10

Jump Start # 2200

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2200

1 Corinthians 1:29 “that no man should boast before God.”

Today is another milestone for our Jump Starts. Number 2200. Milestones are important in life. There are several that we notice. Graduation from high school is one. Graduation from college is another. Weddings. Babies born. Certain milestone birthdays, like 40. Retirement is another accomplishment or milestone. We celebrate these events. We gather with family and friends, eat, reflect and rejoice. Those are happy events in our lives.

 

Our passage concludes Paul’s reasoning on why God chose preaching. It’s considered foolish, base and despised by the world. And those that do such preaching, carry the same labels and tags by the world. Yet, through the wisdom of God, through the preaching of the Gospel, lives are saved, hope is renewed, and God is honored. God doesn’t really care what the world thinks. God isn’t interested in being popular. He is God. He is always right. The glory belongs to God. The honor goes to God. No one can boast in preaching, because it isn’t the preacher’s idea, but God’s. It’s God’s message. It’s God’s power. It’s God that saves.

 

With that, we are thankful to God for allowing this avenue and opportunity to share a few thoughts each day through this medium called Jump Starts. Recently someone asked why I number each one. Why not give them a title? If I was starting all over I probably would. We began this journey in 2010. I anticipated about one month of writing and then I’d move on to other projects. I figured numbering them would be an easy way to remember them. I never dreamed eight years later, and more than 2,000 articles later, I would still be doing this. And, no, I don’t remember all that I have written. There has been too many. Our readership lists continues to grow and we now have 23 Jump Start books on special themes. How long will this continue, I do not know. I am glad that it has made a difference and has helped a few people along the way. I’m also glad to see so many other preachers doing similar things. It’s wonderful.

 

Number 2200 is a milestone. Have you ever considered spiritual milestones in your life? Highlights spiritually in your life? Coming to Christ and being saved and changed by Him ought to be the top of your list. But is that it? Is that your only spiritual milestone? How about the first time you lead a public prayer? Do you remember when? Or, the first time you spoke before the congregation? How about the first time you ever taught a Bible class? How about the first time you had a guest preacher in your home for a meal? How about the first time you cleaned the church building? How about the first time you invited someone to come to services with you? How about the time you baptized someone? How about the time the church appointed you to serve as a shepherd or a deacon? Milestones. Important events in our spiritual history as well as the history of the congregation.

 

The interesting thing about milestones or records is that most folks who achieve these do not set out to do that. They just day after day do what they are good at and in time, they have broken records and set some new ones. The day I sat down and wrote Jump Start number 1, I never thought, “Wow, in just a few years I will be writing Jump Start number 2200.” Had I thought that, I most likely would have turned off the computer and gone back to bed. Drew Brees reached a milestone and a new record for passing last week. That was accomplished after weeks and weeks and years and years of doing what he knows how to do. That’s how most milestones are reached. One who sets out to be the all-time best usually fails. It’s the guy who simply continues on day after day.

 

Spiritual milestones are accomplished the same way. It’s day after day, week after week of serving, loving and walking with the Lord. In time, someone can look back and realize that they have been a Christian for half a century. Someone can add up that they have taken the Lord’s Supper a thousand times in their life. Or, a preacher can hit milestones such as preaching 25 years or 50 years. He may look in his records and realize that he has preached 10,000 sermons. The hours that went into each of those sermons was massive and he accomplished that milestone by simply doing what he does every week. God’s help and God’s grace makes it possible for us to do these things. The glory goes to God. The honor goes to God. A lifetime of service, faithfulness, devotion is a lifetime of everyday choices. It’s resisting the devil over and over. It’s often doing the right thing rather than the easy thing. It’s hanging in there when it’s hard. It’s staying with God when you do not feel like it. It’s growing, and worshipping God over and over.

 

Awhile back I was teaching a group of high school seniors. I was telling them what the next four years would be like, college. Lots of papers to write. Lots of chapters to read. I stacked up a bunch of books, it was massive. I told them this is what they will have to read in college. Their eyes got huge. They couldn’t believe it. No one had told them that. But then, I lowered the stack to about 3 books and told them this is what they would go through the first semester. As we talked about each semester, the stack grew. By the last semester, we had the tall stack of books again. I got them to see that it’s the little goals, little steps, little choices that will add up to a great achievement. The same is for us spiritually.

 

How many hours of Bible classes do you suppose you have attended since you became a Christian? For most, it is more than what is required to receive a PhD. Have you ever looked at it that way? What a milestone that is. How many times do you think you have asked God to forgive you? A hundred? A thousand? A million? And, He never tires or says you have reached your limit.

