but Jezebel will not surrender easily. Jezebel climbs a high tower to survey the situation. She calls out to the new king, but their words are few. In the end, she loses everything. She is thrown out of the tower and dies on impact. Jehu saw the ugliness, but he was unmoved. He knew it was pleasing to God. Our world has always been an ugly place.

The story of Jezebel’s death is a story about judgement. It was written to shock readers because the author wants to grab everyone’s attention. He wants to remind us of two things. First, he wanted to remind us that sin is serious business. Our world ignores the seriousness of sin and is consumed with love and grace. Second, he wants to remind us that someday we will be judged. We will be judged for the things we have done – sins of commission. We will also be judged for the things we should have done – sins of omission. How much human suffering have you ignored? Just like Jezebel, our day is coming. We will stand before God and be held accountable. The goal of the Christian faith is to get everyone into heaven. Sadly, not all will make it.

In this blog, I want to ask you five spiritual questions to make sure you are ready for your judgement day. These questions are not original. They came from Christian author Neil Cole (born 1960). You must answer these questions honestly.

What is the condition of your soul? In other words, are you at peace with God? According to Chapman University, 35% of Americans are afraid of death. It is important that you understand God’s plan of salvation. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind. He is our only hope of salvation. Salvation cannot be earned; we are saved by grace. Do you understand God’s plan of salvation? What is the condition of your soul?

What sin do you need to confess? What dark part of your life do you need to bring into the light? Everyone has something. There isn’t a perfect person in this world. They say confession is good for the soul, and it is pleasing to God. What do you need to confess?

What have you held back from God that you need to surrender? God expects you to make him the top priority in your life. Any other relationship or possession must be second. That is hard for anyone who has loved ones. Is God your top priority? What or who is you holding back from God?

Is there anything that is dampening your zeal for Christ? In other words, are you excited about Jesus, or are you just mildly interested? There is a world of difference between being a fan of Jesus and a true disciple. Are you passionately in love with Jesus, or are you just mildly interested in Jesus? What is dampening your zeal for Christ?

Who have you talked with about Jesus this week? Are you more comfortable talking about Jesus, or politics? You should be able to tell people what Jesus means to you. You should be able to tell people what Jesus has done for you. You should be able to tell people how Jesus has changed your life. Who have you talked with about Jesus this week? I challenge you to not just answer those questions. I challenge you to ask the people in your life those spiritual questions. The goal is to get everyone into heaven. Heaven would not be the same without you!

C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) was a British writer, literary scholar and Anglican lay theologian. He once declared there are three surprises waiting for us in heaven. The first is who is there. Our job is not to judge others; our job is to love others. The second is who isn’t there. We are not saved by our good deeds. The third is that we are there. We are saved by grace and grace alone. Who is the first person you are going to look for when you get to heaven? The goal of the Christian faith is to get everyone in heaven. Sadly, some will be missing.

Divine Deafness

Our reading is Numbers 22:21-34. The Old Testament book of Numbers covers the 38-year period the Jews wandered in the wilderness after the establishment of the covenant at Sinai. Tradition tells us Moses wrote it. Yet, by the twenty-second chapter, Moses is dead, and the people are waiting to enter the Promised Land. That was a pivotal moment in their history.

The Jews were excited about their future, however other people in that area were not excited about their presence. The Jews were a new political force in that area of the world. Every nation responded to them in a different way. For example, the people of Moab only wished them harm. The king of the Moabites wanted the Jews to be cursed, and he wants the main character in our story, Balaam, to curse them. Balaam is caught in the middle between pleasing his king and pleasing God. As our reading begins, Balaam intends to deliver the curse, but God tries to stop him. Three times God sends an angel to Balaam. Each time, Balaam’s eyes are blind to the angel and deaf to his words. The unlikely hero in the story is Balaam’s donkey. According to the story, Balaam’s donkey sees the angel and tries to frustrate Balaam’s progress. Desperate to get Balaam’s attention, God opens the animal’s mouth, and the prophet listens. In the end, the curse is not delivered, and the prophet returns home.

