“What Do I Stand For?” -Social Justice-

A child goes hungry, not because there isn’t food in the village, but because his family has been ostracized for being Christians. They are not privy to the market place and so they have to fend for themselves by begging, trying to cultivate some foods from a meager garden and by digging through other people’s discarded trash.

Another young boy watches helplessly as his father is executed right in front of him, then is hauled off, brainwashed, strung out on drugs and given an AK-47 as a child soldier. This method is repeated over and over again by more than just the now infamous Joseph Kony. Other places in Africa as well as East Asia this is how warfare and power is perpetrated. Many times it goes unnoticed or unreported in our Western news sources…but it doesn’t make it go away for those who are suffering under this oppression and senseless bloodshed.

A young woman is kidnapped in the middle of the night from her bed and becomes a slave to the sex industry, where girls like her are property and a money making business. She is shipped in windowless crates, transported on trains, and moved from one place to the next to fulfill her slavers lust for power, greed and sex. When she is all used up, her body will be thrown out like garbage and the evil owners move on to other victims. Some say it doesn’t happen where I live…think again!

These stories are just the tip of the ice berg that is our fight against social injustice in our world today! It is something that all of us, who claim to be followers of Christ, should be engaged in to some form or another. Whether it’s helping in a food shelf, a soup kitchen from time to time, or supporting a governmental bill that will further help those in need. As Christians we are to be the very hands and feet of Christ, and I’m pretty sure He didn’t solely reside within the walls of the church to help those in need! A part of showing Christ’s love to those around us requires us to extend ourselves and help bring Christ to other’s body, soul and mind.

“A father acts on behalf of his children by working, providing, intervening, struggling, and suffering for them. In so doing, he really stands in their place. He is not an isolated individual, but incorporates the selves of several people in his own self. Every attempt to live as if he were alone is a denial of the fact that he is actually responsible. He cannot escape the responsibility, which is his because he is a father. This reality refutes the fictitious notion that the isolated individual is the agent of all ethical behavior. It is not the isolated individual but the responsible person who is the proper agent to be considered in ethical reflection.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics

We, as Christians, have a responsibility to intervene in causes for those who cannot defend themselves or are powerless to act. As protectors of our world we not only seek to keep our environment healthy and clean, but we should also, in our power, seek to bring freedom and hope to those who have none. Social justice isn’t just for the bureaucrat, the foreign ambassador and the law maker on Capitol Hill…social justice is for all of us who have a voice and the will power to actually change the world for the better.

“Denouncing evil is a far cry from doing good.”
― Philip Gourevitch, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda

The quote above is apropos…we can’t merely denounce something…watching a news story we just shake our head and say out loud, “What is our world coming to?” Yet we don’t do anything about it, we change the channel and move on in our own little worlds. This isn’t just an indictment on me this is an indictment on the entire Western world when we stand by and do nothing when whole cultures are being wiped out in semi-religious acts of genocide. When nothing is actively being done to stop the active violence in villages and the formation of child soldiers in third world countries. It is just plain wrong when nothing is being done to put a stop once and for all to the sex trafficking industry that enslaves men, women and children. I’m thankful for proactive political leaders and lobbyists who fight every day to change laws and make it an active war on these plights of our world! But it doesn’t just begin and end with these leaders and lobbyists…we too have a role to play as well! We too must roll up our sleeves and get involved! We too have a voice, and so we MUST use it!

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause”. –Isaiah 1:17

“Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.” –Jeremiah 22:3

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” -1John 3:17-18

To Stand with God and His justice, we as Christ followers, ought to be also stand for social justice and social reform so that everyone in our world might have opportunities for freedom. God, I believe asks us to stand for those who cannot make that stand themselves. To speak for those who have no voice, and to make a difference in our world through not only environmental activism but also social activism. We are called to BE THE CHANGE!

