Learning the Hard Way

Needless to say, we are in tough economic times. Even with the recent passing of over a 700 billion dollar "stimulus" package, the economic prospect for our nation still does not look good. Prognosticators of all kinds are predicting at best a small improvement to the economy over the next few years to an all out depression, potentially leading to revolution, at worst.

To be sure, we have gotten here by our own accord. Rampant mismanagement on the part of our leaders, as well as the creation of a spend and debt culture, have landed us in this predicament. A lot of people and families are hurting. In my own county, unemployment is at twelve percent. I happen to be part of that twelve percent.

But, as in everything, there is a lesson to be learned here. As money is tight, jobs are continuing to be lost, and the light at the end of the tunnel not yet in sight, a great many of us are having to reevaluate priorities and values. The list of things that are really important is beginning to be rewritten, rearranged, and shrink. The longer these tough time persist and the more difficult things become economically, it is my guess more things will find their way off that list, and the list of priorities go through even further rearrangement. Difficult times typically force us to reevaluate. This is a good thing.

I have been reassessing some things myself, particularly my own relationship with money. As a follower of Jesus and his Kingdom I have known, at least intellectually, there exists a difference between God's view of money and the view typically held by secular society. Jesus taught a great deal about money, what our relationship to it should be, and about our stewardship of it. What has dawned on me is that my practices regarding money and material things tends to simply reflect, in large part, the attitude and practices of the secular culture in which I live. Let me explain. Earlier I referred to how, as a nation, we have turned into a spend and debt culture. The practice of a great many Americans is, perhaps I should say has been, to spend what we earn, and to go into debt for what we want. The simple practices of frugality, saving, reigning in our wants, or at least postponing immediate gratification instead of going into debt, and having money on a regular basis to give to others in need, have not particularly characterized the average American consumer. Based on this plumb line I have not fared much better than the average American. I really believe that if I had been applying these practices more faithfully I would be in a much better place today financially.

What's really behind the consumer, spend now pay later, mentality and practice of our culture? Why is it we tend to spend the maximum of what we make and are so ready to go into debt for our wants? In all reality, it is a value system where money and the things that money can buy reign supreme. When things, more things and bigger things, and the drive to get the money that buys them, is a core value of our life in practice, we really do convict ourselves of serving the god of Money. Jesus put it bluntly, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money".

I am not opposed to material prosperity, nor do I believe there is something inherently bad or evil with being wealthy. The Bible simply warns of certain spiritual dangers associated with wealth and the desire to get rich. And one does not have to be wealthy to be challenged by the temptation of placing money and things as a priority in their lives. This is a particular challenge living in an affluent and materialistic culture, where the serving of money and things is so prevalent.

This issue of money and the things it buys really is a matter of the heart. In the context of the quote above Jesus instructed his followers, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Money is not the problem, it is the love of it, or the consumption with, competition for and a scramble to accumulate the things money can buy.

As I read and reread the book of Acts in the Bible, I am struck by the vitality of that first century church and the resultant impact it had on the world of it's day. Those early believers practiced what Jesus had taught. They lived the value system of the Kingdom of God and as a result, in the span of one generation, they had literally turned the known world upside down. Their lifestyles, which included their practices regarding money and things, engendered both admiration as well as persecution from their culture.

To a large extent, that same potential vitality, for the church in America, has been hijacked by an accommodation to the value system of our current culture. As followers of Jesus, perhaps we need to look at this current economic crisis as an opportunity to reorient ourselves to the value system of God's Kingdom. Let's reexamine our own attitudes and practices regarding money and establish the priority of God's Kingdom as the true priority of our life.

Is Yours a Wonderful Life?

I love the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". I just watched it again for the umpteenth time a few evenings ago. It's a Christmas season staple on T.V.

There are a number of reasons why I love this movie. It has all the makings of a really great story; a flawed yet heroic main character, George Bailey, faced with internal and external obstacles to achieving his dreams of success, and finally finding resolution through an "otherworldly" experience that puts his life, his dashed hopes and his struggles, into proper perspective. I am moved to tears nearly every time by the final scene of the movie where there is a generous outpouring of support and love to rescue George in a time of great need by family and friends, many of whom he had helped in some way in the past. At the very end of the movie the camera zooms in on a written quote spoken earlier by Clarence, George's unlikely guardian angel, "No man is a failure who has friends".

