Josh began the Sunday morning sermon with a brief prayer that he found he was using a lot, lately: that God would take control of his mouth, and of the ears of the congregation, so that God's true word would be both properly spoken and properly heard.
"For the past several weeks, principally on Sunday evenings, we've been studying about the life of Jesus, as revealed to us in His own words in the four Gospels. As I've said a number of times, it's especially important that we dwell on the Gospels because these are where Jesus is quoted directly. If we really want to know who He is, how He feels, and how He wants us to act, the Gospels are the places to go.
"Matthew 6 and 7 cover a lot of ground. It's ground that is extremely important to you if, like a number of us, you are seeking answers to the question: how would Jesus live my life? This is direct instruction, with more constructive advice than you'll find anywhere else in the New Testament. Let's look at a couple of the topics he covered.
First, in reading verses 1 through 18 of Chapter 6, you might come away with the impression that Jesus was down on religion. In verse 1, He tells us not to make a big show of it - our religion, that is. Verse 2: don't broadcast your good deeds. Verses 5 to 7: don't pray in public, and don't pray long prayers. Verses 16 to 18: if you are fasting, hide it.
"What do you think He is saying to us? Is He telling us that we shouldn't have church services with singing and praying and testifying and taking offerings and all those church exercises that we love? Is He saying we shouldn't praise Him aloud, and that we shouldn't tell other people when good things happen? No, I don't believe He's saying any of those things.
"What I think is that He's continuing the message He started to deliver, and that we covered last week, about the real meaning of the Law. As you'll recall, He was deeply concerned that people were living by rules and regulations, without any thought to the message behind them. Many people, including some who were considered very 'religious,' were just following a set of mechanical regulations, thinking that if they lived by the letter of the Law, they could divorce themselves from any feeling, or from any responsibility for those around them. He clearly told them - and us - that they - we - had missed His whole meaning. Obedience to God's law has to originate in the heart, then move on to the head. It doesn't work in reverse.
"These verses in Chapter 6 continue to address the same issue. Praying long prayers doesn't make you holy. God knows it all, anyway. Jesus suggests that some folks babble on and on, thinking that the more they say the more likely that God will hear them. Not so! Similarly, crowing about your good works may sometimes win you the favor of men and women (those you don't turn off by it, anyway), but it doesn't do anything for God. He also says that fasting isn't a spectator sport; if we do it, it's in obedience to God. Putting it bluntly, Jesus suggests that a lot of folks who are outwardly religious are just showing off! His commentary on this outward show of religion is short and to the point: don't expect any more from God, because you have your reward, already!"
He paused a moment, to change the tone of his message. Interestingly, he didn't look to see how the congregation was reacting to what he said. He felt good, and felt he was saying what he needed to say. What else did he need?
"I read a book a year or so ago, with this eye-catching title: 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.’ [1] I really liked the book, and I thought at the time that I got a lot out of it. However, it's only been in the past few weeks that I've begun to see how important the message is, and how much it parallels Jesus' message to us here in Matthew 6 and 7. The author, Stephen Covey, notes that for a number of years we have been living in a culture here in the United States that traffics in techniques for success. Books, tapes, seminars, and magazine articles all have success to sell: if you do this, you will get this. You learn how to dress for success, how to talk, how to negotiate (either tough sell, or soft sell), and even how to smile with sincerity. Mr. Covey labels this approach to life as the ‘Personality Ethic,’ an approach that says that if you just do it right, fortune will fall at your feet.
"Covey examines this 'Personality Ethic’ in some detail, but then rejects it as being superficial, manipulative, self-serving, and rarely the hallmark of the truly successful person. He doesn't reject all the techniques and self-help instructions, because some are truly positive and useful. What he concludes is that those who really live effective lives have a different approach to living, one he labels the ‘Character Ethic.' This ethic is based not on techniques, but on principles. You do things because they're the right things to do, not because doing them will get you somewhere. You know they're the right things because you have a philosophy of life that has developed over time. You're comfortable with yourself, and because you know who you are, you can react in your own inner confidence, without need for gimmicks, or manipulations, or worrying about ‘getting what you deserve.’
"Getting back to the Gospels, I think that Jesus is telling us that a lot of so-called 'religion' is identifiable with Covey's ‘Personality Ethic,’ emphasizing outward appearance, gimmicks, and self-serving behavior. But Jesus wants us to approach life with a ‘Character Ethic,’ doing things because they're the right things to do, not for the reward. In the rest of Matthew 6 and in Matthew 7, He describes some of the manifestations and the fruits of living the 'Character Ethic’ kind of life.