Additional Sources:

http://streetlightusa.org/2012/child-sex-trafficking-research-and-statistics/

http://www.charismamag.com/site-archives/639-charisma-channels/practical-christianity/8930-practical-ways-to-fight-for-social-justice

http://salvos.org.au/more/get-involved/social-justice/what-is-social-justice/

http://www.amazon.com/Social-Justice-Handbook-Better-Bridgeleader/dp/0830837159

ttp://www1.salvationarmy.org/IHQ/www_ihq_isjc.nsf

April 17, 2013 2

What do I stand for? (Day 1 of 5 Selfishness/Selflessness)

What do I stand for? The music video linked here by ‘Fun.’ asks a very good question, and within the context of living as Kingdom people, followers of Christ, this question begs an answer in all of us! If we are truly honest with ourselves we have asked this question a time or two. This question encompasses a whole spectrum of things from political beliefs and ideologies to intrinsic ethical and moral convictions of our personal worldviews. This question can be a very existential pondering. For when we ask this solitary question, other questions in the sequence of our lives beg to be asked as well.

Automatically, when thinking about what we stand for, we will recall the ‘golden rule’; “Do unto others as you would have done unto you”. And certainly this is applicable, but what is it that we would like others to do unto us? Love us? Yes. Treat us fairly? Check. Be honest? Certainly. Be kind? Absolutely. All of these qualities and more is what we would have others do to us.

Enter Selfishness:

We hold to those truths listed above for others, but what about the way we treat other people? Do we treat others the same way? All too often we peer through rose colored glasses in how we treat others but if we were to look harder at our motives and intentions, we would quickly realize that many times we do things that will benefit us. If there isn’t something in it for us, then we quickly lose interest and pursue things more self-involved and self-fulfilled. Selfishness is our down fall most of the time. If we aren’t fulfilled by the things we do, then no one will be fulfilled. This is our old sinful self that is rearing its ugly head. If there was a weakness in the Christian armor, the chinks in the armor would be selfishness and pride. If we let our selfishness reign supreme in our decisions and in our lifestyles then we aren’t fulfilling our calling as Christ-followers. Selflessness and Selfishness cannot take up the same space within our hearts; it’s either one or the other. This is the crux of our world today, many of our sin issues that is crumbling any sense of morality comes from our pursuit of selfishness.

What Does Selflessness look like?

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV)

If we stand for Christ and for what He seeks to do for the lost in our world then we must become servants and serve! Becoming a servant of Christ isn’t easy, and it never will be if we still operate from our old selfishness. Before we knew Christ we were consumed by this selfishness. Now that we know Him and identify with His suffering we too must stand for more than just ourselves. That old operating system of self cannot and will not lead others to God. It will only perpetuate that sinful selfish cycle that this world is so used to. What Christ did, was turn selfishness on its head. What He asks of us as Sons and daughters of God is to follow in His footsteps as we fulfill that great commission:

^“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

When we ‘go’ we are called to leave our selfishness behind. This, from the start is where we begin this journey of what we stand for!

TO BE CONTINUED….

Like a television series, imagine the old announcer say, “Tune in tomorrow, we’ll explore ‘Standing for God’s justice’.”

April 15, 2013 0

Falling in sinkholes or Rockin’ it out!

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

Just look at this picture for a moment…let it sink in…(no pun intended). Recently a man, while sleeping in his bed, lost his life because beneath his home a sinkhole had developed. This Florida man’s body was never recovered because the earth beneath the home was too turbulent and unstable. Imagine for a moment being in your bed asleep and suddenly the floor gives away and you not only dream you’re falling, but you literally are plunging to your death. How horrifying a moment! I don’t want to trivialize or make light of the grief this family must be going through. To be there one minute and lost the next…it’s simply unbelievable and yet true.

In a very real sense, this is what can happen to us spiritually as followers of Christ if we’re not careful. Jesus used an illustration like this to point out how important it is to not only hear His words but to put them into practice in our lives. He said to put them into practice is like being a wise man who built his house upon a rock, where as if you don’t listen and apply His word you are like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand…watch out because a sinkhole could suck you down and you will disappear forever (My paraphrase).

What sorts of things in your life have the capacity to create sinkholes in your spiritual walk today? Don’t be foolish, and don’t simply ignore the warning signs either! If we are to be wise and live for Christ, then we must be careful and to utilize every opportunity God gives us each moment of every day! We do not know what tomorrow holds, but we do know who holds our tomorrows! So be wise, be firmly grounded and be mindful of the sinkholes in this world, Satan would love some company!