It is a story about communicating. God tried to communicate with Balaam three times without success. How many times has God tried to communicate with you without success? Could it be you are no different than Balaam? God is trying to communicate with us, but our ears are deaf. The problem is not God; the problem is us. According to the federal government, approximately 37.5 million Americans, or 15% of the population, is hearing impaired. This blog is not directed at the hearing impaired. It is directed at those who have perfect hearing yet fail to hear God. We fail to hear God for several reasons. Let me look at them.

When I was in college, I lived in a dormitory. In the basement there was a common room. It was a place to relax and visit. It was nothing fancy, there was a television set, ping pong table and some couches. One day I walked through and found another student sitting there deep in thought. I looked at him and said, “So what’s new?” He responded by saying, “I am dropping out of school; my mother has cancer. The doctor tells us she doesn’t have much time left.” I put my money in the pop machine and said to the same student, “So what are you doing this weekend?” He looked at me and said, “You didn’t hear me. My mother has cancer. She is going to die. I am dropping out of school.” I felt about two inches tall, and I listened to him for an hour.

Sometimes we don’t hear because we are preoccupied. Something else has our attention. It may be a problem you are facing. It may be something that happened in the recent past. It may be some future event. I know it is true because I fight preoccupation all the time. I have always fought with preoccupation. It is a form of selfishness. Our preoccupations deafen our ears. God tried to speak to Balaam three times. How many times has he tried to speak to you?

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Empire attacked the American Naval Base in Pearl Harbor. A short time later, the United States entered World War II. So much happened over the next few years. It is easy to glorify past victories, but it is hard to forget all the ugliness. Part of the ugliness was the creation of Japanese American internment camps. They were created by Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945). Executive Order 9066, which created those camps, was issued less than three months after Pearl Harbor. In time, approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans lived in those camps. 62% of the internees were United States citizens. Military historians tell us they were not created due to any military threat. They were created for one reason: racism! They were guilty of nothing but having Japanese ancestors. No matter how you spin it, it was ugly. Our world is still filled with prejudicial behavior, which frustrate us from hearing God.

Sociologists tell us three things about our prejudices. First, our prejudices reveal our insecurities. We are prejudiced against the groups who threaten us. Second, our prejudices give us a false sense of security. They make us feel like we are in control, yet that is not always true. Third, our prejudices are learned, we learn our prejudicial attitudes from others. Others are learning their prejudice attitudes from us – it is one of the things we teach our children.

Sometimes we don’t hear because we are preconditioned. How many prejudices do you hold? How preconditioned are you? God loves each one of us equally. God doesn’t play favorites. If you really want to hear God, then you must remove all your prejudices. Jonah, the reluctant prophet, refused to go to the Nineveh because he didn’t care for the people there. Some don’t listen because we are preconditioned. God tried to speak to Balaam three times. How many times has he tried to speak to you?

There is an old Jewish Proverb that says, “No one is more deaf than a man who won’t listen.” One of the most known Bible verses is John 3:16: God so loved the world he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Everyone seems to know it. Everyone loves it because everyone wants to be loved by God and go to heaven. We don’t have the same feelings about Leviticus 27:30. It says, “Every tithe of the land is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.” In other words, the first ten percent of your income goes to God. How many people do you know practice Leviticus 27:30. We like John 3:16 because we want to be loved. We dislike Leviticus 27:30 because we don’t want to give our money away. We only listen to the Bible verses we like.

Sometimes we don’t listen because we are predetermined. In other words, we hear the words, but we decide to reject them. How many times has your doctor told you to stop smoking and start exercising? How many times has your financial adviser told you to stop spending and start saving? Only 10% of church goer’s tithe. The church is filled with predetermined listeners. Some don’t listen because they are predetermined. God tried to speak to Balaam three times. How many times has he tried to speak to you?