"First, we don't worry. (Easy for Him to say, right!) But seriously, He's saying that we can learn not to worry, that it's an unprofitable exercise. Why should we worry, He asks. Do birds worry? No, and they do just fine. How about flowers? ‘Consider the lilies of the field.' He's made them beautiful. Here's one I especially like: how many of you have added an inch to your height by worrying about how tall you were? In all probability, worry is more likely to shrink you! And of course, the classic: why worry about tomorrow? We've got plenty of problems today!
"To digress a little bit, I think some folks have missed the point of this set of scriptures, and have interpreted Jesus' words to mean that we shouldn't plan or anticipate. Don't think about tomorrow, they say. Actually, I believe one of the great gifts available to us through the Holy Spirit is the ability to look ahead. Planning keeps us out of unnecessary trouble, and it helps us to use our time and resources wisely. Also, looking ahead can be one of the most delicious pastimes there is - sweet anticipation! I think that's good stuff, as long as we don't take our fantasies, and retreat into some dream world. No, what I think Jesus was talking about was needless worry - anxious thoughts, as one Bible translation states it. If you're worrying needlessly, then you're not letting the Holy Spirit work.
"Point one: you don't worry. Now for point two: you aren't judgmental. There are two very famous sayings from Jesus that explain why we aren't to be judges. One is right here in Matthew 7: who are you, Jesus asks, to be upset about a speck in your brother's eye when you have a whole two-by-four in your own? The other is in John 8, where people bring an adulteress before Jesus, to get Him to condemn her to death (which was the Old Testament punishment for that particular transgression). Remember what Jesus told them: the one in the crowd who had never sinned could cast the first stone. There were no stones cast that day!
"Jesus' point, of course, is that no one but God is without some sin in his or her life, so only God has the credentials to be a judge over the human race.
"To digress again, this sounds a little like Jesus is telling us to let everyone do their own thing, and not interfere no matter how wrong or how harmful the actions are. After all, it would be 'judgmental' to try to correct a fault in someone else, wouldn't it?
"If you all had your Greek dictionaries with you, you could look up the definition of the word that is translated ‘judge’ in the New Testament. You'd find that it means to act like a judge in a courtroom - to pass a final judgment, to condemn, and to decide on a punishment. We clearly are not in any position to do that kind of judging. On a less lofty plane, we're also not in any position to think less of any person because they think or act differently than we do. Clearly, Jesus had this full spectrum in mind when He told us not to judge. He meant don't take the law into your own hands, but He also meant don't succumb to the self- righteous, disparaging 'I'm better than you' type of judging, either.
"But what about trying to get a friend off drugs, or counselling someone who you know is stealing from work or having an extra-marital affair? Is that ‘judging’? Well, I suppose there could be some judgmental attitudes involved, so check your motives and actions carefully. But I think that this type of 'interference’ is a manifestation of the 'new commandment' that Jesus gave us, as recorded in John 14:34: a new commandment I give you, that you love one another just as I have loved you. It isn't love to sit by and let another human being self-destruct. If this kind of intervention - this proactive, caring, there's something wrong and I need to try to help approach - involves ‘judging,’ it certainly isn't the kind Jesus told us not to do. In fact, it's the approach that Jesus Himself used time after time, and that is embodied in His exhortation to us in Matthew 7:12, the verse that has come to be known as the "Golden Rule’: always treat others as you would like to be treated. Wouldn't you like people to care for you unconditionally, and to always be looking out for your best interests? It sounds pretty good to me!"
* * *
Pete met Paul and Jenny at their car after the service. "Paul, Donna and I need a break. Would you tell Josh that we won't be around for the next two weekends?"
Paul looked at him quizzically, then looked around for Josh. "Why don't you tell him, yourself?"
Pete looked away. "I can't talk to him right now."
There was an uncomfortable silence. "Pete, this isn't the way to handle things."
Pete bristled. “Look, you don't have to pay us. We'll take leave without pay."
“That's not the issue, as far as I know. You have leave coming, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Well, there's no question of pay, then, and I don't see any reason you can't go. We'll cover for you. I just meant that it wasn't right not to talk it over with Josh."
Pete bristled again. "Why should he care? He's got troubles of his own!"
"Come on, Pete, you know he cares. He cares very much."
"So I've noticed.”
Paul had already guessed what was wrong, but now it was clear. "Pete, you know that Josh isn't going to abandon you and Donna, no matter what he decides."
"Isn't he?"
"No, he isn't."
"Why don't I get that impression?"
"Because you're not thinking clearly."
"Thanks a lot," said Pete, sarcastically.
"Come on, Pete, snap out of it. You know Josh is as concerned about you as he is about himself. Well, don't you?"