April 11, 2013 0

A Spiritual Intervention

The door opens seemingly by itself, could it be a ghost? No, Bilbo Baggins reappears after sliding The Ring off of his finger. He has just shocked all of the Hobbits in the Shire as he vanished from sight at his birthday party. Now, placing the ring in his pocket for safe keeping he goes to his sitting room to collect his things. But Gandalf is waiting for him with questions. Finally Gandalf confronts Bilbo about the ring and, for his own sake, to give up the ring. Bilbo reacts with aggression, not a part of his normal temperament. Then he seemingly talks to himself as he strokes the golden ring in his hand; “my precious”…he whispers to it. Gandalf seems to grow taller as the room darkens as his voice booms in the small hobbit home, “Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjuror of cheap tricks…I am not trying to rob you, I am trying to help you!”

The scene is epic within the story spun by J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Lord of the Rings”. Gandalf is having an intervention of sorts for Bilbo. The Ring, can and will impose its will on those who possess it…they may at first believe they control it but soon enough it will control them. Bilbo Baggins’ mood change is evidence of this as Gandalf tries to reason with him. He bares his teeth and snarls like an animal…he is possessed by what he possesses within his hand. Bilbo needs help, he needs someone stronger than himself to find the strength to relinquish that which he is now a slave to.

Isn’t that a great picture of what sin does to us? We begin by dabbling, believing we are in control. But we quickly realize that we don’t possess sin, sin possesses us. We hold it in our hands, in our lives and we lack the strength to relinquish control because we are slaves to it. ^“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34-36 NIV) We need a source of freedom. We need a spiritual intervention, one who has resisted life’s temptations and has paid the price of our redemption: Christ himself! Jesus, the Son of God, comes to us and says give it to me! Give me your burdens, your sins, your enslavement. Without His help we snarl and wail like animals lost within their own entanglements.

“I have come that you might have LIFE, and have it abundantly!” -Jesus (John 10:10)

What are you holding onto that you have yet to relinquish to the Lord? Don’t be a slave to what you possess any longer! Do not let the trappings of sin keep you from experiencing freedom and abundant life! When we allow the Lord to take from us our sin and shame, we WILL be free! So let go of it! Don’t allow it to poison your life any longer! You have One who cares and loves you and He wants to give you His strength and support. Let Him help…the shackles of sin can be released immediately with His strength on your side!

April 8, 2013 2

“Who do you think you are?”

“Who do you think you are?” I heard this from one of my sons just the other day as he was sent to his room and was expressing his outrage at the sentence that I had just handed down to him. He yelled it at the top of the stairs just after stomping up each step like a charging Elephant. His comment kind of brought me up short, who was I? In a moment of tears and anger, my son had struck a chord in me. It wasn’t so much the situation at hand, he certainly needed to be sent to his room (consequences of poor behavior), but it was an existential question that got me thinking literally “who do I think I am?”

In order to answer that very basic question, the Lord gave me His response that question. A moment of epiphany took place within me in my preparation for Good Friday. I was to bring the message that evening and so my study of God’s word became focused on the crucifixion story. Prior to the crucifixion story is an amazing yet brief expository examination on the identity of who Jesus was. Matthew 16:13-16 records this event. Jesus asks His disciples “who do people say the Son of Man is?” His question is first what does the common person know about the identity of this Son of Man? And their response to His question is essentially the Son of Man is a good person, maybe John the Baptist, maybe Elijah, maybe Jeremiah or some other prophet. It’s a response that essentially declares the people didn’t know who the Son of Man was. They truly didn’t comprehend what God’s plan was within the identity of the Son of Man.

Then, after Jesus hears their responses He asks them a more directed question…this time it’s personal, intimate, unguarded; “But what about you?” He asks them looking into their eyes as if He is looking directly into their souls, the very fibers of their created being. The moment of truth is hovering and hanging upon the completion of Jesus’ question, and slowly He asks it almost as if He’s concerned what their answer may be; “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” Imagine Andrew glancing at John, as John frowns and exchanges eyes contact with the others and then finally looks at Peter, who always seems to be the boldest of the group. Peter, as if prompted by the non-verbal exchange looks back at Jesus and makes his declaration of faith, identity and purpose; “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”

In a single solitary sentence, Peter makes a statement so bold that to speak it in the wrong place at the wrong time with Pharisees or priests within ear shot would have meant a death sentence. Peter declares Jesus to be Messiah and God’s Son! Jesus’ identity is revealed in scripture, confirmed to His followers, and this epic redemption story is about to unfold for all of humanity. All because that question “Who do you think you are” is answer by Jesus.

