Christianity

Missing Breakfast…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment
A delicous home style breakfast with crispy bacon, eggs, pancakes, toast, coffee, and orange juice.

The congregation I serve as interim pastor has a men’s breakfast once a month. I missed the men’s breakfast for the month of September. No, I wasn’t otherwise occupied. I simply forgot. I’m uncertain as to why I missed it. It’s probably because I’m just getting old and forgetful, after all, I do celebrate a milestone birthday this week and it’s one that ends with a zero and officially puts me in the old man club. Or, it could be that I’ve adopted the attitude of the rest of our culture–men just don’t matter that much. I pray it is the former and not the latter.

Our culture has told men (particularly young men) that masculinity is toxic. It’s as if there is a wholesale attack in our culture on traditional manhood in general. Our culture tells men (especially young men) that they are fundamentally flawed and that their natural impulses are misguided and wrong. One of the guiding principles behind the attack is the belief that the differences between men and women are not biological, but rather a matter of social conditioning.

When men act the rebel, roughhouse or (heaven forbid) assess women based on their looks, they are called out and straightened out. Having lived this many years now, I can honestly say that it seems for almost two generations, young men have been told they are toxic, sexist and probably racist, too. I should probably attach a bunch of links to prove the point, but you have Google, too, so you can do it if you want. I just sense that there is a crisis of manhood in western culture. And, it’s showing up in the church, too. It seems I’m not the only man missing breakfast.

Our culture needs men! Every culture needs men! Every church needs men! Men and women are different, I don’t care what sociologists tell us. Genesis 1: 27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” No amount of wishing, feeling or believing makes it otherwise. To state otherwise is to state a lie, and if there is one thing our culture needs today, it is to stand on those things that are true.

I haven’t shared much about my journey out of the United Methodist Church simply because it was too personal, and I possess a deep love for the UMC. To share my reasons for leaving might cast a dim light on the institution, and I have no desire to do that. It could go its way and I would go mine. I would be grateful for the opportunities it afforded me and the blessings it brought into my life. I suppose officially becoming an old fogey has changed my mind.

I knew my time in the United Methodist Church was drawing to a close in 2019 when a UM seminary hosted a drag queen chapel (not going to link it here, either). That’s not a slap on drag shows. There have been men dressing as women for centuries. I know that. The difference, as I see it, is that now drag is hyper-sexualized and is part and parcel of the broader trend in culture to promote transgender ideology–which promotes the idea that men can be women and women can be men. Neither is true, and the Church (any Church) should not be promoting the lie.

God’s creation is magnificent, wondrous, and powerful, but it is also inviolate. We tamper with God’s natural order (and with truth) at our own peril. To pretend men and women are the same is to defy the natural order and the entirety of human experience. Men and women are different. We need each other in order to be whole. That’s the truth. Anyone who tells you different is lying.

We need to be telling men they are worthy. We need to be telling men that they have meaning, value and purpose. We need to be telling men to pursue that purpose. Get up. Get a life. Go to work (we are created to work). You won’t discover meaning or purpose spending countless hours a day in front of screens. Don’t be lemmings. Challenge the status quo. Play the rebel. Live the truth of your masculinity!

Truth is contagious, but so is lying. Once we discover the truth and proclaim it, the stronger we become. Once we proclaim a lie and believe it as the truth, we become weaker. The world (and the church) needs strong men, men who hold to the truth found in Jesus Christ who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life…”(John 14:6).

I’m not sure any of this makes sense. I just know there is a burning in my bones. Eh! It’s probably just because I’m old now and don’t care nearly as much what other people think of me.

I do know these are the things we need to be talking about when men gather for breakfast. It’s why I hate I missed breakfast last month. It’s why I’ll try not to miss again. It’s why I’ll encourage other men to join, too.

Until next time, keep looking up…

The Fragile Nature of Our Witness…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

The nature of our Christian witness is a fragile thing, indeed!

I was reminded again several times over the past week as news rolled in of notable figures among the “family values” crowd who were “caught” in situations that were, shall we say, less than affirming of the values the persons generally espoused.

The news broke early this week that Governor Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) has been engaged in a not-so-private affair with a former Donald Trump aide. Shortly thereafter, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) was caught in a “handsy” exchange with an Aspen, CO bar owner. Finally, Timothy Ballard, who is the founder and now former CEO of Operation Underground Railroad (a sex trafficking rescue organization) and also the inspiration for the summer hit movie Sound of Freedom, was accused of multiple instances of sexual misconduct. Let’s just say it has been a bad news week for the Christian witness.

I’m not going to throw rocks at any of the three with this blog. There are already enough people lined up doing that. I’m also not going to throw rocks because most of these accounts are just “allegations” and not substantiated (except in Boebert’s case where there is actual video). Besides, if anyone were to look too deeply into my closet, they might find plenty of skeletons at which to throw stones, so there is that…

It really does make us (Christians) look like hypocrites though, doesn’t it? Well, yes it does, and that’s because that’s what we are! No, not all of us engage in (or get caught in) sexual sin, but let’s just tick off a list of actions and attitudes we know to be contrary to the will of God and see how many apply to us. Yes, sexual sin certainly seems to top the list of bad actions a Christian can engage in to destroy our witness, but every act of pride, selfishness, egotism, gossip, greed or jealousy (you can continue the list for yourself) that is observed by those both within and without of the faith serves to diminish our witness.

We have all gotten caught in the “do as I say, not as I do” trap before. That is likely what happened to the aforementioned parties. Reminds me of when Jesus was warning the crowds about the scribes and Pharisees. Remember what he said?

2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 

Matthew 23: 2 – 3 (NLT)

Jesus would go on to call the Pharisees and scribes “hypocrites” six times in the 23rd chapter of Matthew. He would also throw in a “blind fools” for good measure. So, not a happy expression of satisfaction for those who were part of the “do as I say, not as I do” band of brothers. I wonder if Jesus doesn’t think the same thing about us when we fail so miserably to “lead a life worth of your calling” (Ephesians 4: 1)? I don’t believe it means he loves us any less, but I do believe it breaks his heart, and honestly, the last thing I want to do is break the Savior’s heart.

All I can say is “Thank God for grace and forgiveness!” I (we) need both. Forgiveness is one of the central traits of our Christian faith. We say so every time we recite the Apostle’s Creed–“I believe in the forgiveness of sins…”

When we say that, it is our acknowledgment that we believe in sin, too! That is both original sin, and sin in our individual lives. The doctrine of original sin simply means that because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, humanity is tainted with the stain of sin. Does that mean that I am guilty because of what Adam did? In a way, yes, but more to the point, it means that what Adam did, every one of us would have done had we been standing in the Garden. 

Even in our more noble moments, ulterior motives often affect our desire to do good. This bothers us, but probably not as much as it should. We know there is a line between right and wrong, and we often know when that line has been crossed, but we cross it anyway. Yes, our Christian witness is a fragile thing, indeed!

