God Does Not Judge External Appearance

God does not judge by external appearance. Gal. 2:6

The marks of an apostle were obvious.

2 Corinthians12:12 The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance.

But Satan, also can masquerade as an angel of light and do counterfeit miracles.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.

When we who believe in God’s grace through the gospel (i.e. the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and all that historic event means!) the question of “Who are you?” or implied “Are you legitimate?” rises in people. Why should someone listen? What makes us legitimate?

Jesus used the analogy of a shepherd in John 10. The hired hand runs away when trouble comes. The good shepherd lies down in front of the gate and gives up his life. To Jesus, legitimacy was serving, sacrifice and perseverance. (See the parable of the four soils in Luke 8:15)

The Corinthian church was dismissing Paul’s legitimacy. Paul uses evidence that puts many of us Christians to shame to show his legitimacy.

1 Cor. 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel — not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power….23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…

He told them the fact of gospel history over and over again.

1Cor. 2:1   When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,  5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

He knows there is only one foundation to build on to promote legitimacy.

1 Cor. 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Paul knew that the Corinthian church people were distancing themselves from him because he seemed so simple. He said that they were saying he was a fool (i.e. simpleton) and that his words were not wise (Gk: sophia from which we get the word sophisticated)

1 Cor. 4:10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!

1 Cor. 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

External appearances can be deceiving. What we consider successful or sophisticated includes large monuments, big buildings, beautiful steeples, respectful peers, large crowds and the spectacular “excellence” in worship. The external signs of a successful ministry can masquerade around for years and dupe people as Satan does. It can make people think they are making a difference in the world, but are really just “hired hands.”

Throughout his ministry, Paul was perplexed by what is a legitimate church. His final comments from his final letter in prison at the end of his life goes like this:

Phil. 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.  16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.  18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

The goal wasn’t external success. If that was the case, he failed. Success is Christ and the gospel, plain and simple. Preach Christ. Tell the gospel (his death, burial and resurrection). Preach Jesus. Unpack the way, the truth and the life. Knowing the truth sets us free. His death proves his love and grace can be unharnessed in our lives. Knowing the truth, that is, a belief in the historical facts of Christ’s death and resurrection is the greatest mark of the church. Separate this from The Journey or any church and we are duped and de-legit!

The Apostle Paul’s Boasts

As I see what churches and pastors boast about, I wonder if they have a right. Churches let visitors know what they have to offer. Not inherently boasting, this advertising markets the “strengths” of each church. As fellow pastors understand, the church without programs can’t make it. So, a little boasting about programs!

The Apostle Paul did not boast in programs he sponsored. He boasted about people, giving and what God had done.

1Cor. 9:1   Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?  2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

I find that after 25 years of ministry, when I need to take inventory of what has happened I look at people. We had some good runs with programs, some success with numbers but I feel the greatest satisfaction when I get word from people who are still running with The Lord. Every “program” that was successful as I get older produced a lifelong change in some folks who have reproduced other lifelong Christians. I can’t say I’ve had the impact of some world leaders, but in so many people, a love for Christ and his work has thoroughly worked through them. I can say that their kids are also going in that same direction. The secret? What’s your boasting in?

Two of Paul’s favorite boasts:

1 Cor. 1:31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Gal. 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Fall 2008
College:				Kirkhof College of Nursing
Major:				Pre-Nursing
Academic Standing:				Good Standing
Subject	Course	Level	Title					Grade	Credit Hours	Quality Points	R
ART	101	U	Introduction to Art					C-	3.000	5.10
CHM	109	U	Introductory Chemistry					C+	5.000	11.50
MTH	097	U	Elementary Algebra					A-	4.000	14.80
WRT	098	U	Writing with a Purpose					C	4.000	8.00
					Attempt Hours	Passed Hours	Earned Hours	GPA Hours	Quality Points	GPA
Current Term:					16.000	16.000	16.000	16.000	39.40	2.463
Cumulative:					16.000	16.000	16.000	16.000	39.40	2.463
Winter 2009
College:				Kirkhof College of Nursing
Major:				Pre-Nursing
Academic Standing:				Good Standing
Last Academic Standing:				Good Standing
Subject	Course	Level	Title					Grade	Credit Hours	Quality Points	R
BIO	120	U	General Biology I					C	4.000	8.00
MTH	110	U	Algebra					C	4.000	8.00
PSY	101	U	SLA Introductory Psychology					C-	3.000	5.10
WRT	150	U	Strategies in Writing					B	4.000	12.00
				Attempt Hours	Passed Hours	Earned Hours	GPA Hours	Quality Points	GPA
Current Term:				15.000	15.000	15.000	15.000	33.10	2.207
Cumulative:				31.000	31.000	31.000	31.000	72.50	2.339
TRANSCRIPT TOTALS (UNDERGRADUATE)      -Top-
				Attempt Hours	Passed Hours	Earned Hours	GPA Hours	Quality Points	GPA
Total Institution:				31.000	31.000	31.000	31.000	72.50	2.339
Total Transfer:				0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.00	0.000
Overall:				31.000	31.000	31.000	31.000	72.50	2.339

After Preaching

I found myself resonating with this poem of George MacDonald’s because of how I feel after most Sunday preaching/teaching. Do any of you preachers/teachers feel the same thing?

