Tag: Bible

America’s Four Gods

In the early 1960’s there was a radio show called Conversation. The panel was made up of famous personalities of the day. Each one was an expert in a different field. They were to debate the question of the day and come up with one single answer.

The question on one episode was: what are you most afraid of?  After much heated debate, the panel answered: nuclear annihilation. Everyone agreed, but one panelist remained silent. His name was Bennett Cerf (1898-1971). He was a Christian writer who was known for both his quick intellect and his humor. He sat quietly and never tried to persuade the others. Later, the master of ceremonies inquired about his silence. Cerf said, “My answer to the question, what are you most afraid of, seemed silly next to the rest.” He finished by saying, “What I am most afraid of is not being loved.” I think it was a good answer. Can you imagine not being loved? That is one of things that makes the Christian faith so attractive. God loves us and is with us! That takes us to our scripture reading.

We are in the seventeenth chapter of Acts, verses seventeen through thirty-one. Paul is alone in the city of Athens. He is waiting for Silas and Timothy to arrive. As he waits, he explores the city and finds a large number of idols. The idols troubled him, and he shared his concerns with the others. He goes to the synagogue and complains to the local Jews and God-fearing Greeks. In time, he would be invited to the Areopagus, now called Mars Hill, where he addresses two philosophical groups, the Epicureans and the Stoics. The Epicureans promoted happiness through a sensual system of thought. The Stoics believed that happiness came from self-sufficiency and independence. It was a make-or-break moment in Paul’s evangelistic efforts in Athens.

Paul would have to be in top form because the ancient Greek’s understanding of God was different from Paul’s. The ancient Greeks were not pantheists, who believe nature, itself, was God.  They were polytheist, who believed there were multiple gods. Their gods were involved in all aspects of life – work, theater, justice, politics, marriage and battle. Those gods were in a hierarchy with Zeus, the king of the gods, having a level of control over the others, although he was not all mighty. Paul believed in the one triune God. One God with three personalities. There is God the father who is the creator. There is God the son who was the savior, offering redemption to all. There is God the Holy Spirit who is the life giver. What is your understanding of God? It is a good question. Your understanding of God is extremely important.

Despite the decline of the mainline Protestant church, America remains the most religious country in the world. In fact, 95% of Americans believe in God. The greatest divisions in America are not between atheists and believers, or even between people of various faiths. What divides America is how we perceive God and the role he plays in our lives.

In 2010, sociologists Paul Froese and Christopher Bager released a book called America’s Four Gods. They hold Americans, regardless of religious background, view God in four different ways. Let me give you a brief description of the four gods. I will admit I do not have a clear understanding of the first three.

          The Distant God created the world and established natural law. Once completed, God removed himself from the world and only observes it from a distance. National law is never broken, so miracles never occur. History is filled with many who held this view. Many of America’s founding fathers held this view of God. George Washington (1732-1799), John Adams (1735-1826), and Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) held this view of God. They considered themselves Christian Deists. A deist is one who believes in a single god who created the world but does not act to influence the events of the world. It is a rationalist form of theology. Do you know of anyone who believes in a distant God?

          The Critical God acknowledges our sins but does not punish the sinner. This group is generally frustrated with God. Our news reports are filled with bad news and evil characters. Innocent people get hurt and suffer, yet God does nothing to eliminate or relieve their suffering. They are always asking the question, “Why doesn’t God do something?” Through the years I have met many who view God in this way. Do you know of anyone who believes in a critical God?

          The Authoritative God is involved in the world as judge. This group believes the evil and the good get what they deserve in this world. This view reminds me of karma, which is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effects or consequences. We rejoice when good things happen to good people, and we rejoice when bad things happen to bad people. However, we struggle when bad things happen to good people, and when good things happen to bad people. Do you know of anyone who believes in an authoritative God? There is one more view of God.

Recently, I visited a man in a local hospital. His name is Bill and his time in this world is short. He is in hospice care. He was not a stranger; I had seen him many times sitting in worship with his girlfriend. However, I must admit we never talked. I went to visit him at her request. When I got to his room I was taken back by his physical state, the disease was winning. He was pale and thin, but his mind was still quick. I would not have recognized him if he had not spoken. On that day his mind was clear, and his voice was strong. I pulled up a chair next to his bed and he told me his story.

Bill was raised in Youngstown, Ohio. He lived several miles away from his childhood home on the south side. He had a long-term relationship with his Roman Catholic congregation. He attended school at St. Pat’s as a child and was a regular Saturday night worshipper as an adult. It was clear, he was proud of his church, the beauty of the sanctuary, the warmth of the people, the compassion of the priest. He admitted, he only came to my church to be with his girlfriend, but he liked hearing about Jesus. He added, “You can’t hear too much about Jesus.” Once our talk was completed, I prayed with him and he ended our visit with these words: Russ, I have received much more from the faith than I have given. Jesus has always been with me, and he won’t abandoned me now.

          Bill believes in a Beneficial God, and so do I. The Beneficial God loves and helps us despite our failings. That is the God of the Christian faith. That is the God that our world needs because life is hard. Psalm 116:5 says, The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” What is your understanding of God?

Lost in New York

Many years ago, before man walked on the moon, before a civil war threatened to divide America, before Columbus discovered a New World, there was a man who spoke for God. His name meant “Comforter,” but we call him Nahum. His exact location is unknown, but we do know he spoke to the people of Judah prior to the year 612 BC. The ones receiving these words were the people of Nineveh. Yes, it was the same Nineveh God sent Jonah to one hundred years earlier, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for her cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness. The Assyrian Empire covered parts of present-day Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. This time, they were guilty of backsliding. They had repented for Jonah, but they had returned to their old ways. God has had enough and now they must pay for their sins. Those are not just empty words. History tells us the great city of Nineveh was destroyed by a devastating fire in the year 612 BC. Nahum’s brief book, only three chapters long, reminds us sin must be taken seriously. It is as true today as it was in Nahum’s time. 

According to Webster, sin is an immoral act against divine law. We should take sin seriously because our sins damage our relationship with God. While we are not known for our cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness, we are all guilty of sinning. It is no secret. We know we are sinners and God knows we are sinners The Apostle Paul knew we would be sinners. He wrote in Roman 3:23, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” Everyone is guilty of sinning. That means we are more like the Ninevites than we care to admit.  

James W. Moore (1938-2019) was the pastor of the 7,500 member St. Luke United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas from 1984-2006.  He received his Master of Divinity degree from the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio. Through the years he wrote many books, which are nothing more than his printed sermons. I own several of those books. One of those books is entitled Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned, But I Have Several Excellent Excuses. In that book, he tells us our sins originate in four sources. Three of those ways are found in two parables in the fifteen chapter of Luke. 

Sometimes, we sin by being led astray. That is what happened in the parable of the lost coin. In that parable a coin is lost. That coin equaled a day’s wages. That means it is worth finding. The coin did not grow legs and walk away. The coin was lost because someone misplaced it. That is what happens with people. Some sin because of the influence another has on them. Parents know it is true. That is why we evaluate our children’s friends. That is why we want our children to participate in wholesome activities. Parents fear their young will be influenced by others and get into trouble. God fears we will be led astray by others too. Can I ask you a question? Who are the most influential people in your life? Sometimes we sin by being led astray.  

Sometimes, we sin by running away. That is what happened in the story of the prodigal son. He could not wait for his father to die, so he went to his father for his share of the inheritance. He took his cash and ran. For a short time, he lived life in the fast lane. Then, he discovered what everyone knows – life is expensive. In a short time, he is struggling to survive. Then, as the Bible says, he came to his senses and returned to his father asking for a job. You can call it selfishness. Those are the sins we commit when we think the world revolves around us. Those are the sins we commit because we think we are God’s gift to the world. Can I ask you a question? Do the people in your life consider you selfish? Sometimes, we sin by running away because we are selfish. 

Sometimes, we sin because of resentment. The parable of the prodigal son reveals two origins of sin. The first is selfishness. The second is resentment. It is found in the older son who stayed home. While his little brother was out living the wild life, the older son stayed at home. He got up early daily and went to work. You can call him responsible, but he felt foolish. He dreamed of the wild things he was missing. At first, he must have admired his brother, but in the end, he resented his little brother. It is no fun working when others are having fun. Many believe this is the greatest sin in the life of the church today. It is no fun doing church work when so many have forgotten the church. Can I ask you a question? Who do you resent? Sometimes, we sin because of resentment. 

