Church Paralysis

When I first retired, I worshipped in a small membership church in eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania line. I have nothing negative to say about them. They were nice people who took great pride in their church building. Weekly before worship, they would gather in a circle of chairs and visit. They talked about all kinds of things. They reminisced about the glory days of their church and how the community had changed. They talked about their illnesses and the latest news. They talked about the latest conquest of their high school athletic teams. They talked about everything, but they never talked about the future of their church. It was the big pink elephant in the middle of the room. Everyone knew it, but no one wanted to admit it – their days were numbered, their church was dying. Their pastor tried a variety of things to help them continue in ministry. She suggested they start a food pantry, but the idea was easily shot down. She held and paid for a Vacation Bible School for the community, but most members didn’t care. Some believed the denomination should write them a generous check to continue.

They got so desperate they asked me what they could do to save their church. They pulled me off to the side one Sunday and asked me what to do. I said, “do something! Anything is better than nothing.” I suggested updating their Facebook page, collecting school supplies for the local school, or talk to visitors. It would have been nice to change the paraments to reflect the correct liturgical season. They listened patiently, but in the end, they did nothing. They were suffering from what I call “church paralysis.” Churches are excellent at doing nothing. That small membership church in eastern Ohio is not alone. Many churches are excellent at doing nothing.

There is a blogger named Paul Alexander. He wrote a blog called Six Reasons Churches Refuse to Change. This blog has some merit. These are his reasons. Perhaps you can find your church in his list?

Procrastination – Have you ever attended a church meeting where nothing happened? After ninety minutes of talking, nothing happened. The time was spent reviewing the members’ workday, family problems and medical conditions. In the end, a failed program from the past was brought back. The truth is no one expects it to be successful this time.

Structure – Have you ever been part of a church where some committee acts as the ultimate authority. They vote down anything they don’t like or understand. They vote down anything that doesn’t benefit them or their friends. Committees should help people do, not frustrate, ministry.

Focus – Have you ever attended a church that was more interested in the members’ needs than the needs of anyone outside of the church? They are more concerned about seeing their birthday printed in the bulletin, than they are helping strangers obtain basic human needs.

Desire – Have you ever attended a church that was consumed by the members’ likes and dislikes. Selfish individuals like things their way. They expect everyone to worship in a style they like. They expect everyone to sing the songs they like. They want to worship at a time that is convenient to them. There is very little thought about what others like or what others find beneficial.

Money – Have you ever attended a church meeting where a new idea for ministry was shot down because of a lack of money or questionable insurance coverage? Money is an excellent excuse for doing nothing. Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic because money is important. How we spend our money reveals our priorities. Have you ever noticed there is never enough money for things we don’t like, and we can find money for the things we like?

Fear – Have you ever been part of a church who is afraid they will upset important church members? If they leave, there is no one to replace them. If they leave, they will take their money. The important members like the status quo, so churches do nothing to keep key people happy.

I will admit it, every church I served had these elements. Every church, to some degree, suffers from church paralysis. This is painfully true. On the day any church becomes more concerned about themselves than the world, it stops being the church God intended from the very beginning. After all, the church is the only organization that exists for its nonmembers. All this takes us to our scripture reading, Matthew 21:18-22.

It is Monday of Holy Week. The events of Palm Sunday are nothing more than a memory, and the crowd had dispersed. It is early in the morning and Jesus was alone with the disciples. They are headed back into Jerusalem. The author goes out of his way to tell us, Jesus is hungry. He spots an innocent fig tree to satisfy his hunger. It is full of leaves, which means it should have been full of its fruit. However, there is none. Out of character, Jesus curses the fig tree, and it instantly dies. It is the only thing Jesus ever cursed. The meaning of the story is lost to our generation, but Jesus’ generation understands the point clearly. It is a judgement story. Like the bald eagle which represents America, the fig tree represented Israel. Its leafy state was false advertising. Israel was being cursed because she was not fulfilling her divine purpose. There should have been fruit, but there was none. Like the fig tree, God expects the church to fulfill her divine purpose too. It is not enough to just exist and look good – we must be productive. The dead tree must have acted as a reminder to that generation that existence is not enough. Through the eyes of God, they had to be productive. Many unproductive churches are suffering the same fate as the fig tree.

April 16, 2023, was a sad day for my small membership church in extreme eastern Ohio. That was the day they held their last worship service. That church existed for over one hundred years, but no more. The large check from the denomination never came, but the denomination did close her. Except for the few remaining members no one seemed to care, and they didn’t care enough to do something. The church died of church paralysis. That church is not alone.

According to the Barna Research Group, approximately 3,700 churches close in America annually. Scattered across America are countless repurposed church buildings. My area is no exception. Former church buildings have been turned into art museums, childcare centers, adult daycare centers, beauty salons, private residences, restaurants, distilleries, and breweries. Recently, I discovered a former church that had been repurposed into a meadery. The worst is when an old, closed church building falls into disrepair. It is my guess, most of these churches did not close because the people weren’t nice. They did not close because of some sin committed by the members or the clergy. They did not close because the Gospel was not relevant. I believe many of these churches closed because they suffered from church paralysis. They simply refused to do something.

