"Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them." Esther 9:1
Haman, the Hitler of his day, had conspired to have the Jewish people exterminated. He succeeded in convincing the King to decree that on a certain day the Jewish people were to be wiped out. But God, who overrules in the affairs of men, had other plans. He was working behind the scenes and what appeared to be a great defeat, became one of the greatest victories for the Jewish people. By another decree of the King, the Jewish people were allowed to defend themselves against their enemies, and as a result, those who meant to do them harm, were defeated.
These events foreshadow the times of Jesus the Messiah, when He too was conspired against. His own people not only conspired against Him to have Him killed, they succeeded. However, what appeared to be the greatest defeat, was the all time greatest victory, in that on the cross and in His subsequent resurrection, He destroyed the works of the enemy, He defeated sin and death to save all who believe.
With God on our side, our worse day, can be our greatest victory. Although we live in dark days, we must prayerfully stay faithful to the mission of Jesus, because we serve a God, who is still able to turn things around.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Friday, July 22, 2016
Why are you so afraid?
"And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing. And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:37-41
Fear has so many debilitating implication in our lives. Among other things, fear can keep us from fulfilling God's plan and purpose for our lives. Fear will keep us awake at night. Fear will ruin our health. Fear will rob us of peace and joy.
Why are you so afraid? That was the question that Jesus asked his disciple, who he was in the boat with, during a windstorm. The answer to that probing question is found in the following question, "Have you still no faith?" In other words, didn't they have enough evidence of His person and power? Didn't they know that He was God in the flesh, who not only has authority over the elements, but cared for their well being?
Jesus was asleep on the ship, but He was not unaware of what was going on around them. He could sleep, in spite of the storm, because He was in control. In the same way, we can sleep and be at peace when we cast our cares on Him, who cares for us, and trust that He is ultimately in control, that all things work for good and His glory. Peace will come to our lives when we trust that the one who feeds the sparrows is the one who stands with us, when we remember that the one who created the winds is in the boat with us.
Fear has so many debilitating implication in our lives. Among other things, fear can keep us from fulfilling God's plan and purpose for our lives. Fear will keep us awake at night. Fear will ruin our health. Fear will rob us of peace and joy.
Why are you so afraid? That was the question that Jesus asked his disciple, who he was in the boat with, during a windstorm. The answer to that probing question is found in the following question, "Have you still no faith?" In other words, didn't they have enough evidence of His person and power? Didn't they know that He was God in the flesh, who not only has authority over the elements, but cared for their well being?
Jesus was asleep on the ship, but He was not unaware of what was going on around them. He could sleep, in spite of the storm, because He was in control. In the same way, we can sleep and be at peace when we cast our cares on Him, who cares for us, and trust that He is ultimately in control, that all things work for good and His glory. Peace will come to our lives when we trust that the one who feeds the sparrows is the one who stands with us, when we remember that the one who created the winds is in the boat with us.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
God uses crackpots
God shows himself faithful to the not so faithful
"And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good, 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps." Genesis 32:9-10
Sometimes I get so discouraged by my own lack of faithfulness to things I know that I need to be faithful to, like prayer, that I doubt whether I should be a Pastor. I compare myself with others who I view as faithful men, heroes of the faith, and conclude that I'm totally inadequate to do anything for God of any significance. But then I'm reminded, as I was today, that everyone falls short of the glory of God. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. I was reminded of this as I meditated on the life of Jacob. His very name points out the flaws in his character (i.e. schemer) that is really rooted in a lack of faith in God. Rather then trusting in the promises of God, like his Father's before him, he would at times take matters into his own hands. There were consequences to some of their bad decisions, but God didn't forsake them. Instead, God continued to use them and bless them.
Jacob, after receiving many blessings from God in the years he spent with Laban, was returning home. And at the time he was fearful that Esau, whom he deceived years before, and at one time wanted revenge, was still angry with him. So before meeting his brother, he prayed. In his prayer, he acknowledges that he was unworthy of the faithfulness and steadfast love of God shown to him in all the blessings from God that he had obtained (Gen. 32:9-10).
God uses crackpots. He fills them with his glory through faith in the finished work of Jesus. But the problems is that we leak. In other words, we are forgetful, we are weak and we still have a sinful nature, the old man that must be daily kept in check or it will raise it's ugly head. In addition, we have and enemy called the devil, who is a liar and we live in a corrupt world that seeks to I shape us into it's mold. Therefore we must be renewed in God day by day. We must immediately confess to God when we think wrong and act wrong and not allow our sinful flesh to get momentum in our lives. We must seek to be cleansed from the filth of this world through prayer and the word.
