Politics

Just Go Vote…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

Yes, this is a post about the election. Yes, it will probably offend a few people. No, I’m not going to tell you who to vote for, which will probably offend at least half of the people who read my blog. If you haven’t made up your mind, you have two days to do so. Just go vote, even if you don’t make up your mind until you enter the voting booth.

Actually, I’m writing this morning to a select number of people who may be reading–those who haven’t voted yet. My wife and I cast our ballots early, which it seems people are doing in record numbers this year. That’s great, but if you haven’t voted, let me remind you that your vote still counts. Go vote! Yes, it’s that important.

It is important that you go vote because we live in the United States of America and voting is a gift that the founders of our nation gave to us to help preserve our republic. Don’t take that gift for granted.

Voting has become so much easier (for better or worse) through the years that there really remains no excuse (save an emergency or illness) for registered voters not to vote.

Here are a few things I might suggest you do before heading to the polls. First, pray. Ask for the Lord’s guidance as you prepare to make this most important decision.

Second, turn off social media. You’ll only end up more confused.

Can I say that I hate the terms “misinformation” and “disinformation?” They seem like made-up words. I rather prefer to call all of that stuff “competing information.” Don’t the folks who want to censor all the “dis” and “mis” information believe the American people are smart enough to sort through the competing information to make an informed decision? I believe we are and I don’t need anyone censoring anything. I LOVE the First Amendment!

Third, remember that the Lord doesn’t love one candidate more than the other, nor does He love the people who vote for one candidate more than He loves people who vote for the other candidate. He loves all His children regardless of which candidate they vote for. Suffice it to say that each (every) candidate has his/her own foibles (just like the people casting their ballots). There is no perfect candidate. Never has been. Never will be.

Please also remember that no single candidate or political party ever won one soul to Christ. That’s our job. It’s called evangelism and we should be engaged in it regardless of who our leader is. People who need Jesus will never find Jesus in a political party. They will find Him in us.

Finally, maintain a biblical perspective. I remind us of Romans 13: 1–

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.”

Or, Psalm 47: 7 – 9–

7 For God is the King over all the earth.
    Praise him with a psalm.
8 God reigns above the nations,
    sitting on his holy throne.
9 The rulers of the world have gathered together
    with the people of the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the earth belong to God.
    He is highly honored everywhere.

The Bible repeatedly reminds us that God is sovereign in the affairs of men. God is God before this election, and God will be God after this election. Neither candidate will change that fact. If you trust the Lord now, you’ll trust Him then.

Don’t, however, use God’s sovereignty to blame Him for the outcome. That’s too easy! Can we, as disciples, acknowledge that the state of our nation is not God’s fault? It would also be too easy to blame one political party over the other, but the reality is that BOTH political parties have contributed to the steady progression away from the Judeo-Christian values upon which our nation was formed.

Let’s face it. It’s OUR fault for not holding our leaders to account to the Judeo-Christian values of our founding. One way we can hold them accountable is by just going to vote.

So, go vote. Vote your values. Vote for the candidate you believe the Lord is leading you to vote for. Regardless of who you vote for, please treat those who may vote differently than you with the respect and love due a fellow human being. That’s what we’re called to do as disciple of Jesus Christ.

So, just go vote. It’s that important.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Grace and the Government…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

I just can’t seem to get politics off my mind (I can’t imagine why!). Perhaps writing about it will help to clear the many cobwebs that appear to be clouding my judgement these days. If I were exercising good judgment, I’d stay as far away from politics as I can, but I’m not exercising good judgment, so…

I am thinking primarily of the Apostle Paul’s instructions to the Roman Church in Romans 13. It gives me no small amount of heartburn to read his words, especially as I contemplate the future of this nation called the United States of America. Our choices for leadership aren’t stellar, but choose we must. Here is Paul’s counsel to the early church:

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Romans 13: 1 – 7 (NIV)

I read Paul’s words and I think, “Yeah, right! I’m not submitting to that!” There is so much our government does that I don’t agree with…that seems down-right un-Christian. Why would I submit to that?

Pres. Ronald Reagan

I’m also reminded of President Ronald Reagan (the first President I had the pleasure of voting for, by the way–I also want to see the new movie). President Reagan once quipped, “I think you all know that I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help’.” His cynicism reflects my own.

The Roman Example

How can I read Paul’s words in light of my cynicism? First, I have to take off my American glasses. I think about government and my mind focuses (quite naturally) upon our federal government, our state government, or our local community governmental structures. The Apostle Paul didn’t have any of these in mind when he penned his counsel to the Roman church. Paul was living in a vastly different culture than our own, yet even then he could council disciples that the government was there to help.

Paul was living in a world dominated by the Roman Empire, and his council was somewhat shocking to the Christians living in Rome. The Roman Empire was one of the most evil and cruel empires to ever rule a larger part of the world.

The emperor at that time was Nero. He took pleasure in killing Christians. In fact, historians say that he burned many Christians as torches to light up his garden parties. Yet, in spite of its cruelty, immorality, and persecution of Christians, Paul said to submit to the government in Rome.

His instruction to submit is front and center in this passage. In his instruction to submit, Paul gives us insight into God’s vision and role of government, and his words still speak to those of us who seek to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

God and the Government

Paul can’t help but remind the Roman Christians that God is the one who establishes governments. Three times Paul states that God has established all government authority. A quick reflection of biblical history confirms the fact.

When God wanted to take his people out of Egypt he broke the will of Pharaoh with ten plagues. In God’s dealings with his people he used the governments of the world to bring blessing or punishment as needed. God used the Assyrians to destroy Israel. God used Nebuchadnezzar to take his people into captivity in Babylon as punishment for their disobedience. There they repented and returned to the Lord. Then God brought in Cyrus, king of the Medes and Persians, to set his people free and place them back in the Promised Land. The Old Testament indicates that the Lord blessed all people through Cyrus.