American writer Earnest Hemingway (1899-1961) once said, “I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.” The problem isn’t God; the problem is us. God tries to communicate with us in scripture, through the Holy Spirit, our dreams, prayers, meditation, and other believers, but we just aren’t listening. To get Balaam’s attention, God had to speak through his donkey. What does God have to do to get your attention?

What Frightens You?

Our reading is Daniel 6:6-23. By the sixth chapter of Daniel, much has already happened. Daniel, who was a Jew exiled in Babylon, had already correctly interpreted a series of dreams for the king, gaining his favor. That made Daniel some powerful enemies in high places. They wanted to eliminate Daniel, so they came up with a sinister plan. According to the plan, praying to anyone, except the king, was unlawful for a period of thirty days. They knew Daniel would break the law because he would only pray to the one true God. The plan worked to perfection and Daniel was found guilty. With no other option, the king ordered Daniel to be thrown into the lion’s den, a cruel form of execution. However, in the end, God protected Daniel.

The story of Daniel in the lion’s den teaches us about faith. Daniel was a man of faith. There is no sign of fear in this story. People of great faith live fearless lives; people who lack faith live fearful lives. If you want to discover the level of your faithfulness, then look at the way you live. Are you living fearlessly? Are you living fearfully? To discover how faithful you are, ask yourself three questions. Each one is rooted in our reading.

In 1997, the airways were filled with the song “MMMBop.” It was sung by a group called Hanson. The group was comprised of three brothers: Isaac, Taylor and Zac. It came from their album, “Middle of Nowhere”. I loved MMMBop because if you knew the title, you knew all the lyrics. Even I could remember the words. I remember Hanson because they sang the national anthem at the first game of the World Series in Cleveland in 1997. At the time, everyone was crazy about Hanson and their song MMMBop. Hanson sold 16 million records worldwide. It is amazing how time changes things. In 1997, we saw Hanson everywhere. Today, Hanson is nowhere. According to the internet, the three brothers are married and have eleven children between them. Together, they brew craft beer called Hanson Brothers Beer. It is hard to go from international attention to nothing. Maybe Hanson can try to jump start their career on America’s Got Talent? This is question number one.

Are you afraid of being unpopular? Daniel was not afraid of unpopularity. The foundation of his life was God. He prayed to God three times a day and nothing was going to change his agenda, not even the law. Daniel was uncompromising, and his enemies used his inflexibility against him. That is a hard thing to do, because popularity is so seductive. Most need to feel important within our own circles of relationships. Our friends hold the same values and opinions as we do, so we feel accepted. That is important because many fear rejection and loneliness. How much are you willing to compromise to keep your friends? It is all a question of faith. Daniel was not afraid of being unpopular.

Years ago, I officiated at a funeral for a man named Dennis D. Buckley (1927-1951). I did not know Dennis; he died in 1951. His story was amazing. As a twenty-three-year-old, he was taken prisoner during the Korean War. He starved to death as a Prisoner of War. For decades, his remains stayed in North Korea, but during the 1990’s our country signed a treaty with the North Koreans. One of the things we received were the remains of fallen soldiers, and one was Dennis. It took our country several decades to identify Corporal Buckley’s remains. He was laid to rest in the national cemetery in Rittman, Ohio. I was humbled to do his service. No one could question Corporal Buckley’s patriotism. No one can say he didn’t sacrifice for his country. No one can say he didn’t love his country. His life spoke volumes about his priorities. This is question number two.

Are you afraid to sacrifice? Daniel was not afraid to sacrifice. He was willing to sacrifice everything, including his own life, for God. Sacrificing is not giving away what is left over. Sacrificing is giving something that you need. Our sacrifices are important, because they reveal what is important to us. How important is God to you? How much time are you willing to sacrifice for God? How much of your talent are you willing to sacrifice to serve God? How much of your money are you willing to sacrifice? The real question is how important is God to you? Our sacrifices reveal our priorities. It is all a question of faith. Daniel was not afraid to sacrifice.