Sometimes we sin by wandering off. That was the story of the Ninevites. One hundred years earlier, God’s reluctant prophet, Jonah, arrived and told them they must repent. The people heard his word and responded. They started acting like God wanted them to act. They became more loving. They became less judgmental. They became more accepting. They promised they would never return to their cruel, idolatrous, and wicked ways. However, as the emotion wore off, they began to backslide. Before long they were known once again for their cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness. The Ninevites are not much different from us. We know what God wants us to do but we refuse to do it. Can I ask you these questions? How far have you wandered away from God? Are you the person God intended at the very beginning?Has the excitement of that mountaintop experience started to fade away and you find yourself falling into your old routine? Sometimes, we sin because we wander off. I hope that is not your story. Nahum reminds us there is a price to pay for sinning. However, this is the good news for today.  

Nahum lived in Old Testament times, and we live in New Testament times. The great city of Nineveh was destroyed by a fire; that was their punishment for sinning; they got what they deserved. That was the Old Testament way. We deserve to be punished for our sins, but it will never happen, because we live in New Testament times. Every Sunday school child knows Jesus died on the cross for our sins. His death was not pretty because our sins are not pretty. Yet, his death handled the sin problem. How you respond to Jesus’s death is extremely important. Is it just a passing thought or is it a life changing experience? It has been said, “God’s grace is not an excuse to sin, but rather a reason to love and serve him more fully.”

The address was 202 Midwood Street. That was my grandparents’ address in Brooklyn, New York, and the address of the home where my mother was raised. We visited it annually. As a child, I remember it as a massive place. It included an outer sitting room with a player piano, an inner living room with a modest television set, dining room and a tiny kitchen. Upstairs, there were three bedrooms and a full bath with a skylight. It seemed massive to me as a child. Recently, I researched that massive home. It was constructed in 1901 and is 1,800 square feet. The market value of that 1,800 square foot home in Brooklyn today is $2 million. It is hard to compare property values in Brooklyn, New York with northeastern Ohio. Externally, the house was not original. My mother called it a “Brown Stone.” The entire neighborhood was filled with them and each one was identical. Each one was constructed from a tan stone, a flat roof, a bay window, and a flight of stairs leading up to the front door. The only thing that changed about each dwelling was the address. My grandparents lived at 202 Midwood Street. I will never forget that address because of an event that happened to me one day on one of my family’s visits to Brooklyn. 

I was not very old. I must have been six or seven. My grandparents wanted to entertain me, so they borrowed a bicycle from a neighbor for me to ride during the visit.  The problem was there are very few places a child can ride a bicycle in the middle of Brooklyn. My only option was to ride up and down Midwood Street. I am confident my parents told me to be careful and I am confident they told me my grandparent’s address, 202 Midwood Street, because all the houses looked the same. The problem was I did not listen to them. I was more interested in trying out the bicycle. When I jumped on the bike and began to peddle, within a few seconds I was lost in the adventure of the ride. I picked up speed fast and I imagined being in all kinds of exciting places. I was having a great time! When I snapped back to reality, I discovered the truth – I was lost in New York. All the homes were identical, and I did not know which one belonged to my grandparents. I could not remember my grandparents’ address, 202 Midwood Street. Emotionally, I went from the highest mountain to the lowest valley. Fear began to flood through me. I thought I would never see my family again. How would I survive on the streets of New York alone? There was only one option, I began to cry. I know that is hard to believe because I am so manly today. I promised myself that I would never ride a bicycle again and I prayed for God to help me. 

God heard my prayer. My savior came to rescue me. In that emotional moment I heard comforting words – it was my mother, who had been watching me from the window the whole time. I do not remember her exact words, but I do remember the relief I felt. My mother took me by the hand, wiped my tears, and led me home. I took one last look at that horrible bicycle and walked inside. I was safe and sound. I am confident I was extra good the rest of that trip. Can I ask you another question? When was the last time you were lost? 

It is not just a story about a small boy lost in a big city. It is the story of the Christian faith, itself. We are lost in sin. Everyone does it and it comes in many forms, each one damaging our relationship with God. We deserve what the people of Nineveh got, punishment. But our punishment never comes because our Savior came 2,000 years ago. His name is Jesus. Grace is a wonderful thing. How do you respond to God’s grace? It has been said, “God’s grace is not an excuse to sin, but rather a reason to love and serve him more fully.”

Testing Your Spiritual Maturity

We find ourselves in the seventeenth chapter of Acts, verses ten through fifteen. The story is a continuation of last week’s reading, Acts 17:1-9. Paul and Silas are on their second missionary journey. The ugly mob from Thessalonica is looking for them. For this reason, they fled at night and headed to Berea. That means they traveled fifty miles to another province. They must have been hoping for a better experience. The problem was, they didn’t learn much from their past mistakes. As soon as they arrive, they do the same exact thing in Berea that they did in Thessalonica. They headed to the synagogue and told everyone about Jesus. However, this time the plan worked. The Bereans were eager to hear about Jesus. They examined the scriptures and found Paul’s words to be true. Verse twelve tells us that many were saved and in that group were both Jews and Greeks. Isn’t it too bad the story doesn’t end there? The problem is our reading continues.

When the Thessalonians heard about what was happening in Berea, they decided to go. In the end, they caused all kinds of problems. They agitated the crowd and caused Paul to flee again. This time, he fled to Athens. Silas caught up with him later. Can I be honest with you?

I have read this story countless times and each time I saw something more clearly. There are many similarities between this week’s story and last week’s story. Both the Thessalonians and the Bereans heard the same message in the same place, the synagogue. Both the Thessalonians and the Bereans heard Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. Both the Thessalonians and the Bereans heard how Jesus was crucified at the hands of sinful men. Both the Thessalonians and the Bereans heard how Jesus was raised from the dead. Both the Thessalonians and the Bereans heard how Jesus ascended into heaven. Both the Thessalonians and the Bereans heard Jesus was their only hope of salvation. Both communities heard the same exact things, but both communities reacted to Paul’s message in completely different ways. The Thessalonians reacted to Paul’s message in a negative way; they formed an ugly mob. The Bereans accepted Paul’s message and helped the ministry. So why did the Thessalonians and the Bereans react so differently?  

The only thing that separates the two communities is their level of spiritual maturity. Verse eleven says the Bereans were of more noble character. Luke never described the Thessalonians using those terms. The Bereans were spiritually mature. The Thessalonians were spiritually immature. Why is that important to us? The reason is simple. The spiritually mature Bereans helped the ministry. They protected Paul and helped him get to Athens. The spiritually immature Thessalonians frustrated the ministry by agitating the group. Are you more like the citizens of Berea? Or are you more like the citizens of Thessalonica? This is the real question: How spiritually mature are you?

In this blog, I want to help you discover your spiritual maturity by giving you a little test. It is not original, it came from the internet highway. I found it on Crosswalk.com.  There are a variety of tests to measure your spiritual maturity, but I chose this one because it is practical. This test does not take long. There are only seven questions. It is important that you answer the questions for yourself, not thinking of anyone else in your life. It is important to remember, tests are not given to tear you down, tests are given to build you up. This is the first question.

Are you self-centered? Spiritual immature Christians are self-centered. Their happiness is the primary goal. They want to know what they are going to get out of church, and they evaluate their church experience based on their expectations. They seem to have forgotten that church is not about their comfort, needs or wants. Church is about God. Spiritually immature people are self-centered. Are you self-centered? 

Are you noisy? Spiritual immature Christians are noisy. In other words, they cry a lot when things don’t go their way. They cry when the energy of the church doesn’t benefit them. They cry when money is being spent on other generations. They cry when money isn’t spent on their ministry or interests. They cry when other groups, not theirs, get praised. They cry at the mention of any mission project of which they won’t benefit. If you have ever heard someone, say, “Why do we help other people – we have problems right here?” Then, you are listening to a spiritually immature person. The church is the only organization that exists for the benefit of its non-members. Spiritually immature people are noisy. Are you noisy?

Are you messy? Spiritual immature Christians are messy. Infants never clean up after themselves. Your church should be a busy place, there should be all kinds of activities. There is nothing sadder than an empty church. The problem is activities within the church cause tension. In my time in the ministry, I am shocked at the mess people leave. Every church tells people to leave the room the way they found it. It doesn’t happen. Part of the problem is laziness. Part of the problem is selfishness. Part of the problem is spiritual immaturity. It would be nice if you left the room in a condition to help the next group. The spiritually immature never clean up after themselves. Are you messy?