God uses crackpots that acknowledge that we our such and continually seek his glory in the face of Jesus Christ where we our humbled, renewed, strengthen and changed to be more like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:6-7). I'm glad God uses crackpots—broken and flawed people, because I know that I'm one of them.
"And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good, 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps." Genesis 32:9-10
Sometimes I get so discouraged by my own lack of faithfulness to things I know that I need to be faithful to, like prayer, that I doubt whether I should be a Pastor. I compare myself with others who I view as faithful men, heroes of the faith, and conclude that I'm totally inadequate to do anything for God of any significance. But then I'm reminded, as I was today, that everyone falls short of the glory of God. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. I was reminded of this as I meditated on the life of Jacob. His very name points out the flaws in his character (i.e. schemer) that is really rooted in a lack of faith in God. Rather then trusting in the promises of God, like his Father's before him, he would at times take matters into his own hands. There were consequences to some of their bad decisions, but God didn't forsake them. Instead, God continued to use them and bless them.
Jacob, after receiving many blessings from God in the years he spent with Laban, was returning home. And at the time he was fearful that Esau, whom he deceived years before, and at one time wanted revenge, was still angry with him. So before meeting his brother, he prayed. In his prayer, he acknowledges that he was unworthy of the faithfulness and steadfast love of God shown to him in all the blessings from God that he had obtained (Gen. 32:9-10).
God uses crackpots. He fills them with his glory through faith in the finished work of Jesus. But the problems is that we leak. In other words, we are forgetful, we are weak and we still have a sinful nature, the old man that must be daily kept in check or it will raise it's ugly head. In addition, we have and enemy called the devil, who is a liar and we live in a corrupt world that seeks to I shape us into it's mold. Therefore we must be renewed in God day by day. We must immediately confess to God when we think wrong and act wrong and not allow our sinful flesh to get momentum in our lives. We must seek to be cleansed from the filth of this world through prayer and the word.
God uses crackpots that acknowledge that we our such and continually seek his glory in the face of Jesus Christ where we our humbled, renewed, strengthen and changed to be more like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:6-7). I'm glad God uses crackpots—broken and flawed people, because I know that I'm one of them.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Too many Cains and not enough Esthers
"Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated...” Esther 7:3-4
It is well known among those who read their bibles that queen Esther put her life at risk to speak up on behalf of her people. She could have relied on her beauty and other schemes to try and save her own neck, and let someone else worry about the diabolical plot to annihilate her people. She was living the "good life" as a pampered queen. She could have said, as did Cain, "Am I my brother's keeper." Instead, she recognize with the help of her uncle, that God put her in the position she was in during a grave time in history, not to preserve her own life, but to save many who were being unjustly targeted for extermination.
Today we have too many Cains and not enough Esthers. We have too many people that remain silent and will not speak truth in love because they are afraid of the repercussions. This is true, not only when it comes to speaking out against the injustices in our world, but more importantly the preaching of the gospel. Only the gospel can bring eternal and lasting change in the hearts of men where every imaginable evil is birthed. If we speak up against injustice and don't preach the gospel, that's a million times worse than a doctor pointing out that a person has a treatable form of cancer, but withholds the cure.
The evils of racism, which still exist, have diminished substantially in the USA. Why? Because of the Esthers that spoke up against it at great cost to themselves over a sustained period of time. And along with the crying out against injustice, the gospel, that calls men to repentance and faith in Christ to be saved from the power of sin and death, and which above all else demonstrates the justice and unconditionally love of God for all of humanity, was proclaimed with relatively little opposition.
But today, although men still cry out against the injustices in the world, there is an increasing hostility towards gospel truth. At one time Christians in America that believed the bible and proclaimed the gospel and stood for liberty and justice for all, were respected and honored. But today they are maligned and ridiculed. They are seen as part of the problem and not the solution even though the principles of liberty and justice for all that are so valued in our society are rooted in the Christianity of the scriptures. If Christians today do not rise up, as Esther did in such a time as this, if we do not preach the gospel, and live the gospel, which includes putting our necks out on behalf of the poor and oppressed, things will not get better, they will get worse. A mind that rejects with hostility the truth of the gospel, which is what society is doing today, will not be able to discern what true Liberty and Justice for all is suppose to look like (Romans 1:18-32). It already cries out for animal rights, but approves and legalizes the killing of the unborn.
