Jump Start # 3598

Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”

I saw him at a funeral. I’ve known him for decades but haven’t spent much time with him in recent years. I asked if I could sit beside him during the service. What a delight that was for me. Decades ago I preformed the wedding for his son. Now, high in his 80s, this aged saint of God, talked and talked. He talked about recent health issues he had. He talked his children and grandchildren. He told me that he was still preaching out in small country congregations. He was feeble, hard of hearing and needed a cane, but that ole’ sparkle in his eyes was still there. How he loved the Lord and his people. He told me about preaching two lessons about angels. I asked him about the history of some churches in the area.

As the funeral ended, I helped him up and as we got to the door, I waved a pleasant good-bye to him. On the way back home, I kept thinking about him. Outside a small circle in Southern Indiana, most have never heard of him. But the good he has done is amazing and lasting. And, what really caught my attention was his cheerful manner and spirit about him. I’ve known many, many aged saints, and so few are like this one. Many see the current state of the church as a wreck and all they long for are the old days, when things were different. Others only complain. Their aches and pains have ruined their attitude and it seems that their goal in life is to rain upon everyone else and to make all feel miserable.

I thought, I sure hope I can be like that if I make it to that age. I don’t want people to see me coming and walk away because of a negative and grumpy spirit. Some seem to think that with age comes the right to complain. I haven’t found that memo or passage that states that.

Why is it that some are so pleasant and a joy in life and others are going to leave this world miserable and grumpy?

Here’s what I found:

First, it’s not what has happened to a person in life. You live long enough and all of us have horror stories, scary nights and the scars of long ago wounds. People have disappointed us. Brethren have let us down. There have been long nights sitting in hospitals and as we were together the other day, gatherings at the funeral home. Few, if any, have escaped those things. So, being joyful or being a grump isn’t based upon what has happened to you. We all walk a similar path through life.

Second, one’s faith in the Lord makes all the difference. The brother I sat beside during the funeral had a great faith. The majority of our conversation was about preaching, churches and how blessed we are in the Lord. He smiled often. He loved preaching. And, it’s that faith that puts a smile on your face and upon your heart. Being joyful or being a pill is a matter of choice. One isn’t that way just because. They are that way because they chose to be that way.

I’ve seen that choice before. I recognize it. Decades ago, while living in another city, I often when to visit one of the older members. Her medical charts must have been as thick as an old phone book. She had everything wrong with her. I wondered what even worked anymore. But to visit her, she was so cheerful, kind and thankful. Years later, I have wondered if I went for her good or my good.

You can choose to be cheerful or you can choose to be miserable.

Third, you can be the reason someone smiles. That’s the way our fellowship ought to be. Walking into the church building ought not be the same experience and emotions as walking into a surgery center. Love. Acceptance. Joy. Smiles. These ought to be the norm. I expect one of the great reasons why some walk away from a congregation is not because of the way the Lord treated them. No. Much too often, it’s the way the dysfunctional family of Christ treated them. Ignored. Judged. Whispers. Blame. Bullied. It doesn’t take much of that and a person is done. They leave and will never come back. But, what a contrast it is to walk in on Sunday morning and eyes light up and big smiles spread across faces. The warmth, trust and acceptance is beyond description. There is a bond that ties our hearts together.

An old Christian at a funeral home. He was likely the oldest person in that room. He’s rounding third base and is almost home, but you’d never know it from the way he smiled, talked and the twinkle in his eyes. The preacher conducting the funeral gave us a great lesson. But, for me, the best lesson was sitting right beside me.

Enjoy the life the Lord has taken you on. Be a blessing. Be the reason someone smiles.

Roger

Jump Start # 2969

Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”

This week we are looking at things to be thankful for. That ought to be an easy task for us. It’s easy to think about the obvious things such as family, health, jobs, and food. We must never take those for granted but our level of thankfulness needs to extend beyond the obvious. Get a group of people together, turn the topic to items we are thankful for, and family, health, jobs and foods are repeated over and over.