Are you impatient? Spiritual immature Christians are impatient. Our society is built on speed. Do you need an example? Fast food is big business in America for one reason, it is fast. That is good enough. It may not even be good food, but it is fast. There came a point when fast food wasn’t fast enough, so someone created the first drive-through window to make it faster. There is nothing wrong with fast, but there is one problem  — God does things in God’s time. Have you ever wished God would move faster? That is why so many struggle with the church. Everything seems to move at a snail’s pace. Group dynamics tells us we can only move as fast as the slowest member. The church has a surplus of slow people! That frustrates many. The spiritually immature are impatient. Are you impatient? 

Are you defined by what you can’t do? Spiritually immature Christians are defined by what they can’t do. Spiritual infants can’t cooperate.Spiritual infants can’t get along. Spiritual infants can’t apologize and mean it. Spiritual infants can’t trust others. Spiritual infants can’t support other groups. Spiritual infants can’t even talk to others outside of their group. However, they can criticize just about everything and everyone. The spiritually immature are defined by what they can’t do. Are you defined by what you can’t do?

Are you explosive? Spiritual immature Christians are explosive. In other words, they are always mad. Do you have someone in your church who is always mad? Several years ago, I received a piece of hate mail. The woman wrote to me to explain why she was leaving my church. It was well outlined and written. Someone accused her of stealing a pie at a church dinner. I’m sure it was a misunderstanding, but to the best of my knowledge she is now unchurched. In other words, she is sitting home alone, teaching my former church a lesson. This is the truth, it was nice when she left because she was always mad about something. The spiritually immature are explosive. Do you know of anyone who is always mad at your church? Are you explosive? Here is the last question:  

Are you irresponsible? Spiritual immature Christians are irresponsible. They are great at expecting a lot out of others but expect nothing from themselves. There is a rule called the 80/20 rule. It says that 80% of the church work is done by 20% of the people. It crosses over into finances, 80% of the money given is by 20% of the people. That leads us to an interesting question: if everyone did as much as you; if everyone gave as much as you, would the ministry of your church expand or contract? The spiritual immature are irresponsible. Are you irresponsible?

So how did you do on your test?

The spiritually immature look a great deal like human infants. They are self-centered, noisy, messy, impatient, unhappy, mad, and irresponsible. When I retired, I was glad the spiritually immature when not part of my life anymore because they are exhausting. Are you a spiritually mature person, like the Bereans, who helped the ministry? Are you a spiritually immature person, like the Thessalonians, who frustrated the ministry?  

My grandparents lived in Brooklyn, New York. When I was young, they came to visit us twice a year, during the summer and during the holidays. When I was young, they traveled by bus. We would pick them up at the Greyhound bus station in my hometown. After my grandfather died, my grandmother flew into the area at the regional airport. It really didn’t matter how she arrived, the scene was always the same. The reunion was always genuine. I would run up to her and give her a hug. Grandma would say, “Russell, let me look at you!” She would pull me back, square my shoulders and pat me on my backside. Then, she would say, “You have gotten so big. You are maturing and becoming a man.” My dad, who despised my grandmother and hated her visits, would always respond sarcastically, “What is the big deal? If the boy wasn’t growing, then there would be a problem.” He was right, yet he was so wrong. Can I ask you a question? 

Are you growing? I don’t mean, are you taller. I don’t mean, are you heavier. I mean, are you maturing? Are you growing in the faith? If your answer is “no” or “I’m not sure”, then there is a problem. Today is a good day to test your spiritual maturity and start working on the person God intended you to be from the very beginning. American philosopher Dallas Willard (1935-2013) once said, “The disciple of Christ desires above all else to be like him.”

How Amish Are You?

My mother was raised in Brooklyn, New York. She moved to Ohio when she got married. Through the years, we had many visitors from the Empire State. She wanted them to experience all the sites of Northeastern Ohio, so one by one, she took them to Burton, in Geauga County, to see the Amish. When I was young, I accompanied my mother on those trips. I found the Amish to be curious. I remember asking my mother why they live that way. My mother simply said, “Russell, they are good people, but the Amish hate change.” That little community of Amish is not alone. Ohio has approximately 84,000 Amish.

Did you know there are approximately 384,000 Amish in North America? The Amish are found in 32 different states. Pennsylvania has the largest Amish population, 90,000. Ohio is second. Indiana is third at approximately 64,000. There are approximately 6,100 Amish living in Canada. There are only 30 Amish in New Mexico. In my life, I have seen the Amish countless times. Never forget, they are a traditionalist Christian fellowship with Swiss Anabaptist roots. They are known for simple living, plain dress and a reluctance to adopt many conveniences of modern technology. My mother was right – the Amish hate change! Can I ask you a question? How Amish are you? How do you feel about change? That question takes us to our scripture lesson.

We are in the first nine verses of the seventeenth chapter of Acts. Paul and Silas are on their second missionary journey, in the city of Thessalonica. The scripture tells us they spent a minimum of three weeks there. At that time, Thessalonica had a population of approximately 200,000 residents and was the capital of the province of Macedonia. Part of that population was a colony of Jews who had established a synagogue. It was Paul’s custom to go to the synagogue to teach and tell people about Jesus. That is exactly what he did.

On Saturday, the Sabbath, they go to the synagogue to tell those who have gathered about Jesus. To be more exact, Paul tells them about the Good News of Jesus Christ on three consecutive Sabbaths. The good news is some believe Paul, they accept Jesus, and their souls were saved. In their numbers were some Jews and some God-fearing Greeks. The bad news is Paul’s success made some of the other Jews jealous and the scene turned ugly. They go to the marketplace and round up a mob, who go to the home of Jason to look for Paul and Silas, but they are gone. Frustrated, the mob turns on Jason and drags him in front of the city officials. They identify him as the source of the civil unrest. In the end, Paul and Silas slip out of town quietly.

That ancient synagogue did what we must never do – they became inflexible. At some point, their traditional ways became the most important thing. God had done something new, but they were more interested in the old. God had done a great thing through the ministry of Jesus Christ, but they didn’t care. The only thing they cared about was their traditional ways. They were more concerned about their “likes” and “dislikes” than what others needed. Just like the Amish, this ancient Jewish congregation hated change. Those who resisted change won the battle, but they lost the war. Their body was divided over change.  Can I ask you a question? How Amish are you? How do you feel about change? This is the painful truth; the American Mainline Protestant church has become notorious for her inflexibility.

Years ago, I was involved in a pulpit exchange. It was the third Sunday in January, so the weather was cold and icy and the crowd was thin. When I arrived, I approached four men with the average age of one hundred. Without offering their names, they began to apologize for the poor attendance. They told me about their church’s glorious past. Their choir was the best in the county. The bowling team never threw a gutter ball. The pastor worked 120 hours a week and never asked for a raise. The nursery was filled with crying babies and the crowd was uncountable, standing room only!

When you are the guest preacher, you can ask questions that you can’t ask as the permanent pastor. I asked, “Where did everybody go?” The four of them shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders. They said, “The problem is the younger generation, they are just not committed like us. They just don’t appreciate the old ways. They just don’t appreciate the old songs.” One guy lit up when he looked at his bulletin and announced, “Good! We are singing Lilies of the Valley today!” I said, “Why don’t you start singing some songs younger generations may like?” One gentleman responded, “We are never going to sing that junk. Younger folks just need to grow up.” They were speaking in perfect English, but they might as well have grown beards and spoke Pennsylvania Dutch. They were Amish – they hated change! How Amish are you? Our inflexibility will be our demise.

The mainline Protestant church is dying at an alarming rate. The numbers are not pretty. According to the FASICLD (Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development), 4,000 churches close their doors annually. That averages out to be approximately 77 churches a week. Consider this fact with me, between 1990 and 2000, our national population grew 11%. During the same period, the membership of the mainline Protestant church dropped 9.5%. Did you know the number of Christians in America is smaller than the number of Christians in India and China? The reason the mainline Protestant church is shrinking is the inflexibility of our membership. It is the same theme found in our scripture lesson. The times had changed, but the people resisted the change. They hated change. You can call them “first century Amish.”

Why do people hate change? There is no single answer. According to the Harvard Review there are ten reasons why people hate change:

  1. Loss of control
  2. Excess uncertainty
  3. Surprises
  4. Everything seems different
  5. Loss of face
  6. Insecurity
  7. More work
  8. Ripple effect
  9. Past resentments
  10. Fear of failure

Can I add an eleventh reason? Most don’t like change at church because of selfishness. They are more concerned about their “likes” and “dislikes” than what is good for other people. They are more concerned about their “likes” and dislikes” than other generations. The mob was created because they didn’t like what was happening. They should have been happy because others were coming to Jesus, but no, they were Amish, they hated change. How Amish are you?

