Standing Strong and United

Terrorist.  Racist.  Extremist.  Rioters.  Looters.  Suicide bombers.  Invaders. Hate crimes. 

The safety of the world has been in jeopardy for a long time.  Goodwill citizens have been murdered.  Christians have been beheaded.  People have been burned alive.  Christians are being captured, dissected alive, organs are being taken out, the Christians are then murdered and their organs sold to other nations.

In the United States, Christians are facing attacks regarding biblical values of same-sex marriage, homosexuality, abortion, using the name God in the Pledge of Allegiance, praying publically in schools and racism continues to raise its ugly head.   Can a people of all colors be able to join together in love and harmony anymore?  Are we so bent of segregating ourselves over the different shades of brown and white and black and red and yellow?  Is it possible that sinful behaviors are the root cause of racism?  Can it be that it may not be ones color, but ones crime of the heart that brings about the devastation of the loss of life?  Is hatred so permeated in ones heart that he cannot see past the good in others?  Jesus said in his sermon, “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.” (MSG)

As I write this article, my hand quivers with each stroke of a letter.  My intent is to be bold.  Courageous.  Determined.  But mostly, biblically forthright and extremely honest. 

While Christians around the world are being slaughtered and values in our own nation are being corrupted; where the unity of ethnicity has given way to more segregation and resolve to be bitter at each others color of skin, Satan has increased his mobilization of discord, hatred, anger and every kind of malice.  He is been emboldened by our negligence of being righteous seekers first and lovers of God and people. 

Not only are we segregated in ethnicity and political views, we are segregated in how we see Jesus and how we are supposed to believe and who is the most right “church.”  One of the key strategies of Satan is to get Christians so blinded by their own theology that they begin to become narrow in their view of who really is a believer in Jesus.  Arguments ensue over doctrine.  Lines are drawn and more buildings are erected and marquees are purchased with the chosen name to indicate another way of being a Christian.  

I love what Jesus said in Mark 9:38-41, “John spoke up, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.” Jesus wasn’t pleased. “Don’t stop him. No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally. Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it that God will notice.” (MSG)

Is it possible that we have ignored the terrorist and the racist and extremist and those who will take God out of everything and those who will destroy the sanctity of life and those who take marriage as God has ordained it to be and make it radically different?  Is it possible that we’ve allowed our own doctrinal thoughts to get in the way of unity of Christians who really are for God?  Is it possible that we have been more worried about our church facilities and the up keep, that we have neither time nor funds for reaching the lost for Jesus?  Is it possible that we have turned away from the horrific murders that are taking place to people who profess to be Jesus followers in another Country?

The Apostle Paul said it this way, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.  There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.” (Ephesians 4:3-6-NLT)

It is time for Christians all around the world to stand strong and unite.  It is time not to allow Satan a foothold, but rather, allow Jesus to be the Lord who reigns in our lives.  It is time to be Christians of courage and stand for truth.  It is time to unite as one body for the cause of Christ.  It is time to put an end to our own Christian hostilities and animosities and live like we are brothers and sister in the same family of God.  It is time to stop the Sunday morning segregation of believers and work on how we can become a strong and united family of God.  No color barriers.  No theology barriers. The Scripture says, “For we are all one in Christ Jesus.”

It may soon come a time that we experience the same persecution Christians are experiencing in other nations.  How would we respond if we were challenged to denounce our faith?  Are you ready and willing to stand strong and united?  It begins with each of us.  The time is now.  

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

  

The Heart of a Servant

About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old.

He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child darted out, but a brick sailed out and - WHUMP! - it smashed Into the Jag's shiny black side door! SCREECH..!!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"

"Please, mister, please. . . I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" Pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE -a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention. (The Brick Story)

Romans 12:7 ”...if it is serving, serve.”(NIV) The Greek word for “serve” in this context is: diakonia, which means, "service, ministering”(Greek Lexicon)

There are many who served that I call the Serving Hall of Fame:  Matthew 20:28 says "the Son of Man [Jesus] did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus also said, "I am among you as one who serves," and He even washed His disciples' feet Luke 22:27, John 13:5. Because servants often work behind the scenes, their work but not their name is often mentioned in Scripture Numbers 11:17, 1 Timothy 6:2, 
Acts 6:1-3. People named in the Bible who helped the church through service include Phoebe, Priscilla, Aquila, Tryphena, Tryphosa Romans 16:1-4,12, and John Mark in Acts 13:5. Some people with this gift are also appointed to leadership as church deacons according to 1 Timothy 3:8-13

The ultimate server was Jesus.  He model serving.  Lived to serve.  And, died to serve!

Jesus was masterful at putting everything in its right perspective.  Greatness in the kingdom is not achieved by who is first, but rather, by being a willing servant of one another. Jesus said to his disciples in Mark 10:43-45, “...Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Richard Foster wrote, "When we choose to be a servant, we give up the right to be in charge." The essence of life is not about being in charge or the leader or the top dog. The essence of life is about modeling the servant life so that the needs of others are met and the attention and glory is given to Jesus Christ!

Serving with humility is a trait that is learned over time. The world's view of service is: Since I helped you, you help me. I scratched your back, now you scratch mine.

Jesus modeled a service lifestyle much differently than even his disciples had known. Jesus regarded service as a primary way of demonstrating love for those whom He served and a way to put importance of one person over another in perspective. Jesus told his disciples to follow His example of showing true servant hood by washing each others feet in John 13:12-16, "After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian