You Talking to Me?

I cannot tell you how often I've wondered about my call to ministry.  I certainly empathize with Moses who raised a plethora of questions when God appeared to him in the burning bush.  (Exodus 4). I've often questioned God thinking that He must have mistaken me for someone else.

And yet, here I am.  This year marks 38 years since my ordination to ministry.  In case you don't know, in Southern Baptist life, ordination means that others have seen evidence of God's gifts and call in your life.  This year marks 41 years since I heard that call. It's been 4 decades of mountaintops and steep valleys, but I wouldn't change a thing.  At least that's what I thought until I spent three days in a coach/consulting workshop.

On the first day, we were required to do what's called a 3 in 1 Leadership Profile, a Leadership Assessment tool, and a Spiritual Gifts/Passion instrument.  All three were extremely important because the reality is that a call to ministry IS a call to leadership.  Some of what came out on these instruments was not news to me. I knew I was a strong introvert.  I knew that dealing with people was a large energy expense for me.  I knew that public speaking really was work for me. I knew that I just wanted people to get along.  But when I got all the results together, it really struck me.  Everything that I'm doing at this point in my life is out of character with the person described in my Leadership Assessment profile.

On DISC profile, I'm a high S with a good bit of C thrown in.  That means I'm a "steady competent" type.  I enjoy small groups of people, I am sensitive to the needs of others, and I'm loyal.  But, I can be caustic and critical.  I move slowly to correct things in order not to hurt feelings.  I do not like speaking in front of large crowds.  I prefer to weigh evidence and move slowly toward a logical conclusion.  I'm a collaborator who is a stickler for responsibility.  I am a passive person by nature and can be satisfied working behind the scenes. Not exactly a charismatic leader.

Now, let me remind you that there is nothing wrong with any of that.  It IS who I am.  It is how God wired me.  BUT, I am not what the world sees as "leadership."  Yet, that is exactly what God called me to be and do.  Isn't that just like Him?  He's constantly pushing us to move out of our comfort zones because when we're comfortable, we really don't have to trust Him as much.

So here I am at 60 years old doing things I never thought I would do, having to be something I never thought I would be, and using my position to urge others to get outside of their comfort zones in order to experience God in a new and exciting way.  The old saying just might be true -- that pastors are called to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.  It's a part of leadership.  Oh, I've used the excuse.  "I'm not wired that way.  That's not one of my gifts.  This is the way God made me."  All of that might be true.  You can use them to stay within your comfort zones your entire life and rob yourself of the adventurous faith that God wants you to experience.

I used to see introversion as a weakness.  I used to see collaboration as a weakness.  I used to see the need for time before making a decision as a weakness.  I used to see reluctance to confront conflict as a weakness.  I used to see passivity as a weakness.  Hey, who am I kidding?  I still do.  But we all have weaknesses and that's where God shines.  Paul summed up God's response to Moses' objections and his own objections in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10  - . . . I will only boast about my weaknesses . . . Three times I begged the Lord to take it away.  Each time He said, "MY grace is all you need.  MY power works best in weakness.  So I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me . . . for when I am weak, then I am strong." (NLT)  Why can he say that?  Because when he (or you or I) is weak, it strengthens the faith, heightens the need for God, and humbles the spirit.

So stop worrying so much about your weaknesses.  Step out of your comfort zone.  Give your testimony, teach a class, give more than you usually do, pray publicly, apologize to someone you might have hurt, forgive someone who might have hurt you.  Go on a mission trip, do a local mission project, visit a nursing home, or mentor an at-risk student.  There are so many ways to make a difference and to build the Kingdom of God.  But most of them will be outside of your church walls and out of your comfort zone.  It is God Who qualifies the called.  So stop making excuses and start making a difference!  And if you're a pastor, stop making excuses and start leading!   "He Who calls you is faithful and HE will do it."  I Thessalonians 5:24 (HSBC)

Does This Lipstick Make Me Look Holy?