Like the dead tree, those repurposed church buildings stand as a warning to every functioning church. It does not matter how large your church is today. It does not matter how active your church is today. Church paralysis can happen at any church. It is not enough to just exist – every church must be productive. What new thing has your church done lately? Churches were never meant to be monuments of some past glory. They are meant to be a productive part of society. LifeWay’s Thom Rainer (born 1955) once said, “Some churches would rather die than get out of the comfort of the past.”

Examining Missions

We find ourselves in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew. It is my favorite parable, so you may remember these opening words. There came a point in Jesus’s earthly ministry when he was no longer welcomed in the synagogues. With no other option, Jesus began to teach in the open air and began to tell parables. Parables are nothing more than illustrations from daily living. They are not analogies, where each character represents a contemporary character. Parables are not that deep; they are only told to teach a single divine truth.

So, what is the truth Jesus is trying to teach in the parable of the sheep and the goats? Jesus expects us to respond to human need. It is our way of expressing appreciation to God for saving our souls. We are not saved by our good works – we are saved by grace. Our only hope of salvation comes through our faith in Jesus Christ. That is why missions are so important to the life of the church. My goal in this blog is to help you appreciate missions. I will do that by making three statements about missions. I hope these statements make you think.

This is statement number one. Missions involve interpersonal relationships. Once you learn the name of the person you help, everything changes. Once you get involved in their story, missions come to life. Missions is not charity – missions is deeper. There is nothing wrong with collecting food, paper products or hats and mittens. There are many people who need them. The problem is, you never get to know the person who will eat that food, use those paper products, or wear the hat. Charity is fine, but the needy always remain at a distance. Missions involve interpersonal relationships. If you want to thank Jesus, get involved in someone else’s story.

My wife has spent much her life helping unadoptable Russian orphans. Through the years, three of these orphans came to the United States to get prosthetics legs and they stayed in our home. One year two of the boys came at the same time. Stas came to get his first prosthetic legs. Kolya came to get his legs repaired and adjusted. Stas was eight years old and stayed away from me. Kolya was sixteen and became my friend. He did what my daughters never did – he stayed up late with me and we watched the NCAA basketball tournament. He opened up during those late nights and we shared our lives. One night Kolya and I were talking. Wanting to give him a hard time about being Russian, I asked him a question just to get a reaction out of him. Knowing the Nazis nearly overran his town of Dmitrov during the war, I said to him, “Kolya, what did you learn about World War II in those rotten Russian schools?” Sixteen-year-olds are great in any country; they are just so unfiltered. Kolya rubbed the top of his head and gave me a smirk. He said, “We learned the American generals weren’t very good and that was why the war lasted so long.” We both laughed and I said, “I’ll tell all my veteran friends we had rotten generals during World War II.” I told a vet that story and he said, “The kid was right! We did have rotten generals”. The best thing about that night was that I got to spend time with Kolya. Another day, Kolya and I were driving in the country, and he asked me if all the houses we passed had electricity. I said, “Yes!” He said, “Wow!” Kolya is a fine young man, and he taught me something. Missions is not charity. In missions, we get involved with the needy. How involved are you with the truly needy? Missions is a great way to thank God for saving your soul. Missions involve interpersonal relationships.

This is statement number two. Missions expose our spiritual maturity. Spiritual babies think it is all about themselves. The spiritually mature understand life is about others. No activity in the life of the local church exposes spiritual maturity more than missions. Your response to missions says a great deal about your spiritual maturity. If it is true of people, then it is true of churches. If you show me a church that is not involved in missions, then I will show you a church that is on the way to extinction.

On the day missions takes a backseat to everything else, your church will start to die.

Listen to what I am about to say: if you want your church to close, then protest every mission opportunity. It is easy to do. You can justify your opposition based on sound business principles. You will get some support from fellow church members because the spiritually immature are always with us. They don’t get it. I heard it many times in the ministry. “We can’t afford it!” “The congregation won’t support it!” “The insurance won’t cover it!” This is the painful truth to the spiritually immature. Churches aren’t businesses. The churches were never meant to be a business. The church is the only organization that exists for the benefit of its nonmembers. The church was meant to be an extension of Christ in the world. When the winds of Pentecost blew, the only thing that mattered to those charter members was Jesus. The only thing that should matter to your church is Jesus. The spiritually mature understand when we care for the needy of this world, we are really caring for Jesus. When we ignore the needy of this world, we are ignoring Jesus. This is not my opinion. That is what the Master said in the parable. If you want to thank God for your salvation, then get involved in missions. Missions expose our spiritual maturity.

This is statement number three. Missions does involve a certain amount of risk. Can I state the obvious? There are many frightened people in the church. Whenever I have gotten involved in a mission project, well-meaning people try to stop me. When I went to the Philippines, people told me, “don’t go!” Their government was unstable. When I went to Mexico people told me, “don’t go!” I would be taken hostage. When I went to Haiti people told me, “don’t go!” I could get a disease. When I got involved in Mill Creek Workcamp, which brought 400 young people to Youngstown, Ohio, to help the residents with basic home repair, people said to me, “Aren’t you afraid to be in the city of Youngstown? Someone seems to be killed every day.” My wife Kathryn and I have gone to Russia several dozen times through the years. Every time well-meaning people tried to frustrate us. They said, “The Russians will arrest you and you will never return home.”