Years ago, I had some interior painting done in my home. The painter showed up at 8:00 on a Monday morning. He did not make the best first impression. I don’t know how else to describe him. He was stuck in the early 1970s. His stringy, graying hair hung down to his shoulders. His beard was ungroomed. His t-shirt was from some past concert. When I opened the door, he simply introduced himself as “the painter.” I said, “Your parents didn’t name you ‘the painter.’ What is your name?” He smiled a toothless smile and answered, “Just call me Squeaks.” I shook Squeak’s hand and said, “Nice to meet you, Squeaks!” In the next few minutes, he carried his equipment in, and he plugged in his boom box. The first song I heard was ACDC’s “Highway to Hell,” then came “Back in Black,” and “Running with the Devil.”

It took Squeaks about two days to finish the job, and he did a good job. Over those hours, I talked to him as I came and went. It didn’t take long for us to become comfortable. At one point, he looked at me and asked, “What do you do for a living?” I responded, “I am a preacher!” He said, “Wow! You save souls for a living? Does that pay well?” He laughed, but I didn’t respond. Then, Squeaks asked, “What kind of preacher are you?” I said, “I am a United Methodist.” He fired back, “Is that anything like the Amish?” I said, “No!” He shocked me when he said, “My girlfriend used to be Amish.” I thought to myself, “he has a girlfriend?” What I said was, “Really? She is a lucky young woman to have you.” Leading with some ugly language he said, “I am the lucky one. She is real sweet and pretty. She appreciates everything I do for her. Her name is Lydia.” I couldn’t leave it alone, so I asked him, “Where did you meet Lydia?” The answer was, at a Ted Nugent (born 1948) concert. I asked him, “What is an Amish girl doing at a Ted Nugent concert?” Squeaks said, “Oh, she isn’t Amish anymore, she walked away.” Squeaks told me because she walked away, her family and the entire Amish community shunned her. He said, “Lydia has tried to reach out to them, but they treat her like she is dead.” I didn’t know what to say, but Squeaks kept talking. Using more colorful ugly language he said, “They are the losers. They are missing out on so much. She is a wonderful, loving person.” Squeaks was right! Squeaks was wiser than he looked. Can I ask you a question?

How Amish are you? How much do you hate change? How many wonderful, loving people aren’t part of our lives because it is our way or the highway? Like it or not, many within the life of the church are like the Amish. They hate change, but the world has changed, God is always doing something new. Russian writer Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) once said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, no one thinks of changing himself.”

Is Bigger Better?

Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) is remembered for his many years of mission work in China. One night, he was scheduled to speak at a church in Birmingham, England. After months of planning, the day finally came, but the weather was horrible. Some tried to discourage Taylor from speaking. Even the organizers of the event discouraged him. But Taylor, himself, insisted. Less than a dozen people showed up, but the meeting was marked with unusual spiritual power. Half of those present either became missionaries or their children entered the mission field, and the rest were faithful supporters of the China Inland Mission for years to come. Can I ask you a question? Was that meeting a success or was it a failure? Through the eyes of this world, it was a disaster; less than twelve people came. Yet, through the eyes of God it was a great success – lives were changed in the name of Jesus. Let me state the obvious, bigger isn’t always better.

We find ourselves today in the fourth chapter of Mark, verses twenty-six and thirty-four. Jesus is in Galilee. He was extremely popular there, so a great crowd was following him. They heard a series of parables about the Kingdom of God. The chapter begins with the parable of the sower. Next comes the parable of the light and the bushel basket, the growing seed, and our parable, the mustard seed. Jesus says the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It is known by all, because it is so short and easy to understand.

Proverbially speaking the mustard seed was the smallest of all the seeds. (The truth be told, other seeds in that corner of the world are smaller. For example, the seed of a cypress tree is smaller.) However, don’t be fooled by the size of the seed. It is deceiving. It starts out being small and insignificant, but it ends up being quite impressive. A full-grown mustard plant is more of a bush than a tree. It stands twelve feet tall. It is large enough for birds to take shelter. The point Jesus is trying to make is not hard to discover. The Kingdom of God may begin very small, but it will grow. In time, the Kingdom of God will become quite impressive.

Jesus wasn’t setting up the crowd for disappointment. The Kingdom of God did grow. Today, Christianity is the largest religion in the world. Our world has a population of approximately eight billion people. Approximately one-third of our world’s population is Christian. On the global scene Christianity is still growing. Did you know the Christian faith grows by 80,000 people per day? That didn’t just happen in an instant. It took time. Consider this with me:

  • In 100 AD the world population was 181 million. For every 360 people, there was one Christian.
  • In 1000 AD, the world population was 270 million. For every 269 people, there was one Christian.
  • In 1500 AD, the world population was 425 million people. For every 84 people, there was one Christian.
  • In 1900 AD, the world population was 1.6 billion people. For every 40 people, there was one Christian.
  • In 1950 AD, the world population was 2.5 billion people. For every 30 people, there was one Christian.

Jesus didn’t lie to the crowd, he told them the truth. He told them the Kingdom of God would start out very small, but in time it would be very big. We like those big numbers, because in America we believe bigger is better. That line of thought has even filtered into the life of the church.

Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas is the largest church in America. They have 45,000 in worship every weekend. They have six services on an average weekend, four in English and two in Spanish. Joel Osteen (born 1963) is the lead pastor. I don’t know how you feel about Joel Osteen. I do not know how I feel about Joel Osteen. However, you must admit, in a bigger is better society, Joel Osteen is a great success.

Can I make a confession? I am a product of this society. I, too, believed bigger is better. For most of my working career, I chased the crowd. For decades, I studied church growth principles. I could have held my own church growth workshop. Weekly on Sunday afternoons, I added up my church’s attendance. If it was a good attendance day, then I was in a good mood the rest of the week. If it was a low attendance day, then I would be in a bad mood the rest of the week. When my colleagues ask me about my church, I give them a number. I researched other churches’ numbers. I believed bigger is better. There is nothing wrong with numbers, until they became a preoccupation. At some time, I had a revelation – the numbers were robbing me of any feeling of satisfaction. The numbers only promoted my failures. I began to evaluate my worth as a person based on the numbers. Joel Osteen averages 45,000. I averaged about 250. There really is no comparison. I am not criticizing Joel Osteen or any other mega church. Every community seems to have one. I am saying numbers aren’t everything. It all changed for me in an instant and I discovered it in one of my own sermons. I discovered it was more important to be faithful then it was successful. It was a humbling moment.

It was the Sunday before the resurrection of Jesus. You know the story. A great crowd had gathered in Jerusalem for the annual Passover observance. On the lips of everyone in the crowd was the name Jesus. His miracles had made him famous. Some believed he was the long-awaited Messiah. When Jesus arrived, everyone wanted to see him. Some were in the crowd cheering for Jesus because he was trending. Some were in the crowd cheering for Jesus because they wanted him to perform a miracle. Perhaps they needed a healing, or a loved one needed a healing. Some were in the crowd for political reasons. They were tired of foreign domination and hoped Jesus would use his power for political liberation. A minority in the crowd loved Jesus and just wanted to be near him. Through the eyes of the world, it couldn’t get any better. Jesus was a success because he had drawn a great crowd. But you know what happened. One by one the people walked away. On Thursday evening, the great crowd had been whittled down to twelve. By Friday, the crowd had been reduced to a select few. It didn’t seem to matter to Jesus, he wasn’t interested in the crowd anyway, he was more interested in the committed. Jesus was more interested in eternal faithfulness than he was in worldly success. Some things don’t change. To Jesus, bigger isn’t necessarily better. The only thing that really mattered to Jesus is faithfulness. This is the question you must answer: How faithful are you?

One of the great preachers of the twentieth century was Fred Craddock (1928-2015). He taught homiletics at the Candler School of Theology at Emery University. No one influenced my preaching more than Fred Craddock. Years ago, I read a story about a time Fred Craddock addressed a group of ministers at a conference. These are his own words:

To give my life for Christ appears glorious. To pour myself out for others. . . to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom — I’ll do it. I’m ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $l,000 bill and laying it on the table—”Here’s my life, Lord, I’m giving it all.” But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $l,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. We listen to the neighbor kid’s troubles instead of saying, ‘Get lost.’ Go to a committee meeting and cover the same issues again. We give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a smelly nursing home. Usually, giving our life to Christ isn’t glorious. It’s done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it’s harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul.