The only real hope for America in a time like this is for the church to prayerfully discern where there is real injustice, cry out against it, while seeking to be part of the solution not the problem. The church is to be the example to the world of racial reconciliation and loving unity in spite of class, culture and color differences. But although we've come along way, as Dr. King said years ago, 11am on Sunday morning is still the most segregated hour of the week. Sadly, there's more unity in spite of color and class at a baseball game because of a common love for a team, than there is in the Church because of a common love for Jesus. And there in lies the real and ultimate hope of man. We cannot have unity, where godly Liberty and Justice for all exist, apart from a common love and reverence for Jesus, who demonstrated His love by freely giving his life in our place for our sin to satisfy the just demands of a holy God.
In a world where the truth of the gospel is suppressed and rejected, which leads to a moral free fall, including injustices of all sorts, if there's going to be a turn around, we need more Esthers to rise up. We cannot remain silent because of fear of the repercussions. We must cry out against injustice, but most of all we must preach and live the gospel. And we must do so across cultural, class, color, crime, and crisis lines. In times like these, the Church must like never before stay focused on our mission, which hasn't changed, namely to make disciples of all nations for the greater fame of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).
It is well known among those who read their bibles that queen Esther put her life at risk to speak up on behalf of her people. She could have relied on her beauty and other schemes to try and save her own neck, and let someone else worry about the diabolical plot to annihilate her people. She was living the "good life" as a pampered queen. She could have said, as did Cain, "Am I my brother's keeper." Instead, she recognize with the help of her uncle, that God put her in the position she was in during a grave time in history, not to preserve her own life, but to save many who were being unjustly targeted for extermination.
Today we have too many Cains and not enough Esthers. We have too many people that remain silent and will not speak truth in love because they are afraid of the repercussions. This is true, not only when it comes to speaking out against the injustices in our world, but more importantly the preaching of the gospel. Only the gospel can bring eternal and lasting change in the hearts of men where every imaginable evil is birthed. If we speak up against injustice and don't preach the gospel, that's a million times worse than a doctor pointing out that a person has a treatable form of cancer, but withholds the cure.
The evils of racism, which still exist, have diminished substantially in the USA. Why? Because of the Esthers that spoke up against it at great cost to themselves over a sustained period of time. And along with the crying out against injustice, the gospel, that calls men to repentance and faith in Christ to be saved from the power of sin and death, and which above all else demonstrates the justice and unconditionally love of God for all of humanity, was proclaimed with relatively little opposition.
But today, although men still cry out against the injustices in the world, there is an increasing hostility towards gospel truth. At one time Christians in America that believed the bible and proclaimed the gospel and stood for liberty and justice for all, were respected and honored. But today they are maligned and ridiculed. They are seen as part of the problem and not the solution even though the principles of liberty and justice for all that are so valued in our society are rooted in the Christianity of the scriptures. If Christians today do not rise up, as Esther did in such a time as this, if we do not preach the gospel, and live the gospel, which includes putting our necks out on behalf of the poor and oppressed, things will not get better, they will get worse. A mind that rejects with hostility the truth of the gospel, which is what society is doing today, will not be able to discern what true Liberty and Justice for all is suppose to look like (Romans 1:18-32). It already cries out for animal rights, but approves and legalizes the killing of the unborn.
The only real hope for America in a time like this is for the church to prayerfully discern where there is real injustice, cry out against it, while seeking to be part of the solution not the problem. The church is to be the example to the world of racial reconciliation and loving unity in spite of class, culture and color differences. But although we've come along way, as Dr. King said years ago, 11am on Sunday morning is still the most segregated hour of the week. Sadly, there's more unity in spite of color and class at a baseball game because of a common love for a team, than there is in the Church because of a common love for Jesus. And there in lies the real and ultimate hope of man. We cannot have unity, where godly Liberty and Justice for all exist, apart from a common love and reverence for Jesus, who demonstrated His love by freely giving his life in our place for our sin to satisfy the just demands of a holy God.
In a world where the truth of the gospel is suppressed and rejected, which leads to a moral free fall, including injustices of all sorts, if there's going to be a turn around, we need more Esthers to rise up. We cannot remain silent because of fear of the repercussions. We must cry out against injustice, but most of all we must preach and live the gospel. And we must do so across cultural, class, color, crime, and crisis lines. In times like these, the Church must like never before stay focused on our mission, which hasn't changed, namely to make disciples of all nations for the greater fame of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Mutual Encouragement is Needed
"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine."