In the New Testament, God continues pulling the strings of kings and governments. God’s timing is always right! Luke’s gospel (Luke 2) tells us “At that time the Roman emperor Augustus…” God’s Son was to enter the world just as the emperor issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. It was a time when the world had the best roads, an efficient postal service, safe travel, and some semblance of law and order. Paul’s appeal was based on the ultimate idea of the sovereign nature of God, and if we believe nothing else, don’t we believe ultimately, God is in control?

But, I ask myself, what about the evil governments? Is God responsible for the power of the communists who tried to stamp out the gospel? What about Adolf Hitler? Or, how about those immoral, corrupt, and crooked politicians that are found in our own government? Is God responsible for their power?

The Power of Sin

Here I see the power of sin at work in God’s creation. The fact that any leader, as sinful humans, take authority and abuse it is not God’s fault. The problem (it seems to me) with a theocracy is not with God, but with those who represent God when they begin to think they ARE God. This holds, too, for our own government. We must be careful that those in our own government don’t assume that they have taken God’s place.

Government is not God. Government is a tool given that God uses for His purposes. When Jesus was on trial before Pontius Pilate he corrected Pilate’s false understanding of government authority. Remember that Pilate said, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

Jesus responded, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:11).

Sin is a powerful thing, and the same sin that touches the depth of our hearts can touch the depth of even the best human government. One of the biggest hurdles for us to cross in order to have the attitude that Paul described in these verses from Romans chapter 13 is to see the governing authorities as being established by God. When the Holy Spirit works that conviction in us, then we will want to submit to the governing authorities. A glance at history, and a look at God’s Word, will convince us that God establishes all authority.

I think Benjamin Franklin would agree. Franklin said, “I’ve lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house they labor in vain who build it.’ I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.”

The Purpose of Government

God’s establishing government is not without purpose, and Paul discloses at least two tasks of government. First, he indicates that government’s responsibility is to order society. Think about what the government does for us. We have state and federal highways. It is the government that provides libraries, schools, and universities.

Those in authority provide law and order through police departments and the justice system. We have fire protection. We have freedom to worship and practice our religion. The government ensures free trade and fair business practices. Those in authority maintain an army to protect our borders from invasion.

William Barclay says it this way: “To the state ordinary people owe a wide range of services which individually they could not enjoy. It would be impossible for every man to have his own water, light, sewage, transport system. These things are obtainable only when men agree to live together. And it would be quite wrong for a man to enjoy everything the state provides and to refuse all responsibility to it. That is one compelling reason why the Christian is bound in honour to be a good citizen and to take his part in all the duties of citizenship.”

Government (or should I say good government?) is nothing more than a body of people who have covenanted together to maintain certain relationships between each other by the observance of certain laws. Without these laws and the mutual agreement to observe them, evil and selfishness would win the day. Each of us owe our security to the government, and are therefore under a responsibility to it. 

As Paul notes, part of that ordering of society is the idea of the government’s responsibility to execute justice. Justice is a delicate issue. It always raises the question of whose justice are we talking about.

Justice is often about perspective, I suppose. The government was greatly used, I believe, by God through the 1960’s and the civil rights movement. There were many injustices that were corrected through government action. Thanks be to God!

And, the 1860’s, too. Again, in the U.S., and prior in England, government was a tool of God used to abolish the institution of slavery. In all those instances, there were those who debated, argued and fought and even died for justice sake. As we reflect back on those times in history, dare any of us say that justice did not prevail? The church’s voice was integral in all of those struggles. No matter the political climate, we must never let the voice of the church be silenced in the fight for justice.

The struggle for justice continues even today, as well it ought. Survey the twenty-four hour news cycle and we can hear the cries of those who plead for justice. The church must hear their cries, and must be ready to respond in the name of justice.

I remind us all, though, that what the people of God seek is righteousness…that is how justice is defined. Just because something can be justified does not make it right. God seeks righteousness, from his people and in his creation. Justice and justification are not necessarily the same thing. 

Some have suggested that Paul was writing these words concerning justice and aiming them at the Jewish people. You might recall the Jewish people were quite the rebellious bunch in the first century near east. Insurrections were not uncommon, especially in Galilee.

The Zealots give us an example (among which one of Jesus’ own disciples is numbered). The Zealots were convinced that there was no king for the Jews but God; and that no tribute must be paid to anyone except to God. They were not content with simple passive resistance. Their aim was to make any civil government impossible. They were known as the dagger-bearers. They were nationalists who employed terrorist methods that were not only directed towards the Roman government, but they also wrecked the houses and burned the crops and assassinated the families of their own fellow-Jews who paid tribute to the Roman government. Paul is saying, “No way! That’s not the action of a disciple.” It was Paul’s way of saying, “You reap what you sow.”

The Need for Grace

What is true for nations is also true for individuals. We think little of violating the speed limit until we are the one stopped for speeding. H. L. Menken said, “Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice.”

It is here that I see the power of sin in my life. It is here that I see my need for grace. The source of all grace is our God, who ultimately showed us grace through His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross. Even there, it was the Roman government used as God’s instrument to get us to grace, as atrocious as it was, for, you see, grace is a messy thing. We try to sanitize it, in our lives, in our culture and even in our churches, but no matter, grace is messy (see the Parable of the Prodigal Son). But, the Good News is God’s got a handle on all of it.

So, what are we to do? Paul says submit. Our submission is not really to the government, though. Rather, our submission is to the sovereignty of God.

God has got this thing…at least that’s what I keep reminding myself. The election will come. Someone will win it. I’ll like it or I won’t. Either way, my prayer is that I will be found faithful, and I’ll look for grace…even in the government. Maybe you will, too.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Perhaps the Problem is Us…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 2 Comments

Sometimes, I struggle on these Sunday mornings to find something to write. Other times, I have too much that I want to write and have a hard time knowing what to cull. Today is one of the latter times.