It would be real easy to launch into a deep explanation of sin from a biblical perspective, but let’s boil it down to its simplest form: sin is whatever is contrary to the will of God. What’s more, the Apostle James says that if we know what we should do and don’t do it, it is sin (James 4:17). So, when we know we should live a holy life, a life worthy of our calling, a life in faithful obedience to Jesus Christ, and we don’t do it, we are sinning. Either way, we need His forgiveness. Do we believe in the forgiveness of sins?

Confessing that we believe in the forgiveness of sins is at one and the same time our confession that we believe we have sinned, but it is also our confession that we believe God has dealt with sin, both in our lives and in His creation.

How? Because God is holy, and completely pure, He must deal with sin in a way that overcomes it once and for all. Sin must be dealt with in one of two ways. God must punish sin, or He must forgive sin. We say that we believe that God chose to forgive our sin.

I see the compassionate heart of Jesus in his encounter with the woman caught in the act of adultery as an excellent example of his practice of forgiving sin (even sexual sin). You remember the encounter, right? You can find it in John 8: 1 – 11. Here’s how the encounter begins:

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

John 8: 1 – 4 (NLT)

This encounter shows, in a compelling way, the forgiveness of God. Jesus granted forgiveness to this woman caught in the act of adultery. According to the law of Moses, she was to be stoned to death. The law was very clear. Yes, the Pharisees were attempting to trap Jesus. No, there was no man dragged before Jesus for condemnation (another point of law). Yes, we would love to know what Jesus wrote in the sand. No, it wouldn’t change the end result. What we really need to capture is the power in the compassion of forgiveness revealed in his conversation with the crowd and with the woman, for in this conversation we see the grace that God has extended to all of us.

The compassionate heart of Jesus looked at this woman, and what he saw was one who needed redemption, not condemnation. Please don’t misunderstand. Forgiveness is not overlooking sin. Jesus could forgive this woman because he knew he came to pay the penalty of sin once and for all. It was with the full view of the cross in front of him that this woman was before him that day. And it was his blood about to be shed that opened the heart of God to grant forgiveness to this woman. 

Forgiveness is not a compromise on God’s part. It is God’s way of dealing with sin. Because Jesus paid the penalty for sin, and satisfied God’s holiness, forgiveness is available. Because Christ took the punishment, bearing our sins on the cross, God can forgive us. Forgiveness means that Christ has taken our place, and extended to us God’s grace.

And this is no cheap grace Jesus offers. Jesus did not simply say to the woman, “Neither do I condemn you,” but added, “Go and sin no more.” With that statement, Jesus brought forgiveness and laid the blessing at her doorstep. It was his challenge to the woman to live a life above the one she was living. With Jesus’ forgiveness came the challenge, “You can live a better life.” You can live a life above this sin. I am freeing you to claim that life.

We’ve all seen the Peanuts comic strips with Lucy holding the football and inviting Charlie Brown to kick. Every time Lucy held the ball for Charlie, he would approach the ball and kick, and Lucy would always pick up the ball and Charlie would go head over heels and land flat on his back.

One particular strip opens with Lucy holding the ball, but Charlie Brown would not kick the ball. Lucy begs him to kick the ball, but Charlie Brown said, “Every time I try to kick the ball you remove it and I fall on my back.”

Finally Lucy breaks down in tears and admits, “Charlie Brown I have been so terrible to you over the years, picking up the football like I have. I have played so many cruel tricks on you, but I’ve seen the error of my ways! I’ve seen the hurt look in your eyes when I’ve deceived you. I’ve been wrong, so wrong. Won’t you give a poor penitent girl another chance?”

Charlie Brown, moved by her display of grief, said, “Of course, I’ll give you another chance.” He stepped back as she held the ball, and he ran. At the last moment, Lucy picked up the ball and Charlie Brown fell flat on his back.

Lucy’s last words were, “Recognizing your faults and actually changing your ways are two different things, Charlie Brown!”  

Jesus makes the same challenge to us. Receiving his forgiveness challenges us to look at our lives, to face our sin, and seeing the nastiness of it, to claim the promise and the power to live the full life Jesus offers.

The challenge of Jesus leads us to repentance. Repentance is not simply being sorry, but being sorry and changing our minds about sin. Repentance is the human response to the grace of God in forgiveness.

We, like that woman, are before Jesus condemned for our sin, but Jesus looks upon us with eyes of compassion, and because of his shed blood, says to us, neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.

The gift of forgiveness is not merely for our own benefit, but so that we might extend the same forgiveness to others. When we make our confession that we believe in the forgiveness of sins, we are confessing that we not only receive forgiveness, but we live as forgiving people. 

Someone once said that “forgiveness is the most enjoyed but least employed of all the Christian virtues.” We like to say we’re forgiving in our attitude, but we’re really more like the woman who was bitten by a rabid dog, and it looked like she was going to die from rabies. The doctor told her to put her affairs in order, so the woman took pen and paper, and began writing furiously. She wrote and wrote and wrote. Finally, the doctor said, “That sure is a long will you’re making.”

“Will, nothing!” she snorted. “I’m making a list of all the people I’m going to bite!”

Forgiveness rights the wrong, not because the wrong has been undone, but because the one wronged surrenders the right for revenge. That is what Jesus Christ did on the cross. He surrendered his will to the Father. That is what he calls us to do. Archibald Hart says it this way: “Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me.”  

Jesus also confronted the crowd and forced them to face their own sinfulness. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone…” That was Jesus’ way of saying, “You’re breaking the law now.” You see, the law called for a trial of both the man and the woman, not public humiliation as was the intent here. They thought about it and dropped their stones. Their trap set for Jesus turned back on themselves. That’s what hatred can do. That’s what unforgiveness can do.      

It is so easy for us to throw stones at others for the wrongs they have done, especially the wrongs they have done to us. These people in the crowd stood ready to condemn this woman to death. They were more than ready to exercise their right and their authority.

The stones they held were the stones of condemnation. Condemnation flows out of the human desire to control others rather than out of hearts full of love. But most of the stones we stand ready to hurl at others for hurting us, might be the very stones that others use to throw at us.

Perhaps we have not hurt others in the same way they have hurt us, but at the very least we have hurt the heart of God with our sin, and yet, He has forgiven us. You see, Jesus knew, as that crowd was gathered around him, that it took more strength to drop those rocks than it did to throw them. So he gently (and sometimes not so gently) reminds us of our own sinfulness, so he can also remind us of how much he has forgiven us.

So, as I ponder the news of this week, I’ll opt to forgive these very public figures for their perceived (or not) failures. No, they didn’t do anything to me to have to be forgiven for, but I forgive them for tarnishing their Christian witness, which does affect us all. I’ll forgive them because I believe in the forgiveness of sins–theirs, yours and mine.

I’ll also pursue a life of holiness, one that reflects obedience and faithfulness to the call of Christ upon my life. I’ll pray for strength. I’ll pray for guidance. I’ll pray for peace. I’ll pray for wisdom. I’m sure at some point, I’ll pray again for forgiveness. I always do. I always have to…because of the fragile nature of my own Christian witness. I’ll do it because I believe in the forgiveness of sins.