They are not all wrong, there is a certain amount of risk. Yes, the plane may go down. Yes, the food may be bad. Yes, the residents may not like your brand of politics. Yes, you may fall in love with one of the orphans and get your heart broken. However, this is what I have learned: The reward is far greater than the risk. There is a world of needy people out there whom God loves. How can you turn your back on them? If God has not told you to go, then don’t go. But, if God has called someone to do something, then don’t discourage them. Pray for them. They will pack their common sense. Missions involve risk. Missions are the best way to thank God for your salvation.

I read this story years ago. Ernest Henry Shackelton (1874-1922) was born in Ireland on February 15, 1874. His father wanted him to be a doctor, but he wanted to be a sailor. At the age of sixteen, he joined the merchant marines and saw the world. His greatest desire was to travel to the North and South Poles. In December of 1914, he got that opportunity. He was the captain of a ship called Endurance, which had a crew of twenty-seven men. Most of those men were recruited from a simple newspaper advertisement. It read:

Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.

Some have questioned the authenticity of the story, but it doesn’t seem to matter. The story still resonates in the heart of many. Why? Because, people long for an adventure. No one just wants to live and die. We long for an adventure and an opportunity to make a difference. I believe you long for an adventure and you want to make a difference in this world too. I believe, you are desperate to find a way to thank God for saving your soul. Founder of Saddleback Church Rick Warren (born 1954) wasn’t wrong. He once said, “The Only way to serve God is to serve other people.”

Because You Believe

We find ourselves in the twenty-eighth chapter of Matthew. Much has already happened. It is impossible to summarize everything in a few words. It will have to suffice to say, Jesus was dead, executed Roman style on the previous Friday. He was crucified between two common criminals. The picture was not pretty. It is difficult to hear the details all these years later. However, Jesus was lucky in two ways: first, Jesus died quickly. Some lingered much longer on the cross; second, it was not uncommon for the crucified to be taken down and thrown into a pile of lifeless corpses; their bodies would be eaten by buzzards or wild dogs. Not so with Jesus. Arrangements were made by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus that Jesus’ body would be taken down and placed in a new tomb. A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to contain the smell and to protect it from thieves. The Roman government was persuaded by Jesus’ enemies to place guards in front of the tomb to eliminate any future problems. This was all done by dark on Friday because the law prohibited any burials on the Sabbath. Once this was completed, Jesus’ loved ones grieved because Jesus was dead! That takes us to our reading.

According to our story, early Sunday morning, Jesus received his first visitors – two women with the same first name. There is Mary Magdalene and another Mary. They were the supporting characters in a scene that would change the world. Three miraculous things happened. First, there was an earthquake. Only Matthew mentions this earthquake, but this earthquake is worth mentioning because it reveals to us that God had done something truly special. Second, the giant stone had been rolled away from the entrance of the tomb. Third, it was announced Jesus had been resurrected. According to verse three, it is made by an angel, whose clothes were white as snow, symbolizing purity. The angel tells the women about the resurrection, but the women experience the resurrected Jesus for themselves in verse nine. In time, Jesus would appear to others, including the disciples. It is important that at some time in your life, you have experienced the resurrected Jesus too.

Jesus was not the only one to be resurrected in the Bible. There are stories in both the Old and the New Testaments about others being resurrected. There are no fewer than eight, Lazarus being the most noteworthy. However, Jesus’ resurrection is different. The others had human fathers. Jesus was the son of God. That means the baby in the manger at Christmas and the man on the cross on Good Friday are the same. Jesus was the incarnation of God, who not just became one of us, but died for us. He was the sacrificial lamb for our sins. God’s love is deep. How can you question God’s love for us? Never forget it! You cannot earn your salvation. You are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus.

Your belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not optional, it is indispensable. Many believe Romans 10:9 was the first creed in the history of the church. It says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If that is true, then the opposite is also true. If you don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then the fires of hell are waiting for you. The early church understood the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. They worshipped on Sunday morning because every Sunday morning was seen as a little Easter, or resurrection day. That is why most Christian churches still worship on Sunday mornings. Your belief in the resurrection is not trivial. It changed everything about your life. Consider these three things.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus there is forgiveness! Ephesians 1:7 says it clearly, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the richness of God’s grace.” On the moment Jesus walked out of the tomb, mankind had the opportunity to experience forgiveness. One of the great hymns found in the church today is Amazing Grace. It was written by John Newton (1725-1807.) He was a former captain of a slave ship, who was saved by grace. The hymn reminds us we are all sinners, who are saved by grace. Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus you are forgiven!

Because of the resurrection Jesus your life has purpose! Philippians 3:13-14 says, “But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” It has been reported only 10% of Americans feel like they know their life’s purpose. I do not find that figure surprising. In my time in the ministry, I talked to people regularly who were clueless about their life’s purpose. Many confuse their purpose with their vocation. Your purpose is to glorify God. The Westminster Confession of faith says the purpose of life is to glorify God. What are you doing today to glorify God? Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus your life has purpose!

Because of the resurrection of Jesus your eternity is bright! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” On the day I die, don’t cry for me. I am going to heaven, not because I am a good person. I am going to heaven because I worship and serve a perfect and resurrected Jesus. Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus your eternity is bright too!