Identity Revealed:

Because of who Christ is, revealed to us, we are then able to be identified with Him, who was crucified for our sins and also with His resurrection which is our door by which eternal life is opened to us!
“But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12 ASV)

We now have the right to be called sons and daughters, children of God! That’s who we are! If we are members of the body of Christ, then we ought to no longer struggle with this identity crisis! We are His children! Christ has been revealed to us, His identity is real and His power as the Son of God has conquered sin and death for us! When people ask “who do you think you are?”; we can humbly and confidently reply that we are children of the Most High! Our identity doesn’t give us license to lord it over the world, or judge the world either, but I hope it does provide a measure of peace for our souls. WE ARE HIS! If we identify ourselves as Christians, and we also claim that we too are crucified with Christ then our identity is also answered and we ought not to live in crisis over who we are in this world! (Galatians 2:20)

Who do you think you are today? This question isn’t asked in a condescending tone, but simply inquiring whether or not you know who you are and more importantly WHOSE you are!

April 5, 2013 1

Giving up on Easter?

It’s April 1st today. Obviously the stores are all preparing for the next big holiday and opportunity to make money.

The Easter bunnies, Lilies and other ‘seasonal’ items are on sale at severely discounted prices…it’s a steal! But the thought came to mind this morning, are we giving up on Easter?

Not so much the Easter eggs or the fancy dresses, but rather the the implication of resurrection in our lives. Our culture moves at such a fast pace that Easter is literally and figuratively yesterday’s news and we move on to the next best thing. But are we missing out? Are we losing the true meaning of Easter when we cast our vision on tomorrow and miss out on the sacredness of Jesus’ resurrected ministry before the ascension?

I think the answer is yes. I reminds me of driving on the highway. I like to speed a little, and down I go on the highway making good time, and once in a while I will drive right by an exit that I’m supposed to take. I have to keep driving up the road, which is out of my way and make a u-turn at the next exit to reach my destination. So it is sometimes with us, who are immersed in our cultures. We get up to cruising speed, we’re really speeding through life and we miss our exit. We miss the destination all together if we’re not careful. The danger is the meaning of the resurrected Christ vanishes in our fast paced lifestyles.

When Jesus said I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10) He wasn’t just saying words to make us feel better, He truly meant them! We can have new life, new hope, new peace…but if we speed by this wondrous event at the speed of light we may never grasp it.

It may be Monday, the day after Resurrection Sunday, but don’t be too quick to move onto the next best thing. Take some time today to reflect on Resurrection, Eternity, Heaven, God’s Kingdom here on Earth! Take your time, ponder it, and allow the peace that passes all understanding fill you today. Don’t give up on Easter just yet…matter of fact, don’t give up on it at all. This event was epic, never duplicated again and Christ invites us to the empty tomb today to participate in this resurrected life and to live it abundantly.

April 1, 2013 0

Saturday in the underworld.

It’s Saturday. The day after crucifixion, Jesus’ death. Can you just imagine all of heaven, holding their collective breath? The Angels’ anxiously awaiting, anticipating what is to come? Did they know what God had in store for Sunday? Were they party to the entire plan? The hosts of heaven gathering at the tomb, gathering unseen among the disciples, who are in hiding. Imagine what is unseen in the spirit world, as Jesus descends into the deep, setting the captives free and unleashing redemption through the veil.

This Saturday lull before the storm of victory makes us wonder what the metaphysical world looked like on such a day. What battles were fought. The might of God unleashed on the fallen ones. How awesome the power of Christ would have been to behold…it would have probably killed us, who are human, to have witnessed this might. For even Moses had to cover himself in the sight of God…so too Elijah.

It’s Saturday, probably the day within the Resurrection story that the unseen and the hosts of Hell were shaken to the core by the Son of God. This epic battle…Satan standing no chance against his very own Creator. Death, though the gate by which Christ entered, had no more power on Him than all of the demons of hell…He was not their equal, He was so much more than created…he was Creator vanquishing and unleashing those imprisoned.

There is very little within scripture to tell us of what took place on Saturday, but if Sunday is any indication of what took place, all of the demons along with the father of lies himself must tremble with fear when they consider what is to come when Christ returns again.