Until next time, keep looking up…

It’s “Harvest Time”…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

My house is orange! Orange blankets. Orange pictures. Orange pumpkins. Orange candy. Orange candles. Orange pillows. If it comes in orange and it’s made for the home, then Vanessa has one and it is currently decorating our home. That’s not a complaint, mind you. It is simply a statement of reality…a statement of reality that reminds me that it is “harvest time,” and I can’t help but recall the passage of scripture from Matthew 9:

37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Matthew 9: 37 – 38 (NLT)

I think the harvest is a great as it has ever been…especially in the United States of America. I was reading a Pew Research document that says if current trends continue, Christians will be a minority by 2070, with “nones” or “non-affiliated” persons becoming the majority. I think it is a damning testimony on the church, but I also believe it is a great challenge for the Church to reclaim one of its primary functions–evangelism.

Evangelism! Big scary word. Real simple meaning. Evangelism is the spreading of the Christian gospel by preaching and personal witness. Whew! I just let you off the hook because you’re not a “preacher,” right? Wrong! We’re all called to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is interesting to note that immediately after Jesus said what he said in Matthew 9, he commissioned his disciples in Matthew 10 to get busy in the harvest and gave them a long list of instructions (read the passage here)–announce the Kingdom of Heaven, heal the sick, raise the dead, among many others.

Jesus commissioned the disciples with a message to preach. The message Jesus gave the disciples was a simple one: preach the Kingdom of Heaven. We, too, are commissioned to preach the Kingdom of Heaven.

Instruction about ministry is especially important today because of the misconceptions that exist about ministry. The greatest misconception is that the ministry is something that the preacher does, that ministry is for the ordained personnel of the church. When we use the word “minister” we usually mean the professional. While it is true that God has called some to the ministry as a profession, He has called all of us to be ministers. So, yes, as a disciple, we’re all called to preach! Didn’t know that, did you?

What exactly do we preach? What is the Kingdom of Heaven?

If you had an “elevator speech” could you tell someone what the Kingdom of Heaven is? You know what an elevator speech is? You’re in an elevator for two minutes with another person. What can you say in two minutes that might change a person’s life? Do you even have one? Defining the Kingdom of Heaven in a two-minute elevator speech would be nearly impossible. Yet, Jesus had one. It comes from the prophet Isaiah, and he used it when he began his earthly ministry. We find it recorded in Luke’s Gospel: 

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[f]

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”     

Luke 4: 16 – 20 (NIV)

Talk about good, short sermons, Jesus proclaimed to his hearers (good Jewish folks, remember) that this idea of God’s reign was now among them. The simple message is that God’s salvation has come. Here’s the good news we proclaim: God has come in Jesus Christ to redeem that which sin has destroyed. That’s the message Christ committed to his disciples. It’s the message he’s committed to us. And so, WE proclaim.

I hear you saying, “But, I’m no preacher, Preacher!” Ah! But, you are! As Jesus commissioned the disciples he says that proclamation was two-fold—words and deeds. We’re all to proclaim the Kingdom, and it is as imperative to use words as it is to take action. When we act in love and charity without proclamation of the Gospel we leave the gospel half told. When we proclaim the Gospel without acts of mercy, we leave the gospel half told. That’s the reason we all need an “elevator speech,” but that speech need be nothing more than to share what Christ has done for each of us.

That raises another question: How has your encounter with Christ changed your life? That is the beginning of your elevator speech. Proclamation means sharing in word what Christ has done to save us. It also means sharing in deed. There’s no transformation in one without the other. Words are imperative. Action is imperative. What we do, we do in Jesus’ name. What we do, we do with a desire to see something different in our lives and in the lives of those we are in relationship with.

We can say, “I love you,” but what do we do to show a person that love? Words are great. Words are necessary, but the acts that back up the love solidify the proposition. A person needs to hear they are loved. Dr. Les Parrot says a relationship cannot survive without verbal expressions of love. A relationship also cannot survive without visible signs of that love.

Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a book in 1995 entitled The Five Love Languages. His premise is that every one of us has a primary and a secondary love language…ways we feel the emotion of love. They are: 1) physical touch, 2) words of affirmation, 3) gift giving, 4) acts of service and 5) quality time.

I have perceived, after nearly 42 years of marriage, that my wife has three love languages: quality time, acts of service and gift giving. Which one is primary depends on what time of the year it is! I can say “I love you,” all day long, but she doesn’t feel loved until I show her in one of those three ways. It’s the same for me. My love languages are physical touch and words of affirmation. She can say “I love you,” but to feel loved takes physical touch and words of affirmation. My point is we need both words and action. 

So, it is in the world when we show and share the love of Christ. We can say, “God loves you and I love you,” and it’s true, but until we put feet to that faith, lives lack transformation. We can say to a hungry person, “God loves you,” but unless we give the hungry man a piece of bread, the words are hollow.

That’s exactly what the Apostle John, who was sitting at the feet of Jesus on the day he sent the apostles out, said in 1 John 3: 17 – 18: “17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

John Wesley believed that, too. Wesley went into the coal mines and industrial towns of England and “preached” the good news…was often pelted with fruit…was jeered and derided, by those both inside and outside the church. But, Wesley also took actions that sought to change the lives of the poor and destitute of England. Wesley saw three stages of giving: charity which relieves immediate pain (give the man a fish); philanthropy which seeks to cure the diseases of society (teach the man to fish); and social justice, which recognizes that all people have rights to the good things of God’s earth without being made objects of either charity or philanthropy (give the man access to a pond).

That only leaves the “how,” doesn’t it? That has a simple answer, too—through his power and authority. Suffice it to say that as Jesus told his disciples to “take nothing for the journey,” that it was a call to trust fully in his ability to provide for their needs. Jesus was saying, “All you need is me! I’ll be with you.” All we need to fulfill the mission is faith in Jesus. If we depend on our own strength, we’ll fail. Heck, most of us won’t even try. When we “go” into the world with trust in Christ, we’ll discover doors open we never saw before. We’ll see the Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven…and that’s the mission, right? Don’t we believe that it’s possible?

It is “harvest time!” I am grateful to my wife for the reminder.

Until next time, keep looking up…

A Lot of “One Another-ing”…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

Studying for a recent message, I was led to reflect on the number of times the New Testament talks about our relationship with “one another.” I was prompted by the Apostle Paul’s admonition to the church at Ephesus…

4 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…

Ephesians 4: 1-2 (NASB)

So, here is what I found in my reflection:

Love one another.

Serve one another.

Accept one another.

Strengthen one another.

Help one another.

Encourage one another.

Care for one another.

Forgive one another.

Submit to one another.

Commit to one another.

Trust with one another.  

Be devoted to one another.

Be patient with one another.

Be interested in one another.

Be accountable to one another.

Confess to one another.

Live in harmony with one another.

Do not pass judgment on one another.

Do not slander one another.

Instruct one another.

Greet one another.

Admonish one another.

Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Meet with one another.

Agree with one another.

Be concerned for one another.

Be humbled to one another in love.

Be compassionate to one another.  

Do not anger one another.

Do not lie to one another.

Do not grumble to one another.

Give preference to one another.

Be at peace with one another.

Be of the same mind with one another.