Here is one for you to think about: Unity in the church. This is something that doesn’t just happen and in many places it is missing. It’s hard to worship when tensions and stress are high. It’s hard to focus when you are upset, hurt and feel like things are not right. That is exactly where many are today. Going to worship is a struggle because one often leaves feeling worse than when they came in.

But when things are right, and unity abounds, as our passage identifies today, how good and how pleasant that is. The joys of unity brings a wealth of love, acceptance and cooperation among members. Here are some things to consider:

First, church services become a emotional and spiritual oasis when unity is strong. We can feel beat up by the world. The work environment can be very toxic. The number of people quitting their jobs is staggering. The ‘great resignation’ is underway in our country. Fed up with the corporate system, many have thrown in the towel. Kentucky leads the nation in the number of people quitting jobs. Social media can be another place of turmoil and heartache. But in the church, when unity prevails, there is a sense of peace, calm and rightness. One doesn’t feel challenged or that they have to prove themselves. No one is being judged. No one is being compared to others. All are loved, wanted and accepted in Christ. This makes going to worship a highlight of the week. The soul is refreshed. The heart is reminded. Around are those who love, serve and care, even about you. For that, we must be thankful.

Second, among each other we are shown to be humble. This begins with our leaders as they connect us to the Lord. There is no room for boasting. We stand before the Lord. Selfishness is squeezed out of us as we put others first. We serve. We follow. We help. Hand-in-hand, we honor Jesus. What a delight that as in Galatians, Jew-Gentile, master-slave, male-female, could overlook those differences and be one in Christ. Today, it might be, white-black, PhD-high school grad, millionaire-entry level job, all one in Christ. Loved. Excepted. Wanted. United. What a blessing. What a joy. Much to be thankful for.

Third, when unity is strong, it’s easy to pray for each other, and pitch in and help each other. We do that because we love each other. The way we serve is amazing. No one is alone. No one carries the load all on their own. We lean on each other. We encourage each other. We help each other. This is true from the shepherds down to the sheep and from the sheep to the shepherds. What an amazing group of people. So many would come running if you had a need. So many would open their homes, their wallets and their hearts if you needed them. I have seen so many times, a funeral home packed with people from the church. I’ve seen the crowd at weddings filled with people from the church. What a blessing that is. We have been there for each other. We’ve seen these children grow up, get married and start their own families. We’ve been through smiles, tears, surgeries, fun times and hard times. We are indeed more than a church, we are family, the family of Christ.

And, when that feeling is strong, one doesn’t push his own agenda. One doesn’t demand. One doesn’t get ugly and accuse others. We are patient with each other. We understand each other. We love each other. We have no problems forgiving each other. We are quick to apologize and we are quicker still to extend grace and forgive. That’s that families do. That’s what unity does.

So, this Thanksgiving, don’t forget to thank the Lord for being part of an amazing unity that stands strong in the Lord and in their love for each other. Each person adds to the unity. Each person makes all the difference.

Bless be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. Had it not been for Jesus, most of us would have never known each other. Most of us would have missed this amazing unity and incredible love. Much to be thankful for. Much to work hard to keep the ties strong.

Be thankful.

Roger

Jump Start # 1819

Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”

Unity—the ability to get along, blend together, work together and be one is a huge aspect of the N.T. church. We find expressions such as “one mind,” “one voice,” “striving together,” as essential elements that made the church functional and practical. The Ephesians were told to “be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit.” Getting along isn’t easy. It isn’t easy at home. It isn’t easy in a nation and it isn’t easy in a congregation.

The N.T. shows the strains and the difficulties of unity. Jews and Gentiles blending together created some unique issues that had to be worked though and thought out. Differences such as eating meats sacrificed to idols tested this unity. Some didn’t do well with this unity. The Galatians were warned about “biting and devouring one another.” Diotrephes refused to accept some brethren that were sent from the apostle John. He put them out. The Corinthians were divided and splintered in many areas. It affected the worship, specifically the Lord’s Supper and it drove some to lawsuits against each other.

Getting along is hard. Take a long road trip with the kids and you’ll find this out. It’s a challenge today to get believers to be one. Everyone has their own thoughts about how things ought to be done. We recently went through three huge unity testers where I worship. We added on to the building. We changed the order of worship. We hired a new preacher. Everyone has thoughts about each of those. It’s hard for a husband and wife to agree on what color to paint the walls at home. Imagine trying to set the course with 400 people involved. You will never please everyone. However, unity can still prevail.