Located on an island in the Seine River in Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral is a piece of history. It is a “must see” in Paris. Construction began in 1163 and took two hundred years to complete. It has been the backdrop of French history for generations. They say on an average week 12,000 tourists visit Notre Dame daily. During Holy Week, that number swells to 30,000. I am fortunate. I have been there three times. The first time I was with my parents as a teenager. The second time I was with wife Kathryn fifteen years ago. It happened to be our wedding anniversary. The third time was recently. I insisted we visit Notre Dame.

We went to lunch in a nearby café. As we ate, we studied the ancient structure, and we remembered April 15, 2019. That was the day Notre Dame burned. Many grieved for Notre Dame that day. I remember being moved by the emotions of the crowd who gathered to watch the blaze, some praying, some singing, some crying. They feared the building would be lost forever. That did not happen. At first, they said it would be reopened by the Olympics in July, but that is not the case. Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen on December 8, 2024. It will be a wonderful day for the Parisiens. I will be honest with you, on the day Notre Dame burned, I mourned for the building and the history, but not the faith. The Christian faith cannot be captured in a building.

The Christian faith is found in the hearts of men and women who believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Your belief in the resurrection is not optional, it is indispensable. The resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. It changed the way you viewed your past – you can experience forgiveness. It changed the way you live today – your life has purpose. It changes your eternity – someday we are going to heaven. John Ortberg (born 1957) is a Christian author, speaker and pastor of Menlo Church in Menlo, California. He once said, “At the very heart of the Christian faith is the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.” Never forget, we serve a risen savior!

The Ultimate Disappointment

The Mackenzie River is Canada’s largest river system. It runs through vast sections of the barren Northwest Territory and empties into the Arctic Circle. It was named after a Canadian explorer, Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820). He lived near the end of the eighteenth century and longed to lead an expedition across Canada to the Pacific Ocean. His incredible journey was completed in 1793, 11 years before Lewis and Clark. That was his second attempt. His first attempt ended in failure in 1789. The first attempt failed because the group traveled on the Mackenzie River. They hoped it would empty into the Pacific Ocean. Instead, it turned north. History tells us the original group was devastated. In his diary, Mackenzie himself, called the river that now carries his name, The River of Disappointment.

When was the last time you were disappointed? Have you ever been disappointed in your spouse? Have you have been disappointed in your children? Have you ever been disappointed in your parents? Have you ever been disappointed in your friends? Have you ever been disappointed in the government? Have you ever been disappointed in your church? Have you ever been disappointed in your pastor? Have you ever been disappointed in yourself? You can admit it, from time to time, we all do it. You turn your critical eyes inward, and you don’t like what you see. I will admit it, I have been disappointed in myself many times. We are not alone. Some of the greatest people in history have been disappointed in themselves. Consider these names with me:

Did you know Alexander the Great (356 BC-323 BC) conquered Persia, but he broke down and wept in disappointment because his troops were too exhausted to push on to India?

Did you know Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), the father of modern international law, knew disappointment? Near the end, he said, “I have accomplished nothing worthwhile in my life.”

Did you know John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), sixth President of the U.S., knew disappointment? In his diary he wrote, “My life has been spent in vain and idle aspirations, and in ceaseless rejected prayers. I hope I did something beneficial for my species.”

Did you know Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) wrote words that continue to delight and enrich our lives, and yet he knew disappointment? He wrote these words for his own headstone, “Here lies one who meant well, who tried a little, and failed much.”

Did you know Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902), who opened Africa and established an empire, knew disappointment? His last words were, “So little done, so much to do.”

In 1858, the Illinois legislature – due to an obscure statute – sent Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861) to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), although Lincoln had won the popular vote. When a sympathetic friend asked Lincoln how he felt, he said, “Like the boy who stubbed his toe: I am too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh.”

You are not the first person, and ours is not the first generation to experience disappointment. It is one of those things that links one generation to the next. Our scripture in this blog is not about disappointment, it is about the ultimate disappointment, death!

We find ourselves in the twenty-seventh chapter of Matthew. It is a chapter you must read this Holy Week. It tells is about the death of Jesus. The events of that first Palm Sunday, just days earlier, seem like years ago. The cheering crowd had disappeared, replaced by a grieving handful. The picture is not pretty. Jesus is being executed. In my station in life, I have witnessed many people die, and it is always hard. No matter how prepared we might be, the end is shocking. The person goes from being a human being to a corpse, in a matter of seconds. At each funeral, I was reminded of the fragility of life. It was no different for Jesus. The young man, full of life earlier in the day is now gone; he is now just another rotting corpse. The eyewitnesses of his execution are not just disappointed, they are devastated. Churches recall the death of Jesus annually, but it never changes. The death of Jesus is shocking. It must have been hard to witness. Annually the church is forced to answer the same question on Good Friday: Why was the death of Jesus necessary? There isn’t a single answer. There are several answers. Let me give you just three. Each one is a reminder.

Jesus’s death fulfilled prophesy! The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the death of Jesus between the years 740 BC and 701 BC. The fifty-third chapter tells us of the “suffering servant.” We understand that to be Jesus. Isaiah said Jesus would be rejected. The death of Jesus was not an accident. The death of Jesus was part of God’s plan of salvation for the world. From the very beginning God had a plan to save the world.