There is an abundance of subjects that I have decided opinions on, but I know I can’t write something on all of them. Based on the stats of these blogs, I can discern that most people want short, quick reads. Sorry. Today probably won’t accommodate you. You are forewarned!

Facebook Jail

I’ll begin by saying that Facebook let my wife out of Facebook jail, so I’ll probably remain on the platform. For those of you who may not know, Facebook put my pretty wife in Facebook jail for a second time.

Seriously, she only posts Bible verses, pics of grandchildren and household projects, but some of the Facebook arbiters found them to be against community standards, so they suspended her. After an appeal, she was reinstated. Guess I’ll stay on a while longer.

That’s probably a good thing. Most folks find the blog through Facebook, although a good number do get email alerts when I publish. I suppose I should try to build my subscriber base by encouraging folks to sign up with email, but I’m not trying to “monetize” the blog so it doesn’t much matter.

However, should you want to receive a notification when I publish, you can like and subscribe below and you’ll be able to find me apart from Facebook.

Now, on to other things on my mind…

Politics is Life

Politics is “top of mind” (as the en vogue saying goes) for almost everyone these days, and so it is for me. This year’s election is seventy-one days away and there is both anticipation and anxiety as that day approaches. We go to the polls seeking to change the direction of the nation, or to stay the course because the circumstances of the nation are such that the majority is pleased with the direction the leadership has set.

This year, we will not “stay the course” necessarily, for we will elect a new president. Some people believe electing one particular candidate will, in essence, be staying the course, though that candidate is doing much to draw distinctions between herself and her predecessor. Others believe electing the other candidate will lead the nation in a new, more prosperous direction.

I’m a bit of a political junkie myself. I don’t try to hide that fact. I don’t (well, not often anyways) make my political views known. You won’t see me (often) posting political articles on social media, promoting particular candidates or particular parties. We’re all in this together and part of our problem is not being able, or willing, to put aside our differences in order to overcome the divisiveness our system finds itself in.

This election cycle is an historic time for our nation. As in the election cycle of 2008 when we elected our nation’s first African-American president, we may this cycle, elect our nation’s first female president. Some say, “It’s been a long time coming,” while others say, “This is not the woman we need to elect.”

The anxiety of the moment is heightened by the cultural circumstances we are experiencing as a nation. Consider these circumstances—a stock market, that while reaching new heights, its volatility is shown by the constant swings from one day to the next, a world economy that still languishes mostly in recession, job market volatility and when we factor in the shifts in cultural values over the past few years, there’s no wonder anxiety is up.

My generation is concerned whether Social Security will be around for our retirement. Healthcare costs, in spite of an overhaul of the system, continue to rise. We have 35 trillion dollars of debt as of this past Friday morning. The Middle East is on fire, there is a war in Ukraine and China is threatening Taiwan. Do we believe a new president will change any of these circumstances?

Perhaps that’s not the appropriate question. Perhaps the appropriate question is “Whom or what do we trust?” Is our trust in a political party? Is our trust in a candidate for president or the government? I am reminded of the words of King David (that’s right KING David) writing in Psalm 20:7—

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God (Ps. 20:7 NIV).

As those who are called to follow Jesus Christ, our hope is in Him and in Him alone. We are citizens of the United States, but we are disciples of Jesus Christ, and if our hope is in the government or a political candidate, it is a misdirected hope.

A Biblical Example

When the nation of Israel left Egyptian bondage and became a nation, Moses and then Joshua was their national leader. They weren’t elected, but rather chosen by God for leadership of the nation. Afterward, God led with a group of judges over the people. There were twelve tribes with different leaders yet they were not united. They had problems working together.

The leadership they did have was corrupt and made poor choices, so the people demanded that God give them a new leader. They wanted a king like all the other nations around them. When things were not going well, the people thought what they needed most was a change in leadership, a new administration, a new structure of government. The people thought: 

“If we just get this new leader everything will be okay. He’ll solve all of our problems. He will protect us from our enemies, he will bring a sense of unity among our divided people (bipartisanship?), he will stabilize our economy, he will provide a new direction, he will provide the change we need.”

Sound familiar? Certainly! Every presidential candidate promises it.

God had a response to the nation in those days. Listen to what God told the prophet Samuel, who was the judge of the nation at the time:

7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights. (1 Samuel 8: 7 – 9 NLT)

God said the reason people put their hope in new leadership to solve their problems is because they rejected God as their leader. They no longer looked to God as their hope. Sounds a lot like us…

I feel relatively certain Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, believe they will do their best to lead our nation through these challenging times. But, both candidates are human beings and that means they’re flawed…just like the rest of us. God told Samuel to make sure the people knew any leader they chose would have flaws. Did they ever!

The Problem as I See It

The problem wasn’t with the leaders. The problem was with the people. As we survey the landscape of our nation, the problem is not the economy or the culture. The problem is not with terrorism or health care, with crime or poverty. The problem is sin.

We can’t lay the problem at the door of the White House, or the state house. We can’t lay the problem at the door of the courthouse or the school house. We must lay the problem at the door of the church house, and at the door of our house. Simply put, the government can’t fix that problem.

Sin works itself out in many ways. Pride comes to mind. The government can’t fix pride.

Self-centeredness comes to mind. The government can’t fix self-centeredness. Almost no one votes against self-interest. We elect representatives to represent OUR interests. We want representatives who will bring home the bacon to our district, never mind that the interests of our district may stand in direct opposition to the interests of a neighboring district. If they don’t bring home the bacon, we get new representatives. 