Why does this movie move me? First, it touches me at a core need to know my life has been worth living, that others, within my sphere of influence, are better off for me being born and living the life I have lived....that somehow, in the bigger scheme of things, my life has made a difference for good. Second, I am moved by George's willingness, though reluctant at times, to help others even at his own expense. Finally, I am touched by the ultimate richness of George's life through the many relationships of friends and family. His life was part of a larger tapestry of community.

This movie does a good job of cutting through all the superficiality of what we humans think is important and laying bare the issues of life that are most important and of which make for true success. Though George Bailey is not portrayed as a particularly "spiritual" person in regards to having a close relationship with God, he certainly is not without spiritual sensitivities. The movie really reflects a time in American culture that was overall still much more "in touch" with a Christian or biblical influence. However, the issues and truths this movie addresses are timeless in nature and are not simply the product of a particular world view. Rather they reflect the ageless moorings of the human heart and conscience that can still be felt by those retaining even a slight semblance of either. This yearning for significance and our need for connectedness is anchored ultimately to the very source of our being, God, regardless of how separated and alienated we may be from him.

Stories, such as this reflect the longings of the human heart for the kind of world we were meant to live in. A world filled with hope, generosity, good will, the triumph of good over evil, significance and meaning, love and community. The more absent these things are the more the heart aches for them. Why? Because God has placed heaven in the human heart.

"Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Worship

I am reading a great little book by Mark Driscoll entitled, "Vintage Jesus". The author does a great job of presenting the timeless truths of the person of Jesus while targeting his message to teens and twenties. Though the language is a bit edgy in places, Mark succeeds at peeling away the "religious dressings" Jesus has come packaged in down through the ages and revealing the wonders of this magnificent person. As one cover leaf endorsement reads, "This is a Savior worth fighting for".

This morning I was reading the chapter entitled, "Why Should We Worship Jesus?". Mark spends time talking about what worship is, what it is not, the fact that everyone worships something, and why Jesus is worth our ultimate worship. It's not that I have never heard teaching of this sort before, but it was just hitting me in some fresh ways...kind of like something you know but have not given much thought to for quite some time, or perhaps, even more convicting, realize that your own worship has been a bit displaced.

Mark defines worship as "living our life individually and corporately as continuous living sacrifices to the glory of a person or thing". As he was going through a litany of things and people we worship, including ourselves, pointing out how, and in what ways we sacrifice for them, I could not help but recognize the many ways I have been pulled toward certain other things, lessening my grip on a primary affection and devotion to Jesus. Or, I should say, the lessening, in regards to awe and devotion to Jesus typically preceeds the pulling toward other things.

Even for those of us who profess a strong commitment to Jesus, there is this constant danger of having someone or something else displace him as the object of our worship. This does not happen so much deliberately on our part but often subtley as the wonder and greatness of Jesus begins to dim in our consciousness by a simple act of inattention over an extended period of time. Perhaps this is why the writer of Hebrews encourages us to "fix our eyes on Jesus". We are pulled towards those things or individuals we esteem worthy of our time and sacrifice.

Who or what do you worship? Mark posed these simple questions to help us uncover our possible idols:

• Who or what do I make sacrifices for?
• Who or what is most important to me?
• If I could have any thing or experience I wanted, what would that be?
• Who or what makes me most happy?
• What is the one person or thing I could not live without?
• What do I spend my money on?
• Who or what do I devote my spare time to?

Understanding

Have you ever wished you could get your mind around a certain issue or subject, really understand and master it? This happens to me all the time. There are so many things I wish I could understand, wrap my mind around, and feel like I really know the issue or the subject well. It seems the older I get the bigger the list becomes of things I feel intellectually inadequate to fully explain. I believe I had a much better grasp of things when I was younger.