- Romans 1:11-12
Are you discouraged? Do you feel like the joy of the Lord in waning in your life? Are you drifting from a strong faith in God? If you are not where you ought to be spiritually, it could be that you need to develop healthy, close and faith building relationship with others who know Jesus. As a Pastor it's easy to become too isolated from others in that, for example, I spend lots of time in my office writing, studying and preparing messages. A Pastor also is usually pouring into others. But notice that Paul longed to be with other believers and not just to impart unto them spiritual strength, but to be "mutually encouraged" by others who knew Jesus.
As believers we need to both give and receive spiritual gifts. These spiritual gifts can be words of wisdom, encouragement, and thanksgiving. Sending an occasional text message or email can be a way to be encouraged and to encourage others. Paul did that. He wrote letters to others. But we also need face time with people that is not electronic in nature. Jesus preached to others from a distance. But he also had intimate relationships with those he discipled. He spent time with them, he walked with them, and he prayed with them. He was in their homes. He ate with them. He cried with them. They washed his feet with tears and anointed him with expensive oils. May we seek to "be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine."
- Romans 1:11-12
Are you discouraged? Do you feel like the joy of the Lord in waning in your life? Are you drifting from a strong faith in God? If you are not where you ought to be spiritually, it could be that you need to develop healthy, close and faith building relationship with others who know Jesus. As a Pastor it's easy to become too isolated from others in that, for example, I spend lots of time in my office writing, studying and preparing messages. A Pastor also is usually pouring into others. But notice that Paul longed to be with other believers and not just to impart unto them spiritual strength, but to be "mutually encouraged" by others who knew Jesus.
As believers we need to both give and receive spiritual gifts. These spiritual gifts can be words of wisdom, encouragement, and thanksgiving. Sending an occasional text message or email can be a way to be encouraged and to encourage others. Paul did that. He wrote letters to others. But we also need face time with people that is not electronic in nature. Jesus preached to others from a distance. But he also had intimate relationships with those he discipled. He spent time with them, he walked with them, and he prayed with them. He was in their homes. He ate with them. He cried with them. They washed his feet with tears and anointed him with expensive oils. May we seek to "be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine."
Monday, July 18, 2016
When your're angry
"And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” Esther 5:4
Esther didn't come before the King at great risk to her life to invite him to a banquet. She came to plead for her people, who were fasting and no doubt praying for her about this encounter at her request. But Esther didn't rush it. She waited before appealing to the King for an opportune time. How she knew to wait we do not know for sure, but we do know that her waiting paid off. Esther was later able to expose Haman's plot against her people, and he ended up being hung on the gallows he built to kill her uncle Mordecai. Gary Chapman said, "righteous anger is designed by God to motivate us to take constructive action in the face of wrongdoing and injustice." But it's possible for us to be rightly angry at an injustice, but react to it in a wrong manner. Therefore Gary Chapman recommends that we restrain our immediate response. James wrote. "...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger..." (James 1:19-20). It's wise for us before responding to what appears in our eyes to be injustice, to first of all stop and pray. Ask God to search your heart. Analyze your anger. Adrain Rogers said, "The way to be angry and sin not is to be angry at sin." Are you angry at sin? Also, Avoid an immediate response. For example, don't discipline your child in the heat of anger. If you do, you will more than likely be overly excessive in your discipline and it will not be constructive to your child. Lastly, Act in the Spirit not in the flesh. Esther acted in the Spirit because she was prayed up. She had received counsel from her godly uncle. Others were fasting and no doubt praying. Furthermore, she was restrained in her response. She waited for an opportune time. You're less likely to act in the Spirit, if you are not daily seeking God's counsel in prayer and in the word. In addition, we need godly wise people speaking into our lives. We need to be in the word and under the word. May God help us all, especially in this day and age, to "be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:-19-20).
Esther didn't come before the King at great risk to her life to invite him to a banquet. She came to plead for her people, who were fasting and no doubt praying for her about this encounter at her request. But Esther didn't rush it. She waited before appealing to the King for an opportune time. How she knew to wait we do not know for sure, but we do know that her waiting paid off. Esther was later able to expose Haman's plot against her people, and he ended up being hung on the gallows he built to kill her uncle Mordecai. Gary Chapman said, "righteous anger is designed by God to motivate us to take constructive action in the face of wrongdoing and injustice." But it's possible for us to be rightly angry at an injustice, but react to it in a wrong manner. Therefore Gary Chapman recommends that we restrain our immediate response. James wrote. "...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger..." (James 1:19-20). It's wise for us before responding to what appears in our eyes to be injustice, to first of all stop and pray. Ask God to search your heart. Analyze your anger. Adrain Rogers said, "The way to be angry and sin not is to be angry at sin." Are you angry at sin? Also, Avoid an immediate response. For example, don't discipline your child in the heat of anger. If you do, you will more than likely be overly excessive in your discipline and it will not be constructive to your child. Lastly, Act in the Spirit not in the flesh. Esther acted in the Spirit because she was prayed up. She had received counsel from her godly uncle. Others were fasting and no doubt praying. Furthermore, she was restrained in her response. She waited for an opportune time. You're less likely to act in the Spirit, if you are not daily seeking God's counsel in prayer and in the word. In addition, we need godly wise people speaking into our lives. We need to be in the word and under the word. May God help us all, especially in this day and age, to "be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:-19-20).
