A Welcomed Break

Anyone reading the Scripture from Genesis to Revelation will find a welcome change when they turn the last page of the book of Judges.  The next book to be read is a story full of the human drama.  There is loss and grief, there is loyalty that goes beyond boundaries normally imposed upon people, there is the drama of a journey, and there is a love story that become a part of God's unfolding plan of redemption through Jesus of Nazareth.  

Ruth, a woman of Moab married a Jewish man who had journeyed from Israel with his mother to her homeland due to a famine in Israel.  When he died, Ruth chose to leave her homeland and return to Naomi's home in Bethlehem.  It makes for an interesting story for a number of reasons.  One, of course, is that Boaz, the Hebrew, marries Ruth and they have a child named Obed who is the grandfather of King David. The gospel of Matthew traces the genealogy of Joseph, the wife of Mary, the mother of Jesus with the words, "Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David." (Matthew 1:5-6).  As the book of Ruth closes, we are catching a glimpse of the unfolding, but not yet, revealed plan of God for the salvation of the world.  

Another thing which makes the story of Ruth so compelling and relevant is the way it illustrates how different  people can live together peacefully, with respect for one another, and even with love for one another.  It is the story of broken barriers. What a change this is from the book of Judges where differences are resolved through bloodshed and power.  In this world of ours so filled with division, here is a reminder that differences need not engender hatred, prejudice, and violence.  People can live together in peace.  It is possible.  It is even possible in the divided communities in which we live.

Afternoon Wanderings

Honestly, I am not sure how I got there.  Or, why.  Nonetheless, I have been wandering around the last few days in the Old Testament book known as Judges.  The historical setting is after Joshua's death.  The people of Israel are entrenched in the Promised Land, but they are surrounded by tribes of people ruled by minor kings who have no desire to share the land with them.  In the centuries after the strong leadership of Joshua, the Hebrew people survive more like a loosely knit society without any centralized leadership.  In this political vacuum, the twelve judges appear one after the other.  

They are not judges as we use the term today; instead, they were military or tribal leaders upon whom the Spirit of the Lord more or less rested.  They were at best a strange lot.  The first one, Othniel, was one whom the "spirit of the Lord came upon" (Judges 3:10) and his leadership gave the land 40 years of peace.  The next one, Ehud, (Judges 3:15) was known as a left handed man who stuck a short sword in the belly of a fat king.  Another is remembered as one who killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.  The only female judge was Deborah.  Other than Samson, Gideon is likely the most well known.  All the rest are there on the pages of Judges, as Oliver Cromwell, said, "warts and all."   

To wander in the chapters of Judges is to wonder what God was thinking about if these flawed people were His choices for the leadership of His people. Some of them did terrible things.  I wondered about this until I ran into myself in the mirror.  Who among us can understand the mind of God?  Who among us can figure out why God uses such obviously flawed people to lead people toward His purposes?  Not I.  I do not understand.  Pausing there before the mirror only makes me wonder even more!

Straining Forward

The Scripture has words within it that speak directly to the heart.  There are words that are clear and impossible to misunderstand.  Their meaning is clear.  The Scripture is also a book filled with images which speak surely if not directly.  The images are bearers of truth which require not just a reading, but some pondering.  While some of the words blow us over, the images of the Scripture are more likely to wash over us with a soft and gentle stirring of the heart.  

They come to us in a way that invites us to sit with them and become a part of them.  The images left for us in the Word by the Spirit invite us to be soaked more than shaken.  They invite us to walk slowly into truths not yet seen.  I was reminded of this as one of the images of the Apostle Paul came to mind this evening.  In Philippians 3:13, he wrote about "...straining forward to what lies ahead."  Is this not a word which speaks of Abraham as he left the land he knew as home?  Is it not a word which fits Moses as he led the Hebrews out of Pharaoh's grasp? Is it not a word which describes Peter, James, and John as they moved from being fishermen, to disciples, to Apostles, to missionaries?  

Is not this "straining forward to what lies ahead" what we are all about as followers of Jesus?  We know not what is ahead.  We only know Who is ahead.  As one set on going after Jesus, we are constantly looking in the way He is going for it is the way He is leading us.  Long ago many of us heard and sang that gospel song which said, "Where He leads me I will follow..."  Like Abraham and all the others who came after him, we knew not where His leading was going to take us, but we were bent on following and getting there.  And so, we strain forward to whatever lies ahead.