I once heard someone say, "Putting lipstick on a pig doesn't make her a debutante."  I'm sure you've heard variations.  The point is that the nature of any beast is certain to come out.  A pig will act like a pig no matter how well you dress it up.  That reminds me of a passage from Jeremiah:  Can a leopard take away its spots?  Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil."  13:23 (NLT).  Jesus put it this way in Matthew 23:28 -- "Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness."  You can put lipstick on a pig and it's still a pig.  But when Jesus really comes into your life, He begins a transformation from the inside out.  That's called change!

In I Peter 2:12, Peter admonishes us to maintain an "excellent lifestyle" among unbelievers in order that they might be attracted to the gospel.  In the verses that follow, he applies that admonition to specific, practical situations.   So often, though, the Christian lifestyle is characterized as a life of abasement and abstinence.  You know the list:  no smoking or chewing, no drinking, no dancing, no gambling, no secular music, no long hair or earrings on men, no pants or makeup on women, no, no, no! You get the picture.  

As important as these "legals" are to some folks, they ARE mere externals.  They can be used to fake a faith that doesn't really change a person.  BUT, a personal relationship with the living Jesus can transform a person from the inside out.  The excellent lifestyle Peter talks about involves an outward expression that grows out of an inner character.  It's genuine, it's obvious, and it honors God.  And it's impossible to fake.   It's expressed in our relationships with the government (whether we agree politically or not), the society at large (whether they share our values or not), the church, and with God Himself.  Peter tells us to be subject to those who govern, to always do the right (godly) thing, and to live as free people and servants of God.  Then in v. 17, he tells us to Respect everyone, love our Christian brothers and sisters, fear God, and respect the king.  

It's pretty simple!  If we want to be biblical disciples in a society that increasingly resistant to what it believes are the tenets and values of the Bible, then live in a way that changes their perception.  When relating to others, including those who do not share your faith or values, show them respect.  The golden rule is not outdated.  We're to treat others the way we want to be treated whether they treat us well or not.

When relating to fellow believers, let your love be unmotivated and undemanding.  Jesus said, "By this, all men will know that your are my disciples, that you love one another." (John 13:35)   Love doesn't require agreement on everything.

When relating to the God of the universe, honor Him as the Almighty God He is.  Recognize that in HIS presence, we are deserving of death.  It is only His love, His desire, His sacrifice, and His atonement that makes it possible for us not only to live, but to live eternally as His adopted children.

When relating to the government, be submissive in your citizenship.  Be respectful of the laws and those who enforce them.  Be respectful of leaders so long as it doesn't require a compromise of your faith.  And in doing these things, the witness of your lifestyle just might attract someone to the Christ you love and serve.

Read the Directions

                                                                                                                                                       

       It was a not-so-subtle reminder of how much I hate those words. It triggered an unpleasant memory.  We purchased a "Cadillac" treadmill for my wife and when I picked it up at the store, there on the box were the words Assembly Required.  My mind raced back to that day in my garage.  Dozens of scattered tools and parts littered the garage.  Right in the middle of that mess was a large folded paper that was clearly labeled Instructions.  
       Now you need to know that I always start with the best of intentions.  Follow the instructions and assembly should pose no problem.  That usually works until about step #4, when the male ego kicks in and the instructions get pushed aside.  
       This computer desk that should have been assembled in an hour had now been spread across the garage floor for over three hours.  When I neglected the instructions and went with my intuition, I assembled some parts out of sequence.  To install the final part, I had to disassemble half the unit.  If I had only faithfully read and followed the instructions, I could have spared myself the anger, frustration, and sense of failure that invaded my life that night.  AND that is why I had my good friend, Paul, help with the assembly of the treadmill.
        There are far too many well-meaning Christians who fall victim to something I call "Biblicus Neglectus."  We push God's instruction guide aside and do our very best to live that Christian life.  The reasons vary, but the results are the same. When strife, strain, and struggles roar into our lives, we sometimes retreat into cynicism, frustration, and despair.  Occasional chaos is a fact of life.  Whether we become victims or victors really depends on how closely we have read and follow the instructions.  
       Assembly a life that pleases God is a life-long pursuit, but it doesn't have to be chaotic or frustrating.  The psalmist reminds us that God has given us indestructible guidelines so that we can know Him and how He wants us to live.  The quality of our lives is directly related to how we answer this questions:  "Will I read and follow His instructions today?"

