Hallelujah, How The Angels Sang?

The book of Acts tells about Aquila and Priscilla who were helpers in the early church. They had the gift of exhortation, or encouragement, and demonstrated this by serving the apostle Paul, and the teacher Apollos. Apollos is virtually unknown except as an itinerant teacher who spent time in Corinth and, some propose, wrote the book of Hebrews. In his early days he had godly zeal but wasn’t schooled in the fundamentals as he should be. Thus, Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and “taught him the word of the Lord more closely” (Acts 18:26).

I’ve had a few descendants of this couple over the years who tried to school me, too. Sometimes they were correct, but sometimes they seemed argumentative.

One of the latter type stopped me after a Christmas sermon and insisted I’d been in error when I talked about the angels singing at Jesus’ birth.

“It says ‘said,’ it doesn’t say ‘sang,’” he declared.

I looked at Luke 2:14 and discovered he was exactly right. I consulted the Greek lexicon and found “lego” is the verb for “speak,” and the one used in this passage, but “humneo” is the word for “sing.” This second Greek verb is the root of our word “hymn.”

I discovered that nowhere does the Bible specifically say the angels sang. It might be inferred they sang as they praised the Lord, but we can’t be dogmatic about this. We do know their major function was serving as messengers for the Lord; a “Western Union” kind of calling.

So, angels may not sing. And to further compound our traditional understanding we find that angels are always described as males. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, had “the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15). So much for “she sang like an angel.” In fact, any woman claiming to be an angel could be the devil in disguise, as Elvis warned us years ago!

Upon further reflection it occurred to me that human beings are commanded to do something angels may not do; namely, we’re commanded to sing praise to the Lord. One website suggests there are 64 verses in scripture exhorting us to sing praise to the Lord.

I’ve known numbers of people over the years who’ve refused to sing. “I can’t sing,” they say, or, “I can only make a joyful noise and won’t try,” they say. Sometimes I’ll sweetly remind them that we all sing “Happy Birthday” to children and grandchildren and proudly stand at the stadium to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Why would we not want to lift our voices in song and praise God as he commands? As Luther said, “In singing we all become preachers, telling out the good news.”

Voices In My Head

It was agonizing to purchase a new car lately. I shopped for 10 months and finally made a deal a few weeks ago. My old car was faithful for nine years, but now it’s gone and belongs to another. I purchased a vehicle that we used to call “foreign.” That’s when I heard my dad’s voice from heaven in my head.

Dad moved to Birmingham to work and raise a family before he and mom retired and moved back to north Alabama. He was a steelworker all those working years, and American steelworkers told us all to buy American. “Foreign” cars were a no-no. So whereas I heard my dad’s voice after all these years, I also had a comeback: “Dad, this car was built in Kentucky.”

I also have a phrase in my head one of our pastors used a lot when I was a boy. He said, “Israel is God’s chosen people, but we Americans are God’s favorite people!” Of course Romans 10 declares God has no favorites, but our pastor never seemed to notice.

A pastor friend and I conversed lately and agreed we’re thankful our sermons weren’t recorded in those early years because of the foolish things we said (and probably continue to say).

We come from the Baptist tradition in which a young man declares God’s call to preach, and the church says, “Fine. Preach for us next Sunday.” Being 16 or 17 we didn’t know much, so this was always a challenge. I’m grateful for the wonderful people who listened patiently and encouraged me to study and grow.

A lady told me something interesting several years ago. She’d heard a lot of sermons in the years I was in her church, and she remarked that I often talked about the lordship of Christ. She insisted it was a theme I referred to frequently and how it remained in her memory. I’m grateful she told me this, and happy this voice in her head was good and positive.

President Trump pardoned Lt. Clint Lorance on Nov. 15. Lorance had been court-martialed and was serving the sixth year of his 19-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth Military Prison. Evidence at his trial was contradictory, but the military court convicted him of war crimes in Afghanistan. After his release, Lorance appeared on a cable broadcast and was asked what he wanted to say to the president. “I love you, sir—you’re awesome,” he said. “I’d march to the gates of hell for you.”

Whatever the merits of this case, I think Lorance gave a response worthy to be kept in the head and heart of every Christian when we think of our indebtedness to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Winning And Losing

It’s been said that football is a religion in Alabama. Sadly, this is often the case.

A pastor I know always gave an exhortation on the Sunday before Alabama’s Iron Bowl game. He told the congregation half of them would be disappointed the next weekend, but they needed to remember it was just a game--it’s supposed to be fun--and they must respect the other side. I was so impressed by this, though I graduated from one of those schools, that I’ve spoken this exhortation most years myself. I’ve seen too many people who enjoy rubbing salt into the wounds of those disappointed over a game.

And since my son played every sport imaginable in high school, I always try to remember that members of the other team are valuable as the children of other parents. Our son wasn’t always on the winning side, but we tried to teach him to be gracious no matter the outcome.

Athletics makes us think about winning and losing.

How often do we see a player having a good game, scoring a touchdown or hitting one out of the park and then thanking God for this victory? Whereas we’re to honor God in all things, does this mean that the losing team experiences God’s disfavor? Is God always on the side of winners? Doesn’t he have compassion for everyone whether we win or lose?