It isn’t just true of preachers; it is true for everyone. We long to do something great for God, but what we normally do are the little things and hope God uses them. We aren’t just doing little things – we are planting mustard seeds. How many mustard seeds have you planted in your life? Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) is one of the great names in the history of the western church. He was the minister of the New Park Street Chapel of London for 38 years, where he saved countless souls and influenced a generation. His accomplishments in life are impressive, but his own conversion was quite simple. He accepted Christ as a teenage boy at a little Methodist chapel in the middle of a snowstorm. Very few were there that night. Even the preacher was absent. A layman led the service for the tiny crowd. He spoke on just one verse Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto me and be saved, all ends of the earth.” Those words resonated in Spurgeon. He accepted Christ, and the world will never be the same again. When I read that story, I couldn’t help but to ask this question: I wonder if that sincere layman knew the impact he had on the world? I wonder what kind of impact we have had on the world. I wonder what kind of impact you have made on this world. How many mustard seeds have you planted?

Taking Sin Seriously

The topic is sin. We understand sin to be an immoral act and a transgression against divine law. According to the Bible, sin was introduced into the world by Adam and Eve. You know the story – it begins in the second chapter of Genesis. God created Adam out of the dust of the ground (Ge. 2:7). God also created a perfect place for the Adam to live, the Garden of Eden. The Bible tells us it was a garden both pleasing to the eye, and full of food (Ge. 2:9). God gave man dominion over it, with one restriction: the man could not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The punishment for breaking that law was severe – death (Ge. 2:17). Everything in Adam’s world was perfect, except for one flaw. Adam was alone, so God decided to give him a helper (Ge. 2:18). Taking one of man’s ribs, God created a helper for the man, a woman. Her name was Eve. According to Genesis 2:23, the man was pleased with her. Isn’t it too bad the story doesn’t end with the second chapter? Sadly, the story continues. 

We are told in the third chapter of Genesis the serpent was the craftiest of all the animals God created for man. He is the one who convinced Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. It was Eve who convinced Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. For generations, men have been blaming women for the fall. If the truth is told, they are both responsible and things would never be the same again. Genesis 3:8-15 tells us of the consequences of their sin. One thing is clear, God has taken sin seriously from the very beginning. Adam and Eve lit a fire that has been burning since that day. Generations later, we live in the aftershock of their sin. With this as a background, let me make three statements about sin. This is statement number one.

Our generation does not take sin seriously. On December 8, 1980, former Beattle John Lennon (1940-1980) was shot to death in New York City near his residence. Mark David Chapman (born 1955) pulled the trigger and was sent to Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, New York, where he is serving a 20 year to life sentence for the crime. He is still there today. A reporter interviewed him later and asked him if he had any regrets. He responded by saying, “Only one. I regret people don’t understand me. I am basically a good person. I only killed one person.” He illustrates the fact our generation does not take sin seriously. In my opinion, we may live in the most immoral times in American history because we don’t take sin seriously. How many things are accepted today that were not accepted years ago? The question is, why? I believe it is because we are always comparing ourselves to other sinners. Next to them, we look good.

Do you know of anyone who has stopped watching the news because they are tired of all the bad news. They are tired of hearing about violent crimes, sex offenders, and murders. They are tired of watching young people being sent to prison for decades, wasting their lives. They are tired of political corruption and hopeless world problems. They are tired of another church scandal. They are just tired of all the bad news, so they just stop watching. However, this is equally true – we compare ourselves to those in the news. In comparison to that list of bad characters in orange jump suits, we look good. We know we are sinners, but we are not that bad. Did you know, according to Lifeway Research, 67% of all Americans believe in hell, but only 2% of Americans think they are going to hell? It is painfully true, our generation does not take sin seriously. This is statement number two. 

Historically, the church has taken sin seriously. In the eighth chapter of John, we find Jesus speaking at the Temple in front of a great crowd. We do not know the topic he is addressing, but we do know what happened. Suddenly, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees appear, dragging a woman. We know nothing about her, except for her adulterous behavior. (It is interesting they only brought just the woman. The last time I checked it takes both a man and a woman to commit an adulterous act.) They remind Jesus what the law required – she must be stoned. Things look bad for the poor woman, but Jesus saves the day. The Master says, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  The good news is the woman was not stoned. The bad news is everyone had to admit they were sinners. It is not just true of that generation, it is still true today – we are all sinners. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” That is why the church has always taken sin seriously. What sin, or sins, are frustrating your spiritual development?

In the fourth century, a monk named Evagrius Ponticus (345-399) categorized all of mankind’s sins. According to him there were eight classifications of sin. Pope Gregory I (540-604) revised his list in the year AD 590. He said there were seven classifications of sin. We call that list “the seven deadly sins.” Through the years, preachers, both known and unknown, have examined that list. During Lent one year, I preached on the “Seven Deadly Sins.” Which one of these sins haunts you? This is the list:

1. Lust 

2. Gluttony 

3. Greed 

4. Sloth 

5. Wrath 

6. Envy 

7. Pride 

Christians must see sin for what it is, the way to bondage and death, so that we cling to Christ. While our generation does not take sin seriously, historically, the church has taken sin seriously. However, this is more important.

God takes sin seriously. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s greatest desire is to spend eternity with you. That is why Jesus entered our world and that is why Jesus died on the cross. Without the cross there is no hope of eternal life. May we never forget, we are not saved by our good works, we are saved by grace and by grace alone. The cross solved our death problem. God takes sin seriously.

When I was in seminary, I took several required preaching classes. One by one, students stood in front of their peers to practice their new trade. I heard many sermons, but one illustration I heard still haunts me. I will be honest with you, it is not an easy story to tell and it is not an easy story to hear, but it does illustrate the point that God takes sins seriously. It is an old preaching story, so you may have heard it in the past. This is how it goes.

A father had a young son, who welcomed him every day when he returned home from work. The boy loved his father, and the father loved his son. Daily, the boy asked about his work. Each day the boy became more curious. The father’s job was not exciting, but it was important. He was a bridge operator. Normally, the bridge was up, so the ships could sail under it. However, when the passenger train came, he dropped the bridge, so it could reach its destination. The boy loved hearing about his father’s job and one day asked if he could go to work with his father. At first, the father said, “No,” but in time he said, “Yes.” The next morning the father took the son to work. At first the boy was fascinated. However, he was just a boy and in time he grew bored. In time, the boy wandered outside. His father watched him through the window. The father got involved in his work and couldn’t watch his son every second. For several minutes, he forgot his son was there. Soon, the signal was given. The train was coming, and it was time to drop the bridge. The father looked for his son, but the boy wasn’t in the office. He looked for his son, but the boy wasn’t in the yard. He looked for his son and saw him on the bridge. No, to be more exact, his son was under the bridge, on the large cogs that raised and lowered the bridge. The father stood to run to the bridge to save his son, but the train blew its whistle to say it was near. There was no time. The father was in the worst possible situation. If he pulled the lever to lower the bridge, he would kill his son, saving the passengers. If he didn’t pull the lever, he would save his son, killing the passengers on the train. What would you do?

On Good Friday, God pulled the lever, so we could live. The story doesn’t end there. As the train passed over the bridge the passengers waived at the bridge operator. They were having a wonderful time. That never knew the sacrifice he made for them. I hope you know the sacrifice God has made for you!

In the Name of Jesus

In the Name of Jesus

We are in the sixteenth chapter of Acts, verses sixteen through eighteen. That means Paul is on his second of three missionary journeys. The story is straight forward – Paul, Silas and Timothy are looking for a place to pray. That should have been easy, but it was hard. According to the text, their solitude is broken by an enslaved woman. We know next to nothing about her. We do not know her height. We do not know her weight. We do not know if she was physically beautiful or homely. We do not know if she was intellectually brilliant or dim. We know next to nothing about her, but we do know two things. First, she was a fortuneteller, making her owner a great deal of money. Our generation has disguised fortunetelling as entertainment; her generation saw it for what it was, and is, satanic. Second, we know she was a pest.

The meeting of Paul and the fortune teller is not a brief encounter. She stalks Paul and his small group for an unknown amount of time. I am not exactly sure what happened, but something happened, and it broke the camel’s back. With his patience completely gone, Paul looked at the woman and called on the name of Jesus. The demon was extracted, and the story ends with the woman being liberated. Time and time again, the Bible tells us calling on the name of Jesus reveals God’s authority.