Jesus’s death demonstrates the depth of God’s love! There was nothing pleasant about Jesus’s death. It was painful for the witnesses to experience, and it is painful for us to ponder today. However, the harshness of his death proves his love for us. We always sacrifice the most for the people we love the most. Jesus sacrificed it all for us.

Jesus’s death reminds us of the importance of eternity. How much time do you spend worrying about the problems of this world? How much time do you spend worrying about eternity? Billy Graham (1918-2018) once said, “Heaven is real and hell is real, and eternity is but a breath away.”

The theological reasons behind Jesus’ death cannot replace the sting of his death. After all, death is the ultimate disappointment. There is no way of ignoring the events of Good Friday. As Christians, we must wrestle with the truth. Jesus was dead. After all, there is no way of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus without his death.

Years ago, I decided to take my church to the local cemetery to worship on Good Friday. As the sun was going down, we gathered in the mausoleum. It was the perfect place for such a service. After all, Jesus was dead. For me, the first year was the most uncomfortable. It was something new, so I went to the mausoleum in the middle of the afternoon to just settle. The weather was perfect for Good Friday. It was cold and rainy. I stood at the back door and watched the rain come down in sheets. I was thinking about the death of Jesus, and I was humbled. I was completely alone, except for an elderly woman. She wasn’t inside, she was outside, holding an umbrella, standing next to a freshly dug grave. I didn’t know her story, but I had an educated guess. Her long-time husband had died, and she came to visit him. The rain and the thunder could not mask her crying. Listen to what I am about to say – she wasn’t just crying, she was wailing. Her heart was broken; the love of her life was gone. She wasn’t just disappointed; she was devastated. For a second, I thought about going out to comfort her, but she needed to be alone. With nothing else to do, I watched her grieve. Then, it hit me – it was Good Friday, and she was crying over the death of a loved one, just like Jesus’ loved ones cried for him.

How many tears have you shed for Jesus this Good Friday? How much do you really love Jesus? After all, Jesus is dead, and death is the ultimate disappointment. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) once said, “It costs God nothing, as far as we know, to create nice things; but to convert rebellious wills, cost him crucifixion.” May God bless us as we wrestle with the painful truth, Jesus died for us.

Norman Vincent Peale’s Tattoo

Our scripture for today is 1 Peter 2:4-12. First Peter is writing a circular letter. He is not writing to any particular church or individual. He was writing to all Christians of his time, so his words had to fit every situation. So, what do you say to everyone that is relevant to everyone? He appeals to their most basic issues of life itself. This letter shows Peter’s pastoral side. In a firm and loving way, he tells them to keep living the faith. That sounds easy, but it is quite hard. It has always been hard. In the first century they were worried about Christian persecution. The threat was obvious. In our generation it is more subtle. The threat is no longer external; it is internal. The world is encouraging us to compromise the faith away. We live in the most immoral times in American history. We have become masters at compromising everything. We should live as aliens in this world. We should always have our eyes fixed on heaven. Peter tells us today to stop compromising faith, and start living the faith.

Today, I want to talk about living the faith. The text reminds us that living the faith involves three things. If you want to live the faith, then you first must learn to love life. How do you feel about your life? Second, you must learn to love others. You do not live in isolation. You live in a world filled with people. Third, you must learn to love Christ. Jesus is simply the greatest life that ever lived. These three are the keys to unlocking your faith and living satisfying lives. They will change you from feeling like a loser to a winner. Let me begin.

First, you must love life. Look at the words Peter uses to describe his readers. They are not harsh words. They are affirming words. Verses nine and ten say, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Those are God’s words to you. Do you believe them? Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Victor Frankl (1905-1997) once said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing, his attitude.”

United Methodist James W. Moore (1938-2019) told the story of a woman who went to a doctor. It wasn’t her first visit. She went to the doctor every time she was down. She asked the doctor for a new pill to make her feel better. The doctor asked her to step into the back. The storage room was filled with countless empty pill bottles. The doctor looked at the woman and said, “Each one of these bottles is like every day in your life. You have a choice. Will you fill your days with medicine that will bring hope and healing to the people in your life? Or will you fill your days with poison that will bring death? The choice is yours.” That is the choice that we make every day in our life. What is your choice? This is my question for you:

Do you love life? Jesus is the greatest gift we will ever receive. Life is the second greatest gift we will ever receive. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Love life!

Second, you must love others. It is woven through the fabric of the New Testament. It was why Peter wrote this epistle. He encourages others in the faith. If he had not cared, then not a single word would have been written. I hope your attitude is not like Prussia’s Fredrick the Great (1712-1786). He said, “The more I get to know people, the more I love my dog.”

Peter Arnett (born 1934) was a CNN television commentator and reporter. He tells of a time he was in Israel, in a small town on the West Bank, when a bomb exploded. Bloodied people were everywhere. A man came running up to Peter holding a little girl in his arms. He pleaded with Peter to take her to a hospital. As a member of the press, he would be able to get through security. Peter, the man and the girl jumped into his car and rushed to the hospital. The whole time the man was pleading with him to hurry, to go faster, heartbroken at the thought the little girl might die. Sadly, the little girl’s injuries were too great, and she died on the operating table. When the doctor came out to give them the news, the man collapsed in tears. Peter Arnett was at a loss for words. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t imagine what you must be going through. I’ve never lost a child.” It was then that the man said, “Oh, mister! That girl was not my daughter. I’m an Israeli settler. She was a Palestinian. But there comes a time when each of us must realize that every child, regardless of that child’s background, is a daughter or a son. There must come a time when we realize that we are all family.”