The late New York Yankee, Yogi Berra, coached third base one day when he saw a player kneel before entering the batter’s box, and another player make the sign of the cross on the field.

“Hey, why don’t you guys leave God alone and let him watch the game?” he shouted.

Berra’s word was a bit over-the-top, but maybe there’s a grain of wisdom therein.

President Trump famously said his administration would win so much we’d get tired of winning. But no one wins all the time. I’m convinced we need a theology of losing, for sometimes everyone will lose. People of faith don’t always win, and people of character don’t always excel. And sometimes we learn valuable lessons by losing.

We should respect all who subject themselves to the rigors of competition.

President Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is better to try great things, even at the risk of failure, then to know neither victory nor defeat.” TR knew defeat when his party denied him a second nomination and his independent party lost, but he’s remembered as a great American. Athletics, and life, should teach us how to reach beyond our limits, how to work as a team and how to contribute to a greater society.

God, the master teacher, has lessons for us in winning and losing.

Empty Chairs At The Table

Thanksgiving is, indeed, a wonderful time for families and friends to get together and enjoy themselves around a table of good food.

I’ve been thinking lately about other memories from the holidays. I remember my boyhood pastor saying once that Christmas always had a tinge of sadness since it was the time his father died. Little did I realize for Donna and me the same kind of memories would materialize.

It was Thanksgiving, 1992, and we sat at the table with my in-laws in Birmingham. My father-in-law, Robert Bell, always a good-humored man, joked that afternoon about his getting older. He’d been forgetting things and laughed that a few days before he’d missed his cup while trying to pour coffee. A few weeks later the medical tests came back and revealed a brain tumor. He died that summer. 

The next Thanksgiving, my mother talked about her medical ailments. She’d not felt well for some time. Still not feeling well at Christmas, she had to go lie down in the middle of our dinner. Family members insisted on taking her to the emergency room. The doctor found a spot in her lungs, and suggested she go to a hospital as soon as possible. The good doctors at St. Vincent’s in Birmingham found the cancer that started in her right kidney had moved to other parts of her body. She died in only seven weeks.

The older I get the more convinced I am that what my boyhood pastor said is often true. Part of the mix could be that Thanksgiving and Christmas are more easily-remembered benchmarks for family losses. I’m not sure. But I do know that for many of us there are feelings of sadness and loss tucked away in the pleasantries of the holiday season.

But, maybe these aren’t entirely unpleasant memories. Despite their premature deaths, in our estimation, my family can look back with gratitude to the years we had with our parents. Mr. Bell was the gentlest and most generous man I’ve ever known. He worked hard for what he had, but was always willing to give of himself to help others. And what can I say about my mother other than she was a sweet and loving woman who was always my advocate, no matter what. The older I get the more I see her as a role model for what a mother ought to be.

Many of us think about those who won’t be with us on Thanksgiving. But we’re grateful that God loaned us some special people and enriched our lives through them. As Paul wrote to his Philippian friends, “I thank God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3).

Note: This column was first used in 2014.

Thank God It's Friday? Not So Much

I found a volume in a used book story a few years back on the life and death of President William McKinley. It was interesting to learn more about our 25th president. McKinley has the infamy of being our third assassinated president. The writer noted "a singular coincidence" that all presidential assassinations had been on Friday: Lincoln - Friday, April 14, 1865; Garfield - Friday, July 2, 1881 and McKinley - Friday, Sept. 6, 1901.

It struck me that 60 years after this book was written we had a fourth presidential assassination on Friday, Nov. 22, 1963.

I'm not sure what to make of this strange coincidence, but I often think of the Kennedy assassination when the Nov. 22 anniversary comes around.

My generation remembers being in grade school that fateful Friday when hearing the news. We also remember the somber weekend following and the funeral on Monday. And we feel inexplicably drawn in pilgrimage to Dealey Plaza in Dallas and the Kennedy gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery, just like Richard Dreyfus was drawn to the alien landing strip in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

I visited Dealey Plaza several years ago while studying for a few days at the Baptist seminary in nearby Ft. Worth. It was surreal to see first-hand those sites so emblazoned on my mind--the sixth-floor window, the triple overpass and the grassy knoll.

Americans are grateful that our government is one of law and the transfer of power normally takes place peacefully. We're not a country of mob rule as we see in other parts of the world with the loss of lives and property when people protest. Our citizens are generally respectful of government, as we're exhorted to be in Romans 13, and we live as responsible people.

But we also lament the fact that angry people have freedom to effect violence. Our democracy isn't a police state and we normally travel about and do as we wish. Accordingly citizens can abuse privilege, make some regrettable choices and do some terrible things from time-to-time, as we see in much too many episodes of gun violence.

Somehow we try to find equilibrium between responsibility and freedom.

Currently our nation is fractured between red and blue, the MAGAs and the Resistance. We have to find a way to go forward. Our county has too many overpowering needs that we can’t ignore due to partisanship.

Going forward won't be easy, but we have no better option.

As President Reagan noted in his first inaugural address, ". . . we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us. And, after all, why shouldn't we believe that? We are Americans."

