Thursday Thought - 9/19/2024 - Politics

I have been in several discussions lately, as many of you have because of the upcoming elections, that have become very heated, very “passionate” and very animated, due to views on politics.  It is the hot topic right now, and it does seem to have taken the tenor of “whomever shouts loudest will be the one who is right”.

I was a part of a conversation with some pastors this past week on how we address this from the pulpit.  Or maybe the better question was do we even address it from the pulpit.  And there were obviously different trains of thought.

One thought was to just preach the Bible.  Now, that cannot be wrong, right?!?  I mean, who can argue with just preaching the Bible at a time like this, or any time for that matter.  It is the main teaching tool that we use at Northwood Church, and it is likewise the same for most Pastors that I know.  So, this is a great option but also sort of avoids the subject.

Then there is the strong opinion message that comes with a slanted voting guide, either one way or the other – that may alienate or divide in its message.  Something that as I look at Jesus’ teaching, He actually did on regularity.  (Matthew 23:27-28 NIV “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.)

This is just one example of this.  However, if you look at the message, His concern isn’t about the topic, its about their hearts.  See Jesus was always about the heart.  About how we were doing in relationship to Him.

(Luke 20:46-47 NIV “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”)

I believe that Jesus is more concerned with where our hearts are.  In fact, Jesus did speak about the government – this verse from Mark comes up in most discussions.  (Mark 12:13-17 NIV Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.)

In many discussions it is pointed out that what Jesus says in this passage that there’s a place for the government and for us following it. That it may have a true place and duty. But when God comes into consideration there is a new idea. A soon as we place God next to an earthly ruler, “Caesar’s” worth is immediately put into perspective. “Caesar” is a reflection of all others - earthly policies will crumble and statues will erode, but God remains.

I feel as a disciple of Christ that our goal is to direct others to the Cross.  That is our task, assignment, function, and responsibility as the church – and as His disciples.

Getting into shouting matches over who to vote for, and exclaiming truths, however Biblical and correct, have never persuaded people to “seeing” Christ’s truth.  Jesus’ way was one of love, mercy, and grace.  Did He say hard things?  Always.  But if you search the scriptures, you will see that His ultimate goal in all of His responses were to get to the truth of the heart.  Not of any subject matter, or tenet, or platform.

Jesus’ concern was letting people know that they are loved, and that HE came for them.  And that in order to be with HIM in eternity, you had to accept HIS free gift of HIMSELF.  HE came to die and take on all our sins, so that we might be made clean in the sight of GOD.  JESUS came, and now we must believe in HIM, acknowledge HIM as the KING, and believe that HE sacrificed for us and conquered death, rising from the grave to be seated at the right hand of the FATHER.  Jesus’ concern wasn’t that we all aligned on a policy or a manifesto.  HIS greatest desire for us is to be united with HIM.  To come into a place where we have a relationship with HIM.

JESUS’ platform for this election season is this:

John 14:6-8 NIV Jesus answered, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”

Maybe it seems naive, but my intelligence chooses to place my trust in Jesus. Will I vote? Absolutely! God will direct me; I believe in that. I count on that.

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought - 9/12/2024 - Our hope is built?

The past 5 weeks, we as a church have been going through the letters that were given to John the Apostle from Jesus Christ, and then delivered to the 7 churches of Asia Minor.  These churches were started and run by John himself according to research, and he would check in with them periodically to commune with their leaders and their staff.

This model he established was much like Paul had done with the Acts churches, and what now modern denominations are doing with churches.  But unfortunately, this replication of what worked for these 1st century churches were a product of a watershed movement that was exploding all over that area of the world.  Not like the situation we find ourselves in now.

As I survey most situations now, the biggest reason that we have gone back to this cadre type of stability is because we are trying hard to NOT close churches.  When I read our news of the culture now, or when I am in meetings regarding the health and state of the church in general, we are finding that not only are churches closing, but people are not showing up to attend, and pastors are not staying pastors.

These 3 indicators are the main reason why we see the message of Christ being pushed aside, claimed as hate, and placed into the mainstream vision of what religion is.  And that is NOT Christ’s message. 

Jesus said:

John 17:3 NIV Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

John 15:13-16 NIV Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Jesus wants relationship with us.  He doesn’t need us to solve everything, in fact He said through Paul:

Philippians 4:19 NIV And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

He just wants us to trust in Him, to obey Him, to follow Him.  It really isn’t that hard.  We think that we need to make it about what is going on in this world, or what is happening in our lives at the time, or about the injustices that we see all around us.  (and yes, there are many) But God is telling us over and over to just trust in Him.  Place our faith in Him.  He has a plan; He has things in control.  In fact, I am beginning to see that when I feel like things are completely out of control, that is when HE shows HE is completely IN CONTROL!