Shouldn't we be gaining in understanding the older we get? Doesn't insight, wisdom, and the ability to understand a greater number of things come with years lived? To some extent, certainly. But the greater part of insight, wisdom and understanding is not the amount we know but the amount we realize we really don't know. Years lived often carries with it enough experience to teach, even the most reluctant learner, that we really don't have the grasp on something we thought. I guess this is one of life's paradoxes....to be growing in experience, wisdom, and understanding, at the same time the bench mark for fully knowing keeps being set further and further out.

The Bible talks about this paradox of knowing yet not knowing, of understanding but not understanding. For example, the book of Proverbs instructs us regarding the value of gaining wisdom and understanding. "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." Proverbs 4:7. This same author devoted himself "to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven". At the end of that experimentation he wrote,"of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body". His conclusion of the matter: "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man".

It seems the older I get the more questions I have. Do I possess more knowledge and wisdom than when I was younger? Yes. But that knowledge and wisdom has also created more questions and a greater realization of how far I fall short of knowing fully.


"Now I know in part". The apostle Paul

"Institutionalized" Christians?

April 8, 2007

Recently I was thinking about the term “institutionalized” and how it relates to the predominate form of Christianity as practiced here in the West. One of the uses of the word references individuals who have been incarcerated the majority of their lives. In this context it is meant to describe the process of becoming so accustomed to life in prison that it is difficult to resume normal life and relate to others outside the walls of the institution (prison in this case).

I believe there is an application here for those of us who have been “spiritually reared” in institutional church. Can one become impacted in such a way, through emersion in institutional church life, that the result is certain undesirable effects that actually run contradictory to the simplicity of devotion to Jesus and reflecting his likeness? Unfortunately, I have found this not only to be possible, but true.

One such potential negative impact of institutional church is that of making people religious. By religious, I mean the process and result of which one becomes disingenuous, unauthentic, pretentious, self-righteous, judgmental and unapproachable. Not a very attractive list of characteristics, nor, none of which, are thought highly of by Jesus.

Often inherent in the system and structure of church life is an underlying pressure to perform, much like an actor playing a role. There is this explicit or implicit standard by which “spirituality” is defined and by which everyone’s life is measured against. So, to make sure we are accepted, we perform. We play the part. We “act” spiritual. And because institutional church is typically weak relationally, it is easy to “act” the part and nobody knows the difference, or even worse, cares to know the difference.

The emersion into institutional church life can also have the effect of leaving many Christians feeling uncomfortable and awkward in relating to non-Christians. I personally struggled with this issue for years.

This begs the question for all of us who call ourselves Christians. Are we more “institutionalized” than authentic followers of Christ? Is our life marked more by a religious mind set and behavior than by a likeness to Jesus? And for all of us who make up institutional Christianity, are we making authentic disciples of Jesus or institutional Christians?

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” Matt. 23:15

Being with Jesus

March 15, 2007

In one of the gospel accounts there is a story of Jesus visiting the home of two sisters Mary and Martha. While Martha busied herself preparing a meal for Jesus and his disciples, Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet intently listening to his every word. Martha, becoming exasperated with her sister said something of the following to Jesus, “I could really use some help here in the kitchen, seeing I’m the only one trying to prepare a meal!”. Jesus’ response, I’m sure, caught Martha off guard. He said something along the lines of, “Relax, Martha, you are worried about too many things that really aren’t all that important. Mary, on the other hand, has figured out what’s really important and she’s doing it. Leave her be.”

It’s pretty obvious what behavior Jesus is commending here and therein lies the battle for many of us. I’m sure Martha had some deep feelings for Jesus or she would not have been following him around the countryside, caring for his needs and the needs of his disciples. In her mind, serving in the practical ways, as she was in this instance, was her way of expressing love for her Lord. If we were to do a gifting profile on Martha she would no doubt come out as having a strong servant motivation. That’s a good thing, right? Yes. However, according to Jesus, Martha still missed the point.

So what is the point? Why has Mary, down through the ages, been honored for her actions over the actions of her sister? Here’s what I think. Jesus, above all else, longs for our undistracted attention. We were made to derive our very life from Him and the only way we can do that is to be with Him, listening to Him, receiving from Him in quiet, submitted, loving adoration. It’s the “being” part of following Jesus that is the most important. The “doing” part flows out of the “being” part and the “being” part is formed by being in His presence. “Doing” is important, but it is secondary to and the by-product of “being”.