Many consider Dietrick Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) to be one of the bravest men of the twentieth century. Born in 1906, Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and theologian. He earned his PH.D. from the University of Berlin. Yet, he will always be remembered for his anti-Nazi stance during the Second World War. In 1939, Bonhoeffer accepted an invitation to be part of the faculty at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, but instead he returned to Germany to endure the hardship of war with his people. In 1941, the Nazis tried to silence him. In 1943, he got involved in a failed attempt to assassinate Adolph Hitler (1889-1945). He was arrested and imprisoned. On April 9, 1945, at the age of 39, Detrick Bonhoeffer was executed, a few weeks before the war ended. He could have lived his life out safely in America, but he returned to Germany because his faith wouldn’t let him play it safe. This is question number three.

Are you afraid of death? It is clear Daniel was not afraid to die. Did you know, according to National Geographic, the average male lion weighs 420 pounds? Did you know the average female lion weighs 280? Both male and female lions are approximately six feet long. They are big-time predators. They eat any kind of meat, including humans. When King Darius sent Daniel to the lion’s den, he expected Daniel to die. However, Daniel lived another day. There was no sign he was afraid of the lions, because he wasn’t afraid of death. Are you afraid of death? The mortality rate in the world is 100%. It has been reported that 42% of Americans fear death, another 7% say that don’t know how they feel about death. It is all a question of faith. Daniel wasn’t afraid of death.

Everybody is afraid of something. Did you know nearly 11% of Americans are afraid of zombies? That means, 11% of Americans actually believe in zombies. Let me ask you, what frightens you? Are you afraid of unpopularity? Are you afraid to sacrifice? Are you afraid of death? They are questions about the state of your faith. People of great faith live fearless lives; people who lack faith live fearful lives. It has been said, faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.

Two Laws

According to our text, Luke 13:10-17, it is the Sabbath and Jesus is teaching in one of the synagogues. One of the congregants was a woman who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. Her spine was crooked. Jesus had pity on her and called her forward. After laying his hands on her, she straightened up and begins to praise God. Everyone should have been happy, but no. There have always been negative people. In this case it was a man who should have known better, the synagogue leader. Consider him the head administrator. He was not a member of the clergy, he was an active lay person, who was responsible for the synagogue’s finances and building. He protests the healing by saying, “There are six days to work. So come and be healed on one of those days, not on the Sabbath.” He completely missed the point and Jesus was indignant. The synagogue leader forgets people are more important than rules. Do you know of anyone who thinks rules are more important than people? There are many.

Did you know the Old Testament contains 613 laws? Three hundred and sixty-five are negative in nature. Two hundred and forty-eight are positive. You can classify those laws into three groups. There are self-evident laws, such as not to murder or steal. There are religious duty or traditional laws, such as keeping the Sabbath holy. There are random laws, which don’t fall into any category. In addition to the 613 laws, the Pharisees, experts on the law, created other laws to protect the original laws. You would think 613 laws would be enough. The problem is that the world is always creating more laws.

In the mid nineteenth century, the world started working on something called “international law”. Countless hours have been spent in the League of Nations and the United Nations trying to refine international law. It sounds simple but it is complex. How do you distill all the laws in our world and find common ground? Every culture looks at the world differently. International law has become a big deal because our world is growing smaller due to advances in transportation and communication. International law is important if we are ever going to have world peace.

Someone once said the United States, or any nation, is nothing more than a series of laws. On the fourth of July the United States turned 249 years old. In that time, our government has produced many laws. They are necessary to regulate behavior. They are not all bad; some laws are good. I am all for the law that says you can’t drive your car down the sidewalk. I am for the law that says you must pass through airport security before you get on a plane. I am for the law that says convicted sex offenders must register in their neighborhoods. I am for the laws that ban any form of discrimination. I am not so sure about the Ohio law that says it is illegal to fish for whales on Sunday. However, I am for the law that does not permit dueling. You would think between international law and national law, we would have enough laws. But wait, there are more!