Have you ever called on the name of Jesus in your time of greatest need? I have never met a person who hasn’t called on the name of Jesus occasionally. After all, life is hard. That is why it is important to understand what calling on the name of Jesus means. Many do not. Ted Turner (born 1938) does not.

Today, Ted Turner is 85 years old. He is worth $2.5 billion. When cable television exploded onto the American scene, Atlanta-based Ted Turner was one of the pioneers. One of his first stations was CNN, the Cable News Network. It was the first to carry news 24/7. I always remember watching Turner’s channel nine, WTBS. They carried all the Atlanta Braves baseball games in the days of Bob Horner (born 1957) and Dale Murphy (born 1956). Let me state the obvious – he has made many wonderful business decisions. However, his spiritual life is completely bankrupt. His story is sad. Born in Cincinnati, he was raised in a Christian home. As a youth, he dreamed of going into the mission field. That all changed during the illness and death of his sister, Mary Jean (1941-1960). That experience changed him. He became disenchanted with Christianity. He said, “I prayed for my sister, but she died anyway.” Discouraged, he walked away and never looked back. Can you imagine being 85 years old and not knowing Jesus? The problem is Ted Turner is ignorant about prayer.

Do you know of anyone who is ignorant about prayer? You must know someone who prayed with a sincere heart for their greatest desire, only to be disappointed. They prayed for a terminal brother, sister, or child only to have them die. They prayed for a baby, but the baby never came. They prayed for a perfect job, but perfection never happened. The problem was not the sincerity of their words. The problem was not their lack of faith. The problem was not their unholy lifestyle. The problem was that they were ignorant about prayer. Prayer is not about getting what you want. Prayer is not just saying the right words. Prayer is your spirit yearning to be with God. When you pray in the name of Jesus, three things happen. Consider them with me.

First, when you pray in the name of Jesus, you are admitting your limitations. Sixteenth President of the United States Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) once said, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”  How many times has life driven you to your knees? God always has our attention when life is hard. I witness that daily. 

Did you know the countries with the fasting growing conversion rates to Christianity are all found in Africa and Asia? Not one of those countries on the list is found in western Europe or North America. There are several reasons for this, but one stands out. The areas of the world where Christianity is declining are the same areas that have the highest standard of living.  In other words, those areas have the most money. God has a hard time getting our attention because we can take care of ourselves. That is why more church mortgages in America were paid off during the Great Depression than any other decade in the twentieth century. How many people don’t pray because they don’t think they need God? They can take care of themselves. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are admitting our limitations.

Second, when you pray in the name of Jesus. you are identifying Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You are not praying in the name of Mohammed or Buddha. You are not calling on the name of your country or your favorite sports franchise. You are calling on the name of Jesus. In the scripture lesson Paul commanded the spirit to come out in the name of Jesus. That is important because it shows Jesus’ authority over the spirit. This is not the only place. Jesus had authority over a variety of things in the Bible. When you pray in the name of Jesus, you are telling the world that you belong to him.

During the 1800s, Reverend E.P. Scott (1812-1864) was a missionary in India. Against the advice of his peers, he decided to travel to a remote tribe to share the Gospel. Several days into his journey, he was confronted by a group of warriors. They took their spears and pointed them toward his chest. He responded by pulling out his violin, closed his eyes and started singing. What did he sing? He sang All Hail the Power of Jesus Name. The warriors didn’t know what to do so they lowered their spears. In time, the warriors began to cry. Scott was saved and spent the rest of his life teaching that tribe about Jesus. There is something about that name, Jesus! When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are admitting our limitations. When you pray in the name of Jesus you are identifying Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Third and finally, when you pray in the name of Jesus, you are submitting to his will. God hears and answers all prayers. Sometimes, God answers, “Yes.” That is what happened in the scripture lesson. The slave was healed. Sometimes, God answers, “No.” Paul was never healed from the thorn in his side. Sometimes, God answers, “Later.” There are many examples of that in our world. Sometimes, God answers, “Are you crazy?” when we pray to win the lottery or for our favorite sports team to win. We always want the answer to be yes, but it doesn’t always happen. What really matters is, are you submitting to God’s will? That is hard for people. When you pray in the name of Jesus you are submitting to God’s will.

One of the great stories in the Bible is the Garden of Gethsemane. You know the scene. The end is near. After three years of teaching and healing, Jesus is staring at the cross. It was Holy Week and so much had already happened. Jesus had already entered Jerusalem on that humble animal. Jesus had already cursed the fig tree and taught at the temple. Jesus had already been anointed and shared that last Seder with the disciples. Judas Iscariot had already agreed to betray him. There was nothing left for Jesus to do but wait. As he waits, he goes to the garden to pray. The master struggles as he prays. In Luke 22:42 Jesus prays, Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but your will be done.”  Those are powerful words. Jesus does what we are unable to do – submit to God’s will. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are admitting our limitations. When you pray in the name of Jesus you are identifying Jesus as your Lord and Savior. When you pray in the name of Jesus, you are submitting to his will.

Years ago, I served three United Methodist congregations near Saint Clairsville, Ohio: Morristown, Lloydsville and Bannock. The total attendance at all three was approximately eighty. I preached at all three weekly. I preached at Morristown at 9:00. I preached at Lloydsville at 10:00. I preached at Bannock at 11:00. The best thing about those churches was the people. They were good to me and taught me a great deal about pastoral care.  

I will never forget the day a woman called me and said, “Russ, I need your help.” She went on to tell me her neighbor’s son was killed in a traffic accident and asked me to visit her. He was out celebrating his twenty-first birthday and drank too much. When the highway patrol cut his lifeless body out of the car, they found a half-emptied case of beer and countless empty beer cans. The young man never had a chance. I found out later his father gave him the case of beer as a birthday present. Over the next few days, I spent hours with the grieving mother. With red rimmed eyes she asked me two questions “Was God punishing my son for some past sin?” And “Why didn’t God hear my prayer and save his life?” It was clear to me the poor woman was ignorant about prayer.

Do you know anyone who is ignorant about prayer? Prayer is not a magic wand to get what you want. Prayer is more. Prayer is an admission. We just don’t have all the resources we need to solve all your problems. Prayer is an identification. We are saying Jesus was the greatest life that ever lived. Prayer is about submitting. You must surrender to God’s will and accept the fact that God knows best. The great reformer, Martin Luther (1483-1546) once said “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”  How healthy is your prayer life?

Understanding Infant Baptism

In 2017, my wife Kathryn and I traveled to Ukraine. In the shadows of Russia, Ukraine has always had a strained relationship with what was once called the “Evil Empire.” Our host on that trip was an American missionary named Patrick. He was planning a baptismal service and was encouraging everyone who had never been baptized to participate. I don’t know how else to say it, spiritually, the Ukrainian people seemed confused. They had been part of the Soviet Union, so there has been a communist hangover. Some Ukrainians believe in nothing; during communist rule they were taught atheism. They are working hard to survive, so they have no energy left to think about eternity. Some Ukrainians profess to be Orthodox, but they have not practiced their faith in decades. Some Ukrainians have joined cults. When religious freedom came to that land, cults arrived like Mormonism which began teaching their false theology. The Protestants, like Methodism, are lumped together with the cults. Patrick’s baptism service was important because he was simply trying to lead the people back to their Christian core. He was not promoting his denomination, the United Methodist Church, he was simply promoting Jesus! In the life of the church, nothing matters but Jesus! Any form of baptism means nothing without Jesus. Baptism has been part of our world for a long time.

Baptism was not created by the early church, but it was redefined by the early church. Baptism began with God’s Chosen People. Never forget, the Jews are both a race and a faith. Some were born into the faith. Gentiles, non-Jews, were baptized into the Jewish faith. The symbolism was clear. The individual was held under water to symbolize a washing. It was like taking your Saturday night bath. They were washing away the sins of their old life and starting over again fresh and new. It has been called the sinner’s baptism, and this was the baptism that John the Baptist offered. Many left the city and went into the wilderness to be baptized by John. Everyone was encouraged to be baptized because everyone had sinned. Then, Jesus came, and everything changed. 

Jesus never sinned. I do not know why Jesus wanted to be baptized, but his baptism signaled the beginning of his earthly ministry. Like smashing a champagne bottle on a hull of a new ocean liner, Jesus went to work. The early church wanted to be like Jesus, so they baptized new converts. In the beginning, it took place on Easter morning. Men baptized men, and women baptized women. Everyone was in their birthday suits. The symbolism changed – when you were held under the water you were dying with Christ. When you were pulled out of the water you were being resurrected with Christ. We call this form of baptism “immersion” or believer’s baptism. Some churches, especially Baptist churches, continue to practice immersion.

