Truth 03-2008
In John 18:38 Pilate says to Jesus "What is truth?" As in any rhetorical question Pilate doesn’t wait for Jesus to answer. If ever a time existed in Pilate’s life to wait for an answer that was it. Seeking truth is likely as popular today as any other time in history. But like Pilate, listening to the answer somehow gets lost under the weight of daily living. Many things, like the ideas of political correctness, tolerance and open-mindedness, have us bound to stories without the necessity of truth.
Our society seems to say that every story from every person must be accepted as truth. It may not be fact but if it is perceived as truth to the teller it should be accepted as such by everyone else. This is also nothing new, it was the same in Jesus’ day. It seems then and now the only requirement is that the story has some truth weaved within it, somewhere. It was that way in Star Trek. They’d pitch a commonly know fact or two then add whatever was needed to support that week’s story line.
Sometimes it is as simple as taking a spiritual truth and applying it to a physical instance. That’s what satan told Eve in the third chapter of Genesis: “You surely will not die!” Physically he was right, she didn’t die. But spiritually Adam and Eve died the moment they placed their will and desires above their relationship with the Creator.
Here’s what Jesus said in verses 31 and 32 of the eight chapter of John: So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
More that anything people need to know the freedom that can only come through a relationship with Jesus. In Him is the only place authentic truth can be found.
The Truth is simple, uncomplicated and for some difficult to accept. The fall in the garden created a great rift that caused mankind to be separated from God. God gave the Law and the sacrificial system to show us if there was ever to be a bridge over the gap between God and man it was impossible for it to be built from man’s side; it would have to be God who constructed it. Jesus is that bridge.
In His service and yours, Tim
A Relevant God- 02-2008
I think last month’s blog spawned something in me. Have you ever though about what it means for God to be the same yesterday, today and forever? If that is true (here’s a hint; it is) than we have to understand the true meaning of those words. We need to know how God applies to our lives today and still holds relevance to the past and the future. My suggesting we Christians need to change is perhaps one of my greatest misunderstood proposals. Not change who God is but how we present the gospel. Even today in our fast passed, over extended lives Jesus is still Good News. God is relevant to today’s society. The world needs Jesus. In every culture, era and instance Jesus is relevant. In that I believe is where we’ll find the supreme truth of our changeless God.
Before Eden was created God was relevant to a future nation asking for a king to rule them. When a shepherd was anointed King God was relevant in the past to a man named Abram who was challenged to leave all that he knew to pursue the hope of a promise. When two fishermen left their father, their boat and their livelihood to follow Jesus and become part of something that changed the world God was relevant to a few believers in the future that gathered together in a store front on Azuza St. When a young preacher named Wesley was asked to leave the church because he thought the good new should go outside the four walls of the church God was relevant to a past nation expecting a King to deliver them from Roman rule but given a loving Savior instead. When Solomon build the temple God was relevant to a future priest named Luther.
Time is a gift of God created for our benefit. Time is not for Him; He always has been and always will be. The Lamb was slain from the foundation of the earth. Does the reality of that verse ever sink in fully? God has plans for you and me before He created Adam and Eve.
My desire for today’s believers is to reach the lost with the good news of a Savior who is relevant to the lives the live in 2008, not an archaic dead religious experience.
I do believe God is the same yesterday, today and forever because Jesus, in every nation, age and occasion is relevant. We may need to identify how to present the message but unconditional love of God is never obsolete.
In His service and yours, Tim
Changing with the Times- 01-2008
I just realized I never uploaded the December Blog... My apologies. Although it is tempting to use it, save this for next month and be ahead somehow that goes against my grain, so here's January's. --Tim
As Crystal and I are preparing for a trip the first part of the month and I am filled with excitement and apprehension. It is energizing and exhausting all at once. As one season ends and another begins it brings me to this blog. For some reason a few lines of old songs rattled through my head as I put this together, so forgive the secular lyrics and press on to the meaning, I think it is worth it.
Bob Dylan sang "and the times they are a changin'..." and this truth rings out with the coming year. Finishing off a "7" year where many things went through perfecting (myself included~ not that I am now perfect but it is a process this perfecting and '07 was a big year in the Langley house). I can say in 2007 I learned to love people more, and in some cases better. I learned to stand up for what is right, no matter the cost (this one came with a price tag, but God is faithful to His word and is turning that around in big ways already becoming evident).
Geddy Lee sang "changes aren't permanent, but change is". An this brings me to a second truth. Change is always with us as Christians. We are to press-on, press-in and push forward. Is is part of a cycle that God not only created but requires.
I think this is where some people got the idea of evolution. There will always be change. As I see it God gave all things created by Him the ability to adapt to their surrounds, the ability to survive in the face of change. Given time plants and animals make the changes necessary to survive. Although in some cases change came quicker than adaptation and species were lost (the Dodo bird for example). The fossil record does not support evolution as Darwin had planned. But, in my opinion, it does support adaptation. There are not missing links fossils but there is a short necked giraffe. Birds appearing to be common species but different from one island of the Galapagos, likewise with tortoises, I believe support adaptation. As one island is different the creatures needed to adapt to survive. This brings me to Christians (in case you just got whiplash from the directional transition please read on).