The Embrace of the Savior

It surely must seem to some that I am just an old preacher who longs for days which exist only in my memory.  Perhaps, I come across as one who is too judgmental about the church as it moves into an era of ministry which is so different than the one I knew.  I have no argument with anyone who reaches such conclusions.  The younger version of myself was not always open and receptive to the words of those pastors and preachers upon whose shoulders I stood every time I stood in the pulpit.  The truth is I do not hope and pray for the past to be re-invented, but that the church would once again become intentional about inviting people to experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  

A preacher whose sermons I hear often keeps talking about the need to connect head and heart.  Of course, he is right, but it is also true that the church of our day is too much about the head and not enough about the heart.  Knowing the right thing to do is not the same as being the person who does the right thing because of a heart changed by a relationship with Jesus.  The church puts the cart before the horse when it calls people to serve Christ in the world before connecting them to the Christ in such a way that His living presence is known in their heart.  We call people to go to the ends of the earth without the fuel to get there and without the spiritual life which will enable them to stay once they go.  

My conviction is that our problems are not political or psychological, but spiritual.  So many are wandering without a destination and without an awareness of home.  More and more I am convinced that there is more spiritual hunger out there in the world as well as in the church than most of us think could be possible.  I long for the church I remember to become the church that not only provides a safe place, but one that also invites people to know that home is within the loving embrace of the Savior.   

A Fear of the Church

There are no doubt some churches where emotionalism runs rampant.  There are communities where the measure of a worship gathering is the emotional response.  The stronger the expressions of emotions, the more the Spirit is at work is something which might be said.  However, in so many of our mainline churches of the day, an emotional response on the part of someone is a fearful thing.  In the years of being out of the pulpit I have heard powerful testimonies which ended with a "thank you very much, now let's get back to the order of worship" kind of response.  I have also heard sermons in which the Holy Spirit was so present that people were on the edge of their seats eager to respond only to have the benediction pronounced.   

Being one who has led worship services for over forty years, I appreciate the need for worship that is intentional and orderly. The problem is that sometimes we are so married to the order of worship that the Holy Spirit has no room to slip into the room with a new plan.  At all costs the mainline church wants to avoid any appearance of being charismatic, or even evangelistic.  Of all my laments for our contemporary church, the loss of invitational sermons and an atmosphere that encourages people to make a personal response for Jesus is the greatest. The assumption seems to be that everyone who is in the church on Sunday morning is already locked in to being a disciple of Jesus.  I have always maintained there are too many who are Christians by assumption rather than decision.  

While there is nothing wrong with baptisms of infants and members of the annual Confirmation group, I long for the day when the baptismal waters are constantly being stirred because people are being touched to the core by the power of the Holy Spirit, the grace of God, and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.  A church that is not baptizing new believers needs to be asking "Why not?"  A church that is not encouraging people to experience something more in their spiritual journey is missing the mark.  A church afraid of people shedding tears of repentance has lost its way. 

The Prayer Box

Along the highway out in the country not too far from the farm is something on the side of the road which is as striking as the roof tops on barns which shouted out, "See Rock City.'"   It may not command to be seen, but it is planted above the mailbox on the edge of the road as it waits for daily mail.  It is actually a half size replica of the mail box and has written on it in red letters, "Prayer Box."  Every time I pass that way and I have often in recent years, I think I should stop and meet its owner.  

It also sets me to wondering.  It is obviously there for people to leave prayer request.  Is it part of a church's prayer ministry, or is it some individual's response to God?  Could it be some house bound person's way of praying for the community and the world?  The tire tracks in front of it tell the tale of people stopping and putting something in the box. It is not just an ornamental statement of faith, but something useful for the Kingdom of God.  I wonder how many prayer requests are put in the "Prayer Box" each week and if there is any communication between the person praying and the person in need of prayer?  For those of us who might be tempted to say that due to our circumstances there is nothing we can do for God, this pint size prayer box speaks volumes.  

I remember a worn out saint at the end of her days who had pictures of the church staff stuck to a mirror over a dresser so she would be reminded to pray for us each day.  I shall never forget a widow of limited financial means who canceled a magazine subscription so she could give to the church's mission project.  What we do for God may sometimes seem to be small and insignificant, but in the Kingdom all the mustard seeds that are planted bear fruit a hundred fold. 

Come, Mortal.

"Mortal, I have come, it is time."

"Time for what?" I quickly said.

"Time for you to come and leave

what is behind for what is ahead."

"I cannot.  Go away.  Leave me be

for I have things to do, places to go, 

a life full of stuff not yet done."

 

"Go!  Go now, and quickly!" I said, 

I have no time for You in this day."

"Ah, but do you not yet know

that time is not what you have?

The times that comes and goes

is now no more and all that is left

is the time set aside for leaving."

 

"Call me not, Mortal, for I am more.

See these words that are on my walls,

I have a name, I have titles and awards.

I am honored by others, respected, too.

When I speak, others know to listen.

Call me not, Mortal, for as you see,

I am not just anyone, but someone."

 

"Mortal, all you say matters not, 

it is time. Not for anyone or someone,

but for you it is the appointed time."

"Please, wait a day," I cried aloud,

"I have things to do for those I love.

Important words I have not yet said."

"Mortal, come now." And so I went.