The government can’t fix greed. We want more and bigger stuff. We mortgage the future to have stuff we want now. As one cliché states it, “We buy stuff we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” The government can’t fix that! Oh, the government can (apparently?) forgive student loan debt, but it can’t change the inner desire for more and bigger and better stuff.

The government can’t fix gluttony. We’re concerned about the escalating costs of health care, yet we continue to overindulge in every guilty pleasure. I’m preaching to myself now. We make poor health choices, fail to exercise and live healthy lives and then want the government to deal with the obesity problem, and heart problems and circulation problems. Don’t shout me down, please! I’m simply pointing out the obvious. 

I love you, but the problem is not with the government. The problem is with us. Our problem is a spiritual problem. Sin comes when we reject God, when we do what is right in our own eyes.

Hope in the Darkness

Perhaps I’ve painted a dark picture with a broad brush, but there is hope. There is a prescription for what ails us. Both political parties talks about the need for change, and promises change, but real change won’t happen with a new leader or new legislation. Real, lasting change will occur when God’s people choose to trust God and turn to Him.

I’m reminded of a most famous Old Testament passage from 2 Chronicles this morning. At the time the passage was written Israel was at its zenith. They had just finished all of King Solomon’s building projects with the high point being the Temple in Jerusalem.

It was a time of great prosperity and peace, and national pride was running high. It was during the dedication of the temple that God gives a warning. God said when the rain doesn’t fall and the locusts eat your crops—in other words—when the nation does into a downturn, this is what needs to happen:

14  “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

The prescription for us and our nation is prayer.

The Temple was to be a reminder of God’s sacred presence among the people.

Were we to read all of King Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple, we would discover the importance of the practice of prayer in maintaining the nation’s covenant relationship with God. Solomon, and later Isaiah, understood the Temple was “a house of prayer for all nations” (Is. 56:7), and Jesus, himself echoed that sentiment when he drove the moneychangers from the Temple upon his entry into Jerusalem.

Right relationship with God, whether in the Old or New Testament, is rooted in prayer. Understand though, that prayer is not effective because of our righteousness, but because of the power possessed by the One to whom prayer is offered.

What was once true of a building in Jerusalem is now true of a body…the body of Christ, the Church. The Apostle Paul states it this way: 

19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19 – 20 NLT)

We bring glory to God when we pray. We cannot pray without humility. Humility is nothing more than acknowledging our dependence upon God.

F.B. Meyer said, “I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other, and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not a question of growing taller, but of stooping down, to get His best gifts.”

Humility brings us to God, and our coming gives Him glory.

There is no effective prayer without devotion. That’s what it means to “seek” God’s face. Worship, generosity and service are tangible ways we show our devotion. It also means seeking God’s will for every area of our lives, and passing the faith to our families and communities.

There also is no effective prayer without repentance. Both the Old and New Testament words for repentance mean “to turn.” It means a change of direction from sin and toward God—an about-face, if you will.

Repentance is a faith response to God’s offer of forgiveness. We believe God will forgive, therefore we turn to him. When we repent of our sin—our pride, our self-centeredness, our greed, our gluttony and our idolatry—then, we’ll see the power of God revealed in Jesus Christ. We’ll find the help for which we search.

Prayer has the power to fix our problems because prayer brings us into the sacred presence of God Almighty, and it is God’s power in Jesus Christ that heals and forgives and reconciles all that is broken…in this nation…in every nation…     

Here’s our challenge: to humble ourselves before God, seek His face and repent of all that separates us from Him and from each other.

Join me as I pray for our nation, for the election and those leaders who have offered themselves to lead us.

That’s as neutral as I can be these days, though I believe the cultural moment demands that the disciple of Jesus Christ be something other than Switzerland.

This post is already too long and I’ve still got too many things I want to write. I’ll just stop now by reiterating: Pray, pray, pray!

The problem really is with us.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Seventy-eight Days to Choose…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

Seventy-eight days. That’s how long it is until we choose the person who will lead our nation for the next four years. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve discovered that seventy-eight days is no time at all. What are we, as Christians, doing to be ready to choose the right leader?

I know! Our choices aren’t great, but then again, we probably get the leaders we deserve. I just have to ask: What have we done to deserve the choices we have? Sorry! Don’t answer that question. It is rhetorical.

Most people reading this have probably already made up their mind about the choice coming in seventy-eight days. Without becoming too political, let me take this opportunity to offer biblical four characteristics to look for in choosing our next leader.

Four Biblical Characteristics

What are the four characteristics? Humility, capability, responsibility and accountability.

Jethro & Moses

Let me start by calling to mind a conversation between Moses and Jethro in Exodus 18: 13 – 27 (click here to read the entire conversation). To set the context of Jethro’s conversation, it’s been just over a month since Moses led the people out of Egyptian bondage and Pharaoh’s oppression. In that time, they’ve seen God deliver them through the Red Sea, provide water from a rock and God is feeding them daily with manna and quail. They’ve also just won a military victory over a people group called the Amalekites.

Jethro gets word of all God has done for Moses and the people, so he takes Moses’ wife and two sons, loads up and prepares to take them back to Moses. At some point before going down to Egypt, Moses had sent them to live with Jethro while he went off to do God’s work.

Jethro arrives, they catch up on all the events since they were last together and had a party and a worship service to celebrate. The next day, Moses goes out to do what he always does…hear the complaints of the people against each other…he sits in judgment, day after day, deciding all the petty (and not-so-petty) complaints of over 600,000 men, not including women and children.

Humility

Jethro immediately notices a problem, so Jethro (verse 14) says, “Why are you trying to do this alone?” Jethro, in asking Moses the question, is trying to give Moses a lesson in humility. Humility is perhaps the greatest quality to look for in a leader. The original Hebrew spoken by Jethro leaves the impression that he sees Moses acting like a King over the people.