Everyone would have been immersed if it wasn’t for the Dark Ages. For it was during that horrible period baptism changed. You can say it is based on poor theology. Mothers and fathers have always loved their children. Parents have always wanted to see their children go to heaven. The problem was, during the Dark Ages the infant mortality rate was sky high. Parents were afraid their children wouldn’t make it into heaven without baptism, so they ran their newborns to the church to be baptized, just in case the unthinkable happened. It is for this reason most of the western church practices infant baptism. The story of Lydia in Acts 16:11-16 illustrates how one believer can affect the lives of others.

In infant baptism two things happen. First, we wash away the original sin of Adam. Within each newborn is a flaw that leads them to sin. I have never met a perfect person. I have never met a single person who claims to be perfect.  Second, we recognize the importance of environment. Children are not born into isolation, they are born into communities. Part of that community is family, part of that community is the church. The goal of infant baptism is salvation. We are promising to influence the child toward Jesus, our only hope of salvation. We want the child to gently wade into the faith. Infant baptism is my norm, so I want to examine it in this blog. I will do that by looking at the ritual used in the United Methodist Book of Worship and by looking at three words.

The first word is faith. John the Baptist believed in Jesus from the very beginning. It is for this reason he was uncomfortable baptizing Jesus. When Jesus was baptized, something wonderful happened. God Himself suddenly appears. God says in Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  In other words, God is endorsing Jesus as the Messiah. For the Jews, it meant the waiting was over. The Messiah had finally arrived. To us, it means more – it means that Jesus was the most unique life who ever lived. He was the very incarnation of God, the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. He is our only hope of salvation. Baptism reminds us that Christianity is the one true faith! Baptism is a witness. We are telling the world that Jesus is our only hope of salvation. Mohammed and Buddha were fine people, but they were not the son of God. They are both dead, but Jesus is alive. If you are reading this blog, then I am assuming you believe Christianity is the one true faith.

The second word is family. One of Paul’s traveling companions was Timothy. Who was Timothy? Timothy was several things. For one thing, Timothy was a product of a Christian home. Timothy’s grandmother was Lois, and his mother was Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy was not a first-generation believer. He was at least a third-generation believer. I do not know how much Paul knew about family dynamics, but I do know this: Paul knew the greatest influence on your life is your family. The greatest influence on the child being baptized is his or her family.  

That is why in the ritual we ask the parents of the child these questions:  

Beloved, do you in presenting this child for holy Baptism confess your faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? 

Do you therefore accept your duty and privilege to live before this child a life that becomes the Gospel; to exercise all Godly care that he be brought up in the Christian faith, that he be taught the Holy Scriptures, and that he may learn to give the reverent attendance upon the private and public worship of God?  

Will you endeavor to keep the child under the ministry and guidance of the church? 

The parents always say, “We do” or “We will.” However, on the day the parents answer, “No!” the baptism is over. Infant baptism means nothing if the faith means nothing to the parents. Let me ask you this question: how important is the Christian faith to you? If you want your child to take the faith seriously, then you must take the faith seriously.

The third word is fellowship. There comes a point in the baptism ritual that the attention leaves the baby and the parents. It is now the church’s turn to make the promise. I have recited these words many times.

With God’s help we will so order our lives after the example of Christ, that this child, surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.  

Don’t just read the words, look at their meaning. The church is promising to create a Christian environment to influence the child toward growth in faith and personal salvation. That is why Vacation Bible School is important. That is why Sunday school is so important. That is why Junior Church is so important. That is why confirmation is important. That is why the annual youth mission trip is so important. God has entrusted these young souls to us, so we must be at our best. How could you enjoy the riches of heaven if one of these precious souls was missing?

In a few weeks, I am scheduled to baptize a baby named Natalie. It will be a great day. Baptisms are great for three reasons. First, baptisms are great because they bring people to the church. It is no fun preaching to a half empty room. The more the merrier. Second, baptisms are great because they remind us of the goodness in younger generations. Sometimes we fail to see the goodness in other generations. Church is the last place where all generations mix. Third and finally, baptisms are great because we get to see a baby. How often do you get to see a baby? During infant baptism the spotlight will rest on Natalie. It will be a nice moment, but baptisms don’t just last a moment. The real work begins once the water dries. Chinese Church leader Watchman Nee (1903-1972) once said, “Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith.”

Why Timothy?

Our scripture reading is Acts 16:1-5. Much has already happened. It will have to suffice to say that Paul had taken center stage. His first missionary journey is complete, and he is about to embark on his second. However, before he leaves, he enlists some help. His list of potential helpers was short. As a matter of fact, only one name is mentioned, Timothy. According to our text, Timothy was the product of a mixed marriage. His mother was a Jewess believer, and his father was a Greek, or Gentile, non-believer. His references spoke of him in glowing terms. Having just stated these facts, one question remains: why Timothy? What was it about Timothy that made him stand out? What made him an excellent candidate? Those are the questions I want to try to answer. They are the same qualities that God is looking for today. Could it be you have some of those qualities? Let me begin with the obvious.

Timothy was not selected by Paul for any physical reasons. This was not like the NFL draft where the physically gifted are selected first. We do not know how much Timothy weighed. We do not know how fast Timothy could run. We do not know how high Timothy could jump. We do not know if Timothy was extremely quick or tall. We do not know if Timothy was short or overweight. Luke does not include any of this information for one reason — it simply doesn’t matter. Church history is filled with people of every physical description. Timothy was not selected by Paul for any physical reason. Your physical state does not eliminate you or include you for Christian service. That is a good thing. Did you know, according to the United States government, approximately 41.9% of Americans are considered obese?

Timothy was not selected by Paul because he was the right age. I know age is one of the factors in this story. We can assume Timothy was young, he must be young. Both of his parents and his grandmother are still alive. In First Timothy 4:12 Paul tells us that Timothy was young. However, age does not seem to be the driving force behind Paul’s choice. If he was a United Methodist, it would be a factor. Did you know the medium age in America today is 38.5 years old? Did you know the average age of a United Methodist is 57 years old? Did you know the United Methodist Church has intentionally decided to shrink that gap by promoting more youthful laity and clergy? I believe every generation has something to offer. After all, God loves and uses every generation. Timothy was not selected by Paul because he was the right age. Your age is no excuse for not serving God.

Timothy was not selected by Paul for any economic reasons. There is no mention of money in this story. However, I do know that money is important. If you don’t believe me, then try to live without it. Try to maintain your church ministries and building without money. It would have been easier if Timothy had some extra cash. He could have paid for everyone’s lunch. He could have paid for some traveling expenses. He could have paid for some advertising. If Timothy had some money, then they could have eliminated all the fundraising. The problem is, money isn’t mentioned in the story, so money wasn’t a major factor. Timothy was not selected for any economic reasons. So why was Timothy selected? Timothy was selected for one reason, FAITH!

Second Corinthians 5:6-9 says:

Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 

In other words, Timothy was a man of faith. Faith isn’t a magic wand to get what you want. Faith is a deep trust in God, who knows what is best. Does your faith teeter on getting what you want? Is your faith rooted in trusting God? The two are a million miles apart. Martin Luther (1483-1546) once said, “God our Father has made all things depend on faith, so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.”

When I was in high school, I had a friend by the name of Nancy. There was no romance, just friendship. We were in high school youth group together. The love of her life as a teenager was her horse. She was bright and attractive. As an only child, she was the apple of her parent’s eyes. To say the least, she was an extrovert. She made every experience fun. I spent hours with her acting silly and laughing. Years later, I attended her wedding and had too much fun at the reception. A year later, she told me she was going to have a baby. Her future seemed so bright. Then a horrible thing happened. Both she and her baby died during the birth. Her husband struggled for answers and her parents mourned. My parents told me her parents left the church because they didn’t believe in God anymore. Their faith was gone. I don’t want to be critical, but they didn’t get the memo. There is nothing easy about life or faith. Faith is not a magic wand to get what you want. Faith is trusting God to know what is best.

