Spiritual Viewpoints

by Rick Smith

New Viewpoints

Echoing Cliches

By

As we grow older and gain more wisdom our perspectives may change. Sometimes when this happens, and you’re the preacher, it can threaten the spiritual family. Some folks don’t like change, others are intolerant. To them, it seems like their religious foundations are being shaken. So, how do we present new ideas to honest brethren in ways that will not offend them?

cactusAlthough it’s comfortable to sit firmly on held beliefs, that feeling of security may turn on us and become a painful cactus sticking us in the derriere. A fresh look may be more biblically sound than some old paths. After all, we must carefully transcend the warning of Jesus, “Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition” (Matthew 15:6ff).

Our goal must be to lift up Christ, not echo traditional clichés. For instance, our penchant for certain words diminishes Christ while lifting the Church higher than the cross. We seldom say someone believed on the Lord, or became a disciple of Christ, or began to follow Jesus ~ instead, we say the person had “become a member of the Church.” Congregations are encouraged to “be faithful to the Church” and never to “leave the Church,” or if they do, to “come back to the Church”. It’s as though the Church died for Christ, not he for the church.

Do you see what I’m saying; do you understand? How many times have you heard someone say, “So and so fell away from the church?” Why didn’t they say “So and so fell away from the Lord”? Now you tell me ~ who did they fall away from, if not the Savior?

The church didn’t die for us, Jesus did. When we accepted Christ, we became part of his church. The church is made up of all the saved people on earth. Your congregation is a family of believers who have been saved by the blood of the Lamb.

The Apostle Paul puts this in proper perspective as it’s not a matter of word usage; it is a matter of spiritual understanding. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:18-23).

When we recognize the church as a body of people called out of sin into salvation because of the sin offering of its Savior, our speech will no longer betray us as having our first devotion to something other than the Lord. Let’s lift up Jesus (Jn.12:32), so all people will be drawn to him!

I Can’t Hate You

By

 

I have no enemies! Others may consider me an enemy, but it’s not reciprocal. I don’t care what anyone has done, said, or thought about me. If they’ve taken advantage, slandered, slurred, or cursed me, I don’t hold it against them. Instead, I love them! And there’s nothing they can do about it.

hateI don’t deserve a pat on the back for loving those who would do me harm. My human tendency might be to retaliate, to hate those who hate me. But I can’t. I have no choice but to love people even when they seem unlovable.

The apostle Paul wrote, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

Practically speaking, if God can forgive the messes I’ve made in my life, what right have I to hate others for their messes?

When I hear of somebody not talking to somebody else because that person did this or that bad thing, I wonder if they realize how much the Creator loves them even when they do the same. I’ve concluded that people who don’t feel God’s forgiveness may lack forgiving hearts. That’s a real shame!

Personally, I’ll accept all the forgiveness God offers me. And in return, I’ll give that forgiveness to others, no matter what they’ve done. Then, if they’ll listen, I’ll tell them about the Great Redeemer and His forgiveness.

I sleep better at night that way.

 

 

Integrity — Our Inner Compass

By

Former senator Alan Simpson introduced President Gerald Ford at Harvard University by saying, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”

compassPrivate virtue, integrity, is the inner compass that maintains our direction. Without direction, the circles in which we travel eventually lead to heartbreak. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to sin no more. He wanted to alter her inner compass. Integrity helps us maintain a monogamous relationship, just as it keeps us walking forward in all of life’s endeavors. Our core competence is the result of Christ in us. (Gal. 2:20)

Integrity demands a focus on truth. Christian truth is not determined by a Church or denomination. Jesus is truth. Our focus is on the principles He taught, not the spin developed by men with an agenda. The cornerstone of a church building may read “Est. A.D. 33” and be occupied by the Unitarian Universalist Church. Church marquees tell little about what is inside. That’s why we must look intently for the Spirit of Christ, not the name above a door.

A life filled with integrity seeks ultimate truth. This is truth beyond the quibbles that divide churches. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” (John 17: 25-26). Spiritual integrity elevates what God considers important, not our personal issues. The longest recorded prayer of Jesus requested unity of believers, not fences around sacred cows.