Moses considers himself uniquely qualified to judge the people and their issues, almost like he’s God’s partner in this deal. That’s the strength of the language in the text.

Jethro says, “That’s not good!” Basically, he’s saying, “Get over yourself, Moses. You’re killing yourself and you’re killing the people trying to do this alone.” It was a matter of respect. The whole tone of the conversation indicates that Moses’ ego was getting in the way of what is best for the people and for himself.

Egotistical leadership is devastating to any organization. Granted, it takes a pretty big ego for someone to run for President, or any other office, for that matter, but ego that is not tempered with humility is egomaniacal and is ultimately destructive.

There is a fantastic visual image contained in this entire episode, and it has to do with humility, and the power of humility.

The encounter begins with Moses sitting to judge the people, and the narrative indicates he’s sitting because he’s worn out. Jethro offers his advice and says, “If you do this, you’ll be able to “stand up” under the pressure.” It’s Jethro’s way of saying, “If you humble yourself and relinquish some leadership, you’ll really find yourself standing over the people instead of the people standing over you.”

That’s exactly what Jesus said, too.  In Luke 22: 24 – 30, his disciples were discussing who would be greatest among them. When they arrived at the house, Jesus asked what they were discussing, though he already knew. They didn’t answer him, but he sat them down and said “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Servant leadership is a Kingdom principle. It’s driven by humility.

The cause that must be served is far greater than any one leader or individual. What’s true in business is also true in government, and in churches, and at home. No one leads alone. A leader needs the humility to acknowledge their own limitations.

Capability

A second characteristic I see in choosing leaders wisely is capability. We need leaders who are capable of leading us.

Jethro recognizes the necessity of leadership on different levels. Part of that capability has to do with honesty and integrity. We could make these their own traits, but they are what make a capable leader.

When I talk about honesty and integrity, I cringe when I look at the candidates we have to choose from. Of course, it’s nothing new. The effects of Huey Long’s patronage system are still felt in Louisiana today, and history reminds us of the corruption of Tammany Hall in New York City throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and of the long history of alleged corruption in Chicago politics.

Politics and corruption seem to go hand in hand. Jethro reminds Moses that at the heart of capability are honesty and integrity.

Jethro told Moses to identify capable leaders and appoint them judges over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Different leaders must fill different roles. Moses learns there are different levels of leadership, and each leader must fill the role he/she is uniquely gifted to fill.

We’re all leaders, we simply lead at different levels. Let’s face it…there are politicians who are great politicians at the local level but would be terrible at a higher level. One question we should ask of those running for public office, or seeking a leadership capacity is “Are they capable of fulfilling the role?” Not every leader is equipped to fill every role; choices must be made based on the individual’s gifts, skills and talents.

I experienced this as a District Superintendent for the United Methodist Church. The church is led by a great number of gifted pastors, but honestly, not every pastor is suited to be the pastor of a large church, and there are pastors whose giftedness far exceeds the level of church they currently serve.

There are fantastic pastors in small churches, but it would be disastrous for some of them and for the church to be appointed to a large church. There are natural born leaders who simply have the charisma to continually lead up, but there are equally gifted leaders capable and competent to lead on a smaller scale.

There are many leadership skills that are teachable. Parents are leaders, even though they may only lead one other person, and parents can be taught to be better leaders. The same with managers is true. Leadership skills can be taught, nurtured and developed, and a leader’s capability can be increased, but for many there is a ceiling. That doesn’t matter. They’re still leading, and can be great leaders, as long as they’re leading at their level of capability.

We need to be asking the question, “Which of these two candidates is capable of leading our nation right now?” The answer is obvious to me, but you have to answer the question in your own heart and mind.

Responsibility

A third characteristic I see in Jethro’s advice is that of responsibility. When we choose leaders, we must be willing to let them lead. We can’t extend leadership responsibility and then micromanage their efforts. We’ll destroy their spirits and we’ll undo the good that could be done through their efforts.

Jethro makes it clear to Moses that if you’ll follow this advice…identify leaders and let them lead…then Moses will be able to stand up under the pressure and the people will return in peace. Sharing power is what God wants and what God expects. It is truly a holy act.

Accountability

Are we willing to allow the leaders we choose to actually lead us? We must follow their leadership unless and until they prove they’re not capable, and that brings me to the final characteristic I see, and that is accountability.

Responsibility is nothing without accountability. Verse 24 says that Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice. He submitted himself to the accountability offered. He was willing to be confronted with the cold, hard facts, and he demonstrated the humility to receive Jethro’s “constructive criticism.”

Okay, so there is one candidate who doesn’t often take constructive criticism well. I’m not sure about the other one yet, although a staff turnover rate of 90+% isn’t encouraging. Like I said…our choices aren’t great.

We should choose leaders who are willing to be held accountable. One of the great things about the American experiment is the “checks and balances” of the three branches of government. Part of the problem of governing by executive order is it circumvents the accountability component. But, then again, every four years, or two years, or six years as the case may be, is the election cycle. The accountability of the ballot box is always the accountability of last resort in the civic arena.

We, too, if we desire to be godly leaders, should submit ourselves to accountability. John Wesley was so concerned with building a righteous fellowship that he devised a series of questions for his followers to ask each other every week. Some found this rigorous system of inquiry too demanding and left.

Rev. Chuck Swindoll

Today, the very idea of such a procedure would horrify many disciples, yet some wisely follow just such a practice. Chuck Swindoll for example, has seven questions that he and a group of fellow pastors challenge each other with periodically:

1. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising? 
2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity? 
3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material? 
4. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer? 
5. Have you given priority time to your family? 
6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling? 
7. Have you just lied to me?

Genuine accountability is transformative. Moses followed Jethro’s advice, and his life and the lives of his nation were transformed.