 

I think we often beat ourselves up because we are not doing enough, are strong enough or are where we think we should be. But look at how far we have come. It’s good once in awhile to tap the brakes and to look at what we have accomplished and how far we have come. Now, in doing this, don’t let this go to your head. Don’t be thinking that you are a superstar or that you’ve done all that you need to do. Those thoughts will ruin you. Thinking about how far you have come, ought to make you thankful to God for abilities He has given you, and people He has put in your life that have helped you and for opportunities that have allowed you to do what you could do.

 

And I am thankful for you our readers. If you weren’t reading Jump Starts, I wouldn’t be writing them. Thank you for the kind comments, for the helpful suggestions, and for sharing your story with me. I hope through this Jump Start journey, that God has been pleased and honored. Will there be another 2200? I can’t think about that. I just hope I get an idea by tomorrow morning!

 

Roger

 

09

Jump Start # 2199

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2199

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

 

Being a Christian is not a passive, non-involvement, sideline spectator concept. It’s not like being part of an organization which as long as you pay your annual dues, you get some special discounts, and that’s about all that is required of you. When we view Christianity this way, we miss the essence of what it is all about. There are three aspects of Christianity that can be defined with the letter “B.”

 

First, a Christian is a Believer. He believes in Christ and the Gospel that Jesus stands behind. He loves the Lord with all that he is. This belief is active. His choices are shaped by this belief. He prays often to God, knowing that God hears him. He loves reading God’s word, knowing that it will draw him closer to the Lord. Worship is a welcome and joyous event that he looks forward to each week. He knows God is. All around he sees the work of God. He understands that each person is made in the image of God. What a wonderful experience to know God and to know that God loves you.

 

Second, a Christian is a Becomer. He has changed or become. His beliefs have led to a change in his thinking and his behavior. His character has changed and now he is holy, like Jesus. He has changed his attitude and now he is kind, generous and forgiving, like Jesus. His heart has been touched and now he takes on the role of a servant, like Jesus. He puts others first. He thinks about others. He seeks ways to help others. The Christian realizes that reading the Bible is unlike anything else he reads. There is a power and a motivation to become what the Bible says. It is transforming and the Christian longs to be more and more like the Lord. The outlook of a person changes when he becomes a Christian. He may not know what tomorrow will bring, but he does know who will shape tomorrow and that is the Lord.

 

Third, a Christian is a Belonger. He belongs to others who have the same heart, faith and desire to walk with the Lord. He is part of a fellowship of believers. This is where our verse fits in today. There is a fellowship with others who are walking in the light. We become a part of the family of God. We are related to one another through the blood of Jesus. And, although our pasts may be different, we have intersected and now are connected through faith. We worship together. We pray together. We are connected together. We are family.

 

There is something special about being in a fellowship. It helps you to think of others than just yourself. It reminds us of things we can do for each other. It helps us to know that we do not journey alone. Shared prayers. Hands joined together to help in the work. Blended voices in worship. Pooled money to help support and further the kingdom. There is strength, encouragement and love flowing through a spiritual fellowship.

 

Now, herein lies a common problem. Some don’t seem to like others. We want to hand pick who can be in the family of God. And if somehow some get in that we don’t particularly like, we’ll just ignore them and avoid them. Have you ever noticed this in a church? Some seem to be left out. Some seem to be alone. Even in a big congregation, it’s possible to not fit in. Sometimes it’s the old established crowd that has been together for decades. As the church grows, here comes new people. They don’t know your history nor your connections to others. There is an unspoken feeling that “those new people,” aren’t like us. They haven’t put in the time like we have. They haven’t held this place together like we have. And, here they are, riding in the wave of all that we have done. And, that’s all it takes for some to do what they can to make the new people always feel new. The fellowship isn’t truly there.