Something Old, Something New

“Something old, something blue, something borrowed and something new” is an old rhyme repeated at weddings. I’ve known many brides through the years who’ve been creative in order to include these items in their bridal attire.

I suppose “something new” is the theme song of our age.

Those of us who have lived a few years now remember how things used to be, along with the exhilaration of new experiences.

My generation remembers the “party line” and the tolls for long distance calls. At one time telephone companies offered free long distance after 9 p.m., and I remember friends calling at that magic hour. As a boy in mission groups I wrote letters to missionaries around the world and think about the thrill of getting a letter in return with an exotic stamp on the envelope. I also remember the first time I communicated with a gentlemen in India by Internet. I hit “send” and the message traveled through cyberspace immediately. I told about this in a college class once and the students weren’t impressed! But one day they’ll share “change” stories of their own.

When Paul went to Greece in obedience to his Macedonian vision, he traveled to the intellectual capital of the world: Athens. Luke records an interesting commentary: “For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing” (Acts 17:21).

Research says we have a lot of Athenians in America today who constantly search for the newest things in worship. People frequently flock to new churches in new places where the people do new things. Spiritual tradition is sometimes thought to be unwanted and out of date.

Of course most churches, even if they consider themselves traditional, now find themselves doing some new things. I spend time with PowerPoint these days, as well as Bible commentaries, when I search for images to enforce the sermon. I’m grateful for this modern tool, all the while thinking about some places I’ve preached in over the years that were so far out in the woods we were happy to have electricity!

New things are beneficial if they help us communicate, which is the main idea.

But something old shouldn’t be jettisoned just because it’s old. Old doesn’t automatically mean “bad.” Old things can be “tried and true” if they honor the Lord and present the message of the gospel. Old churches have a track record of integrity and visible results from what they’ve done over the years.

Old churches and young churches have the same message. The message is 2000 years old and it yet speaks of the power of God unto salvation.

Keep On Keeping On

Science debates the concept of perpetual motion; that is, once an object is set in motion, is it possible to continue motion forever? Whether this is physically possible is debatable, but that it should happen spiritually is non debatable. The inspired apostle Paul wrote, "Continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast" (Colossians 1:23).

What Paul meant is that if we stop moving forward in our Christian lives, we lose ground. Perseverance is the key to victorious living. Perseverance is much better than a good start and a bad ending.

Jesus taught about a sower whose seed fell in various locales. One group of seeds quickly germinated and sprang up, but withered in the sun. Another group likewise sprung up but had no rootage to sustain them. The point is obvious. A good start isn't enough! I've known some people who seemed to make a good start in their Christian commitment, but who weren't committed for the long term and withered.

Another analogy the scripture uses is infancy. New Christians are called babies, but mustn't remain babies. I don't think I've known anyone whose body remained infantile through adulthood, but I've known several cases in which cognitive skills remained infantile; thus grown men and women had the minds of little children. Both of these cases are tragic, and it's also tragic when believers fail to grow beyond spiritual infancy and remain spiritual infants.

Aesop made famous the story of the tortoise and the hare. What a foolish contest that was since the hare was much faster. But after a good start, the hare took a break. The tortoise made steady progress and won the race. As Aesop said, "Slow and steady wins the race."

We cannot afford to "take a break" from the path of Christian growth. When we stop we actually go backward.

And it's true that many people along the faith highway have taken the exit ramp.

Jeff Foxworthy makes us laugh with his redneck jokes. For example, "You know you're a redneck if your life has been changed by an episode of 'Walker Texas Ranger.'" He also gave us the redneck dictionary. One of his Southern verbs is "usedtuhcould," as in "Can you dance?" And the response is "I usedtuhcould!"

Their number is legion in Christendom--those who used to be committed to the faith. They used to attend Sunday School, or teach, or give or be a deacon or sing in the choir or have a joyful faith. But now all of this is past tense.

Going forward doesn't mean we don't mess up, for we all do. But it means we get up when we fall and press on to the glory of God.

Secular Vs. Sacred

I told Alexa to play “oldies” for me while doing some menial work last week, and soon she played a familiar song: “The House Of The Rising Sun.” This was never among my personal favorites, but it did bring back memories of a disruption at a Birmingham church because of it.

One Sunday morning the young music minister strummed his guitar to this melody while singing the lyrics to “Amazing Grace.” As I recall it fit pretty well. But he was accosted after the service by an angry church member. The man told him gospel should never be sung to the tune of a song about a New Orleans house of ill repute!

For many years it was alleged Martin Luther borrowed a German beer hall melody for “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” but it’s now believed Luther wrote the melody himself. But what if the reformer did borrow a beer hall song, or a young guitarist borrowed a popular song of his day to convey a spiritual message? Would this be so wrong?

I think the church has borrowed a lot of “secular” things and baptized them for God’s work.

Radio and television weren’t invented for the church, but there are many channels devoted to gospel broadcasting now. And Bible teaching podcasts are readily available. We were exhorted years ago that telephone book yellow pages was the best advertising for our churches, but who has a telephone book anymore? Now we’re told people visit our websites for service and ministry information.