Here are some things I have learned about unity:

First, unity begins with an attitude and a spirit that wants to be together. Take a kid and send him to summer camp, and if that kid goes kicking and screaming and has his mind made up that he won’t like it, there is a strong chance that we won’t like it. But talk it up. Send some friends with him. Get his attitude changed and the results will change. “I don’t like it,” works well if you live by yourself in an apartment. But if you want to do anything with someone else, you have to learn to get along. This is learned in dating. This is the key to marriage. I’ve watched many shows with my wife that I would never watch by myself. My wife wanted to watch them and I wanted to sit by her, so I watched them. In fact, I not only learned some things, they weren’t all that bad. In fact, I grew to like some of her shows. That’s what the spirit of unity will do to a person. If your mind is made up that I don’t like something down at church, you probably won’t like it. But if you have the spirit that says, “I want to sit with others,” you may grow to like things.

Second, the very nature of the word unity implies and means getting along with others. If everyone did what I want to do, there is no unity, they are doing what I want. Unity is about getting along. This is lacking in our times today. Society demands, you must accept me, but I don’t have to accept you. That’s nothing more than selfishness. That will always blow up and it will always fail. It kills a marriage. It destroys friendships. It severs a church. Get along. It may not be my idea, but if it’s not wrong, why can’t I give it a try? What hurts many churches today is that there are too many of us who are selfish and we have to have our way or we pitch a fit. The expression, “I’ll take the ball and go home,” is exactly how some feel and behave. Why should you always have your way? Why should I always have my way? When dealing with things down at the church house, two things must come first in our thinking.

(1) Is it right with the Lord. Unity around error is wrong. Everyone wanting a golden calf doesn’t mean golden calves are right. The Lord has to be thought of first. Is it Biblical? Is this consistent with the Scriptures? Is this what we are supposed to be doing? That must be the first thought every time.

(2) Next, what’s best for the group. When you are trying to unify a group, the group as a whole must be thought about. Where are they spiritually? What is best for them spiritually? What will help them the most? This is what works at home. Maybe dad feels like going golfing on Saturday, his day off. Sounds like fun. But for the group, the family, it may be best to take the kids to the park. Dad may not feel like going to the park, but it’s not about him. It’s what’s best for the group.

Third, unity moves beyond attitudes and a spirit, to actually participating together. It’s one thing to say, “I’ll go along with it,” but then you never show up or you never are involved with things. On our Saturday illustration. Dad could send mom and the kids to the park and he goes golfing. Everyone does what they want and all is happy, except, there was not togetherness with dad. He didn’t participate with the family. He did what he wanted to do. When the kids are older and it’s time to visit grandma, they may remember that. They may say, “You go. We don’t feel like it.” Cooperating. Participating. Engaged. Being there. Being there when the church has special meetings and classes. Being there because the shepherds have designed something that will help us. Being there, because unity demands that. Unity is more than an attitude. It’s doing things together. It’s being together.

Fourth, unity is based upon decisions made by trusted shepherds or elders. Men who truly have their heart set on helping the church have a track record of making important decisions that will benefit all of us. Their history has proven this. They have not done things without pouring hours and prayers into projects. Now this may be a problem in some places. Maybe the shepherds have not proven themselves. Maybe the members do not trust the shepherds. Maybe that relationship is not healthy and good. If that is the case, then there will be a struggle with unity.

Have you ever seen what happens when unity is missing in a church? It’s not a pretty picture. You have subgroups that talk with each other and they talk about the other people. Folks don’t stick around long after services. They peel out as soon as the amen is said. Why stick around, there is nothing in common with each other. That’s the thinking when unity is missing. Activities, projects and special meetings are usually a bust. Few show up. No one supports these things. It’s do the minimum and nothing more. It’s get through worship as fast as we can and get out of there. No one greets others. You can feel the tension. You can tell these people do not like each other. There are constant battles and friction going on under the surface. There are attempts to undermine the leadership and other attempts to take over. It’s ugly, messy and lacking Christ.