Well, will you?

I take pleasure in your laws; your commands I will not forget. Open my eyes so that I may see the wonderful truths in your law. Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.
                                                     Psalm 119:16, 18, 105

All or Nothing

Natalie Gabal did a little research to determine what would happen if 99.9% effort was "good enough."  And so did a few other folks.  IF 99.9% were good enough, this is what you could expect:
* 2 million documents would be lost by the IRS each year.    Not a problem unless one of them is yours;
* 291 pacemaker implants would be performed                    improperly this year.  Again, what if it were yours?
* 20,000 prescriptions will be written or filled incorrectly        in the next year;
* 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents EACH      DAY this year;
* 35,000 newborns will be dropped by a doctor or nurse this year.
* For 3 full days this year, everyone in America will have unsafe drinking water;
* 2 million people would die from food poisoning this year;

None of this sounds life-altering UNLESS it happens to you or someone you love.  But in reality, it demonstrates the importance of maximum understanding, maximum effort, and maximum responsibility.  99.9% just isn't good enough for anything that stirs our passions.  So why in the world would followers of Jesus and those collective bodies called churches settle for 99.9% or less?

British writer and scholar Isaac D'Israeli once wrote, "It is a wretched taste to be gratified with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us."  Perhaps that one reason so many churches struggle today.  Members settle for mediocrity while those outside the church look for excellence.  No one achieves or maintains excellence by setting the standards lower.  Many people and organizations feel that they're doing okay as long as they get somewhere near the goal.  When you get to that point, excellence is reduced to acceptable and before you know it, acceptable has given way to adequate.  At that point, mediocrity lies just around the corner.

As the collective Body of Christ and individual members of it, we have a responsibility to strive for excellence in whatever we do.  Providing nursery facilities, clean restrooms, high quality teachers, good music, relevant preaching, community service . . . whatever we do, we must strive to do it with excellence. Not only will it attract those who are seeking high quality spiritual care, it honors God!  Paul reminded the Colossian Church in Colossians 3:17, ". . .whatever you do in word or deed, do it all to the glory of God."  In his letter to the church at Corinth, he wrote, ". . . whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God."  (I Corinthians 10:31) 

God doesn't want our second best and a world seeking hope and help shouldn't settle for second best.  The responsibility lies on us as those who represent Jesus.  So make the sacrifices, do the work, take the risks, learn from the failures, and strive for excellence in everything you do as you serve the Lord.  HE certainly deserves and expects 100%.

See also Ecclesiastes 9:10, Malachi 1-4

Basin Theology!  It's a simple concept that's identified twice in the scriptures.  In Matthew 27, as Pontius Pilate wrestled with the decision of whether or not to crucify Jesus, took a basin of water and washed his hands before the crowd and said, "I am innocent of this man's blood." In John 13,on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus took a basin of water and washed the feet of ALL of His disciples -- including Judas.  

It's a simple matter of basin theology. We choose the way we use the basin. Some wash their hands of Jesus over and over, choosing to ignore His unconditional love, His ultimate loving sacrifice, and His call to eternal, abundant life. Others embrace His example and teachings like:  "Whatever you want others to do for you, do the same for them -- for this fulfills the Law and the Prophets."  Matthew 7:12   "If I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example that you should do just as I have done for you.  If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them."    John 13:14-17

Which basin have you chosen?  In Mark 2, we find the story of four men who, though they probably hadn't heard Jesus say those things, lived out these teachings by taking a risk to help a friend in need.  Here's the story:

Jesus was teaching in a home.  The homes then were small and usually had a flat roof.  There would also be an outside stair case or perhaps a ladder for access to the rood in the cool of the morning or evening.  The house was at capacity and the the crowd gathered around the doorway, which kept any others from getting into the home.  That's the scene when four guys show up carrying their paralyzed friend on a cot.  The crowd won't let them through and it seems their mission has been in vain.

But they would have no part of that.  They found the access and carried their friend up to the roof.  Then they took whatever they could use to dig a hole in the clay roof.  Once the hole was large enough, they took ropes or perhaps outer garments and used them to lower their friend's cot at the feet of Jesus.  Mark 2:5 says "Seeing THEIR faith, Jesus told the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'"

This was basin theology at its best.  These four friends wouldn't be discouraged or deprived as they sought to have their paralyzed friend brought into the presence of Jesus.   They could have said, "We tried our best.  There was no way to get to Him."  But they persisted because they believed that Jesus was the only answer to their friend's need.  Jesus honored that persistent faith FIRST by meeting the man's spiritual need and then, by healing the man of his paralysis.  

Do you know what role we play as followers of Jesus?  Our job is NOT to transform people nor convict them of sins.  Our job is to bring them to Jesus and let Him do His work in their lives!

Here's what I want you to learn from this story.  This story further illustrates the truth that God's plan is for the Gospel to be taken to the whole world.  In "2 Peter 3:8-9, Peter reminds us that God does not delay His promise as some think, but is patient with you, not wanting ANY to perish, but ALL to come to repentance." (my emphasis)  See also Matthew 28:18-20

Second, this story tells us that God honors persistent faith.  We cannot be swift to retreat when we meet a little resistance. Resistance does not always mean a closed door.  We must be persistent in our prayer life, persistent with our witness, persistent with our invitations, and persistent with our love even when our friends resist the gospel.  We never know what the Holy Spirit has been doing in their lives and we must remember that, according to Peter, God's desire for their salvation is much greater that ours.  

Third, everyone of us has what Kenneth Hemphill has termed a 'SPLASH zone.'  That stands for Show People Love And Share Him.  Just as you can plan on getting splashed standing on the platform of a theme park water ride or standing beside a baby being bathed, be sure that your lost and unchurched friends are in your SPLASH zone.  Show them love as often as possible.  Be persistent in your actions and your prayers for them.  Don't worry about changing them.  Just earn their trust, be their friend, invite them into the presence of Jesus and let Him do His work.  

SO!  What's keeping you from bringing your friends to Jesus? Accept your responsibility as a witness to them.  Name and claim those you love in your prayers knowing that God desires their salvation more than you do.  (Matthew 18:19; Luke 18:1-8) Pick up your basin and trust the Holy Spirit to do His work.  

The Source of All Comfort

 I could hear his words of comfort and encouragement over the hum of the engine.  It was hard to believe that he had been so apprehensive about this trip.  He didn't think he had the skills or the knowledge to actually DO mission work.  Oh, and there was the other thing.  It was physical problem, a genetic abnormality.  It had affected his appearance, which had resulted in plenty of cruelty during his teen years.  He didn't want to make others uncomfortable and he didn't want to be the object of ridicule either.  In fact, he just wasn't sure he was the man for the job.  Yet, it seemed that God was telling him to go.  

It was almost 10:00pm as the van rolled along this winding West Virginia road.  Most nights had been noisy as we delivered children to their homes.  Songs, crafts, and Bible School refreshments helped pump up the volume.  But on this particular night, there was only the hum of the engine and the passionate voice of my young friend as he reassured a teen-aged girl about the gracious love God.  She was a gangling teen with glasses and a mild case of acne.  During the entire week  of Bible School, she had been quiet and withdrawn.  But on this particular night, my friend (who knew how it felt with be ostracized) simply encouraged her to talk.  And she did!  She began to speak about her awkwardness and the rejection she had experienced at school and in the mobile home park where they lived.  Her pain was real and my friend could relate.