Comfort one another.

Be kind to one another.

Live in peace with one another.

Carry one another’s burdens.

By my count, that’s 38 “one anothers” in the New Testament. There are probably more and if I took more time, I’d probably find them, but time is a precious commodity and the deadlines are pressing, so I invite you to add to my list if I missed any. I promise that you won’t offend me if you correct me. Please correct me. It’s called accountability, which is one of the “one anothers.”

My point is simply this: that’s a lot of “one another-ing!” One another-ing only happens in the context of the Body of Christ. It is what we’re called to as the church.

My reflection also raises the question: How are we doing with our one another-ing?

We’re (I’m) not doing it perfectly, but that’s okay. I’m not perfect. And, the church isn’t perfect. That’s why we (I) need grace. The church isn’t perfect because it is made up of imperfect people. How does the saying go? If you ever find a perfect church, don’t go! You’re sure to mess it up.

I do think, though, that all this one another-ing is not simply about going to church. It is about belonging to the church. The Church! You know? The Communion of Saints! Yes, that holy, catholic body that exists across time and space, and in all places where the name of Jesus Christ is exalted. Yes, that Church that is, at one and the same time, both global and local. This Church is meant to make a difference in the world, but it will only do so as we grow in our capacity to “one another” properly. We grow by the grace of God in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirt.

So, how’s your “one anothering” coming along?

Until next time, keep looking up…

It’s Who You Know…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1: 8 (NIV)

I’ve been in ministry for over 32 years, and one of the questions most asked of me in those years is “How can I do what I know God wants me to do?” The question has taken many forms, but that is the essence of what people want to know. I think that is because the Christian experience is common among us. We try to do our best but find ourselves often coming up short. We try and we fail, and we live with guilt at our failings until finally frustration sets in and we wonder, “Why can’t I live the way God wants me too?”

Knowing the Holy Spirit

My answer to those who ask that question is always the same: “We (and by ‘we’ I mean ‘me, too) don’t use the power.” What we believe about the Holy Spirit matters, and I’m not so sure we really know what we believe.

Our confession that we believe in the Holy Spirit says we confess He is the third person of the Godhead, on a level equal with our confession that we believe in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, the Son. We confess that the Spirit is something more than an abstract, impersonal force.

Some have ventured to make him just that as they have reduced him to some logic of history, or to some category of being existing unto itself. Theologians have called him God’s energy while others have made him the element of some political practice, but each one of those attempts denies the personal nature of the Holy Spirit.

How do we know he is a person? The Bible, of course. Throughout scripture, the Holy Spirit is seen acting as a person acts. He guides, he convicts, he intercedes, he calls, and he commissions. The Spirit, like a person, is resisted (Acts 7:51), avoided, or answered (Acts 10: 19-21). The Bible says the Spirit can be grieved ((Ep. 4:30), and in one compelling event in Acts 5: 3-9, we see the consequences when someone lies to the Holy Spirit. There, Aninias and his wife Saphirra sold land and brought the proceeds to the church at Jerusalem. They lied about the amount, and both dropped dead before the Apostles. The charge was that Aninias and Saphirra lied to the Holy Spirit. We can’t lie to an impersonal force, or an energy, or a political practice. We can only lie to a person.

The work and the character of the Holy Spirit are, in essence, one with the Father. Don’t ask me to explain it beyond that, for theologians much greater than I have attempted to do just that, and have failed. We say that the Father is God over us, the Son is God beside us, and the Spirit is God within us.

God Within Us

God within us. There, perhaps, lies the answer to the question of living the kind of life God desires for us. When we understand the purpose and work of the Holy Spirit, then we can begin to understand how we can live the kind of life God desires for us.

We don’t spend much time talking about, or thinking about, the Holy Spirit. There may be many reasons for that. Perhaps we simply don’t understand the Spirit so we shy away from discussions concerning him, or rather we don’t want to be connected with or confused for what some have labeled fanatics who speak in tongues, dance in aisles, and attempt acts of healing, and all in the name of the Holy Spirit. But our misunderstanding, or our reluctance to be labeled fanatics does not diminish the fact that the Holy Spirit is real and can make a difference in our lives. 

God’s Power

The Holy Spirit is the power of the Godhead. His task is to bring into being the commandment of the Father and the performance of the Son. Before we can understand the task of the Holy Spirit, we need to understand the task of the Father and the task of the Son.

Let me try to explain. God the Father is the One who gives the command. He has always said, “Let there be…” God the Son performs the command of the Father, and the Holy Spirit is the power that produces the action. An illustration might be helpful here. 

Suppose I said “John, go turn on the light.” 

I have given the command, but I have not performed anything. John goes to the switch, pushes it, and the light comes on. John performed the act, but John is not the reason the light came on. Why did the light come on? Because there was power.

The Holy Spirit is the power of God. The Holy Spirit brings into action the performance of the Son. The Son has died on the cross and has overcome sin, hell, death, and the grave. The power of the Spirit, made real in Jesus Christ to be obedient to the Father, is made available to us in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Power is the key. Jesus told the disciples they would receive power. Power for living. Are we living with the Spirit’s power? We live long on form and style, and dogma, but we live short on power. And we wonder why we fail to live holy lives—lives worthy of God’s calling.

What kind of power does the Spirit give us? Most importantly, he gives us power to overcome sin, and that is the first step to living like God desires for us to live. Paul explains to the Christians at Rome–Romans 8:2: For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.

Jesus tells his disciples in John 16:8 that the Holy Spirit brings our sins to mind, not to condemn us, but so we can confront them and conquer them. Yes, I said conquer them. How do we conquer them? By grace and repentance, and it is the power of the Holy Spirit at work bringing us to maturity as believers. The Holy Spirit takes the hunger for sinful pleasure and replaces it with a hunger for intimacy with God. Paul continues:

Romans 8:12-14

So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

So, not only does Paul say we have the power to overcome sin, but the Holy Spirit can actually lead, or give direction to our lives.

We see that in the life of Jesus and the early church. After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordon River, Matthew records the Holy Spirit at work in Jesus’ life:

Matthew 4:1

Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil.

Jesus also told his disciples there would come a day when they, too, would be persecuted for their faith, and that they would be brought before authorities, but not to worry, for the Holy Spirit would give direction to their words even as they stood before those authorities (Luke 12:11-12).

Paul and Silas were prevented from going places in ministry: Acts 16:6

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time.

The greatest place the Holy Spirit can lead us, and this is where we find victorious Christian living, is into peace, joy, and hope: 

Romans 15:13

So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

How can this power be ours? I believe in the Holy Spirit, but that doesn’t seem to make any difference. Don’t I have the Holy Spirit just by believing in Jesus? Yes, you do. 

Ephesians 1:13-14

And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. [14] The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us everything he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.

The moment we receive Jesus Christ as Savior we have the Holy Spirit with us. We might say our hearts become his home, and the Spirit’s task, upon taking residency in our hearts, is to shine the light on Christ.