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Psalm 125:2 NIV As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

In the hard times we learn, and in the difficult times He knows we who believe will turn to Him.  Even those who don’t believe look to Him in hard times.  It’s unfortunate that this seems to be the only time we actually look to Him regularly.  Because it should be an everyday, every situation type of thing – but He knows us, He understands us.  And He will extend to us peace that only He can give, even when we only seek Him in tough times.

John 14:27 NIV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.

Let’s focus on Him.  In everything.  Yes, it will be hard, uncomfortable and sometimes feel like we aren’t actually “doing” something.  But turning to Him in everything is courageous and fulfilling.  And it will guide us in relationship with Him.

Peace,

PTV

PS… I keep hearing that old hymn by Song by Edward Mote and William Batchelder Bradbury…

My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

He is our hope and King.

Thursday Thought - 9/6/2024 - Faith on Friday

Have you ever pushed things off until you couldn’t anymore? (sort of like I did with this Thursday thought that is now be written on a Friday!)  Just trying to stave off the potential for not having to go through something?  If you have, then you know how it feels when it actually happens, and you have to go through it.

As a church we have been looking at the 7 letters in Revelation to the churches of Asia Minor.  The apostle John was given the messages by Jesus while John was on an island in a penal colony due to his apparent non obedience to the Roman rulers of the time.  Basically, he was preaching and teaching what Jesus taught and said and was banished for it.

But in these letters, we get to the point of my initial paragraph.  In these letters we find Jesus calling out these churches to do better.  To hold on.  To live their faith in all situations. And to continuing look to God’s word for the truth of any situation.

See in any type of harsh or hard situation, it’s the faith that we use during those times that keeps us focused on the right track – and building faith.  Isn’t it true that when you are doing well, when things are not making you “go through something” you don’t really need to stand on your faith, or even count on it.

So, we go through things.  Even things we don’t like.  Because God isn’t finished with us yet.  He is always shaping and molding, wanting us to seek Him in ALL things.  Even the hard to go through things.

At our church we have been saying, sure, its easy to hear the things that you want to hear and process those.  But it’s the things that we NEED to hear, that can be hard to get through.

I challenge us today to continue to put our faith in the One who loves us above all others.  To have faith that builds, and capitalize on that even in those harsh, hard times.  For He Never Fails, and He Won’t!!

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought - 8/22/2024 - In Cathedrals

Several years ago, now, I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Italy.  It was for an anniversary for my wife and I which has become one that we will never forget.  When going to another country there are many things you must prepare for, and many things to worry about.  But for some reason, on this trip I was not too worried or uptight about how we were going to get around or even communicate with people.

Yes, you are right – I am Italian, and that should probably give me a reason to be more at ease than most on a trip such as this, however, that might mean something if I actually knew how to speak Italian, or at least knew something of the country that some of my grandparents came from.  But I don’t, and I know little about those times being that I wasn’t around.

And yet my comfort level was high.  In fact, it was probably as I entered my 50’s one of the surest times ever felt.  My confidence was high and so was my joy.  I ponder now why, and have only come up with this…

I felt the favor of the Lord.

Now if you have read my blog for any amount of time, you will figure out that I am a movie buff.  I have been since movies came out in the 1980’s came out that you could watch at home.  I have collected my favorites and enjoy having the option to even own digital copies now.

So, this phrase, that I felt the favor of the Lord takes me to a movie called “Chariots of Fire”.  A wonderful portrayal of Eric Lidell, a missionary who was also extraordinarily fast!  He ran for Great Britain in the Olympics and stood for his religious rights at the same time.  My kind of guy!!  And his quote in this movie which is in my top ten is “…when I run, I feel His favor…”

I get it.  There are things I do even now in my life in which I understand that because of the feeling the favor of the Lord brings.  And when I was in Italy, sightseeing, experiencing another culture, visiting the home of my relatives, and especially touring cathedral after wonderful cathedral, I felt the favor of the Lord.

When Brenda and I stepped off the train that took us to Venice – the city of waterways, and when we walked out onto the veranda off the train platform – The city stretched in front of us.  And through blinking tears and eyes wide with the beauty of Cathedral after cathedral and water roads, and the history and magnificence within it, and to whom these cathedrals were made to and for… It was breathtaking.

Psalm 84:11 NIV For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

So, think back to the last time you felt the favor of the Lord.  It might have even been this morning for you.  It most certainly wasn’t for me, as my dogs ran me in circles around our yard, but for you think of that time.

Take it in, breathe it in.  God wants us to be in His favor more, especially just in our regular everyday lives. 

I pray every day we can find a way to be in the favor of our Lord.

Peace,

PTV