Our inner compass must be the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5). The Spirit of Christ will help us maintain our balance while we journey towards heaven.

The Inheritance

By

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

will

Imagine what the child of a King might inherit. Let’s say this King had conquered the whole world, and He loves you immensely. Plus, you are a chosen favorite, marked as special, and highly esteemed. What might you expect from such a King? “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).

Can you visualize the picture? God chose and marked you with His Holy Spirit. He views you in a special way. He sees you through the eyes of His only begotten Son. He refuses to focus on your flaws, failures or sinfulness. Instead, He sees the perfection that comes from the One who makes you perfect. You can count on blessings beyond your imagination. “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10ff).

Heaven is the inheritance. We will walk arm in arm with the saints from all times. The Sustainer of life will share with us the wisdom of the ages. It’s not enough that Peter, James, and John are there; Jesus will greet us with outstretched arms. “To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it” (Revelation 2:17ff).

Heaven will be home. Whatever tears we bring will be wiped away by our Father’s love. The Spirit of holiness will encompass us eternally. Our praise will be echoed by angels. The chorus will send chills through our immortal bodies. The love we receive will melt away any fleshliness that might otherwise corrode us. “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:5). You see, I just want God to hold us close and say “Its okay, welcome home.”

Becoming

By

We must become something different, to do something different, in order to have something different. Jesus exampled this when he did the seemingly impossible. God became flesh and gave up heaven, made himself nothing, took the form of a servant, humbled himself, and obediently died on a cross. As a result, the Father exalted him and gave Him the name that is above every name. (Phil. 2:6-11)

For us to have the attitude or mind of Christ, we, too, must become something different and do something different in order to have something different.
To become something different is a work in progress. It begins the minute I choose to change a bad habit into a Christ-like habit. You overcome any bad habit or addiction by putting one day at a time together until there is a string of them. That’s how you overcome selfishness, rage, impatience, and anything else that is unworthy of a disciple
.
Becoming something different, that is, becoming more like Jesus, is one of those goals we should tack onto our mirror or refrigerator. You might want to write out a verse and place it where you see it daily. Imagine facing yourself in the mirror each morning along with “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col. 3:12). It would remind you of what you have become ~ one of God’s chosen; what you should do ~ put on clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; and what you have — a Father that picked you.

A Gentle Answer

By

Do you ever get so angry you could scream? Traffic, kids, work, marriage, any one of those areas or a hundred others could be the point of aggravation. Do you know it’s okay to get angry? James wrote, “In your anger do not sin” (James 4:26). That means there’s appropriate and inappropriate anger.

Like most everything, there are healthy boundaries, even with anger. Getting so angry you could scream may borderline on the edge.

Do you know how to keep others from being angry with you? It’s a lesson we all need to learn. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” For instance, there are at least two ways to say “No”. I can always tell which one my wife is using by the tone of her voice. She can either say “NO!”, or “No”. When she says “NO!”, I’m intelligent enough not to pursue the conversation. On the other hand, when she asks me a question and I’m so busy that I don’t want to be disturbed, I can either say, “What?”, or “WHAT?”. If I yell a sharp “WHAT?”, troubles brewing.

Do you see how this works? A gentle answer is soothing, and will invite the same in return. A harsh word stirs up anger, boils the blood, lights the fire, and is generally not a wise thing to do.

Another Proverb helps explain the first, “A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel” (Proverbs 15:18). If we determine to patiently speak to others we can stop problems before they happen. On the other hand, if we have a hot-temper, we’re going to pay for it. Isn’t the Bible practical? Don’t you wish you were as practical as it? With practice, you can be.

It may take some tongue-biting to develop the gentle patient ability to answer others calmly. It would be too simplistic to say this is what the world needs now. But It is what you and I need now. We need it in our families, at work, in traffic, and when someone asks us if we’re gaining weight. Come on, you know you’d be a happier person if you always gave a gentle answer.

In your anger do not sin!