He brings us power to overcome sin, to be led into a deeper life, and to have great joy and hope, but all those are the results of Jesus being glorified in us and through us. That’s why Jesus said,

 8But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

It’s all about Jesus. Having the Holy Spirit within us does not necessarily mean he controls us, though. He is much too much the gentleman for that. The Holy Spirit waits for our surrender. He waits for us to ask for him to take control. Jesus said: 

Luke 11:12-13

Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! [13] If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Stay Connected

Have we asked him? The power is there. It has been there all the time. The difference is being connected.

In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.”

He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.

J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l:19-20,

“How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God.” When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us.

Here’s he truth I live with: When I fail to live a Christ-like life, it is because I have become disconnected from the power. I’ve been un-plugged, as it were. We have to stay connected to the Father and Son through the Holy Spirit.

How? It’s real simple, folks–the spiritual disciplines. Thing like prayer, bible study, fasting, solitude, simplicity, service, Christian fellowship, confession, worship and might I add, as a good Wesleyan, Holy communion.

There are more and I could take a lot of time unpacking each one, but it’s late and I have to go to church–where I’ll be receiving Holy communion. After all, I need to stay plugged-in!

Until next time, keep looking up…

Thanks, Bob…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 1 Comment

As a child I basically had three heroes. First was my Papaw (Willie Roberts). He was my mother’s dad. As long as I can remember he struggled with rheumatoid arthritis and was bed-ridden at the end of his life. He had an indomitable spirit, though. He never gave up. He persevered. He never complained about the pain. He just kept going, no matter what. 

My Papaw also showed me what grace is like. I think that’s because he had such a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. It was his faith in Jesus Christ that made his a generous soul. He didn’t have much when he died. That’s because he had pretty much given it all away–either to his children, to the church or to Jimmy Swaggart! I like to believe I inherited any generosity I may have from my Papaw. He was one of my heroes growing up.

The second of my heroes as a child was my Paw (Bill Malone). He was my father’s dad. He was a merchant all his life. He first owned a general store back in the days when a general store was a thing. His was a Walmart long before there was a Walmart, and when he died he still owned a hardware store in my hometown. 

Many of my days not spent in school were spent at either Malone’s Grocery and later Malone’s Hardware. He gave me my first “paying” job sweeping floors, stocking shelves and toting feed bags for customers. 

Any business sense I have (ain’t saying I have a lot) I learned from him. Working for him I learned about inventory and inventory control. I learned about accounts receivable and accounts payable. I learned how to negotiate with vendors.

Customer service? He had it down to an art form. He bent over backwards to take care of his customers. You better believe there wasn’t a customer who asked for an item he didn’t have more than once. If he didn’t have it when they asked for it, he made sure it was ordered and he would have it on their next visit. It was easy to walk around Malone’s Hardware and see unique items on the shelves and you’d think “Why would he ever have that in here?” Well, it was because some customer sometime had inquired about the item. He’d never be out of it again! He might not ever sell it, but by God, it was now in stock!

I like to think I inherited my work ethic from him, too. He was operating that old hardware store the very day he had the heart attack that would eventually take his life. He worked hard…every day…seven days a week. Yes, even Sunday found him at the grocery store (gotta’ check the coolers) or the hardware store (getting the order ready for Monday morning) working. Retirement wasn’t in his vocabulary. I’m not sure it is in mine either, but after all, retirement isn’t a biblical concept, so…

My third childhood hero? Bob Barker! Saturday, which was an otherwise good day I spent working turned bittersweet when I arrived home, sat down (to cool off!), checked Facebook and discovered that Bob Barker died. I’m not gonna’ lie. My childhood mornings, if not spent in school or at the store, would be spent watching The Price is Right.

I wanted to be Bob Barker when I grew up. Bob just seemed so friendly. He acted like he loved everybody. He was happy to celebrate when a contestant won a prize. And, the contestants absolutely loved him. Oh, and he was a snappy dresser, too. I was mesmerized by Bob Barker. I wanted to be the host giving away all those prizes. I wanted to be that snappy dresser. I wanted the adoration of those contestants. I wanted to be on that stage, under those lights, telling contestants to spin that wheel. Weird, I know, but it’s true, so…

It was so bad that I even asked for The Price is Right board game for a birthday present. I got it, too! I would get my cousins (Kevin and Angie) and I would force them to play so I could pretend I was Bob Barker, and I usually put on my “radio” voice when we would play the game. I’m sure they thought I was crazy, but I didn’t care. I wanted to be like my hero.

Bob (I call him Bob because I felt as though I knew him) started his career in radio, so I thought that’s what I should do, too. At age 15, as soon as I could drive, I boldly drove to Jonesboro, LA, went into the local radio station (KTOC-AM & FM) and asked Ted Colvin for a job. He gave it to me! I started working nights and weekends as a DJ spinning country vinyl on the AM side, and at sundown (when the AM “went dark”), I would spin Southern Gospel vinyl on the FM until 10:00 p.m., when the station signed off. Spinning all those Southern Gospel records is probably where I got my love for quartet music.

I eventually graduated to the “big city” station in Ruston, LA (KXKZ-FM), where I worked weekends on-air. The pay sucked, but I loved every minute of it. In those days, we teenagers worked 8-hour shifts on both Saturday and Sunday. Surely, if I stuck it out, I’d be on my way to filling Bob’s shoes.

As a companion part of the plan, I convinced my high school principal (Mr. Black) to allow me to enroll in vo-tech in Ouachita Parish because they had a curriculum entitled Television Studio Technology. My junior and senior years of high school, I’d leave Chatham High School at 11:30 a.m., make the half-hour drive to West Monroe so I could be in class by 12:30 p.m., when the afternoon session of TV Studio Technology commenced. Surely, I was on my way to becoming the next Bob Barker.

Did you ever hear this old saying? “Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans!” The Lord must have been laughing at me all the time because He sure had other plans. I met a girl! A girl I really liked, I liked her so much that I quit my job at the radio station because I didn’t have time to date her. I decided I would much rather be with her than spinning all those records on Saturday and Sunday. Oh, yes! She was worth it…and she still is! Yes, the girl I met was Vanessa. She’s the girl I married and am still married to, and I wouldn’t trade the life we’ve made together for any other plan I ever made.

God’s plan was for me to spend my life in ministry. I’ll have to tell you the story I’ve come to call “The Case of Divine Evaporation” sometime, but as I look back upon my life during this morning of reflection, I see God’s hand guiding all the way, and I know the Lord used those childhood heroes to grow me into the pastor and person I am.

Without my Papaw, I wouldn’t know grace, faith and perseverance. Without my Paw, I wouldn’t have known budgets, entrepreneurism and customer service (which all served me well as a pastor and now as a business owner). And, I have no doubt that my desire to emulate Bob Barker made me a better preacher, not in terms of theology or preparation, but in terms of presentation.

So, there! God gave me three great childhood heroes. He used them all to put me into His plan. I’m grateful for and love all of them. Now, I have to get ready for church. Bill Malone taught me to work seven days a week.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Missing the Obvious…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

A friend shared a Wall Street Journal article with me this week that shared some alarming statistics if you’re concerned about the church at all. The point of the article is summed up in this paragraph (since it’s behind a pay wall–though you can set up a free account to read the article):

The percentage of people ages 39 to 57 who attended a worship service during the week, either in person or online, fell to 28% in 2023, down from 41% in 2020, according to a survey this year. This was the largest percentage-point drop of all age groups examined in the survey of 2,000 adults conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. 

Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2023

Yeah, I know. Just another study demonstrating what we already know–people are attending church less often. Yes, Covid-19 played a part, but it only accelerated what was already taking place. I wrestled with the phenomenon when I was serving as a full-time pastor, and I’ve followed the phenomenon since leaving vocational ministry.

The article points out some of the reasons that this particular age group is attending less often:

  • Raising kids
  • Caring for aging parents
  • Demanding jobs
  • Disillusionment

Those are the same reasons that existed pre-pandemic, so really nothing new is revealed in the article in that regard. I would add to the list more social opportunities and more expendable income make it easier to make other choices come Sunday morning. That, and the fact that it is no longer socially “advantageous” to belong to a church or faith community.

Yes, I know. Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of priorities. We make time for that which is important to us, but I think there is something deeper at work, and the responsibility lies at the doorstep of the church, not necessarily at the doorstep of the individuals who are making other choices. Let me see if I can explain.

I need to clarify what I mean by “the church.” I mean the institution and its leaders. I also mean denominations and non-denominational churches. I mean the organized body of Christ, and yes, I mean on the global and local level. The organized body of Christ, on every level, bears some responsibility in the overall decline in church attendance. How so?

A Matter of Trust

First, it is a trust issue. Let’s acknowledge that people in general have major trust issues with institutions these days. From government, to schools, to churches, people don’t have trust in the leaders of those institutions. Let’s not blame the people who aren’t coming to church for that loss of trust. Let’s blame the leadership of the institution (of which I’m one!). We failed the people. We failed our communities. We failed to live the values we’ve proclaimed. We’ve failed to live holy lives before the Lord and before others.

Now, settle down! I’m not calling out any one person or institution in particular. There have been (and currently are) many faithful leaders who show the love of Christ in meaningful ways, and who exhibit a depth of spiritual maturity we should all seek to emulate. I praise the Lord for those saints! All it takes is for one leader to fail, and that failure gets amplified and it erodes the trust of the people in the pews.

Here are some examples of what I mean: Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, and more recently, Mark Driscoll and Bill Hybels. Though these are high-profile examples, the same scenes are played out on an almost daily basis in congregations around the nation.

Perhaps it is good that I’m preaching from Romans 3 today. It reminds me (and encourages me) that “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:21 NIV). I need to be reminded of this fact. I am, after all, Not the Perfect Pastor! Still, our failures erode the trust of the people we lead. I have to remind myself of this often. The cure? Trust Christ and pursue holiness of heart and life.

Additionally, when the leadership in entire denominations begin living out values that do not reflect the values of the collective larger body, trust is eroded. Lack of integrity to the values the institution has codified erodes trust. When we erode trust, people figure, “What’s the point?” As examples, I point to the cover-up in the Roman Catholic Church during its sexual abuse scandal, and the United Methodist Church in failing to deal with gay bishops according to its own Discipline.

Individually and institutionally, trust is eroded. I’m not saying it’s all the fault of leadership, but it is our fault as much as it is the fault of those who are no longer showing up. Let’s just say there’s enough repentance to go around for everyone. Thank the Lord, there is enough forgiveness, too!

I also believe the sin of congregational and institutional leadership is exacerbated by our own unwillingness to hold each other accountable and to speak prophetically to the sin in our midst. I’m as guilty as the next. My guilt (or its acknowledgement) does not relieve me of my responsibility to lead with integrity in the body of Christ, and to “live a life worthy of the calling” (Ephesians 4:1) I have received. There is a cure, though. Trust Christ and pursue holiness of heart and life.

Sorry! I spent more time on that topic than I meant to as I began to write. Moving on, then…

A Matter of Belief

There is another point of failure among church leadership that I think needs noting here. A community is formed when a group of people hold values in common. It is the values and beliefs that hold the community together. May I posit this point? More and more as the culture changes and exerts more influence on the congregation rather than the congregation exerting influence on the culture, we have failed to state definitively what we believe. When we don’t state openly and definitively what we believe, we’re subject to believing any old thing.

Let me be a clear as I can be (since we don’t get subtle): Too many churches don’t say the creeds anymore. When I say creeds, I mean the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed. These two creeds connect us most closely to the early church and to the beliefs that formed the common community.

Recitation of the creeds on a weekly basis provides both a visual and auditory confirmation of the beliefs and values that form us and hold us together as a faith community. The church moved toward “seeker-sensitive” worship and contemporary worship that, in many cases, have forgone the creeds altogether. We, the leaders of congregations, led our people to embrace “buffet Christianity” to the detriment of the community of faith. That, my friends, is on us!

The community of faith needs a weekly reminder as it is gathered in a single place for a single purpose of the values and beliefs that define it. What it does not need is a weekly “make me feel good about myself” message so I can get through another week. The community of faith needs a message from God’s Word that confirms and affirms the values and beliefs that have defined it for centuries. Those beliefs are contained in the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed.

Yes, it is Jesus Christ that defines the Christian community of faith, but it is what we believe about Jesus that will hold us together as a community of faith. Otherwise, I can believe anything, and if I can believe anything, why do I need the church/Church? As church leaders, are we missing the obvious?

Until next time, keep looking up…

The Pastor’s Heart or Prophet’s Voice…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

I’m approaching a milestone birthday, and no, I’m not going to say which one, but as it approaches I must confess that I’ve struggled greatly over the past few years with finding a balance between a pastor’s heart and the prophetic voice that is part of a preacher’s calling. The older I’ve gotten, the more I hear the prophetic voice dominating my reactions to things I see and hear around me. I find myself often wanting to stand up and shout, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”

I often justify my reactions by the fact that one of my seminary professors many years ago said to me, “Lynn, you have the gift of prophetic utterance.” Then, he added, “That won’t often sit well with congregations you will serve. Find balance.” In recent years, I think I’ve lost that balance (if I ever had it).

I’ve actually probably never had balance. I’m going to admit that I’ve always tried to err on the side of the pastor’s heart. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, until I acknowledge the reason I did: approval addiction. I wanted to be liked more than I wanted to be obedient. I wanted to be a “successful” pastor more than I wanted to be an obedient disciple. The older I get, the more I realize that I need to call my own self to repentance. The older I get, the more I realize how much grace I need…and how much grace I’ve been shown. Helps to strengthen the pastor’s heart, but if I’m not careful it can quench the prophet’s voice. Lord, I need balance.

I think the prophetic voice is more predominate these days because I’ve been separated from the body of Christ. No, I haven’t left the church. I’ve preached plenty of times in plenty of places, but Vanessa and I haven’t called a single congregation home for a long time. I don’t count the two and a half years we served a small congregation (wonderful congregation, wonderful folks, good friends). It was where we attended worship, but time and distance prevented us (me) from investing ourselves in the life of the congregation in ways that form deep connections that nurture the pastor’s heart. That’s totally on me, not the congregation.