One of the great challenges in life is staying in love with people. Let us be honest. There are many people who aren’t even likeable. It would be easy to ignore them. But we can’t do it, because Jesus told us, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Why would Jesus say such a thing? The Master understood we find support in the healthiest relationships in our lives. Love life! Love others!

Third, you must love Christ. I love the story of the man who collected old books. He met an acquaintance who had just thrown away a Bible that had been stored in the attic of his ancestral home for generations. “I couldn’t read it,” the friend explained. “Somebody named Guten-something had printed on it.” “Not Gutenberg!” the book lover exclaimed in horror. “That Bible was one of the first books ever printed. Why, a copy just sold for over two million dollars!” His friend was unimpressed. “Mine wouldn’t have brought a dollar. Some fellow named Martin Luther had scribbled all over it in German.”

You see, that is the story of our lives. The world says our value comes from who we are. The faith tells us we are of value because of whose we are. It is an incredible story. The God of the universe came into the world and took a human form. He lived the perfect life and was executed as a common criminal. He suffered and died. Why? Because you are so valuable to Him! God knows what we often forget. We are winners! Consider these facts.

Did you know, only 13% of American women consider themselves pretty. Did you know only 28% of American men think themselves handsome. 94% of American men would change something about their looks if they could. 99% of American women would change something about their looks if they could. Can I be honest with you? You are perfect! I wouldn’t change a thing! The real question is, how do you feel about yourself? Do you feel like a winner or a loser? Love life! Love others! Love Christ!

American Protestant clergyman Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) told the story of walking down the streets of Hong Kong. He came across a tattoo shop. In the window were displayed samples of the tattoos available. There were all kinds of tattoos. However, one tattoo stood out. It was just three words: BORN TO LOSE. He entered the shop in astonishment and pointed to those words. He asked the Chinese tattoo artist, “Does anyone really have that terrible phrase, ‘born to lose’, tattooed on their body?” He replied, “Yes, sometimes.” Peale said, “I just can’t believe that anyone in his right mind would do that.” The Chinese man simply tapped his forehead and said in broken English, “Before tattoo on body, tattoo on mind.” Can I ask you a question?

Would you buy that tattoo, BORN TO LOSE? Maybe you should consider the tattoo, I AM A WINNER. After all, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, and you know how to live. Disciples of Jesus love life. Disciples of Jesus love others. Disciples of Jesus love him. American Protestant author, teacher, and preacher Francis Chan (born 1967) once said, “Following Jesus is not something you do halfheartedly or on the side. It is not a label you can display when it is useful. It must be central to everything we do and are.”

Children of the Light

On February 3, 2013, the city of New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl. San Francisco played Baltimore. The Ravens won 34-31. It was a perfect evening for the National Football League, except for a few embarrassing moments. Early in the third quarter there was a blackout in the Superdome. Over 108.4 million people were watching the game when the lights suddenly went out. At the time, it was a big issue with a surplus of finger pointing. The media had a field day. They interviewed many about the situation.

One media outlet interviewed three women who were at the game. They were in one of the sections that grew dark. The interviewer asked them what they did. They said they did three things. First, they tried to stay calm. Second, they decided to stay together. Third, they left their seats and headed toward the exit. They never left the stadium, but they stood near the exit. One of the women said, “We stood near the exit and looked out into the city streets. We saw a light in the distance and decided to run toward that light if something went wrong.” That is the story of the Christian faith. At some point in your life, you ran toward “the light of the world” for protection. That takes us to our scripture reading.

Our scripture reading is Ephesians 5:8-14. The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Christian congregation in the city of Ephesus, which is in present day Turkey, approximately the year AD 60. I had the good fortune to visit there last year. It is an amazing place, and the background of the epistle is important. Paul is not writing to them to address any problem. There is no sign of heresy or internal conflict. Instead, Paul is writing them with a word of encouragement. He is challenging them not to be content with their present spiritual condition. Instead, they must strive for perfection. In other words, they must strive to be a little more like Jesus every day. To completely understand the text, you must know Paul uses the word “light” to symbolize Jesus. His thought is not original. Jesus called himself “the light of the world” in John 8:12. That makes us, as disciples of Jesus Christ, children of the light, and as children of the light we are striving to become like Jesus.

That does not mean conversion is not important. Every conversion story stands on its own. There is no such thing as a good story or a bad story. It is just your story. Some conversion stories are filled with sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. Like jumping off the high drive, everything changed in an instant. Some conversion stories lack fireworks. You waded into the faith because you were loved by Christian people. Your parents took you to church, enrolled you in Sunday school then confirmation class, and sent you to church camp or on a mission trip. When the Holy Spirit moved you, you accepted Jesus. No one noticed but you would never be the same again. How you accepted Jesus really doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that you accepted Jesus. However, conversion is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of the story. It is the beginning of a journey that will consume your life.

I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior forty-nine years ago. I like to think I have made some progress in the faith. I hate to think my faith is the same as it was as a seventeen-year-old boy. Your spiritual growth is not an option, it is expected. 1 Peter 2:2-3 says, “Like newborn babes, carve spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” As children of the light, Jesus should transform your life. The bloggers at Divinity Jewells say Jesus should transform our lives in four ways.