And certainly we’ve relegated typewriters and spirit-master duplicators to the storage closet while we use the most modern computers and photocopiers for communication. Many church newsletters today aren’t printed but sent through cyber-space to be read on electronic devices.

At our church have a monthly printed newsletter, but we’ve discussed using text messaging in addition to our weekly e-newsletter we provide for members and guests. The younger generation is in a hurry, we’re told, and doesn’t have time to read e-mail!

Who knows what methodologies churches will use 10 or 20 years from now?

The late Oral Roberts was criticized when he moved his tent crusades to Sunday morning television and periodic weeknight “specials.” But he said, “I’ve never married a method. What works best is what I want to use.”

I showed a picture of  brothers “Larry, Darryl and Darryl” to a group of high school students lately and they had no clue who these characters from the old “Newhart” show were! I suppose a guitarist could use a tune from the 60s now as a vehicle for spiritual lyrics and only us seniors would know. But maybe we’d hear God’s truth in a fresh way.

Confession Is Good For The Soul

I thought it best to confess before some enterprising journalist dug it up and doomed any political nomination I might have in the future.

We’re studying the book of Acts in our church, and lately highlighted the seven servants chosen in chapter six. We Baptists traditionally espouse this to be the genesis of the deacon office, though the men aren’t called deacons in this context. Their task was to solve a disruptive issue in the fellowship and free the apostles to do their unique mission. Five of the seven aren’t mentioned again, but two have some notoriety. Steven became the first Christian to die for his faith, and the author points out several parallels to how Jesus died.

Philip is the other of the seven we hear from again. He found himself in Samaria in a revival campaign with scores coming to Christ. This is different since the early church had some difficulty coming to terms with God including the hated Samaritans in his church. But, inexplicably, God took Philip from the revival to the desert where one man was seeking God.

An Ethiopian nobleman was reading the scripture and found himself perplexed. Philip sat with him, explained the passage and baptized him into the church.

As we dealt with this story, I told our congregation about my acting debut. I attended a church-sponsored kindergarten and was chosen to play the part of the Ethiopian in a Parents Night. I remember one of the leaders scorching a piece of cork and coloring my face. Then another student, portraying Philip, baptized me. This was blackface before anyone talked about it much, though today this is seen as dishonorable. So I publicly confessed to our church and told everyone I disavowed this now. Of course, I was five years old at the time and simply did as I was told!

I suppose this is one of more innocent things I saw as a child. I remember other incidents more disturbing. I grew up in Birmingham during the lunch counter protests and the bombing at 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963. I also remember the “white” and “colored” signs at my dad’s union hall when I went with him as a boy to the steelworker meetings. My generation has witnessed a lot of healing in our society.

 Though I told the story of my kindergarten play with some levity, the story of Philip is a great story. The fact that God took him from a revival to the solitary desert to encourage one traveler means that God is concerned about every individual.

Numbers are important, but we must always remember numbers represent people, and every person is significant in the kingdom of God.

Our Refuge In Time Of Trouble

David’s experience in the Valley of Elah is a story familiar to even the smallest child. The shepherd-boy of Israel faced down the Philistine giant, Goliath, who was nearly 10 feet tall.

A Sunday School worker taught her boys and girls about this story one morning and asked them what they’d do if they faced a giant like David did.

“I’d call 9-1-1!” replied one little girl.

We probably won’t face a giant warrior in our lives, but we face giant problems every week. Though some proclaimers in media seem to imply that Christians never have burdens, the Bible teaches otherwise. The Apostle Paul didn’t teach a “prosperity” gospel when he wrote about the God who “comforts us in all our tribulations” (2 Corinthians 1:4). Christians are liberated from the burden of sin, but we’re not liberated from the burdens of life. I know Christians who have loved ones in prison, and others who have families with dreaded illnesses.

God is good to have provided a number of refuges for us in times of trouble.

One is the home. It’s often been said that before the government or the church, God established the home. Husbands and wives love one another and provide a nurturing environment for their children. I’ve seen a motto embroidered or framed in Christian homes: “Christ is the head of this house, the unseen guest at every meal, and the silent listener to every conversation.” A home like this is a sanctuary in a troubled world.

God has also given the church as a refuge. Welton Gaddy in his book, “A Soul Under Siege,” proposed an analogy I’ve found helpful. God instructed Moses to establish six cities of refuge in Canaan where people pursued for crimes might find safety until cooler heads prevailed. Gaddy suggested this is what the church ought to be: a city of refuge. We go to church not to find harsh judgment, but to find encouragement and prayer. After all, the church is composed of the same kind of people: sinners in need of God’s mercy.

But God himself is our ultimate refuge. He is our refuge in times of trouble because he promised to be with us. “Thou art with me” David wrote in Psalm 23. He’s not a fair-weather deity but one who offers comfort in times of testing and forgiveness in times of failure.

Jesus’ story in Luke 15--the story we call the “prodigal son”--really isn’t. William Barclay argued for years it’s more accurately the story of the loving father. Someone called the elder brother the prodigal who stayed home. The older was prideful, and the younger was broken, but the loving father welcomed both to his celebration.