 

It can be like siblings in a family. They never asked to have a sister or another brother. But here they are. And, although they live under the same roof and have the same last name, they can be very different. And that difference is all it takes to irritate and bug the others. We don’t pick our siblings and we don’t pick our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

Our passage reminds us of an important fellowship principle. If a person is walking as the Lord did, in the light, then fellowship and acceptance is demanded and expected if we want to be right with the Lord. Just because we don’t like someone is no reason to treat them as if they are not in Christ. If God has accepted them, then so should we. All of us have unusual quirks about us. We don’t see it in ourselves and would never admit to that, but we do. Some of us can really be annoying. We can be nosey. We can be loud. We can be so quiet that we are not noticed. Some lean to the negative side of things. Some ask far too many questions. Some like old ways. Some like new ways. Some are always talking. Some seem to know the answer to everything. Some love to share their opinions, even when it’s not asked. Some come over to your home because you invited them and then they never seem to go home. Others, you’ve invited a dozen times and they never come. Some talk out in a Bible class without raising their hand. Others answer every question and do not allow others to answer. Some can’t seem to park their car straight. Others, have to back into a space, every time. Some are there as soon as the church doors are open. Others, no matter when services begin, are always five to ten minutes late, every time. Some seem to talk to only certain people. Some like to hug. Some don’t like hugs. Put all of this in a big pot and stir it up an couple of times and this is what is found in most congregations. It’s people who are different than we are. It reminds me of homemade stew. There’s some carrots in there with a few potatoes. You’ll find some chunks of meat and a little onion and lots of broth. Each those are different, but cooked together and stirred up just right, it can make a mighty tasty meal. Instead of trying to make a carrot taste like a potato, we enjoy how they blend together and each add what the other couldn’t to make the stew so good.

 

The same ought to work in our fellowship. Instead of trying to change others to my liking and being like me, we need to enjoy how we blend together. Each of us adding what maybe the other couldn’t and together we make a church warm, friendly, loving and pleasing to the Lord.

 

How do we like those we don’t like? Stop focusing upon the things that annoy you. Look what they bring. Look at what they add. Understand the way you feel towards them may be the very way others feel about you. We are all unique and different. Realize that the Lord loves each of us and all of us. Be thankful that they are on this side of the kingdom. Be thankful that they are saved and not lost. Be thankful that through them you can learn things and be what the Lord wants.

 

Believers, Becomers, Belongers—that’s the makeup of being a Christian.

 

Roger

 

08

Jump Start # 2198

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2198

1 Samuel 1:13 “As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.”

 

I talked about this passage in my sermon yesterday, but want to expand some thoughts. Hannah was without a child. She was praying desperately to the Lord. Eli witnessed this. Eli was sitting on the steps of the temple. That’s the setting where this takes place.

 

Eli watched Hannah move her lips, but no words were coming out. He assumed she was drunk. He didn’t think she had just had a few drinks, but that she was drunk. That was a sin under the law. He not only assumed that, but he rebuked her by saying, “How long will you make yourself drunk. Put away the wine from you.” Put up the booze, honey. Stop drinking, sister. It’s shameful, it’s wrong and of all places to show up drunk, at the temple.

 

The problem with all of this is that Eli was wrong. His only evidence was that her lips were moving but no words were coming out. She wasn’t staggering. She was laying passed out. She wasn’t surrounded by empty wine bottles. Eli did what we so often do, make an assumption and then accuse someone. In today’s world, someone would witness Hannah and shot a text to one of the elders. The text would read, “I saw one of our members drunk. I think we ought to withdraw fellowship this week from them.” And, with that, the hornets of Hell all get stirred up and buzzing. The person who saw the modern Hannah would tell another member. Word spreads. The critical eyes and judgmental hearts would convene and within a couple of weeks a sweet Hannah who was simply praying to her God would be ridiculed and shamed to the point that she would likely never come back again. And, when the truth finally surfaced, she was only praying, and not drinking, those that destroyed her would say, “It was a simple mistake.” No, it wasn’t and worse, someone’s heart was crushed in the process.

 

The problem with Eli, the problem we have is that we immediately assume the worse. Why don’t we begin by thinking the best. That never happens. We see two people talking quietly and immediately we just know that they are talking about us and down that same street we go of assuming, accusing and judging. The two people may not even be talking about us at all.

 

The problem with Eli, the problem we have, is that we are quick to execute first and find the facts later. It ought to be just the opposite. If it bothered Eli so much, he should have approached Hannah and asked, “how are things going? I noticed you were talking to someone but no one was there?” With that, she could have talked about her prayer and her desire from the Lord. Instead, Eli points the finger of condemnation and accuses her of being drunk. Immediately, that puts a person on the defense. They have been accused and now they must prove their innocence.

 

That’s the problem with assumptions, a person just doesn’t know. And, when we immediately begin with the negative and the wrong, we can certainly build a great case against someone. Someone leaves services before it’s over. Boy, the assumers go into overtime. The person probably didn’t like the sermon. Preacher probably stepped on their toes. I always thought that they were weak in faith. And, on and on the assumptions go. And, like Hannah, from our passage, maybe the person had to go take care of a sick parent. Maybe they weren’t feeling well. Maybe they had to go to work. Rather than thinking the worst, why not try thinking the best.