Every organization has its own laws. The church is no exception. Every denomination has laws. In the church, we call laws “rules”. They do the same thing. I worked in the United Methodist Church for many years. The United Methodist Book of Discipline is filled with rules or laws. These are a few. Every financial account within the local congregation must be audited annually. Drinking alcohol and gambling are prohibited within a United Methodist Church building. At my ordination, I had to promise to be itinerant. In other words, I must go where the bishop sends me. I stayed at my last church twenty-eight years, so I guess I broke that law. The United Methodist Book of Discipline is filled with rules United Methodists are required to follow. You would think that there would be enough rules, but wait, there are more!

Every local church has rules. How many rules can you name within your church? Most rules are based on common sense. If you are going to use the kitchen, then clean the kitchen. If you are going to use a cup, then wash your cup. The last one out of the building at the end of the day must turn off all the lights and lock all the doors. If you want to be refunded for any church expenses, then you must have a receipt. There are some churches who have more rules than people.

One of the reasons I love Jesus is that he only had two laws. I can remember them. First, you are to love God with all your heart, mind and soul. In other words, you are to love God completely. (Matthew 22:36-40) Second, you are to love your neighbor as yourself. (John 13:34-35) Church work is not hard; we make it hard. In the life of the church, all we must do is love God completely and love one another. Everything else we do is optional. Everything else is distracting. Everything else can be eliminated. In the scripture lesson for today, Jesus broke a law, but he helped a suffering woman. Jesus knew what was important.

When I went to my last church, I inherited a mid-week program by the name of Youth Club. The concept was simple. On Wednesday, the children would come and gather for a lesson and dinner. Those who ran it did a wonderful job. Everyone, regardless of age, had fun. One day the youngest class was out in the narthex, standing near the glass looking into the courtyard. They were all fixated on the courtyard, because the Christmas decorations had just been put up. The plastic Christmas figurines were on display. The group had their noses pressed against the window. It was like one of those Norman Rockwell scenes. The teacher tried to hold them back because there was a rule about touching the glass. The glass had to be spotless. I have never been a fan of rules. I said, “Let them go! That is why they make glass cleaner!” Then I got a better idea.

Why not let the class out into the courtyard and experience the figurines for themselves. The children were just the right size, because they were the same size as the images. I walked to the door to open it, when the teacher told me to stop. She said, “Russ, you are new. We have a rule. No one is allowed to go into the courtyard, especially at Christmas. Those figures are sacred.” I thought, those figures are plastic. To be completely honest, those figures were tacky. I said to the teacher, “Aren’t we supposed to be introducing our children to Jesus?” She said, “Yes!” I said, “So let’s do it.” I opened the door, and the children flooded into the cool fresh air. They didn’t go crazy. They were controlled, like they were walking on sacred ground. One of the students stood by the camel and grew still. One student hugged Joseph. One went eye to eye with a shepherd and smiled. One touched Mary’s face with his fingertips. One kid picked up Jesus and kissed him. He looked at his friend next to him and said, “This is Jesus!” Then, ever so gently, he passed Jesus to him. One by one they took turns holding Jesus. Those children knew at their young age there was something special about those plastic figurines, because there was something sacred about Jesus. There always has been and there always will be.

Jesus went to the synagogue and had pity on a bent over woman. He healed her and everyone should have been happy, but no. There was one unhappy fellow, the synagogue leader. He was unhappy because Jesus broke a law. He healed on the Sabbath. He forgot people are more important than laws. The only two rules that really matter in the life of the church: we are to love God completely and we are to love one another. Those laws are mandatory. All the other laws are optional. German Lutheran theologian Dietrick Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) said, “Church is only the church when it exists for others.”