Mary indeed got it right. Though I strongly relate with Mary in my heart, it’s Martha’s actions I most identified with. It’s honestly easier for me to busy myself with many things, good things and useless things alike, than to sit quietly at the feet of Jesus. Distractions by the bucketful are easy for me to collect and than sit and sift through while irretrievable time slips by. To be honest I have derived my sense of worth from “doing”, from accomplishing things. My family is a family of doers. But, I’m also on a journey. A journey to develop the heart and discipline of Mary, to be with Jesus in the way He can transform my mind and soul. The doing, I know, will follow.

Transition

I'm 59 years old and find myself in yet another life transition. About six weeks ago the company I had worked for for the past three and half years terminated my positon due to the difficult economic times we are in. Since my livelihood has primarily been in the construction industry over the past 25 years, and since my job loss was due to a depressed housing market and the subsequent economic crisis, I have been left incomeless at a very difficult time for the very industry I have been depending on to support my family.

The dictionary defines transition as the "movement, passage, or change from one position, state, subject, concept, etc., to another". Life is full of these changes, and, in all reality, transition is a veritable staple of life, a state we are always in in one form or another. But some transitions stand out from the rest. Life changes that effect our livelihood, our families, our economic status, our vocation, our health, etc., are by nature more in our face, more obvious, and carry the potential to be either exhilerating, exciting or downright nerve wracking and posssibly personally devastating. Either way, they are life altering.

So how have I handled this latest life transition? Well, the last few weeks prior to leaving my company, in all honesty, I struggled. I dealt with hurt and anger, and feelings of injustice and disenfranchisement. I, the seasoned vetern was being let go. I knew that this job was not the final thing I wanted to do with my life, but I hadn't expected it to come to such an abrupt and unplanned for end, especially with no thought through plan to fall back on.

Once I was able to work through those feelings and reconcile myself to the fact I was losing my job I began to look at this change as a new opportunity. I began to think that perhaps God was allowing this to happen at this time to move me in the direction he wanted me to go and he knew I didn't need to waste any more time being sidetracked doing something that wasn't getting me there. I'm certainly not getting any younger. It felt a little like being pushed off a cliff, exhilerating and terrifying all at the same time.

The last several weeks have been a great experience. I have had fresh inspiration regarding a ministry vision I believe the Lord is calling my wife and I to and have had plenty of time to think, reflect, pray, write and converse with others about it all. I have enjoyed not having my days filled with "job related" concerns and schedules but free to pretty much do as I please. My wife and I have been taking walks together, praying together and hanging out alot together. All good stuff.

The down side, which is now beginning to become more focused, is the income issue. Though I am taking small steps to see a thirty year old ministry vision finally unfold, I need to realize an income source to keep the family needs cared for. As the small financial reserve quickly dwindles I find myself beginning to feel a bit anxious about what I am to do in this interm period between vision conception and vision realization. I have to admit the thought has hit me that it may get worse before it gets better.

Transitions test us. How are we going to respond in the heat and the pressure? What kinds of decisions will we make and for what kind of reasons will we make them. Transitions of this nature expose both the presence and absence of faith and trust in God, and, if allowed, are great opportunities to build the character qualities of perseverence, faithfulness, trustworthiness, and an unshakeable belief in the ultimate goodness of God.

Tough transitions can also potentially break us, crush us, defeat us and rob us of faith. So what makes the difference in the kind of outcome we experience? As I move through this transitional time in my life, what is it that can assure me of a good outcome, a good result in the life of Dave Smith? I'm not sure I have all the answers for that question. What I do have is a little history with God. I've experienced and seen the goodness, mercy and tenderness of God in the midst of some pretty tough life changes in my past. That has given some confidence that he is with me and that he is good and that in some way he will see me through this time in my life much like he has in the past. And not only will he see me through but he will bring me into a larger place with him. A place of greater intimacy, of greater dependence, of greater fruitfulness, of greater glory, for his name's sake.