 

Hannah in her own defense pleaded with Eli not to consider her as a worthless woman. Interesting expression. Interesting because in the next chapter God refers to Eli’s sons as worthless. Maybe Eli had just gotten so old and grumpy that he thought everyone was worthless. That spirit can destroy a month of good sermons. It drives visitors away and it becomes the elephant in the room that no one knows what to do with. The spirit of Eli can be found in preachers, who are quick to accuse and ready to judge. It can be found in the heart of an elder who would rather drive some off as to have to work and help some.

 

How do I defeat the spirit of Eli within me? The easiest way is always Jesus. Look to the Lord. Compassion, kindness and gentleness are the characteristics that we need. Jesus was inviting. His disciples often wanted to run people off, but not Jesus. The golden rule, which sums up the sermon on the mount, is how we overcome the little Eli in all of us. Would you like for someone to give you the benefit of the doubt? Then, you give it to them. Would you like for someone to think the best of you? Then you think the best of them. Would you like someone to stand in your corner and support you? Then you do the same for them. Would you like someone to help you rather than destroy you? You do the same. Treat others like you would like to be treated.

 

It’s time to start thinking the best and not the worst. We live in troubled times. People love to destroy those who do not agree with them. The people of God must be different. We see this from this lesson. Sweet Hannah was rebuked by the priest. We wonder who heard that rebuke? We wonder who went home thinking, “Hannah was drunk and Eli tore into her.” Not everyone could say what Hannah did. Many would have left in tears. Many would have been so ashamed that they would never face Eli again.

 

It’s certainly hard to see clearly when there is a board in your eye. Sometimes we don’t even recognize we have one until we have hurt an innocent person like Hannah. Maybe it’s time we realize that we are family, and we started acting like a family that loves each other. Dysfunction among God’s people is our death. It’s the cause of church splits and hindered growth. Maybe it’s time we stopped acting like Heaven’s Police Squad, and let God be in charge of things.

 

Sadly, as the story ends and Eli learns that Hannah was not drunk, all he says is, “Go peace and may God grant your wish.” That’s it? No apology. No, forgive me for thinking the worse. No hugs. Go. Leave. I don’t know if Eli ever got the plank out of his eye. He may have died that way.

 

Hopefully for us, there is time to do better.

 

Roger

 

05

Jump Start # 2197

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2197

Acts 7:56 “and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Our verse today are the words of Stephen. He had made a great sermon connecting the Old Testament to Jesus. The Jewish crowd was through with Jesus. They thought once Jesus was crucified, that things would die down and eventually all talk about Jesus would fade away into history. But that didn’t happen. The disciples kept talking about Jesus. They kept emphasizing that Jesus was in Heaven seated along side of the Father. More and more were beginning to see that this was true. The movement was exploding rather than dying. And, here was Stephen, continuing that message.

The Acts 7 chapter, Stephen’s sermon, was actually his defense. He was dragged before the Jewish council, the same that had found Jesus guilty. False witnesses were presented to tell lies and make up things to make Stephen look bad. The chapter begins with the high priest asking, “Are these things so?” What follows is his sermon. It’s one of the great summaries of the Old Testament and a great picture showing how Jesus fits in God’s story.

Stephen claimed to see Jesus standing at the right hand of God. That was enough for that crowd. They rushed Stephen, dragged him out of the city and immediately executed him by stoning him. They didn’t wait for a Jewish trial. They didn’t get permission from Pilate or Rome. Those things take time. This was mob rule. This was like the old West when citizens broke into a jail and strung up a prisoner on the nearest tree. No trial. No judges. No verdict. This is what the Jewish mob did with Stephen.

It is noteworthy that Stephen claimed he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. That’s a rarity and a unique statement. Often in the New Testament, Jesus is said to be seated at the right hand of God, not standing. In Revelation, Jesus is busy riding a horse and conquering Satan, but the most common expression is that He is seated. The image of royal chairs, seated side by side, is the image that many have. Jesus is seated next to Jehovah and there they reign. But with Stephen, he saw Jesus standing.

I was at a high school volleyball game the other day and I stood a few times. I stood for the National Anthem. It was senior night, and I stood to congratulate the senior players. We stand to get a better view. We stand for approval. At the end of a concert, we have the standing ovation. We hope the band will come out a play an encore of one of their hits. We stand as a sign of respect and decency. If someone walks into your office, you stand and shake their hand. That’s expected. That’s polite. If you were in England, and the queen came in, you’d stand. Here, we stand when the President appears.