Your Speech Betrays You

The lady behind the counter listened to my request, and then made a simple statement, "You're not from around her, are you?"

I was on a trip at the time above the Mason-Dixon Line and I suppose it was clear I was from the deep South! We Southerners don't really notice our speech patterns but we do notice those from other regions. And sometimes our nativity is revealed through the truisms we speak.

Vivian, from Ohio, was a fellow officer in a political collectors club. The group customarily has a Saturday evening banquet with former president Jimmy Carter. Our meeting is late September and the president's birthday is October 1, so we've celebrated a few significant birthdays with him--85, 90 and more recently, his 95th. Vivian was our secretary at the time and called to ask my blessings on her plans for presenting the cake. She told me what kind of cake she'd ordered and when she thought the cutting should be in the banquet program.

She'd only just begun when I said, "Vivian, I don't have a dog in that fight. Do what you think best."

"A dog?" she said. "What does that mean?"

What I meant was I trusted Vivian to do the right thing and she always did a beautiful job without my input. I learned this is a Southern idiom apparently unknown north of the Ohio River!

The scripture tells a familiar story in all four gospels. Peter "followed afar off" when Jesus was arrested and brought to trial. He got close enough to see what was happening and to listen for information. Peter also got close enough to warm himself at a fire someone had started. Ministers a generation ago used to preach about Peter "warming by the devil's fire." But at least he was close by. The other disciples had run for cover.

Peter had minimal conversation with his compatriots around the fire, but enough conversation for them to know he wasn't native to Judea.

"You're with Jesus," one said to him. "We can tell you're not from here. Your speech betrays you" (Matthew 26:73).

Peter denied knowing Jesus to save his own neck and confirmed these denials by cursing like he once did. At that moment the rooster crowed, and Peter wept his heart out knowing he'd denied the savior.

Our speech betrays us, too. It's relatively insignificant which section of the country we're from, but it's very significant that our speech is pleasing to the Lord.

Not only are we to speak words of truth and kindness, but we're enjoined to speak words of witness to those who don't know the savior. Christ must be lord of all, including our tongues.

Christians AWOL

It was a disturbing call I received several years ago. His mother phoned to say Gary was in jail. Gary had grown up in our church and joined the U.S. Army. On a weekend leave, he decided he wasn’t going back. So the Army and the rental car agency pressed charges and he was in jail. Of course I went to see him and offered what comfort and counsel I could. Gary is the only person I’ve known personally who went AWOL—absent without leave.

The “poster child” for going AWOL in the New Testament is John Mark. He accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey as far as the Roman province of Asia Minor, then decided to go home. Luke, the chronicler, doesn’t tell us whether Mark was sick, homesick, angry, discouraged or in love. But for whatever reason he abandoned the journey of a lifetime.

Mark missed a great adventure. Christians often speculate about spending an afternoon or a day with the Apostle Paul to seek spiritual understanding. Mark had opportunity to spend several days with this Christian leader but chose something of lesser importance to occupy his time.

Mark missed a  great decision. It was on this journey that Paul decided he’d stop preaching first to the Jews and become the apostle to the Gentiles. After he and Barnabas returned home, they were instrumental in bringing the mother church in Jerusalem together to hear this issue. Peter, too, offered his own insight into how God was working among those formerly considered pagans. The church finally “got it.” They realized one didn’t have to become a Jew before trusting Christ as the messiah.

Mark didn’t miss the grace of God. He later reconciled with Paul in a way we don’t know. Paul asked the Colossians to “receive him as you would me,” and asked  Timothy to bring Mark to visit him in prison before he died. And Peter called Mark “my son” in the faith. Christian tradition is that Mark served as Peter’s interpreter and wrote down the things Peter preached after the apostle died; thus the Gospel of Mark is the story of Jesus from a primary source.

 Christians who quit in their walk can learn a lesson from Mark. No one is beyond the grace and forgiveness of God. The Lord invites us back and welcomes us back. Luke described this in his gospel as a God who runs. The loving father didn’t wait for his son to find him; he ran to meet him and to restore him. Aristotle said a proper man never runs in public. What a concept to think of a God who runs to us when we come home.

Cleansing The Temple

Rick Stanley died in January at age 65. His life changed dramatically in 1960 when his mother married the widowed Vernon Presley. Rick and his two brothers became step-brothers to the King of Rock and Roll. Later he married the young lady who brought him to Christ, and Rick began to tell his story throughout the nation.

A friend insisted Rick was the most effective communicator of his day, and we had him in our church many years ago. He was a great communicator and I found him very approachable and people-centered. His testimony was so applicable: adopted by the king and invited to live in a place called Graceland!

We brought young adults together during the Sunday morning Bible study hour for a session with Rick. He told me previously the number one question he was always asked, and “right out of the chute” a person asked, “Was Elvis a Christian?” Rick took about 30 minutes to respond.  When he was done our music minister leaned over to me and asked, “So, was Elvis a Christian?” In other words, I don’t think he gave a good answer.  I suppose we have to leave this judgment in God’s hands.