There is no professional counselor or pastor anywhere who could have had a greater positive effect on her that night.  My friend simply focused compassionately on the reality of her pain.  He listened, he heard, and he understood.  He had been there.  With a Christ-like gentleness, he talked about family and church as support systems.  But his most comforting words were about the unconditional, life-changing, attitude-adjusting love of Jesus.  

She disappeared with a wave and a smile into the shadows around her front door.  At that moment, I understood why God had so strongly urged my friend to go with us to West Virginia.  There was a fifteen year old girl there who needed exactly what he could offer.  

Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church that it is ". . . God our merciful Father and the Source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (New Living Translation)  That's exactly what my friend did.  God used him to do for this young girl what I, a trained pastor, could not do.  In fact, there was no one else on our team who could have had as dramatic effect on her life.  Out of his own suffering, he offered empathy, support, love, and Jesus.  

So what pain have you endured?  What are you suffering through now?  If there is anything good that can come for it, it is that your suffering can equip you to be a channel for God's comfort and love to others.  When pain and stress invade your life, look to Jesus for comfort and hope.  Keep in mind that suffering offers preparation for opportunities to comfort others and offer them hope through a relationship with Jesus.  Do NOT become too busy or bitter to let Him work through you to help someone who is hurting,  

Philippians 2:13

We Need Each Other

     All my life I've tried to fit in.  As a "late in life" child, I tried to fit in my family.  In my childhood, little league baseball was a way to "fit."  As I grew older, the peer pressure increased.  There were more sports, greater mobility (translated driver's license).  There was beer and music and rebellion.  I grew my hair long, popped an earring into my left earlobe, adopted a hippie dress code, all in an attempt to find a spot, a niche, a place of acceptance.  It's a different context, but it's the same reason that kids join gangs, men join fraternal clubs, and women join book or garden clubs.

     That's also why I was baptized and joined the church at age nine.  It was revival time, my friends were doing, and everyone seemed overjoyed.  Why not make my mother the happiest woman in the world for a while.  BUT, I did not really follow Jesus or even know Him in a life-changing way until I was 18 years old.  Then at age 20, I was called to vocational ministry.

     Can I trust you with a secret?  I still tried to find a way to fit in, even as a pastor.  Most of us search desperately for acceptance.  Many, like me, are searching for truth, answers, and meaning in life.  Some turn to the church hoping to find acceptance, encouragement, and love.  Unfortunately, subtle demands for uniformity have infiltrated many churches and even spread through our American culture.  The education system and the government both seem to discourage individuality.  Perhaps that why I felt so uncomfortable and inadequate in ministry for all those years.  Even as a pastor, I had been trying to fit in wherever I found myself.  And when that happens, it's often rooted in a desire to please others, seek their approval and acceptance, and to be liked.  But that is not what God created us to be or do.

     The psalmist reminds me in Psalm 139 of the unique stamp that God placed on my life when He knit me together over 60 years ago.  Read it carefully and slowly because it says the same thing about you.  The apostle Paul reminds me in I Corinthians 12 that it takes all kinds of unique individuals working together to be effective as the Body of Christ.  We ARE unique and glorious creations of our heavenly Father, but He also created us to need each other.

      Several years back, God said to me, "Zane, it's OK to be yourself.  That's how I made you."  That's not a license for bad attitudes or behavior.  It was a reminder that from conception, God had wired me toward certain things.  My personality type, my appearance, and my ethnicity are things that are woven into me.  My contextual setting, my opportunities, my experiences, & my "teachers" throughout life will influence me.  The same is true of you.  My prayer and hope is that I can be as gracious to others as God is to me.  Our differences in appearance, abilities, giftedness, and methods are God's way of reminding us that we need each other IF we are to function most effectively as a family and as the Body and Bride of Christ.

     So just be yourself.  Some will appreciate you.  Some might not.  But embrace the you that God created you to become.  Don't look for the approval of others.  Always speak and act for God's approval.  "Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:33 NLT)   And remember, if you don't "fit in" because you choose to live for the approval of God, you're in great company.  Jesus Himself said, "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.  The world would choose to love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world.  I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you."  
(John 15:18-19 NLT)