Jesus was standing. I doubt it was to get a better view. I expect it was to show approval, acceptance and a sign of great encouragement for Stephen. The preacher Stephen was putting his life on the line. He was not holding back. He was willing to sacrifice himself for the cause of Christ. The message was greater than his life. He would not be silenced until they took his life. Courageous, fearless, determined—like Moses before Pharaoh, or Elijah before the prophets of Baal, or even John the baptist before Herod, young Stephen would be the first known martyr in the young church. There would be others, many others. But this is the first one that we can put a name to. And, the Lord stood.

I thought about this last night. I was watching my Dodgers in game one of the playoffs. The Dodger pitcher, Hyun-jin Ryu, threw seven great innings of shut-out baseball. He was on. The other team had very few hits. As the top of the seventh inning came to a close, it was obvious that he was going to be taken out of the game for a relief pitcher. He had done his job. It was a masterful performance. He struck out the last batter. As he walked off the field, to the cheers of the fan, the cameras focused upon one particular fan, who was standing. It was the legendary Sandy Koufax, the great hall of fall hero of the Dodgers. When baseball experts get together and make their lists of the greatest pitchers ever, in the history of the game, Sandy Koufax’s name is always on that list. In his time, no one was greater than Koufax. And, there this super star legend was standing, applauding the great job that young Ryu had done that night. In the world of baseball, I cannot imagine an image that would be greater than to have a Koufax standing and applauding something you have done.

Biblically, we remember Jesus noticing incredible faith. The Lord marveled, the Gospels tell us. It was a “wow factor.” It caught the eye of the Lord. There are so many things here that would have disappointed Jesus. Seeing the prejudice, hatred and selfishness of the villages he visited. Seeing the abuse that some were using to take advantage of others, or, seeing the corruption in both politics and in religious circles, was so common. But when Jesus saw genuine faith, He was impressed. He marveled.

And, the Lord noticed. The Lord stood. Before the Lord stood for Stephen, Stephen had stood for the Lord. We sing the song, “Stand up, stand up, for Jesus.” It’s hard to sing that song sitting down. But the song isn’t about our posture as we are singing, but rather our way of life as we live. Stephen stood up for Jesus. Stephen, one of the seven chosen in Acts 6, as being full of the Spirit, was to help the neglected widows. Stephen was all in for the Lord. Committed. Dedicated. Faithful. He was an example to others.

Well done, are the words of the master to the five talent man. Luke 15 shows the angels in Heaven rejoicing over the lost being found. There seems to be an excitement and a joy running through Heaven as the righteous follow the Lord.

Jesus stood for Stephen. Jesus was approving of what Stephen was doing. Jesus may have stood to welcome Stephen to the other side. I’d like to think that when it’s our time to pass through that door of death, that as the angels carry our soul, there we see Jesus standing, welcoming us home. I don’t know if that will happen or not, but it sure is a nice thought.

And, Jesus stood. That’s amazing!

Roger

04

Jump Start # 2196

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2196

 

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

I was watching the national news last night. I probably shouldn’t have because about all it accomplishes is getting a person upset. The finger pointing, motive questioning and anger continues on. One wonders if there has been so much damage done if either side will ever move closer to working together. All of this made me think of our verse today.

 

The Jews and the Gentiles didn’t get along. It was mostly from the Jewish side, but there was no warm feelings toward each other. There are old stories, I tend to think a bit exaggerated, that highlight this ill feeling toward each other. For instance, if a Jewish man came upon an over turned cart and a Gentile man and his dog lay injured, the Jew would take care of the dog first. This disgust over Gentiles is why some of the Lord’s teachings were received like a pencil in your eye. A Samaritan helping an injured Jew. No way. A Jewish son going to work for a Gentile pig farmer. Absolutely not. Never. Of ten healed lepers, only one, the Samaritan, returned to thank the Lord. All of these stories made the Jews look bad. It made Gentiles seem to be more righteous than they were.