How pleasant it is, our verse tells us, for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is good. It shows the world that we are different, but Christ binds us together. It shows the world that we can get along. It is powerful. It is strengthening. It is encouraging. It is helpful. It bugs the daylights out of Satan. It is what God wants.

So, it comes down to you and me. Do you want to be united? Can we be team players? Can we cooperate? Can we give and take? Does it have to be your way? Does it have to be my way? Can we see how good and pleasant it is when we dwell together? Instead of frowning, let’s smile. Instead of crossing our arms, let’s hug. Instead of sitting alone, let’s sit together. Instead of each going our own way, let’s walk together. Can we talk? Can we listen? Can we be together? Can we share? Can we learn from each other?

Unity—it begins with you and me wanting it.

Roger

Jump Start # 427 

Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”

  Unity—it’s essential in marriage and it’s essential in a congregation. A person can tell when unity is missing, you can just feel it. The stares, the little digs, the tension, everyone seems to be on edge—when unity is missing it makes for a very uncomfortable situation. When unity is missing at home, the atmosphere is very icy. When it’s missing among brethren, folks avoid each other.

  This Psalm of David defines the joys of unity. He describes unity as a pleasant and refreshing experience, much like dew upon the grass in the mornings, or oil being poured upon a beard. What David doesn’t write is how to get unified and how to maintain unity. It’s not easy. Different ideas and ideology, different needs, different priorities, different backgrounds, and even different levels of knowledge and experience all affect unity.

  The Ephesians were told to be “diligent to preserve” the unity. The platform Paul gave them was the “Oneness” section: one Lord, one God, one Spirit, one Body, one Faith, one Baptism and one Hope. There’s just ONE, not two. If each person continued to walk in these things and stayed with these things, then a foundation of unity would exist.

  God told Adam and Eve that the two shall become “one” flesh. This speaks of the intimacy of marriage. It also speaks of the union of heart, mind, goals, and emotions of marriage. There is a difference between a “moment” of oneness and a lifetime of “oneness.” The difference is based upon the heart and the intentions involved.

 Throughout the N.T. expressions such as One mind, One voice, One spirit are used to describe the unity of brethren. They became “ONE.”

  Satan doesn’t like us to be one. We get things done when we are one. We turn our attention to the work we should be doing when we are one. Together, with Jesus, we are powerful. Together, with Jesus, much good can be accomplished for the kingdom. The death of unity is individualism. That’s a fancy word for “selfishness.” When that enters a marriage, things start to come apart. We think about my feelings…what I want…what about ME. When two people are talking that way, the marriage is headed for some serious troubles.

  Among brethren the same happens. When start injecting my ways, my opinions, what I want, we soon begin to pull apart, having not one mind, but several, speaking not one voice, but many.

  The key to all unity is Christ. Our Lord defined discipleship as a person, “denying themselves, taking up the cross daily and following Him.” That’s it. That works. It will work in a marriage and it will work in a church. Less of me and more of Christ. What’s best for the marriage…what’s best for the church. And what’s best is to glorify God. That’s the answer. That’s what should come first in our thinking.

  Unity is awesome. I love the hugs and the smiles—whether at home or among brethren at the church house. We have to work at unity. It has to be maintained. Sometimes we need some oil here and some tightening over there to keep the engine running smoothly. Spiritually, sometimes we need some times to rejoice in the good that we have, to count our blessings. Other times, we need some instructions or even warnings, to keep us hitting on all cylinders. The biggest factor in all of this is us. What am I doing about it? What am I doing in my marriage? What am I doing as a member of the congregation? How am I being diligent to maintain things? Do I? Or do I throw sand in the machinery by complaining and whining? Unity is taught in the pulpit but it is expressed in the pew. Do you find yourself avoiding certain people? How come? Is that right? Are you mending broken feelings? Are you helping the unity?

  This is where Paul took the lessons with the Ephesians. Unity is personal. It’s what we each do. This is why we need to remember these things. Unity comes down to: you need me and I need you and we all need Jesus! That’s just the way it is!

Roger