It was during this event that I remember hearing a criticism for the first time. We had a table with Rick’s books and  tapes, and someone complained to a deacon that we were like the moneychangers in the temple whom Jesus drove out (Mark 11).

I was surprised and told the deacon these were  ministry tools that would be a blessing to those who purchased them. Furthermore Jesus called the temple moneychangers “thieves,” and we weren’t stealing anything. The event was underwritten by our members, the community was invited and nobody was charged admission. Also I was sure if someone said they wanted an item and couldn’t afford it, our church would take care of the cost.

I read lately a better modern illustration of the anger Jesus expressed that day. He’s called the richest evangelist in America with personal wealth estimated between $330 - $770 million. He owns multiple homes and private jets. When asked by “Inside Edition” to justify his wealth he cited Galatians 3:29. “We’re descendants of Abraham and he was rich,” he said.

Some people are well-versed in scripture, and some are well reversed!

It’s clear in Galatians that Paul assured Gentile believers they weren’t second-class in God’s kingdom. Jew and Greek alike share in the spiritual heritage of Abraham as people of faith.

It’s sad that sincere people give their money to enrich a man rather than to support local churches who help people in need. Surely the Lord of the church is displeased with this.

A God Who Carries You

One of the most interesting questions in the Bible is one the Hebrews asked of the ancient prophet Isaiah about 500 years before Christ. They returned to their dismal homeland after a time of captivity and asked, “Since Babylon overpowered us, does this mean the gods of Babylon are greater than the God of Judah?”

The northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by Assyria in 722 B.C. Judah survived about 150 years longer before King Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army came in fury in 586 B.C. Jerusalem, the city of David, lay desolate. The temple of Solomon was no more and the Ark of the Covenant containing the tablets from God disappeared. The prophet Jeremiah was an eye-witness as he walked through the smoldering ruins and recorded his thoughts in The Lamentations. Jeremiah explained clearly that this was God’s punishment for Judah’s rebellion.

Many survivors were taken to Babylon and remained for some 70 years. In the strange land the people encountered a different culture and different worship. Naturally they were curious about the Babylonian deities.

Isaiah responded to their questions with a story. A forester planted a tree, and a woodsman felled it. The woodsman took some of the wood to warm himself, and some to cook his food. With the remainder, he made a god and fell down before it (Isaiah 44: 14-19).

Isaiah evidently referred to the annual Festival of Marduk, the chief Babylonian deity, when lesser gods were carted into the temple to be with Marduk. The prophet continued his analysis: “they lift it to their shoulders and carry it . . . ” (Isaiah 46:7).

In other words, the writer insisted the gods of Babylon were made of scrap lumber and had to be carried in for worship. In contrast, the God of Judah says, “Listen to me, O house of Jacob . . . even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you!” (Isaiah 46: 3-4).

The God of Judah carries us through all life decisions from choosing faith to career and marriage. And the writer of Hebrews insisted he further partners with us in our suffering and in some unique way, he suffers with us (Hebrews 4:15). He promises to be with us even to the time of “gray hair.” Gray hair can be disguised today, but the promise is that God will carry us to our senior years, too.

The greatest crisis we face is death, and God promises to carry us there safely. As David wrote so long ago, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,  for thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4).

How To Ruin Your Life

Conference leaders brought CDs, books and curriculum materials for the “free” table at our denominational retreat center last month. A lady whom I’d not met and I found ourselves looking at a book with an interesting title: “How To Ruin Your Life.” She said to me what I was thinking, “I don’t need to read that book. I could’ve written it!”

I did take the book, after her right of first refusal, and have since read it. Author Eric Geiger used the story of King David as his theme. David’s is a familiar story to most Bible readers, and one overflowing with irony. David, described as a man close to God’s heart, fell into grievous sin. The lesson is that no one is above failure, even the sweet singer of Israel, the giant-killer and the man who drew blueprints for the Ark of the Covenant’s permanent home. The Holy Spirit of God inspired the story to be recorded so that we might walk more carefully in a world bent toward evil.

Commentators for years have insisted David shouldn’t have been at home, but on the battlefield with his troops. Possibly. Geiger insisted David was bored when he walked on the palace rooftop that fateful night. I’m not sure since a lot of people have trouble sleeping and may get up and walk about. And the king lived in Palestine where the cool air might offer relief on a sweltering evening.

Another thing we assume is that David was a predator. He “loafed, looked and lusted” is the old outline preachers use. A guest lecturer at a Christian college referred to this account when she visited one of my classes, and suggested Bathsheba was the predator. Her argument was that if you lived next door to the palace, you’d know the comings and goings of the king. Bathsheba may’ve planned her midnight bath at the time the king would see her.

The Alabama governor’s mansion is in a Montgomery neighborhood, unlike the White House that is protected by vast acreage, and I can image the people living on her street might know something about the comings and goings of Gov. Ivey.

I suppose we all take the stories of scripture and think about the “backstories”—what else was happening or what people were thinking.

John Bisagno used to say that David was a great sinner, but also a great repenter. When Nathan the prophet confronted him, David immediately said, “I have sinned.” This is the second major lesson we learn from David: it’s foolish to deny wrong rather than owning up to it. We can find God’s forgiveness. His mercy means life doesn’t have to be ruined when we mess up.

