The other day I received an e-mail from a Christian friend of mine. It was a call to arms. Apparently President Obama had strong-armed the USPS and forced them to create, of all things, a Muslim stamp for the Christmas season. How dare he force us, a good Christian nation, to use a Muslim stamp during the time which we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Of course after a little research (see attached Snopes report) I quickly realized that this was nothing more than another anti-Obama, anti-Muslim, supposedly pro-Christian, e-mail.
I started thinking back about all of the e-mails that I have received over the past year or so from Christian friends and co-workers that tell me that it is my obligation as a Christian to denounce Obama and all of his schemes as well as all Muslims and any and all actions that "they" take. I have been called to battle against all of the people who would do me, or my fellow Christians, wrong.
But yesterday I started thinking about these e-mails in a different way. I've looked beyond the superficial message that they try to deliver and really concentrated on the underlying message that they are really sending. That message: there are many "Christians" who are not tolerant of others, particularly those who they consider to be "the enemy". This thought process really created some deep concern for me so I thought I'd better seek some Higher Guidance on this matter.
In Matthew Chapter 5, beginning in verse 43, Jesus said:
You have heard that it was said 'Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy'. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I have decided that I am not going to heed the advice of these e-mails and write and call and march and protest and all of the other actions that they call me to undertake. Rather, I think that those who I may consider to be my enemy are deserving of my prayers, not my anger and hatred. I really think that as a Christian that is what Christ would have me do.
Funny, but I also think that all of my Christian friends who send me these e-mails may also need some prayer as well.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Silversmith
I copied this from another Blog, but I think it is an excellent story.
Malachi 3:3 says "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy-- when I see my image in it."
I really like this story and I've heard it a million times but for some reason it just seemed relevant to me today so I wanted to share it. So if you find yourself in a spiritual desert just remember that there is a purpose and a plan for everything. God refines us until He can see His image in us. It can be a difficult process and sometimes the fire seems unbearable, but the end result will always be for His glory.
Malachi 3:3 says "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy-- when I see my image in it."
I really like this story and I've heard it a million times but for some reason it just seemed relevant to me today so I wanted to share it. So if you find yourself in a spiritual desert just remember that there is a purpose and a plan for everything. God refines us until He can see His image in us. It can be a difficult process and sometimes the fire seems unbearable, but the end result will always be for His glory.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Back in the Saddle Again
So it's been quite a while since my last blog. I don't really have a good excuse. Yesterday a co-worker asked me when I was going to get back to it. I hadn't really thought much about it, but last nite I started to wonder what had happened to make me stop blogging.
As I thought, it occurred to me what had been going on. Early last year I starting doing the "90 Day Through the Bible" reading program. I had successfully done it in 2006 and 2007, but for some reason last year I couldn't stay committed. I then started reading the 4 Gospels and really trying to focus on the teachings of Jesus. That lasted about 3 months until I grew weary of trying to understand John Calvin's commentary to the Gospel of John.
So since last May I have really not been committed to reading the Bible. I know that sounds terrible to say but it is true. It seems that over the past 7 months I have been in somewhat of a "spiritual desert". I have been adjusting to life in a new place without my friends and family. My wife and I have struggled to find a church home as well so the transition has been very difficult. I have felt very distant from God over these months and because of that I have not really had much to write about.
It seems to me that at times we all go through these "spiritual deserts". I pray about it but nothing really seems to change. So last week I decided to do the one thing that I know always brings me back closer to God-Read my Bible. So yesterday I embarked on the "90 Day" program my fourth time and lo and behold here I am blogging about it today.
It's good to be back in the saddle again.
As I thought, it occurred to me what had been going on. Early last year I starting doing the "90 Day Through the Bible" reading program. I had successfully done it in 2006 and 2007, but for some reason last year I couldn't stay committed. I then started reading the 4 Gospels and really trying to focus on the teachings of Jesus. That lasted about 3 months until I grew weary of trying to understand John Calvin's commentary to the Gospel of John.
So since last May I have really not been committed to reading the Bible. I know that sounds terrible to say but it is true. It seems that over the past 7 months I have been in somewhat of a "spiritual desert". I have been adjusting to life in a new place without my friends and family. My wife and I have struggled to find a church home as well so the transition has been very difficult. I have felt very distant from God over these months and because of that I have not really had much to write about.
It seems to me that at times we all go through these "spiritual deserts". I pray about it but nothing really seems to change. So last week I decided to do the one thing that I know always brings me back closer to God-Read my Bible. So yesterday I embarked on the "90 Day" program my fourth time and lo and behold here I am blogging about it today.
It's good to be back in the saddle again.
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