Friday, July 15, 2016
Dealing with Lawlessness
“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12).
We all know that without the rule of law, chaos will ensue. In order for a society to function there must be order. Therefore, God ordained government to keep the peace. The apostle Paul wrote, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:1-2). In cities like Chicago, Law Enforcement Officers are on the front lines to maintain law and order. While we are sleeping peacefully at night, Law Enforcement Officers are patrolling the streets, responding to calls of crimes that are in progress, and often putting their very lives at risk.
Now because of the vital role that Law Enforcement Officers have to keep the peace, Paul wrote in 2 Timothy chapter two, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 2:1-4).
As of first importance, Paul, with a sense of urgency, exhorted believers to pray for all people, and more specifically, those in positions of authority so that we, among others things, may live in a peaceful society. This is vital because where there is an absence of peace, due to lawlessness, Jesus said, "the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12).
Why does lawlessness lead to lovelessness and coldness? Obviously people who have a disregard for the rule of law also have a disregard for the rights and property of others. And disregarding others for your own self interest and selfish ambition is the opposite of love and leads to "disorder and every vile practice" (James 3:16).
Lawlessness also breeds fearfulness. When people experience fear, real or imagined, the human instinct is to protect oneself, to put ones guards up, and to put distance between oneself and the object of one's fear. Jesus said that in the last days lawlessness will increase (Matt. 24:12) and men's hearts will faint because of fear (Luke 21:26).
Today in our world there is certainly and without a doubt both lawlessness and fearfulness. And unless this lawlessness is restrained, and the fearfulness is calmed, coldness and lovelessness will sweep over our society. And if this happens, there will be utter disorder and every vile practice.
So what do we do as Christians and citizens to respond to the lawlessness and fearfulness that we see in our society? Do we throw up our hands and declare every man for himself? Do we take up arms? No! We first of all, turn to God in prayer and cry out to him for all people and those who are in authority. We pray for peace. We pray for Law Enforcement who are on the front lines to restrain evil in a just manner. We peacefully demand that those who abuse their authority be held accountable.
We also need to acknowledge with great sensitivity that some in our society, especially in the black community, fear that there is systematic racism in Law Enforcement that leads to blacks being imprisoned unjustly and even killed. In an interview with The Gospel Coalition, Brandon Murphy, a pastor and deputy sherriff in a large Southern city said, "Our justice system isn’t perfect. And sometimes police make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes are purposeful since they have hatred in their hearts because of sin. But I believe those occasions are rare. Historically speaking, policing in America has been a tragic profession. We will always be trying to undo what our grandparents did. We must be diligent to give people an area for healthy dialogue involving available facts and validated feelings. Whites need to recognize that millions of people in this country have not benefited from the same background and privilege that they have. And blacks need to recognize that not all police officers are bad."
As a former Police officer, I don't believe that there is an assault on blacks by the Police. Recently, I read in a FaceBook post someone suggesting that Police Officers need to stop patrolling certain neighborhoods like they're in a war zone. In response, someone else wrote, "There have been over 2000 shootings in Chicago through June, and the overwhelming majority happened in a small handful of neighborhoods. More people are shot in those neighborhoods than in Baghdad or Kabul, which are in active war zones. Police are humans, they are going to be on edge in those neighborhoods. Anyone would be, you can't train that out of people and probably shouldn't if you could. Take the inherent danger away, and that edge will go away with it. It's a myth that it begins with the police. All things good and bad start with the community itself, and all communities start with the family. It doesn't
matter what color people are. Show me any community where the majority of households are strong family households, and I'll show you a community that is safe and without so called police overreach no matter what color the residents happen to be."