Turning Back The Hands Of A Clock

I remember two horrific tragedies in my college days and learned more about them lately.

Ted Bundy was a suspect in more than 30 murders of young women, and later confessed to most of them before the state of Florida put him to death. Criminologist Ann Rule wrote of her friendship with Bundy in “The Stranger Beside Me” before she believed he was the killer. She and many others could never understand the rage of this demented man.

Charles Manson and his family didn’t murder as many victims as Bundy, but he obtained more notoriety. Manson remained in the public eye for 40 years until his death two years ago. And one of his disciples, Lynette Fromm, was charged with attempting to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975. I found former “O’Reilly Factor” legal analyst Lis Wiehl’s book, “Hunting Charles Manson,” to be especially insightful offering new information on this cult and its lasting impact on America.

I discovered a movie on the Internet about Manson’s victims from Aug. 9, 1969. This fictionalized story showed actress Sharon Tate and her guests fighting back that horrible night and surviving the intended murders. This is a fascinating re-telling of the story with a more pleasing conclusion.

I began to think of the almost universal longing we have to replay and reconfigure the past.

One man, an air traffic controller, fell into deep depression over an “almost.” He almost allowed a mid-air collision, though he caught his error in time. But he left work for a season rattled by what could have happened.

Most of us are rattled not by the “almosts,” but by what did happen. We took our anger out on someone who just happened to be nearby. We acted thoughtlessly towards a spouse or a child and jeopardized a relationship. We took money that didn’t belong to us or took credit for someone else’s accomplishment. Or perhaps we were dishonest on an examination or job application and were discovered.

We dream of going back and redoing errors with the greater wisdom of time but find this only an illusion. No person, no matter how strong, is strong enough to pull back the hands of a clock.

The Apostle Paul labored under his past, too, since he’d been a persecutor of Christians. In his letter to the Philippians he revealed one of the life lessons he had to learn: “I do this one thing: I forget what is behind and reach forward to what is ahead” (Philippians 3:13).

As followers of Christ we must learn to “thoroughly repent” of our wrong, as evangelist Charles Finney used to say, and then move forward with confidence that a God of mercy “thoroughly” forgives.

The Samaritan's Apothecary

The Samaritans were the “untouchables” of the first century. They shared Jewish ancestry, but their lineage was changed through intermarriage with Canaanites and pagans. A Samaritan woman was surprised when Jesus conversed with her since “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4: 9). It’s all the more intriguing, then, when Jesus made a Samaritan the hero of one of his most well-known parables.

Jesus said a lone traveler journeyed from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was accosted by thieves, robbed and beaten. Two religious leaders passed that way but chose not to assist the man. It’s often believed that these leaders may have been en route to worship and didn’t want to be defiled by contact with a corpse should the traveler be dead. No doubt they understood the law’s admonition to help strangers, but there’s a difference between knowing and doing.

The Samaritan showed compassion that day when he interrupted his journey to help the wounded man. He applied first aid, then moved the traveler to safety and rest. We forever remember this helper as the “good” Samaritan. Many in the first century would’ve insisted there’s no one like this since all Samaritans were bad.

The point of Jesus’s story is that we’re all called to show compassion to those in need, and to prove our love for our neighbor whoever he or she might be.

I’ve thought of this story in a new way lately while focusing on the Samaritan’s pharmacy. He poured “oil and wine” into the traveler’s wounds (Luke 10: 34). Wine was used as a disinfectant because of its alcohol content. The oil was like an ointment soothing the bruised and broken wounds in the skin.

I began to think of how this Samaritan’s apothecary might be a good model for brokenness among us.

Today we know the astringent kills germs. When we experience brokenness, we should take the failure first to God asking for his cleansing and wisdom. All of our bad decisions affect our relationship  with God, so we must begin here. Solomon wrote, “The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy,” (Proverbs 28:13, CSB).

But we also use the ointment of forgiveness to sooth the brokenness with others. The Scripture exhorts us to be kind and forgive one another as God through Christ has forgiven  (Ephesians 4:32). Thus the forgiveness standard is pretty high. It’s also true that offering forgiveness is good for the offended. Dr. Lewis Smedes said, “When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself.”

No Exit

Years ago students had to relocate to attend theological seminary. I often joke that when I was young, we had seminaries to attend, not just click on! The rise of Internet study has dramatically changed modern education. Nevertheless, my new bride and I packed up and moved to Louisville, our home for the next three years.

I had many wonderful teachers and classes and am grateful for this opportunity. But one of the most vivid memories I have is of a class the name of which I cannot recall and a professor whose name I cannot recall. I suppose I found the material of little value except for one exercise.

The professor listed a “no exit” relationship in the syllabus but said nothing more about it until the day in class he asked us to pair up with someone sitting nearby. Then he announced, “This is your ‘no exit’ relationship partner for the next six weeks.”