Pete paused, really trying to think. "No, Paul, I guess I really don't know that. I'd like to believe it; I really would. But I just can't."
Paul didn't know of anything to say that would help. "Go ahead, then. I'll cover with Josh. But please, Pete, think - no, pray about all this. I know you've got it wrong."
Pete walked to his own car, where Donna was waiting. They didn't look back as they drove off.
Jenny had been quiet throughout the whole conversation. "That's so sad," she said. "They're so hurt, but all they're doing is hurting themselves more, and hurting Josh and Ev in the bargain."
"I know, but what can you do? They have to figure that out for themselves."
***
Josh cried when Paul delivered the message from Pete and Donna. They were tears of concern for them, and tears of frustration and sorrow for himself. But he couldn't see that there was anything to do but be sad, pray, and go on with life. He hugged Paul, they prayed together briefly, and then he went to his den to prepare his evening lesson.
* * *
"This morning, we talked about how Christians act and what they do, as described to us by Jesus. You remember we found out that Christians don't worry - at which point you all laughed, politely."
There was a little polite laughter, now.
"We also learned that Christians don't judge. Tonight, I want to talk about two more Christian attributes: expectancy, and discernment. Let's begin at Matthew 7:7. These next five verses have a powerful promise in them. The promise is that God is really here for us, and if we ask for His help, we will get it. The one stipulation is that we believe strongly enough to ask Him, and expect Him to reply.
"Look at the formula: we ask, and we receive; we seek, and we find; we knock, and the door is opened to us. Why? Because God loves us! He loves us far beyond any love that we can really imagine, but He tries to explain it to us in the next verses. He reminds us of how we love our own children, and how we want to provide for them and give them the things they want and need. If we do that, imperfect humans that we are, think how much better God can do it for us. And He gives what I think is a great example to show why we should trust Him to do what He says He will. He asks if any of us would give a child of ours a snake when he wants a fish, or a stone when she needs bread. Of course, we wouldn't, and neither would God. We can trust Him to do good for us.
"We're studying what Jesus said, but there are a lot of references in the New Testament that show it was common understanding at the time that Christians should expect God to answer prayers, and to answer them in a big, God-like way. For example, James 5 talks about our right to expect God to give us wisdom. He reminds us that God is a generous giver who neither refuses nor reproaches anyone. In one of my favorite passages, Ephesians 3:20, Paul describes how fully God answers prayers. He answers exceedingly abundantly beyond anything we could possibly ask or even conceive of. We're Christians, and He's God. Anticipate, ask, and receive!
"The second attribute I want to talk about is discernment. Do you know what that means? It's the ability to look beyond the obvious exterior appearance or circumstance, to see what's really going on. Discernment is a gift that God gives liberally through His Holy Spirit, and it is a requirement for Christians who want to know and do God's will.
"Why do we need to be discerning? For one reason, because it's a rough world out there, and things are not always as they seem. Satan is definitely at work in the world, and Christians are not exempt from being confused, fooled, and led astray. God doesn't want us to go looking for trouble; in Matthew 10:16, Jesus tells us to be ‘innocent as doves.’ But just before that, He compares disciples - and that includes us - to sheep among wolves, and exhorts us to be 'wise as serpents,’ also. Earlier, starting in Matthew 7:15, He tells us to beware of false prophets who might lead us astray. They may look good and sound good, but we need to discern how they really are.
"There's another discernment that Christians have access to, one with a more positive feel to it. It's the ability to see what people want and need. You know that people don't always tell us their real troubles; sometimes, they don't even know what they are. Still, with the Holy Spirit's help, we can see below the surface and get to the real problem, so God and we can help resolve it. This is a powerful gift because healing brings strength to the Christian body, not just to the individual, but to the whole Body of Christ.
"Freedom from worry; lack of a judgmental nature; the right to expect great things from God; and the ability to discern: these are only a few of the attributes and rights of a Christian. There are more. In fact, the message I'd most like to leave with you tonight is that there is always more! God has so much He wants to give us, so much He wants us to do, that we can probably never understand or get it all. But we can have a whole lot more than most of us have right now."
***
"The things I want to say really seem to be falling into place," Josh said later. "And I feel a real urgency to say all I can, while I have the chance. Our time here may be getting short."
Ev was silent for a moment, thinking. "I know. It seems so unlikely that you're going to get that job, and yet... "
"Exactly. A lot of unlikely things have been happening around here. Well, I'll call Seattle in the morning, and we'll see what happens."
--------------------------------------------
[1] Covey, Stephen R. 1989. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Fireside Books, New York. 358p
To the Writing It Down Homepage
Leave a comment: symbios@condortales.com