Jesus transforms our minds. Romans 2:2 says, “Do not conform to the ways of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Paul understood one of the great influences on our lives is our environment. The country in which we are born, the community in which we live, the family in which we belong, all influence us. That is not always a bad thing, but there is a risk. The attitudes of our environment can run contrary to the ways of God. For example, we are taught to love conditionally, but Jesus loves unconditionally. Our attitudes should never completely be conformed to the ways of this world. Jesus must be the greatest influence on your life. My we never forget we are just visitors in this world.

Jesus transforms our desires. Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” What does your heart desire? It is a fair question. Many in our world desire the best for themselves. How many people do you know desire wealth, so they dream of winning the lottery? Others desire recognition, status, position, and fame. The world tells us to desire the best for ourselves, but Jesus desired the best for others. Sometimes it was the temporary things of this world – health and security. Sometimes it was eternal things – salvation. The spiritual mature desire what Jesus desired. Jesus desired what was best for others. What do you desire?

Jesus transforms our relationships. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus commands us to love one another the way that he loves us. In Matthew 26:37-38, Jesus tells us loving our neighbor is the second greatest commandment. How would your relationships change if you simply loved the people in your life? How much drama would you eliminate from your life if you simply loved the people in your life. And everyone in your life loved you? Our relationships are extremely valuable.

Jesus transforms our purpose. In my time in the ministry, I never forgot the bigger picture. I was not working for profit. I was not working for my church or my Bishop. I was working for the Kingdom of God. It consumed me. That is why my personal witness was important. That is why I gave my best to every church I served. John 15:16 says we are to bear fruit that will last. I hope I did. What is your purpose in life?

When I was in seminary, I served a small membership church in Garrard County, Kentucky. The people of the Pleasant Grove Christian Church were patient with me. They were kind to me at a time when I needed some kindness. Most of my parishioners are gone, but I long to worship in that church one more time. If I did anything positive in the ministry, it was because of them. They encouraged me at a time when I needed some encouragement. Without them, I would have left the ministry. That church had a custom that was unique. I have never experienced it anywhere else.

They called it the “The Fifth Sunday Hymn Sing.” The concept was simple. On the fifth Sunday of the month the various Christian churches in the county got together. The location rotated but the order of worship was constant. The host pastor welcomed everyone, invited the crowd to stay for refreshments, and prayed. We would sing a few congregational hymns, then all the choirs from the various churches shared two pieces. Near the end of the service the pastor would ask if anyone had a testimony to share. A few brave souls would come forward to speak. One man from the Mount Hebron Christian Church came forward every time we gathered.

He was an older gentleman who wore an old dark suit, yellowed white shirt and a tie with an American flag print. His story was simple and sincere. He was sixteen years old, and his mother insisted he attend the annual revival. Reluctantly, he went and sat in the corner of the back row. He expected to leave before the benediction, but the preacher talked about hell that evening. The topic grabbed his attention and he hung on every word. He didn’t want to go to hell, so when the altar call was given, he ran to the front of the church as the congregation sang “I Surrender All.” He ended his testimony full of emotions. His final words were, “Thank-you Jesus! Thank-you Lord!” It was a fine story.

I served that congregation for three years and I never missed a Fifth Sunday Hymn Sing, so I must have heard that gentleman’s story twelve times. I knew his testimony better than I knew my own. His testimony was excellent, but it was incomplete. I wanted to ask him if God had done something for him since he was sixteen years old? What was the rest of his story? The Apostle Paul was encouraging the Christians at Ephesus to continue to grow spiritually. As Children of the light, we must continue to grow spiritually too. American author and psychiatrist M. Scott Peck (1936-2005) once said, “The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learning.”

Why the Innocent Suffer

Years ago, I officiated at a wedding in the St. James Meeting House in Boardman, Ohio. I have officiated at many weddings in Boardman Park through the years. They call me because they want a minister, but don’t have a church. On Friday night, I showed up for the rehearsal. Everyone was excited and in a good mood. At the conclusion of the rehearsal, the bride invited me to the rehearsal dinner. My wife Kathryn was out of town, so I decided to go. I planned on dining and dashing. I had other things I needed to do. This is the truth – when I walked into the restaurant, everyone ignored me. Some people are uncomfortable talking to a minister. (I think it is because I am too handsome.) I was relieved when the groom’s father walked up to me and asked me to sit with his family.

His name was Jeff, and he was simply a good guy. I just met him that evening, but I felt like we had known each other for years. Somewhere in our discussion, he confessed that the next day was not only his son’s wedding day, but his anniversary. I asked him the appropriate questions. “How long have you been married?” And “Where were you married?” He gave me an educated guess on the number of years, and he wasn’t sure of the location. I responded, “You don’t know where you were married?” He tried to explain his ignorance by telling me he was an atheist. I said, “You don’t believe there is a God? Jeff said, “No!” I asked, “Have you always been an atheist?” “No! I used to believe in the existence of God but stopped believing because of all the suffering in the world. Why would a loving God permit innocent people to suffer?” I found his honesty to be refreshing. Do you know of anyone, like Jeff, who doesn’t believe there is a God because of all the suffering? Do you know of anyone who is mad at God because of all the suffering in the world? I will be honest with you, all the suffering in our world upsets me.