I believe that there is much truth to officers being on edge in high crimes areas and that change does not all fall on the Police. As was suggested in the Facebook post, it starts with the family. But what about children that are not being raised in stable homes? The church for one needs to get out of their comfortable buildings and seek to minister to these children with the hope and love of the gospel. Children and their parents coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus and being discipled (mentored) is the greatest hope for all communities.
As a Pastor, I recently received an e-mail from a Christian organization called Grip that is looking for churches to partner with them in mentoring children in neighborhoods where there's a breakdown in the family. GRIP Outreach for Youth exists to break the fatherless cycle in our city through Christ-centered Life-on-Life relationships. More churches need to get involved with ministries like this (www.gripyouth.com).
Now suggesting that change starts with the family doesn't mean that officers that cross the line should not be held accountable. They must be held accountable. I appreciate what I heard Pastor James Ford say recently, "If a person will not be accountable to nobody, they will not be responsible to anybody." He was speaking about husbands when he shared those words, but they apply to all who have positions of authority. There must be accountability or there will irresponsibility. And irresponsibility can lead to brutality. Responsible people who have nothing to hide welcome accountability.
Let me add that those in charge of holding others accountable must be responsible too. For example, videos of Officer's using force to effect an arrest can be a tool for accountability, but they don't always tell the whole story. In addition, they can be taken out of context. Furthermore, as human beings, we are often biased one way or the other and sometimes fail to judge things objectively. Those holding others accountable, and that includes the average citizen, must be responsible. This involves being informed and not rushing to judgement.
But what about those officers who are on edge in crime ridden neighborhoods? Can something be done, or should something be done to take the edge off? Having policing experience, I can tell you
that not being on edge can get an officer killed, if by being on edge we mean hyper vigilant, alert, and even fearful of potential danger.
Are there times when an officer's fears may be unwarranted? Yes. Sometimes these unwarranted fears that may lead to deadly force can be reasonable or unreasonable. It may be reasonable for an Officer to think that someone was pointing a gun at them and responds with deadly force, but was mistaken. Are there Officers who possess unwarranted fears that are based on the color of someone else's skin that can lead to an unjust and unreasonable use of force? I don't believe this is common, but I do believe it exists. And when it is determined that an Officer acted in such a way, he must be justly held accountable.
So in addition to praying for peace, we must acknowledge the real fears that exist in both the community and Law Enforcement. To deal with these fears, the community and the police department need to come together to acknowledge and talk about these fears and seek to understand one another. Face to face respectful communication and building relationships can build trust and create understanding that can lower fears on both sides.
In addition, there needs to be mutual respect. Officers in high crime areas can do a better job communicating with citizens that they daily interact with in a more respectful and professional manner. And when an officer is performing their duties, citizens should carefully respond to a Police Officer's reasonable commands even when they appear on edge. This will go a long way at calming any unwarranted fears that can lead to an unnecessary escalation of force.
We must point out and cry out against injustice when we see it. But God help us to do more than just point out the problems. As Christian, may we seek to be the ministers of reconciliation we are called to be. As children of God, let's lead the way in doing everything we can to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:8). In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: Only love can do that." Let's be the light and by God's grace we will not be "overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21).
We all know that without the rule of law, chaos will ensue. In order for a society to function there must be order. Therefore, God ordained government to keep the peace. The apostle Paul wrote, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:1-2). In cities like Chicago, Law Enforcement Officers are on the front lines to maintain law and order. While we are sleeping peacefully at night, Law Enforcement Officers are patrolling the streets, responding to calls of crimes that are in progress, and often putting their very lives at risk.
Now because of the vital role that Law Enforcement Officers have to keep the peace, Paul wrote in 2 Timothy chapter two, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 2:1-4).
As of first importance, Paul, with a sense of urgency, exhorted believers to pray for all people, and more specifically, those in positions of authority so that we, among others things, may live in a peaceful society. This is vital because where there is an absence of peace, due to lawlessness, Jesus said, "the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12).
Why does lawlessness lead to lovelessness and coldness? Obviously people who have a disregard for the rule of law also have a disregard for the rights and property of others. And disregarding others for your own self interest and selfish ambition is the opposite of love and leads to "disorder and every vile practice" (James 3:16).
Lawlessness also breeds fearfulness. When people experience fear, real or imagined, the human instinct is to protect oneself, to put ones guards up, and to put distance between oneself and the object of one's fear. Jesus said that in the last days lawlessness will increase (Matt. 24:12) and men's hearts will faint because of fear (Luke 21:26).