I admit. I was running a new business and I was investing way more time and effort in that enterprise than I was in nurturing the congregation. For that, I owe them a sincere apology. They deserved better. It was during that time that I sensed my preaching moving toward the prophetic voice, and I lost a sense of the pastor’s heart. See, if you try real hard, you can justify anything, but just because something is justifiable doesn’t mean it is justified. Then again, maybe I’m just getting older. Maybe it’s just that I’m suffering from GOMS (grumpy old man syndrome), and I don’t feel the need to be liked as much.

Of course, it could be that I look around me and see our culture and the church coming off the rails. I mean really, who would have thought…even 10 minutes ago…that we’d be having a cultural conversation concerning sex change operations for children? FOR CHILDREN! (<<<<<that’s me shouting in my most prophetic sounding voice). Or, that Congress would be holding hearings on the matter and having trouble deciding if it is “gender-affirming care,” or “genital mutilation.”

The prophetic voice in me wants desperately to shout that the practice of sex change operations for CHILDREN is getting awfully close to the Old Testament practice of child sacrifice. The prophetic voice in me wants to shout Genesis–

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

Genesis 1: 27 (NIV)

Let’s start the debate there and see where it leads us. There are just some things in this world that are immutable. Maybe we need the prophet’s voice to remind us.

Then, I remember when the pastor’s heart was more real to me, and I consider the circumstances and issues that bring a child and his or her parents to such a decision and I want desperately to show compassion and empathy and grace. I want desperately to understand what brought them to this place so that I might in some way be in ministry to them, to lead them to the Truth in Jesus Christ. And, I realize that can never happen until there is a deep relationship that is formed between us. That relationship can only be formed in the context of community…the community that is found in the church.

I need a church home. We all do, really. Without a church home, I know the prophetic voice will increasingly dominate my calling and I’ll continue to see the pastor’s heart diminished…for the worse, I think. For those who aren’t pastors/preachers, without a church home you’ll likely grow more cynical and self-centered (but maybe not) as you get older. Just another sign that we all need grace…and balance.

So, Lord, I’m looking for balance…balance between the prophet’s voice and the pastor’s heart. If it’s true that I have both, I don’t want to lose either. May the Holy Spirit guide us all to the place of full obedience so that we might be perfectly balanced in the center of His will.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Confirmation of My Imperfection…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 1 Comment

Yup! It’s been that kind of week. The kind of week you’d rather get a do-over. I won’t bore you with all the details (your week may have been worse than mine), but suffice it to say this week confirmed for my that the name of my personal website (nottheperfectpastor.com) is the correct one.

Here’s the first evidence that my imperfections reared their ugly head. People! The world would be a great place if it weren’t for the people. That’s a terrible thing for a pastor (well, soon to be pastor) to say. Not only for a pastor, but for a business owner, too. Without people there are no customers. No customers mean no money. No money means no business. Yup! We NEED people, but sometimes…

I try desperately to show respect to others. I also try to exercise common courtesy when engaging with others. I must be terribly old school, though, because I’m seeing very little in the way of respect for or courtesy toward others. Or, perhaps I’m just not looking for it (could be another of my imperfections).

Three separate events keep playing over and over in my mind, and every time I re-live one of them, my blood pressure goes up and I get a little red in the face. Every time, I have to say a little prayer of repentance and patience, and also remind myself that my consternation with the situations (and persistently reliving them) are both signs that I need as much grace as the people who have raised my ire. So, there’s that…

Uh, huh! I know I’ve got you wondering what happened. I said I wouldn’t bore you with details, so I won’t go into too deeply (sorry! I’m trying to think of something to write since it is Sunday and I want to keep the discipline of writing on Sunday lest not doing so becomes another sign of my imperfection) on the details, and doing so might compromise other people and I really don’t want to do that (oh! the imperfections). So, here goes nothing…

This literally happened! We replaced a couple of parts on a customer’s vehicle this week. Got the job done. Took care of the problem. Two days later the customer calls and asks to speak to me. “Sir, those parts you put on my car, one of them is chrome and the other is black. Why is that?” My answer is, “Because those were the only two parts the parts house had to fit your vehicle” (the parts are not visible unless you get under the vehicle). Long story short, the customer wanted us to replace one of the parts so they would match. Really!

I can’t tell you what I really thought, or what I really wanted to say (and might have under my breath). Just know that the end of that conversation prompted a moment of repentance, a prayer for patience and deep gratitude for grace.

So, let me ask you? If you were to quit a job, would you have the courtesy and consideration to say to your boss, “This isn’t working out for me. I’m leaving”? Or, “Hey, you’re a terrible boss. I’m outta’ here!”? Perhaps even, “I have a better opportunity, so I’m done”? Wouldn’t you at least say something on your way out the door?

No! Just don’t show up. Don’t call. No, “Kiss my foot” (yeah, I thought of the other word) or anything. No respect. No consideration. No courtesy. That happened not once this week, but twice. It is the nature of the quick lube industry (or so I’ve been told), but seriously, I’m beginning to develop a complex. I’m beginning to think not only am I not the perfect pastor, I’m not the perfect boss either, but still, how hard is it to show a little respect to others.

The Holy Spirit (as the Holy Spirit so often does) used those encounters to put me in my place. He heard my prayer for patience and soon turned my thoughts toward those who departed. What events in their lives might be happening to prompt such actions? Perhaps I had not earned their trust as a boss? Maybe I need to hone my hiring practices and skills? Maybe, just maybe, Lynn Malone, YOU are the problem. At the end of the day, there was a moment of repentance, a prayer for more patience and deep gratitude for grace.

And yesterday, let me tell you! It’s bad enough when you have a flat tire, but having a flat tire on your wife’s birthday when you’re taking her to dinner and movie, well I hope you can imagine. So, we’re stuck in a hot parking garage. I intentionally parked in a far away parking spot knowing that when we came out of the movie that I was going to be changing a flat tire.

This event really caused what one old preacher friend labeled “the unregenerate portion” of me to show itself. First, roadside assistance with State Farm is well, let’s just say that Jake is not my friend. Seriously! You mean to tell me in all of Shreveport/Bossier City on a Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., you can’t find anyone to offer roadside assistance? I can’t believe you tried very hard. I should move on from this one since I have a daughter who works for a State Farm agent.

Now, get this when you think about being considerate of others. Here we are, really off to ourselves near the entrance of the parking garage and there a literally 600 other parking spaces nearby…and I mean literally 600 spaces. I’m in my spot with the tailgate raised and tires and spare tires lying around and my wife’s van on a jack. A car pulls into the garage and which spot does the driver choose? You guessed it! The one right next to mine…on the same side as the flat tire…that I’m attempting to change! 600 (literally 600) other spots and you pick this one? Can you see the redness of my face as my blood pressure rises?

Honestly, I thought some things a disciple of Jesus should never think. At least I didn’t say them, though when I’m reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words to the Philippian Church, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8) I realize how woefully short I’ve fallen, whether I actually said anything or not. Let’s just say that there was another moment of repentance, a prayer for patience and deep gratitude for grace.