Someone once asked British novelist and lay theologian C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), “Why do the righteous suffer?” “Why not?” he replied. “They’re the only ones who can take it.” Unless you are living in a coma, you know we have a surplus of suffering in our world. Suffering does not discriminate. It is universal; no one escapes. It is found in both the east and the west. It is found among the young and the not so young. Both men and women experience suffering. Both the wealthy and the poor suffer. It is found among the educated and the uneducated, the ambitious and the not so ambitious. Suffering is found among both believers and non-believers. No one escapes; everyone suffers at one time or another.

Suffering comes from a variety of ways. Sometimes suffering is caused by natural disasters. It takes the form of a tornado, tsunami, or wildfire. Sometimes suffering is caused by poor personal decisions. You decide to smoke and ignore all the research. You sign your name on the line too many times and find yourself hopelessly in debt. You decide to drink and drive. Sometimes suffering is caused by violence. My local news is filled with violent crimes daily. The international news is filled with violence. For example, there are thirty-two wars in our world at this moment, causing countless innocent people to suffer. Sometimes suffering is caused by disease. Our world seems to be filled with various diseases and conditions. How many people do you know are dealing with cancer? Sometimes suffering is caused by mental or emotional issues. How many people do you know take medication to find that perfect balance? How many people do you know see a professional counselor regularly? Sometimes suffering is spiritual. Did you know death is the most common fear in America. Over 20% of Americans are afraid to die. This list is not complete. Our world is filled with suffering. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) once wrote, “To live is to suffer, to survive is to find the meaning in the suffering.” This leads us to our scripture reading.

Our reading is Job 1:13-22. You know the story; everybody knows the story. Job was a man who was blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil (1:1). He had everything in this world a man could desire. He was wealthy and his family had no obvious problems. The best part was that God, Himself, was proud of him. One day Satan comes before God and admits he has been roaming the world. He must have experienced many people in the world, but none could measure up to Job. God highlights Job for his excellence, but Satan is not impressed. Cynical to the core, he questions Job’s behavior. Why not worship God if you have everything? Satan believes Job will change his tune once some hardship enters his perfect life. God grants Satan permission to test Job’s faith. Over a period, Job loses everything—his wealth, family, and health. So, to speak, he goes from the penthouse to the outhouse. He loses everything this world has to offer, but his faith remains intact. In the end, Job passes the test. Job does not stand alone.

The Bible is filled with many people who experienced suffering firsthand. The Bible doesn’t tell us about people who God protected from hardship and suffering; the Bible tells us about people who clung to the faith despite their suffering. How many examples do you need? The son of Jacob, Joseph, the well-built handsome young man, was sold into slavery. The Israelites spent 400 years enslaved by the Egyptians. Moses led them to freedom, but they suffered along the way. The wilderness was hard. King Saul spent many years trying to kill the young David. The entire book of Lamentations was written after Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians and God’s Chosen People were exiled. In the New Testament, only one of the original disciples, John, died of natural causes. The rest were martyred. Even John suffered on the island of Patmos, where he had a series of visions, we call Revelation. The Apostle Paul didn’t fare much better. The scriptures tell us he was shipwrecked, beaten, flogged, exposed to the elements, and left for dead. Even Jesus knew suffering. He was beaten and bruised before being nailed to the cross. The Bible is filled with people who have experienced suffering firsthand. People who get mad at God about the suffering, like Jeff, simply don’t read the Bible.

Suffering is even found in church history. One of the most historic creeds within the church is the Nicene Creed. It was accepted in the year 325 in present-day Turkey, near present-day Istanbul. 318 delegates attended the Nicene Council. It was reported that fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith. Their story is not unique. Throughout Christian history, across all traditions of Christianity, and in every part of the world, some 70 million Christians have been murdered for their faith and hence called martyrs. Suffering is part of the Christian faith. Why do you think you should be excused? Suffering is a part of discipleship.

When I was in seminary, I took a class on theodicy. What is theodicy? It is the combination of two Greek words, the word for God and the word for justice. The entire course was built on the question for today, why do the innocent suffer? The professor told us we needed a strong theology of suffering if we were going to survive in the ministry. He was right. In the ministry, I worked with many good people who suffered regularly. In that class, we were required to develop our own theology of suffering. This is my theology of suffering in a nutshell.

It is grounded in the book of Job. We may live in God’s creation, and it is a great place. Nature, all four seasons, testify to God’s greatness. The world is a great place to spend 100 years! However, while we may live in God’s creation, we also live in Satan’s playground. Our world is not always a pretty place; our world can be downright ugly. The source of all that ugliness is Satan, himself. He attacks us in many ways. There is suffering from natural disasters. He attacks us with the consequences from poor decision making, disease, violence, mental, emotional spiritual issues, and the rest. Every day, we play the part of the Old Testament character, Job. Satan places suffering into our lives because Satan wants us to denounce our faith. However, we won’t do it because we are disciples of Jesus Christ! We know this world is not the main event; it is only the warm-up act. Someday, we are going to heaven! There is no suffering in heaven, only perfection. American theologian and apologist Timothy Keller (1950-2023) once said, “Suffering can define us rather than destroy because God himself walks with us in the fire.”