Today in our world there is certainly and without a doubt both lawlessness and fearfulness. And unless this lawlessness is restrained, and the fearfulness is calmed, coldness and lovelessness will sweep over our society. And if this happens, there will be utter disorder and every vile practice.
So what do we do as Christians and citizens to respond to the lawlessness and fearfulness that we see in our society? Do we throw up our hands and declare every man for himself? Do we take up arms? No! We first of all, turn to God in prayer and cry out to him for all people and those who are in authority. We pray for peace. We pray for Law Enforcement who are on the front lines to restrain evil in a just manner. We peacefully demand that those who abuse their authority be held accountable.
We also need to acknowledge with great sensitivity that some in our society, especially in the black community, fear that there is systematic racism in Law Enforcement that leads to blacks being imprisoned unjustly and even killed. In an interview with The Gospel Coalition, Brandon Murphy, a pastor and deputy sherriff in a large Southern city said, "Our justice system isn’t perfect. And sometimes police make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes are purposeful since they have hatred in their hearts because of sin. But I believe those occasions are rare. Historically speaking, policing in America has been a tragic profession. We will always be trying to undo what our grandparents did. We must be diligent to give people an area for healthy dialogue involving available facts and validated feelings. Whites need to recognize that millions of people in this country have not benefited from the same background and privilege that they have. And blacks need to recognize that not all police officers are bad."
As a former Police officer, I don't believe that there is an assault on blacks by the Police. Recently, I read in a FaceBook post someone suggesting that Police Officers need to stop patrolling certain neighborhoods like they're in a war zone. In response, someone else wrote, "There have been over 2000 shootings in Chicago through June, and the overwhelming majority happened in a small handful of neighborhoods. More people are shot in those neighborhoods than in Baghdad or Kabul, which are in active war zones. Police are humans, they are going to be on edge in those neighborhoods. Anyone would be, you can't train that out of people and probably shouldn't if you could. Take the inherent danger away, and that edge will go away with it. It's a myth that it begins with the police. All things good and bad start with the community itself, and all communities start with the family. It doesn't
matter what color people are. Show me any community where the majority of households are strong family households, and I'll show you a community that is safe and without so called police overreach no matter what color the residents happen to be."
I believe that there is much truth to officers being on edge in high crimes areas and that change does not all fall on the Police. As was suggested in the Facebook post, it starts with the family. But what about children that are not being raised in stable homes? The church for one needs to get out of their comfortable buildings and seek to minister to these children with the hope and love of the gospel. Children and their parents coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus and being discipled (mentored) is the greatest hope for all communities.
As a Pastor, I recently received an e-mail from a Christian organization called Grip that is looking for churches to partner with them in mentoring children in neighborhoods where there's a breakdown in the family. GRIP Outreach for Youth exists to break the fatherless cycle in our city through Christ-centered Life-on-Life relationships. More churches need to get involved with ministries like this (www.gripyouth.com).
Now suggesting that change starts with the family doesn't mean that officers that cross the line should not be held accountable. They must be held accountable. I appreciate what I heard Pastor James Ford say recently, "If a person will not be accountable to nobody, they will not be responsible to anybody." He was speaking about husbands when he shared those words, but they apply to all who have positions of authority. There must be accountability or there will irresponsibility. And irresponsibility can lead to brutality. Responsible people who have nothing to hide welcome accountability.
Let me add that those in charge of holding others accountable must be responsible too. For example, videos of Officer's using force to effect an arrest can be a tool for accountability, but they don't always tell the whole story. In addition, they can be taken out of context. Furthermore, as human beings, we are often biased one way or the other and sometimes fail to judge things objectively. Those holding others accountable, and that includes the average citizen, must be responsible. This involves being informed and not rushing to judgement.
But what about those officers who are on edge in crime ridden neighborhoods? Can something be done, or should something be done to take the edge off? Having policing experience, I can tell you
that not being on edge can get an officer killed, if by being on edge we mean hyper vigilant, alert, and even fearful of potential danger.
Are there times when an officer's fears may be unwarranted? Yes. Sometimes these unwarranted fears that may lead to deadly force can be reasonable or unreasonable. It may be reasonable for an Officer to think that someone was pointing a gun at them and responds with deadly force, but was mistaken. Are there Officers who possess unwarranted fears that are based on the color of someone else's skin that can lead to an unjust and unreasonable use of force? I don't believe this is common, but I do believe it exists. And when it is determined that an Officer acted in such a way, he must be justly held accountable.
So in addition to praying for peace, we must acknowledge the real fears that exist in both the community and Law Enforcement. To deal with these fears, the community and the police department need to come together to acknowledge and talk about these fears and seek to understand one another. Face to face respectful communication and building relationships can build trust and create understanding that can lower fears on both sides.