The before…

It really was all my fault anyway. Had I put the portable air pump back in my wife’s van the last time I used it, the flat tire would have been about a ten minute fix. But, I didn’t put the air pump back in her van. Imagine the irony of a guy who sells tires for a living not having the equipment to fix his own flat tire. Yeah! I was a bit mad at myself, too! Grace was found however in having a daughter who lives in Bossier City dutifully jump to the rescue by going to Auto Zone, buying a new portable air pump and delivering it to her stranded mom and dad (she even brought Nothing Bundt Cakes, too!).

The after…

The entire week has been an experiment in patience and a lesson on grace. I’m even going to confess that I considered not attending worship this morning, too, but I need another lesson in grace. I am grateful to have the opportunity to worship this morning with the body of Christ to be reminded that we have a Lord who loves us, gave Himself for us and pours Himself out continually for sinners like me (sinning is the only thing I seem to do rather perfectly). I need to be reminded that we are all in need of grace and that grace is exactly what He extends to every one of us. And, I will go to a Methodist church where hopefully I’ll be reminded that it is His grace that will draw us closer to Him and deeper into discipleship as He grows us toward holiness. Want you join me?

Until next time, keep looking up…

Is Nothing Sacred Anymore?

/ pastorlynnmalone / 1 Comment

Is nothing sacred anymore? That’s the question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately as a result of a few items I’ve seen in the news recently. When I say “sacred,” I’m not speaking from the purely religious perspective, but in broader terms of the values and mores that define us (or once did) as a nation and culture.

I must confess that I am writing with a bit of trepidation simply because the news accounts touch on hot-button issues in our culture, and I run the risk of furthering the “partisan” divide that dominates our discourse and prevents us from having civil conversations and debates surrounding such issues. But, writing helps me process, so write I shall. You don’t have to agree with it. Heck, you don’t even have to read it. Just keep right on scrolling. You won’t hurt my feelings at all.

Defining the Sacred

When I speak of sacred, I speak specifically to mean that which is regarded with awe and reverence, and yes, there are things in our culture which should be (or used to be) regarded with reverence. I know that for something to be sacred means that it is set apart, holy or consecrated. Those terms certainly carry religious connotations, but the idea goes beyond the purely religious.

In the News

So, what has been in the news that prompted my thinking? The first news item was the reporting of the “Pride” month gathering at the White House back in June and the subsequent kerfuffles surrounding the prominent display of the “pride” flag at the White House (read about it here) and the trans-activist who exposed him(her?)self on the White House lawn (cautiously read about it here) during said event.

A second news item (click here for the story) that captured my attention was the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s release of guidance for “chestfeeding” of infants (read the guidance here). Okay, so it’s not really guidance on chestfeeding, but more an acknowledgment that men can produce milk and feed babies from their breasts–to which I say, “What?”

I thought surely I can dig deep to find the nuance of these events so as to arrive at a point that included everyone’s perspective, but the more I reflected, the more I prayed, the more I studied, the reality settled on me that no matter where I landed in my thoughts, someone was going to be excluded. The fact that anyone might be excluded is the very reason that nothing can be sacred anymore.

A Christian American

Let me preface this section with this statement: I am a Christian American, with the emphasis on Christian. I can acknowledge the danger in making that claim of slipping into a christian nationalism mindset. That fact notwithstanding, I believe it is possible to be both a faithful disciple and a strong patriot and I try desperately to be both.

As an American, I’ve always seen the White House as a sacred (set apart, consecrated) place to be held in awe and reverence. It is one of the places in our nation that symbolizes the values that define our nation. It is the people’s house, and as the people’s house, I no more want to see a “pride” flag waving there than I would want to see a Christian flag waving there (although a Christian flag would be more appropriate given the Judeo-Christian principles upon which the nation was built). The White House isn’t a place for any flag except the flag of the United States of America. To display ANY flag other than the American flag is to diminish the sacredness of the space.

And, the man boobs? Well, I never! So, I really don’t care if the President and the White House wanted to host an event for LGBTQI++++++ folks. He’s the President. Go for it, big boy. Do your thing. This is America. I don’t have to attend. I don’t have to like it. I can even speak out against it (this is America, right?), but for an invited guest to expose himself on the White House lawn is a bridge too far for me. It was an expression of utter contempt (udder contempt?) and disrespect for the sacredness of the space. No, there is nothing sacred anymore.

Then, there’s the whole chestfeeding thing. I’m sorry. Men are not women and women are not men. A man can look like a women, can dress like a women, can act like a woman, can live as a woman, but he is still a man. Follow THAT science. A woman can look like a man, can dress like a man, can act like a man, can live as a man, but she is still a woman. It is basic biology. Women cannot be men and men cannot be women, surgery and drugs notwithstanding.

I can remember a time when motherhood was sacred. Heck, even womanhood was somewhat sacred, given the woman’s ability to give birth, to be the source of life. That certainly doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. The sacred nature of motherhood (and womanhood) is lost to the selfish whims and unnatural desires of an individual whose mental wellness can certainly be questioned. But, heavens, let by no means exclude them!

The Problem Before Us

And, therein lies the problem. The sacred is always a bit exclusionary. The sacred evokes a sense of awe, a sense of mystery, that points to something above and beyond itself, or above the person seeking to understand the sacred. In this post-modern, post-Christian world, we just can’t have that.

By rejecting the sacred, we can remove all restraints that hinder us. If nothing is sacred, then any behavior can be justified. If nothing is sacred, legitimacy to any lifestyle can be granted. I’m telling you, folks, losing the sanctity of motherhood (womanhood) puts us on a short path to ultimate evil. Write it down that on this day Lynn Malone wrote that men “chestfeeding” infants is the gateway to legalizing pedophilia. Hyperbole? I hope so, but I think not.

When a sense of the sacred is lost no one stands out, everyone wins a trophy and every passion is ripe for the fulfilling. Everyone must be equal whatever the cost. Every whim, every passion, every desire must be not only legitimized, but also affirmed. To do otherwise is to make someone less than, and we just can’t have that under any condition.

As a sense of the sacred is lost, we begin to replace the truly sacred with the ordinary. We see the elevation of the ordinary to places of sacredness–things like sports, entertainment and materialism. It’s not a huge step until “sin” becomes sacred and to call it out is to commit blasphemy.

I think it points to a larger issue that gets lost in our secular culture. We lose a sense of the sacred in society because we have lost a sense of the sacredness of that which is holiest. We fail to recognize that there should be things set apart for the worship and service of God. When we lose sight of the holiness of Jesus Christ it leads directly to the suppression of the sacred in daily life. We shouldn’t be too surprised to see it happen in culture. It has happened in the church, too. Perhaps it happened in the church before it happened in culture (see an example here).

Jesus is the Answer

Until Jesus Christ is exalted, until Jesus Christ is loved completely and adored genuinely, there can be no surprise that anything else will be viewed as sacred. Until Jesus Christ be high and lifted up, nothing is stable. Until Jesus Christ be worshipped and adored, nothing is safe. Until Jesus Christ be praised forevermore, nothing will be sacred anymore.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Until next time, keep looking up…