In 2016, my wife Kathryn and I visited Vicksburg, Mississippi. We love history, and in particular, Civil War history. Today, Vicksburg is a struggling community on the Mississippi, but in the 1860’s it was a booming metropolis. Do you remember your American history? As long as the Confederates controlled Vicksburg, they controlled the entire Mississippi River. It was vital that the Union take Vicksburg. Ohio born U.S. Grant (1822-1845) made that happen because of a forty-seven-day siege. Once Vicksburg fell, the Confederacy was cut in half and the Mississippi was opened to commerce again. That battle happened in 1863. However, the Union occupied Vicksburg for years to come.  

One of the great names attached to that battle was Ohio born William T. Sherman (1820-1891). In time, he would make it to Atlanta, and then complete his famous march to Savannah, the famous “March to the Sea”. You can say, in Vicksburg he practiced for his future success. Trying to isolate the state of Mississippi from the war, he traveled 180 miles from Vicksburg to Meridian, Mississippi. He destroyed railroad lines and private property along the way. Sherman was confident that he would succeed, but one thing did surprise him — he never expected freed slaves to follow him and his army along the way. That would happen time and time again, until the end of the war. They followed Sherman for one reason: they didn’t just believe in Sherman, they had faith in Sherman. They really didn’t know what the future held. There were no promises of free money, education, or a piece of land. The only thing those former slaves knew was life had to be better following him. Blindly, they followed Sherman because they believed he knew what was best for them. That is true faith. Timothy was selected because he had faith.

Are you a person of faith? I am not talking about magic wand faith. I am talking about the kind of faith that trusts God no matter how hard life gets. Christian author and clergyman Max Lucado (born 1955) once said, “Faith is not the belief that God will do what we want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.” Timothy was selected because he was a man of faith. What is the condition of your faith? Would you have been chosen? 

Examining Obedience

Any Bible student will tell you; the Book of Acts can be divided into two sections. The first twelve chapters comprise the first section and cover Peter’s efforts in the early church. Chapters thirteen through twenty-eight comprise the second section and cover Paul’s evangelistic efforts. Our reading, Acts 9:10-19a, is part of the second section. Saul, later Paul, was just converted in the previous chapter. He was traveling to Damascus to persecute Christians when he is confronted by Jesus, himself. In the end, he was hungry, thirsty, and blind. Once in Damascus, he was forced to do the most unnatural thing, wait! The scriptures do not tell us how long he waited. However, the scriptures do tell us that while he waited, God was at work. If Saul was going to fulfill his destiny and become the greatest evangelist in the history of the church, then he would need some help to get started. God drafted Ananias to help.

The name Ananias was a common name at this point and time in history. The name means “The Lord shows grace.” Ananias had the right name for the job. He would be forced to offer grace to a man who deserved no grace. Just think about it for a moment. Saul didn’t deserve a single ounce of grace. Because of Saul, people died. Because of Saul, countless lives were disrupted. Because of Saul, countless people were forced to leave their homes. Because of Saul, some mothers never saw their children again. Because of Saul, no one got a good night’s sleep. In his little corner of the world, Saul evoked the same emotions as Vladimir Putin (born 1952) in our world. Welcoming Saul into that early Christian community was like welcoming a Muslim Jihadist into our church. There is no other way to say it. Saul doesn’t deserve an ounce of grace, but grace was offered to him by a man whose name means “The Lord shows grace.” There is only one problem, Ananias was reluctant to show Saul grace. Anaias knew what God wanted him to do, but he was reluctant to do it. Don’t be too critical of Ananias. Obedience is a complex topic. It isn’t just true in the Bible; it has always been true.

The date was July 3, 1863. The place was Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. For two days, that small community of 2,400 residents had been ravaged by war. The Union army was led by George G. Meade (1815-1872). The Confederate army was led by Robert E. Lee (1807-1870). The day began with cannon fire. Both sides shelled the other for hours. The sound was deafening. They say the people of Philadelphia, 140 miles away, could hear it. Then, the cannons grew silent. The Confederates stopped firing because their ammunition grew low. The Union stopped firing because the smoke had grown so thick, they couldn’t see their targets. Lee thought the Union had stopped firing because they had run away, like they had done in the past. Desperate for a victory, Lee took a great gamble. He ordered General George Picket (1825-1875) to line up his soldiers and march up the hill in open view to confront the enemy. Standing shoulder to shoulder that line of 12,000 men stretched out for a mile. At first, their ascent looked promising. Those few minutes were called the high-water mark of the Confederacy. Then, in a moment everything changed. At a single point on the battlefield, the Union army opened fire on their enemy. Within an hour, it was over. Lee’s gamble failed. Only half of those 12,000 returned. The Confederacy had not just lost at Gettysburg, it was the beginning of the end of the war, itself.

Here are some questions for you. Do you consider those 12,000 soldiers heroic because they obeyed their orders? Do you consider those 12,000 soldiers foolish because they obeyed their orders? If you were part of Picket’s Charge, would you have marched up the hill? If you were part of Picket’s March, would you have run for the hills? Obedience is a large part of the Christian faith. Speaking of obeying God, German-Dutch Christian writer Thomas a Kempis (1380-1871) once said, “Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience.”  

Obedience is a complex topic. In my time in the ministry, I have learned a few things. One of the things I learned was about obedience. What God wants us to do is not a mystery. We know what God wants us to do, but we just refuse to do it. You can’t claim ignorance. Are you surprised that God expects us to care for those who live in poverty? The Third World is filled with poverty. However, we are doing nothing to help them. As a matter of fact, we do an excellent job of ignoring them. Are you surprised that God wants us to love unconditionally? It sounds easy, but it is hard to do. God doesn’t see our differences (gender, age, race, nationality, education, and economics). God only sees what we have in common. Everyone needs love and acceptance! However, we only love and accept people who are just like us. Are you surprised that the Biblical standard for giving is the tithe, 10%? On the way to our next vacation, we cry “poor” and give about 2%. Are you surprised that God wants us to live moral lives? We are ambassadors of Jesus Christ! We are representing Jesus. The problem is, we have accepted immorality as proper behavior. The truth is, we may live in the most immoral times in American history. Do I have to go on? Do I really have to go on? We are just like Ananias. We know what God wants us to do, but we refuse to do it.

The problem is we just don’t want to do it – obeying God means we may be inconvenienced. That is why so many promote the fact that God loves us. He does, but that is not an excuse for being disobedient. So many want the benefits of the faith without any sacrifice. The great German theologian Detrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) of the twentieth century called it “cheap grace.” I hope that is not your story. Every day we are forced to choose. Are we going to do what God wants us to do and obey? Are we going to do what we want to do and disobey?

Fred Craddock (1928-2015) taught homiletics at Candler School of Theology at Emory University for many years. I consider him one of the finest preachers of the twentieth century. No one influenced my preaching more than him. No one could tell a story quite like him. Let me tell you one more of his stories.

During a school break, Fred decided to go back home for a visit. It is no place special on the map. It was just a little town in Arkansas. On the first morning of his visit, he ventured downtown. He walked into the diner that had been there for a hundred years. Fred just wanted to sit there, eat breakfast, and remember simpler times. He said the place had not changed. Everything was identical to his youth, even the owner. As Fred waited for his fried eggs, the owner walked up to him and said, “I know you! You used to live here. You went on to be a preacher! I need to talk to you.” Fred nodded yes, but he thought, “Just go away! All I want is breakfast and some quiet.” The owner pulled up a chair and began to talk. He said to Fred, “I don’t know what to do.” Fred said, “About what?” The owner responded, “About the curtain!” He motioned to the curtain and Fred looked. The curtain had been there for years. Fred remembered that curtain from his childhood. The curtain wasn’t there just for decorative purposes. It had a practical purpose. The curtain was there to separate the white customers from the black customers. The white customers would enter the restaurant through the front door and ate on that side of the curtain. The black customers entered through the back door and ate on that side of the curtain. Just then, Fred’s breakfast was delivered. He wanted the owner to finish up his story because his eggs were getting cold. To hasten it along, Fred asked the owner, “So what is the problem?” (Fred knew the problem.) The owner said, “Should I take the curtain down or should I leave the curtain up?” Fred gave him a blank look and the owner continued. “If I take the curtain down, I will lose my business. If I leave the curtain up, I will lose my soul!” The owner knew what God wanted him to do, but he was afraid. The story doesn’t change.

The owner of the restaurant, Ananias, and you and I are the same. We know what God wants us to do, but we refuse to do it. Sometimes we are afraid. Sometimes we just don’t want to be inconvenienced. Are you going to take the curtain down, or are you going to leave the curtain up? Charles Stanley (Born 1932) once said, “The bottom line in the Christian life is obedience, and most people don’t even like the word.” Take your curtain down!