Reaching the lost the same old way is not as effective as it once was so we need to adapt. There was a time when you could invite someone to church (just church, not a Christmas Program, Easter Pageant or Fall Festival, just church) and they'd show up because of the invitation. Perhaps it was because the invite-or had relationship with the invite-ee, even if that relationship was at the level of neighbors. In simpler times people knew who lived next door and even brought over a meal or two when someone was sick, a baby was born or a family member died. Before someone tells me how that still happens, remember I'm just generalizing and in general is doesn't happen as often as it once did. Suburban sprawl, two income families and latch-key kids have become the norm.
Which brings me to an idea. What if churches not only did these things within the church family but kept watch over the few blocks that surround the church building. Keep and eye out for illnesses, births and deaths within that small area? Could we reach out another block or two as the church grew because of the care, meals and prayers to the first blocks? Maybe it would be worth a shot.
Well, it's just an idea, what do I know? I can't ever keep this up-to-date, but at least I try.
In His service and yours, Tim
Seasonal Distractions- 11-2007
I have been at a loss as to the November Blog. I’ve been working on the concept for most of the month but it kept coming off too preachy. So although today is the day before Thanksgiving and I am just now at a point where I can get something uploaded I decided not to put it off any longer. So here it is, hope you enjoy the ride.
While reading some notes I’d written in the margins of my Bible I noticed a though I had started but not finished. It may have been the greatest revelation of my life but I cannot know that today because I never finished the thought. No doubt I was studying for another message or something when I got that revelation and as I started to write it down I was interrupted by something and I stopped. Stopped to never get back to what I was writing. Although this may seem insignificant God opened my eyes to something amazing. How many times has He spoken and something has caused a distraction and the revelation slips away? I think the answer for most of us is “Too often”.
Maybe this is what Jesus was saying in Matthew 13. We know God has a way of having a deeper meaning in everything, why not here too? First, Jesus tells the parable of the Sower then later explains it to His closes followers, the disciples. Clearly Jesus describes these people as being in their position or conditions permanently; He makes no mention or concession that it could be anything else. But what if it could also be about us from time to time?
Could it also refer to us when we have busy days and are too distracted to get much from out personal study? Could it not also be when there is a distraction in the middle of the preacher’s sermon at the weekend service? Nothing major like the roof collapsing or the ground trembling, but just enough for us to lose our train of thought. The evil one is waiting to snatch the word away; do we really think he only wants to snatch it away for others? That in some how or some way we’re immune to having revelation “snatched” away? What if the evil one is not physically there to take hold of the revelation we get and rip it from our hands but keeps enough daily distraction that we never really get a tight grip and we allow it to slip away?
So as the season of holidays, friends and cheer approaches keep in mind we can’t just say Jesus is the reason for the season we need to set and protect our time with the Lord.
In His service and yours, Tim
Picking Up Offensive- 10-2007
Matthew 11:11a "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!
I don’t know about you but that sounds like pretty high praise to me. Out of the mouth of Jesus come accolades about John none of us have heard God speak regarding us. Can you Imagine Jesus, God incarnate, saying you’re the greatest person ever born? That’s something, right now get the picture that John the Baptist, in Jesus’ own words, is the greatest man ever born. But to keep in line with the subject matter we need to go back a few verses.
Matthew 11:1-6 says: When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. "And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."
John sent his disciples to ask if Jesus was or was not the Messiah. Now, if we look back in Matthew chapter 3 we’ll find where John actually baptized Jesus. A quick check in the other gospels of this event reviles something John previously said of Jesus. Jesus arrives at the river to be baptized, John proclaims to all humanity within ear shot that Jesus is the Lamb of God and will take away the sin of the world. That’s some big revelation for a guy who lives in the woods, wears camel hair and eats bugs don't you think?
But how does John go from such a great revelation to questioning his previous assessment of the deity of Jesus? I think we find the answer in verse six. Jesus says, “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me”. I believe Jesus would not have brought up offense if no one was offended. If someone who, by Jesus’ own confession, is the greatest among men can become offended should we not take notes and guard ourselves? Offense to say the least is a deceptive taskmaster that arrives in the clothing of a servant and works its way to domination through justification, manipulation and deception.
But where does John take offense at the ministry of Jesus? Jesus was not doing things the way John though the Messiah should be doing them. This is where most, dare I say all offenses develop. Offenses we pick up because of situations beyond our control, offensives from the treatment we receive from others and even offensives developed through our own actions all have their root in the same place: Things did not come to pass our way. Jesus didn’t do it like we though He should.
Although it may start in or with someone or something else eventually all roads lead to Christ when it comes to offenses. How we thought Jesus should have handled the situation was not to our expectation. He let that person do or say something when He should have stopped them. He allowed this or that and created the current situation where we wonder; “Where is God in all this”?
The amazing things is the simple truth, harsh to some relief to others, God does not care how we think it should be done. He does it His way. Not because He is harsh or uncaring but because He loves us and His way always brings about His desired results. In our case His desire is for us to look more like Christ.
When Christ came to the earth it was not to fulfill His agenda but the bigger plan of the Father. Jesus came so by His death, burial and resurrection all mankind could be reconciled to God. Was it easy? Of course not. On the Cross Jesus cried out to the God why have you forsaken Me? That does not sound easy, but it does sound like a future blog.
In His service and yours, Tim