Our instructions were to meet weekly for at least an hour and talk. My partner worked in the cafeteria, so we met there for the next few weeks to converse. I soon discovered she was an angry person who had real issues with the church—strange since both she and her husband were enrolled in seminary and served a church near ours. I grew weary of her criticisms and would have ended our discussions, but we were bound by the class rules. After week four or five she revealed how she’d been hurt as a young person in her church by some leaders who were poor examples and did some unkind things; hence, her disappointment with the organized church. I think I became less judgmental.

The next class day after week six our professor became a prophet.

“Many of you experienced conflict and would have ended the relationship had you been allowed to,” he said.

 I thought he had been eavesdropping at our table!

Then our professor explained how so much of life is like this: we meet and enjoy relationships until there is conflict, then we choose to back away. This happens in marriages, at work and at church. He said we ought to declare to our future congregations that we’re in “no exit” relationships and pledge our love for one another even when we disagree.

Over the years I’ve seen the wisdom of his exhortation. Most congregations include people who’ve exited relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes they flee to other churches and sometimes they just give up and stay home.

There is a more excellent way.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Always pursue what is good for one another,” and “be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5: 13, 15).

How To Change Churches Successfully

I'll never forget the family I met at a neighboring church years ago while leading a Bible study. They were happy in their church, I thought, but several years later they presented themselves for membership in our church. The interesting thing is that there was another church in between, so ours was their third church in a short time.

Church growth researchers report that people are changing churches with greater frequency today. And "brand loyalty" is a thing of the past, too. I have an evangelist friend who used to lament people changing denominations--he preached, "it doesn't hurt to change labels on an empty bottle!" But these days it's often not a matter of theology. People seem to be more interested in youth and music programs than denominational affiliation.

When Christians leave a church for another it's called "transfer growth" as opposed to "conversion growth." Since thousands of Americans are unbelievers, enlisting them must be our primary task, though it may be a harder task. But there's nothing innately wrong with Christians changing churches if done thoughtfully and prayerfully. A good reason could be a change in residence putting them out of reasonable driving range. Another reason I’ve seen is change in circumstances, such as children leaving home or, regrettably, divorce, and starting over in a new place.

But there are bad reasons, too. I've known pastors who took pride in announcing their "capture" of those from other congregations. And I've known church members who "court" new folk by criticizing their present church.

These are certainly unworthy practices. Churches are partners and every church is important in the kingdom of God.

The fact is that sometimes people change churches due to hurt or anger, and their pastor may be unaware of this. Pastors can't read minds and want to know if there's an issue deserving attention.

Changing churches shouldn't be done due to brokenness without an attempt to solve the matter. After all, the new church, like the old, is made up of imperfect people--just like a marriage--and conflict is sure to appear in any relationship. Wise Christians seek to keep friendships intact.

A pastor friend told me about getting an email from a family stating they were leaving, and he was disappointed in this kind of casual communication from active leaders. I think church members who consider a new church should talk with their pastor first and offer explanation. A face-to-face conversation like this makes the move open and above-board and gives the current congregation opportunity to repair any brokenness incurred along the way.

If we change churches, we should have nothing but love, gratitude and goodwill for the one we leave behind.

Being Childlike But Not Childish

It’s interesting that scripture exhorts us both to be like children, and not to be like children.

I was always puzzled as a kindergartner by the picture we had in the church sanctuary where we had weekly chapel. It portrayed Jesus saying, “Suffer the little children to come unto me” (Mark 10:14). I thought “suffer” meant pain, so I wasn’t sure what this was about. Of course the King James Bible uses “suffer” in the sense of “allow,” and this is a great invitation from Jesus for children to come to him and be blessed.

Many evangelicals believe in child evangelism. Researcher George Barna found that 43 percent of “born again” Christians came to faith by age 12, and 64 percent by age 18.

Jesus proceeded in Mark’s gospel to insist that everyone must come to faith as children do: “Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein” (v. 15). Jesus referred to genuine humility and absolute trust. Children aren’t burdened with self-image in the way adults are.

Numbers of adults to whom I’ve spoken over the years resist declaring faith because of personal embarrassment over what others might think (though the congregation of God’s people would certainly rejoice in all conversions). Children most often don’t wrestle with pride as adults do.

But the scripture also exhorts Christians not to be childish (Ephesians 4:14). Children can be childish at times! Parents may have to break up fights when they hear, “Mommy, Sallie made a face at me,” or “Johnny hid my toy.”

Regrettably many of our churches have witnessed childish behavior over the years. I’ve known some who grew upset when someone allegedly “made at face” at them or when they didn’t get their choice of paint or carpet! Surely the kingdom of God is bigger than this.

Dr. John Killinger, formerly of Beeson Divinity School, in his book, “The Other Preacher in Lynchburg,” told the most amazing story I’ve heard in this regard.

A blue-blooded matriarch sent word that only sheep manure should be used on the church’s rose garden. Killinger said the scheduled business conference lasted two hours as the congregation discussed the virtue of sheep manure vs. cow manure. Oh, my. I’m not sure why someone didn’t respectfully say, whereas beautiful roses are nice, the grounds crew could handle this. And roses have nothing to do with our primary mission to serve a broken world. As Ron Lewis said years ago, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

There is a major difference is being childlike and childish. We need the wisdom of God to know the difference and live the difference.