 

Our verse today specifies three major cultural classifications of the first century world. Ethnically, Jews and Greeks. Position, slave and free man. Sexuality, male and female. The worst of this lot would be a Gentile woman who was a slave. That was the bottom of the barrel. Three strikes and you are out, in the Jewish mind. Yet, Paul’s words are “you are all one.” Equals. Level ground in Christ. The barriers are gone. No cultural differences. All able to approach God. All forgiven through Jesus Christ. All heirs and children of God. All equally having the hope of the same Heaven. That’s wonderful news, especially if you were a Gentile woman who was a slave. But what about the Jew? That news wasn’t so great. They had been the exclusive people of God for centuries. Abraham was theirs. The law was for Israel. The heroes of the Bible were all Jews. Now, not only were the Gentiles allowed in, much to the distaste of the Jews, but they were equals. That certainly didn’t seem right.

 

In the powerful good shepherd section of John, Jesus announced that he had other sheep that were not of this fold. God’s promise to Abraham included blessing all people. Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy about God’s chief mountain included other nations. All along God intended for all people to come to Him.

 

The question is, how would a first century Jew change his feelings about Gentiles? How could a Jewish Christian and a Gentile Christian see each other as “brothers” in Christ? Would it be possible for them to sit together in worship? Would they even speak to each other? How would one serve the other the Lord’s Supper? Suppose a Gentile Christian led a song. Would the Jewish brethren sing along or sit silently with a scowl upon their faces? If a Gentile Christian led a prayer, would the Jewish brethren bow their heads?

 

These thoughts trickle down to our times. How does a white Christian who grew up in a home where prejudice against blacks was strong, accept a black man as his brother in Christ? How does a woman in the current culture of hating older white men, fellowship an older white Christian? How do we change our thinking? How do we get over the ingrained thoughts that we have heard and maybe even practiced for years?

 

It always begins with Christ. It begins by understanding that Jesus is God and He loves and accepts all of us. Jesus is not white, nor is Jesus black. Jesus does not belong to one nation. Jesus is not republican, nor democrat. Jesus is God. He is before all. He is above all. He is not bound by labels, nationalities nor our cultural prejudices. He proved that by going to Samaria rather than around Samaria as most Jews did. He proved that by showing Himself first to women at the resurrection. He proved that by including a tax collector among His apostles. If Jesus can accept me, then I need to accept all those that He includes. The faithful of God is based upon hearts that love the Lord, not the color of skin, or nationalities.

 

If I keep my prejudices alive and well, I am not walking with the Lord. Jesus wouldn’t do that. The first step in changing our thinking is to realize that if I want the Lord to accept me, forgive me and keep me, than I must dump this wrong thinking.

 

Second, I must realize that a person is the way they are because God made them that way. We don’t stand in line and order the color of our skin, our position in life, nor even the sexuality that we are. The transgender movement misses it here. God has made us the way we are by His desire, not ours. I am a white male. Why? God decided that. Does that make me better than a black female? No. Does that make be better than someone not from this country? No. We are the way we are because of God. To not like someone because they are different than I am, is to discredit what God has made.

 

Third, our souls have no color. We are all the same in Christ. We all are sinners who are in need of a Savior. Now, our stories, our backgrounds, our journeys, our baggage and our issues may be different. Some may have it harder than others. Some may have struggled more than others. Yet, the fact remains, we are viewed the same by God. The busy politician and the lazy teenager, each have a soul created by God and are loved by God. They each need salvation and they need the Gospel to govern their lives. They each are given the same amount of time in a day. They are each given opportunities to grow, learn and become. They may be very different, but in many ways they are very much the same.

 

Fourth, learning to love others and accept others is a matter of choice. A person can move beyond the prejudices of their past. A person can fellowship someone very differently than they are. Bless be the tie that binds our hearts, is more than a hymn, it is fellowship in Christ. We are knit together in love as Paul wrote. We think of others more than ourselves. We want the best for all of our brethren. Our congregations should not be designated, known or defined as a “white church” or a “black church.” We ought all to be brethren in the Lord, who love one another and are the family of God.

 

Could a first century Jew accept a Gentile as his brother in Christ? Yes. Was it hard? Yes. Did the Jew have to really work at rewiring his thinking and getting over decades of wrong ideas? Yes. But what a scene to witness, a Jewish Christian hugging his Gentile brother.

 

One in Christ. Now, will Washington get over it’s problems and prejudices? Probably not. What’s missing is Christ. Without hearts devoted to Christ, ill feelings, finger pointing, hatred and name calling are the norm. Prejudices will thrive and there is no incentive to change when Christ is not in the center of things.

 

But for us, it’s different. We have Christ. We can and must do better at showing the world love and fellowship. Forgiven. Grace filled. Love abounding. Those are the words that ought to come from our fellowship.

 

One in Christ—one giant family, that’s who we are.

 

Roger