In addition, there needs to be mutual respect. Officers in high crime areas can do a better job communicating with citizens that they daily interact with in a more respectful and professional manner. And when an officer is performing their duties, citizens should carefully respond to a Police Officer's reasonable commands even when they appear on edge. This will go a long way at calming any unwarranted fears that can lead to an unnecessary escalation of force.
We must point out and cry out against injustice when we see it. But God help us to do more than just point out the problems. As Christian, may we seek to be the ministers of reconciliation we are called to be. As children of God, let's lead the way in doing everything we can to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:8). In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: Only love can do that." Let's be the light and by God's grace we will not be "overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21).
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Take Courage
"The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Acts 23:11
This account in the life of Paul demonstrates the power of God in how He can use the evil conspiracies of man to accomplish His purposes. The religious Jews were falsely accusing Paul before the Roman authorities, while at the same time, forty men had committed themselves to assassinating him. But God had other plans, namely for Paul to preach the gospel in Rome. And because evil plots were uncovered, and trials ensued, He was eventually taken to Rome with a Roman security escort and all expenses paid by tax payer's dollars.
But although God was working behind the scenes, early on it appears that Paul may have been losing heart. However, the Lord stood by him at night to encourage him and reveal to him that He was at work amidst all the craziness going on in his life. Are you fearful because of circumstances beyond your control or because of what others may be conspiring to do against you? Take courage today in knowing that where man rules, God overrules. And let the light of Jesus shine brightly in your life. He is standing with you.
This account in the life of Paul demonstrates the power of God in how He can use the evil conspiracies of man to accomplish His purposes. The religious Jews were falsely accusing Paul before the Roman authorities, while at the same time, forty men had committed themselves to assassinating him. But God had other plans, namely for Paul to preach the gospel in Rome. And because evil plots were uncovered, and trials ensued, He was eventually taken to Rome with a Roman security escort and all expenses paid by tax payer's dollars.
But although God was working behind the scenes, early on it appears that Paul may have been losing heart. However, the Lord stood by him at night to encourage him and reveal to him that He was at work amidst all the craziness going on in his life. Are you fearful because of circumstances beyond your control or because of what others may be conspiring to do against you? Take courage today in knowing that where man rules, God overrules. And let the light of Jesus shine brightly in your life. He is standing with you.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Considered Reliable
"And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers."
- Nehemiah 13:13
When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after taking care of some business with the Babylonian King, he found that the work of the Lord was being neglected. It started when one of the leaders in charge of the chambers in the house of God had neglected to fulfill his responsibilities. In fact, he allowed one of his godless relatives to move into one of the chambers, where some of the treasury was kept. As a result, it appears that this contributed to the priests, who were supported through the treasury, being neglected. And because they were neglected, they returned to their fields in order to provide for themselves and their families. Now, if the priests where in the fields, who was taking care of the business of the temple, namely worshiping God and providing for the spiritual needs of God's people? Nobody!
Today there's a similar neglect taking place in the house of God that is the church. Leaders are to busy catering to the needs of the consumer driven Christian. And as a result, have turned the house of God, where God is to be worshipped, and disciples are to be made, into a house of entertainment, a house of programs for the whole family, a house of activities, a house that promotes political parties, and in some cases even a haunted house for Halloween.
There are believers, who are not consumer driven Christians, trying to do the work of the Lord, but far to often they are doing so many things, that they can't doing anything as well as they could. Why? Because let's be honest, we have too many other believers that come to church to be served, but have no real interest in becoming disciple makers. And we wonder why the church is becoming more and more irrelevant in our society. The average Christian is a consumer not a disciple maker looking to be used of God to bring change in the world.
When Nehemiah got back to Jerusalem and saw all the neglect in the house of God, he became angry. Tobiah, who was allowed to set up a cozy apartment in the house of God, was evicted and his furniture was put on the street. Afterward, Nehemiah had the house of God cleansed. In addition, the bible says that he confronted the neglectful leaders, and appointed other leaders, who were considered reliable, to be responsible for distributing to the needs of the priests that served the Lord in His house.
Similarly, if the church is going to make a difference in this world, we need to get back to focusing on the right things (disciple making not catering to the consumer, prayer and the word) for the right reason, (spreading the fame of Jesus), with the right leaders (those considered reliable and are looking out for the spiritual well being of others not their own selfish interests and egos). Does God see you as one of the reliable ones?
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