O Lord, I have been
talking to the people;

Thought’s wheels have
round me whirled a
fiery zone,

And the recoil of my
words’ airy ripple

My heart unheedful
has puffed up and
blown.

Therefore I cast myself
before Thee prone;

Lay cool hands on my
burning brain, and
press

From my weak heart
the swelling emptiness.

George MacDonald was a nineteenth-century poet, novelist, and preacher.

Aha! One Cell Group Extravaganza!

Americano pizazz hunters everywhere! Checking out “churches” that have that j’ne sais quois, pizazz, that something that “clicks”. Typical American phenomena: church hopping, hunting, looking for a Sunday morning fling, a one-morning-stand.

I can easily see the disappointment on faces. Checking out churches is HARD WORK. MANY DISAPPOINTMENTS. Pizazz hunters often find it easier to STAY HOME, or go somewhere unrelated to church to escape, and maybe find that fling.

Last night, at the Sunday Night Cell Group, the fling was found! As Charles Kennedy says, “We got to trust the discovery process.” We studied a simple, familiar section of Mark: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” I thought we’d be done in ten minutes. After an hour we got the discovery we all were looking for. We examined the minutae, the gory details. Probing the “Why is this here?” and the “Is Jesus mad or throwing out a bone?” A couple had notes and references to get some more details.

After forty five minutes of digging last night, we were all wondering, “How does this apply?” Was there a political message for us? Is this about tithing? The temple tax? The image of Caesar, “A god,” a graven image carried in Jewish pockets? Do we disagree with our politicians and grumble about paying taxes? We turned to Romans 13:1 and 7 “Submit to your rulers! Pay your taxes!” The Apostle commanded the Romans to obey the evil Emperor, Nero. But there was so much more than this simple application.

As we probed and tried to figure out how the confrontation between the Jewish delegation and Jesus started, we saw an incredible shape take form. I guess you would have had to have been there to catch the amazement, but we were all totally amazed by Jesus. His answer, has layers and layers of meaning. What seems simple is absolutely profound. What looks like easy separation of church and state is difficult theology to understand. Caesar gets a coin. God gets everything. It’s his theme, his mantra, his slogan. Got gets everything! It’s not about money. They had asked about taxes. The real question was about God! Without hesitation or stutter, Jesus dissected the impossible dilemma. He used a coin so that every time they saw that Roman denarious, they could remember a powerful lesson about his amazing response.

The pizazz took time. We trusted each other to ask simple questions and to sit asking the questions that only truth could withstand. The application was so much more than money or taxes. As we have discovered about our journey through the gospels, we discovered the real application is when we are amazed at the incredible Jesus. We keep wondering: How did they miss it? How could they have crucified this perfect one from God? No one could have made these stories so amazing unless they really happened. Now, that’s a kind of extravaganza 99.9% of Sunday mornings can never have!

You see, discovering the REAL Jesus is the application, the pizazz, the j’ne sais quois.

Sunday Afternoon Reflection, Pastor Style

One pastor friend told me he never thinks twice about his sermons after Sunday morning. I’m not one of those. I liked today’s sermon: “Don’t worry!” Luke 12:22-40. We can’t be ready for action if we are always worrying. However, as much as I pointed out a couple of key commands (6) and insights (“or proverbs”) (7), then wrapped it up with a systems-thinking-graph about why worry keeps us from seeing all of God’s options, I have never liked the unfinished aspect of a sermon.

What always remains unfinished? Today, three folks came up and said it was a good corrective to their thinking. This is not what finishes it for me, as much as I like compliments. I always feel like a sermon is unfinished. There is always more. Always something to leave out. Always an illustration that could have been stronger or tighter. However, redoing the sermon a day later or a month later doesn’t finish it.

For me, finishing the sermon cannot be done. It’s the most frustrating aspect of preaching. I like feedback, immediate and spontaneous. I like to know how a sentence is perceived, not a month from now, but right now. I want to know what someone else might add, or what someone else has read on the subject. As much as I read and study, I always leave something out. And this is true when I listen to other pastors preach. Though I am much less critical of late, there remains a fallacious heresy among the pews and folding chairs of Christendom that their pastor preaches “the whole counsel of God” in a sermon or two or fifty two. After twenty-five years of preaching, I know it can’t be done.

A beautiful, breezy, fall day with the temp at 75.

What do I do? After preaching in Luke for ten and a half months, and only arriving at chapter twelve, I can say that by far, this has been the most enjoyable preaching. After leaving this morning, I know there will be at least five groups of listeners who will complete the sermon in their cell groups. They will be studying along with me, some in Mark and some in John, but the picture of Jesus teaching, lambasting and testing their faith (“You of little faith!) will be fresh, will spark greater connections and some will even do a little study of their own.

Amid all the sounds and chores of this world, the little voice of the teacher behind the pulpit can sure get lost. The power of that little voice is in sticking to the Jesus who died a bloody death at the hands of ignorant people, who suffered the wrath of God in his burial and was proven to be the perfect sacrifice for sin in his resurrection. In these, how could anyone lose their way!