Everything rises or falls on leadership. If we choose leaders who demonstrate humility and capability, granting them responsibility and expecting accountability, then we’ll have leaders that will serve the greater good and perhaps, even grow the Kingdom of God.

I am thoroughly convinced that neither of the candidates running for President of the United States measure up to these characteristics. We Christians have a lot of praying to do over the next seventy-eight days. May God grant us the grace to do the best we can with the choices before us.

Prayer. Hmmmm? Now there’s an idea. Perhaps I’ll blog about that next week.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Random Ramblings and Rants…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

So, this has been a week where I’ve been challenged by so many thoughts in my mind that I think I need this venue to try to gain some clarity from them. Processing all these thought via this means may bring me some clarity, but it also might serve to confuse you in the process, so…be prepared!

Ramblings

First, I’ve been challenged by Eugene Peterson this week. Last week, I went to the bookstore (I haven’t been in ages!) and in my browsing I came across a recently released compilation of Peterson’s sermons entitled “Lights a Lovely Mile.” I incorporate reading other peoples sermons into my devotional routine on occasion, and having a fondness for Peterson, I thought the book would be good to further that endeavor.

I have been challenged by two particular thoughts this week. The first is this:

“Jesus became an event. He was a stopping place for sacred history. The birth of Jesus was like arriving at the top of a mountain peak after a long, difficult climb: You can look back and see the whole trip in perspective, see everything in true relationship. And you don’t have to climb anymore.”

Lights a Lovely Mile, Eugene Peterson

I have read that paragraph over and over this week. Peterson’s capacity to use the English language to craft a beautiful thought is unrivaled, but honestly, as I’ve read and re-read the passage this week, I’m still trying to grasp the essence of what Peterson is communicating.

Yes, Jesus is a stopping place for sacred history and the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Only from the perspective of Jesus can one truly understand the Old Testament. But, that last phrase, “And you don’t have to climb anymore” confuses me. Why do I feel like I’m still climbing?

Perhaps I’m not climbing, but rather I’m running. I’m reminded of Paul’s counsel to the Corinthian church:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)

Whether I’m climbing or running, I feel like there is so much further I have to go on the journey to be like Jesus, so I haven’t squared that circle with Peterson’s thought just yet. But, I’m working on it.

The second of Peterson’s thoughts I’ve pondered endlessly this week is this:

“The bottom step in a staircase is neither better or worse than the top step: It is good in its own right and a way of getting upstairs.”

Lights a Lovely Mile, Eugene Peterson

I like this imagery by Peterson. Most days I feel like I’m still closer to the bottom step than the top, but at least I’m on the staircase, and I’m still climbing. There are days I don’t feel like I’ve made any progress. I look back and the bottom seems so close. I look up and the top looks so far away. It’s good to be reminded that the bottom step is no better or worse than the top. It’s just a step. The question I’ve wrestled with all week is: Am I still on the staircase?

At least Peterson has me thinking…

Advent Rambling

The dawn of another Advent season has me thinking, as well. I suppose Peterson’s analogy of the staircase is appropriate for me this Advent season. Advent is a time to look back to the coming of Christ, but also to look forward to His coming again. It is a season of anticipation and preparation. An event over the past week has caused me to contemplate an integral part of preparing for Advent.

There is on my 40 mile route to work a place where the local constabulary likes to hang out to monitor traffic. Many times on my way to or from work, I’ll see an officer parked at this same location. I know he/she is likely to be there, and as I approach this location I always glance down to insure that my foot hasn’t gotten heavy on the accelerator of my truck. I think that’s called accountability.

So, last week I’m driving along and I pass this location, and sure enough, there sits the police officer. I glance down and yup, I’m only going 74 miles per hour. Should be fine, right? That’s what I thought until after I passed the officer. After my passing, the officer pulls out onto the interstate. So, I slow down to 70. Who wants to see blue lights in their rearview? Not me!

So, why not think of Advent like that police car? When there is the possibility of blue lights in the rearview, the speed you drive suddenly takes on a new importance. That blinker that you frequently fail to use when making a lane change or a turn suddenly matters. Oh yeah! That yellow light on the traffic signal no longer means “Hurry up and get through the light.” It now means, “Slow down, fool, there’s a police officer behind you!” What a difference blue lights in the rearview make.

Advent can serve as a reminder of the fact that just as accountability is a part of being a licensed driver, so too, it is a part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. What we do with our lives does matter. How we think, act, speak, these are a part of the fabric of our response to God’s grace, and we will someday face an accounting of our living.

Perhaps that’s why Jesus told his disciples to “Be ready!”

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Matthew 24: 42-44 (NIV)

A Couple of Rants

I’ve rambled, so now let me rant. My first rant has to do with the way we Christians treat one another. This article explains it better than I can, but suffice it to say when I read how the Louisiana Annual Conference and its leadership threatened its retired clergy with retributive action should they preach or worship in any congregation that had disaffiliated from the UMC, I was livid. How dare they! Is it even legal? So much for having an “amicable” separation.

I was livid, for sure, but it wasn’t long until the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that I didn’t have a dog in that hunt anymore. I wasn’t “retired.” I left! Still, I have many friends and former colleagues who were now faced with a decision that was imposed upon them in a totally unjust manner. I could have stayed and fought the fight with them. Would have probably been the appropriate thing to do.

Honestly, I just sensed (from one who had been on the “inside”) how ugly it was going to get, and selfishly, just didn’t want to subject myself to the treatment some of my former colleagues have since experienced. I should probably repent for leaving, but I still believe it was the right decision.

One final rant–and, it’s about politics. Did you see the big debate on Thursday? You know? The one between Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California. I’m not going to critique the debate, but I am going to rant about the debate on abortion. Actually, I’m going to say they were debating the entirely wrong point–at least from a Christian perspective. The debate was over when an abortion should be allowed–six weeks or fifteen weeks (or as some Democrats suggest, up until the moment of birth).