It’s might be Saturday on this holy week, but resurrection is just around the corner…resurrection and victory for all who would follow after the Christ. For all who would identify with the cross will find an eternal hope and a resurrection unlike any other known in the universe.

March 30, 2013 1

One Day

One day
Life became
Death
Breath became
Stilled silence
Calm
Became storm
Whole
Became broken
Wounds
Became fatal
One
Solitary
Day
Sure Judgement
Became Salvation
Real punishment
Because absolute
Redemption

One day
Innocent
Became guilty
Perfect
Was painted
With the blood
Of others
The burdens
Of others
One day
Became everyday
Every promise
Every day hope
Every day
New life
Reborn
Reanimation
Of the dead

One day
Became
Our tomorrow
Instead of
Our past

One day
With Christ
Will open
Our hopes
Transform our
Brokenness
Restore our
Reflections
And make us
Complete
Again.

March 29, 2013 0

Portrait of Jesus

On the walls of our living hang pictures. Not just any pictures or pictures of people we don’t know but pictures of my family. My Mom and Dad are there, my Wife is there, my children are there and other extended family members. This wall is dear to me. Not because it holds up a portion of the house that houses my tv, but because within these pictures is captures a moment frozen in time. A moment in which my family are smiling, looking silly, perhaps with teeth still missing as kids, but moments that have come and gone. Sweet moments, joyous moments and I treasure them in my heart every time I see them.

Today is Good Friday. Probably not exactly a joyous moment when we reflect on Christ on a cross, bloody, beaten and dying. It’s not a pretty picture to behold. We probably don’t have pictures of Jesus this way on our wall, in full color naked and bleeding on the cross. Perhaps you have some crucifix’s a portrait or two that resembles his death on the cross, but I doubt that it’s an unedited portrayal of his actual death scene…which I imagine was extremely grizzly to behold. Yet there is something joyous within this moment in our Savior’s death. It’s not that He suffered, or that finally they caught those two criminals hanging there next to Jesus, but it’s the fact that sin and death were nailed to the cross with Christ.

Our sin, our eternal death was taken from us by Christ on the cross. With the shedding of His blood, which was perfect, we now can call on His name and our sinful ways can be atoned for. We have one who intercedes for us before the Father. This portrait is the best we have ever received…ever! Eternal life is ours, death conquered, and hope available to the entire world all because of Jesus.

My photos on the wall are awesome, I love my family and I love my kids…but this life we live has been extended and eternal life granted to us, including my loved ones because of what we celebrate today…Christ crucified.

Question: Do you identify with this crucified Christ?

I hope and pray you do, if not perhaps it’s time to consider what life is about, where you’re going at the moment and if there is meaning to what you are doing today.

March 29, 2013 0

In His Returning (The Prodigal)

If I am lost…

If these hands

no longer

Grasp you

If these feet,

Feeble and calloused

Refuse to inch forward

Static… and alone

If this body,

Aching and groaning

Heart ache

Life ebbing away

Flowing out more

Than flowing in

If this is who

I am now…

If I am found

If I am empty

Then I am powerless

I am a broken

Vessel

Used up

Dropped and shattered

If I am lost…

Who can save?

Who can save…me?

Because if I am lost

If I am indeed static

Like an empty radio signal

If this is me…

Who will rescue this…

This mess

Who would even dare

To care?

Everything flows out of me

Except for this empty

Am I my own worst

Enemy?

Is there any hope left…

For me?

Just when I pray

For the end…

The end of this

The end of all things

Within this broken

Shattered heart

Within the shell

Of an empty man

Something happens

It’s not desperation

nor spiritual exsanguination

this mind has not

left for vacation

but something happens

from the outside

flowing life back into me

something I can’t explain

Fear replaces hopelessness

It ignites my fingertips

Ignites and increases my shallow breathing

Fear gives way to something

Long lost to me…

A warmth, blanket thick

Envelops me

I am assured

With arms around me

That I am safe

I am home

Was I lost? Was I truly found?

Then I hear his words

In my ear

A feast for me

For me? I don’t deserve anything but blame and guilt…for me? My savior

My hope…turns and says to others near

This is my son…he was lost but now he’s found

My life, my love, my joy is returned to me

Come let us help him see

Let us celebrate in his

Returning.

March 1, 2013 0

Tag: Christ