The question is not when should it be allowed. The debate should begin with this question: What is in the womb?

My answer? A person. At the moment of conception or the moment of birth what is in the womb is a person. How do we treat a person in our culture? We do not kill them. Period. Either at the beginning of life, at the end of life, or at any point in between. Any debate on the issue of abortion must begin with the answer to the question “What is in the womb?” Without agreement on the answer to that foundational question, no answer will be sufficient.

I’m ranting because both the Democrats and the Republicans have the answer wrong. Six weeks, fifteen weeks or 39 weeks, there is a life in the womb, and the only Pro-Life answer is to not support abortion under any circumstance. Yes, it’s an extreme position, but I hold it, and it’s out there now, so do with it what you will. Perhaps that’s another reason I’m no longer a Democrat or Republican.

We can talk about alternatives to abortion another time. That’s enough rambling and ranting for one day. Besides, I have to preach today. I have a lot of praying to do between now and 10:30 a.m., to get my heart and my mind right after the week I’ve had. All this rambling and ranting has distracted me.

Until next time, keep looking up…

It’s Time for a Change…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

This blog post will be a bit different. I’m jumping into the political realm again for some reason, and we know that’s probably something pastors shouldn’t do. Maybe it will be okay. Maybe it won’t. Here goes anyway.

I have always been interested in politics. I registered to vote on the day after my 18th birthday. I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to vote. I once thought I might have a future in politics. I ran for and was elected to my local school board and served until the Lord decided I needed to go to seminary. I resigned my position and that ended whatever political career I thought I might have. Moving from community to community as a Methodist preacher doesn’t lend itself well to political aspirations in most cases.

I never stopped following politics, though. I was always aware of the candidates, even for little-known offices like Justice of the Peace and Constable (Do you know who your constable is?). It might be because my step-father was the local constable when I was growing up, but I always knew who the local officials were and who was or might run against them. I guess you could say following politics was somewhat of a hobby. Some people hunted and fished. Others played golf. I followed politics.

On the day after my 18th birthday, I went to the Registrar of Voters office and registered as a Republican. It was 1981 and Ronald Reagan was riding high as President of the United States. I loved Ronald Reagan and I wanted to be a Republican. I’ve been a registered Republican ever since. That’s forty-two years, but who’s counting.

I’ve never voted for a Democrat for a national office. Not in 42 years. Actually, I’ve voted for very few Democrats for any office. I did vote for Edwin Edwards for governor of Louisiana once, but that’s because the best candidate Republicans could come up with was David Duke. If you know anything about Edwin Edwards, you know what a sacrifice it was for a died-in-the-wool Republican to vote for him. I have also voted on the local level for Democrats whom I knew personally and knew their values. Ironically, some of those who were Democrats when I voted for them switched to become Republicans later. Go figure!

It’s not like I was raised to be a Republican. My grandparents were Democrats. Even had a grandfather who was elected to the local school board as a Democrat (it was the same seat to which I was elected years later). My step-father was a Democrat and was elected as the local constable as a Democrat. No problem. As a matter of fact, in 1981 when I registered as a Republican, it wasn’t the fashionable thing to do. There were far more Democrats in Louisiana at the time.

I registered as a Republican in 1981 because of Ronald Reagan, and because as I surveyed the party platforms of both the Republican and Democrat parties (yes, I did that as an 18 year-old–I told you politics was a hobby), the Republican Party platform more aligned with what I believed and with my core values of what a government should look like. And for 42 years, that has pretty much been the case.

I’ve probably divulged more than I should have, and probably more than you ever wanted to know (not that you even care), but I’ve offered this more as confession than anything else, and perhaps this blog is a means of repentance, too, because after 42 years I’ve decided that I am no longer a Republican. Oh, don’t worry! I’m not a Democrat either. After 42 years as a Republican, I will henceforth and forever be an Independent.

Why? Two reasons. One, Donald Trump, and two, the recent chaos in the leadership of the Republican Party.

Honestly, I didn’t like Donald Trump is 2016 and I didn’t like him in 2020. I still don’t like him today. In each of those elections, I held my nose and voted for him, much like I did for Edwin Edwards for governor many years ago. Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden were not legitimate alternatives for me. As much as I dislike Donald Trump, there was no way I could support the Democratic candidates because many of the policies and positions they held/hold were counter to my core values as one who seeks to follow Jesus Christ. Don’t take that last statement as a condemnation of any “Christian” who voted for Clinton or Biden. It’s not intended to be such. It’s a simple statement that as I seek to follow Jesus, I could not reconcile my values with their positions. If you can, more power to you.

I’m also not certain that the Trump phenomenon is not the reason there has been such chaos in the Republican Party. I certainly believe it is a major part of the reason for the chaos, but I also believe there has been a lot of egotism and narcissism involved as well. I’ve watched with interest over the last month as Republicans in Congress struggled to identify and elect a Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The Republicans have been in chaotic disarray until this week when they were able to elect Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) to the speakership. Oh, I’m elated that Congressman Johnson was elected. I believe that his values and mine are not that far apart. He’s my Congressman! He’s the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States! He’s the third in line to the Presidency of the United States. This is a really big deal–for him and his family, for the State of Louisiana and for our District. I pray for his leadership. I prayed for his election to the position. I pray he represents Louisiana and our nation well.

The process of his election, though, exemplifies the broken nature of the Republican Party. At my age, I’m just tired of the politics that played out over the past month. Some wise sage once said (I don’t remember who and Google was no help) that the only difference between the Republican Party and the Democrat Party is the speed at which they want things to change. The “establishment” of the Republican Party and the “establishment” of the Democrat Party want the same things, they just want to get there at a different rate of speed. After watching the Republicans over the past month, I’m not so sure that isn’t true. My prayer is that Speaker Johnson’s leadership will prove me wrong.

Speaker Johnson’s election notwithstanding, it’s time for me to take a step back from party affiliation. Jesus is neither a Republican nor a Democrat. I just want to be more like Jesus. I suspect Jesus would have plenty to say to both Democrats and Republicans were He present today. Oh, wait! He is! He is present in His body, the Church. The Church should be holding both Democrats and Republicans to account. The Church should be speaking the prophetic Word on His behalf, but that’s kinda’ hard to do if it is too closely aligned to a political party, either on the right or the left.

My loyalty is to Jesus, not to a political party. It’s time for me to be free to speak prophetically whenever the Spirit stirs. I’m just sad it took me 42 years to come to that conclusion. For that, I repent!

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…

The Cost of Crisis…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 1 Comment

Working from home (mostly) has given me much too much time to think, and I’ve been thinking about the depth of what’s been called the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a public health crisis, yes, but it has the potential of becoming so much more. Here are just a few of my thoughts:

Financial

It has the potential of becoming a financial crisis. We’re obviously in a financial slowdown as a result of COVID-19, but should the “stay-at-home” orders last much longer, we run the risk of creating a full-blown financial meltdown of the US and subsequently the world economy. Entire industries will be gone, and the recovery may last as long (if not longer) as the Great Depression. What’s more, the financial crisis will lead to more health issues, thus exacerbating the public health crisis. This is preventable!

Mental Health

It has the potential of becoming a mental health crisis. Fear has driven much of the panic surrounding COVID-19. Fear of death, first of all. We Christians, of all people, should have a better theology of death because many Christians have led the fear parade. Way back on March 23rd, R. R. Reno of First Things wrote a piece reminding us that we are not to fear death (we don’t desire to hasten it, but neither should we fear it). Never in my life have I seen so many followers of Christ shouting down other followers of Christ in such a public way–rooted (I believe) in two things–fear and self-righteousness. We are not being very good examples of Christ to a world that is hurting and searching for answers to tough questions. This, too is preventable!

The longer people are quarantined the more susceptible we become to loneliness and depression. As Genesis teaches, it is not good for people to be alone. We are created for community. For a society that was already struggling with depression, we don’t need any help to make it worse. Not to mention, and this is only somewhat related to mental health issues, but there is the increase in substance abuse and domestic violence.

I have a deep concern (and I pray daily) for those who struggle with substance abuse. The necessity of working a 12-Step program, of attending meetings and staying connected to accountability measures, is taken away in this time. Virtual meetings are no substitute to physically going to a meeting and encountering others on the journey face-to-face. I wonder if anyone has “modeled” the financial cost to our health care system (not to mention families) when many addicts relapse because they were forced into isolation? 

Culture

This shut-down has the potential to become a cultural crisis. This may, in fact, be the final nail in the Judeo-Christian western cultural coffin. There will be many who will not be bothered by that, but I am not one of them. The very foundation of the American experiment lies in the Judeo-Christian worldview. This pandemic forces us to the precipice of rejecting the very values that underlie our nation. We are, in the name of sacrifice, rejecting the true nature of sacrifice. Don’t tell the countless millions who have sacrificed their very lives that self-preservation is the essence of our existence.

Part of the cultural crisis is that faced by churches and houses of worship during this pandemic. They will never be the same, and the influence they once enjoyed in the culture will continue to diminish. There is some good that can come out of that. First, the church has been forced to re-tool. Second, the church has been forced to reassess its understanding of discipleship and evangelism. Third, the church has been forced to reflect upon its history and ask itself the question: “Is what we are what we were meant to be?” Already, some positive signs are emerging (which is hopeful), but I suspect that the landscape, both urban, suburban and rural will be dotted with empty, deteriorating buildings left by congregations unable to survive the financial impact of COVID-19. It doesn’t have to be so.

Constitutional

There is the potential that this becomes a constitutional crisis. This potential goes hand-in-hand with the cultural crisis mentioned above. I am still amazed by how quickly we, the people, surrendered our freedom to an over-reaching government.

The very fabric of our nation changed in the blink of an eye. The constitutional protections we have long enjoyed, which have been eroding for several generations, were, in one fell swoop, washed away, and I fear (there’s that word) we will never be able to reclaim them. Our freedom of assembly? Gone. The government said we shouldn’t gather in groups of 100 or more, then it was 50 or more, then it was 10 or more…then, it was stay at home. Yes, it was for a very noble cause–the health of “others.” Don’t do it for yourself. Do it for others. Noble, indeed.

There’s a fork in the road ahead when we will have to ask what’s more important, the survival of the other, or the survival of the whole? Stanford University School of Medicine professor John Ioannidis offers an interesting perspective on the subject that bears hearing. Which will we choose? Fear should not compel us to choose wrongly, but we’ll be aided by those who deeply desire to change the heart of who we are as Americans.

Political

All these measures were done without the U. S. Congress’ approval. Entire states and local communities were shuttered without a single legislative vote of any legislature or city council. Not one duly elected representative body gave assent to these measures. Actually, the legislators all went home, thus abandoning their responsibility to represent “We the people.” We, the people, are left to be led by executive mandate, whether federal, state or local. I’m sorry, but that sounds a lot like dictatorship or monarchy. If we’re not careful, and if those legislators who are the elected representatives of the people do not step up and begin to question what is happening, then this public health crisis will become a political crisis. No, what it may become is a revolutionary moment. 

Some may call me an alarmist (and I may be), but when I sit around too much, these are the things I think about. I suppose I should quit sitting around so much! I think I’ll go check my tomatoes in the garden (it’s a good thing I don’t live in Michigan!). That should take my mind off of the cost this crisis will ultimately have on all of us.

Even so,

Until next time, keep looking up…