Crossroads

      And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’ ³⁴ Jesus^[f] said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’  Luke 22:33

A number of years ago, a popular movie appeared based upon the Faustian theme of an   The gist of the encounter was a bargain emerged which gave amazing musical ability in exchange for the predictable alternative.  I have been thinking about that crossroad this week as an analogy of the place where we live with our spiritual lives.  I do not mean to suggest that we strike a deal with the devil, but rather that our crossroad has to do with the heartfelt desire of our heart over against the anxiety we feel as human beings.  We can often feel we are that

individual who met the devil one day at a remote crossroads.

I perceive that as humans we frequently find ourselves at a crossroad where on the one hand, we truly desire to be good servants of Christ.  We love the Lord and want to do his will.  We want to live our lives in significant ways that express the best of our discipleship.  Often, we enthusiastically want to put our hand to the spiritual plow and accomplish something for Christ.  On the other hand, we simultaneously discover that the awareness of potential cost causes anxiety to arise.  We hesitate and too often settle back to a condition of quiescence. The moment passes and an opportunity fleets by.   

We often find ourselves living between audacity and anxiety.  We are simultaneously audacious for Christ and timid when step up time comes.  This is very human.  We experience it in many aspects of life.  How many times have an opportunity to do something arisen and we vacillated until the opportunity passed?  How often have we stepped into an opportunity and then subsequently felt the emotion that has so often been called “buyer’s remorse”? 

These are merely mundane examples of the very emotion that may prevent us from stepping forward into what God has prepared for us.  My prayer is that the next time you find yourself at the crossroad of spiritual discipleship; you will not allow the tension between audacity and anxiety to defeat you.

Obedience: Our Quandary

Scriptural Obedience, Dr. Marvin J. Hudson, c2013

 

Part 1- Humanity’s Quandary

Two Extremes

Obedience…what a troublesome word. We all have recognized its demands upon our lives at some point. Some of us will recall those dynamic services when minister spoke of obedience and we trembled at our own inadequacy. Others of us may recall being taught that the path of Christ was simplicity and obedience was merely letting go of you in order to trust more in Him.

Perhaps these two understandings of obedience represent polar points, both of which may leave the door open for extremism.  The first tends to lead us toward various forms of legalism as we wrestle with what we perceive to be the demands of a holy God.  We find ourselves confronted by the same quandary that people from Moses to Luther have faced.

On the other hand, God’s Word demands of us a standard if we are to enter into His presence.  Indeed, His very nature requires us to come before Him with “clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4).  We are faced with a literal “do or die” situation.  Yet, as soon as the Law of God confronts us, we face a terrible reality: we simply do not have the means at our disposal to obey this perfect Law.

Repeatedly we grasp the regulations of the Law only to fall short of their demands.

The frustration we experience at this point often leads to two different reactions: We either struggle even harder to keep this Law of God , and thus become a modern Pharisee, or we may, as Luther stated, fall through despair into even greater sin (Theology of Luther. Althaus).

For most of us, this frustration leads to the former alternative. We monitor our every action to insure that we either become or remain “holy”.   We refrain from any activity which we feel will retard our spiritual progress.

At this point a great danger appears.  As time goes by, many of our decisions as to what will, or will not, retard our progress, becomes dogmas that bind us with a near unbreakable stranglehold.

Nor does the danger stop there, for we tend to believe in these dogmas so strongly that we insist that they apply to others as well.  The result is frustration and surprise.  We are frustrated, because deep down, we are never quite convinced that we are achieving the goal through this form of obedience. In spite of all that we do, we are never quite as holy as we desire.

Secondly, we are surprised because others do not accept our dogmas joyfully; especially younger generations. This should not surprise us, as there is little joy in legalism.

The second of our two approaches mentioned in the first sections of this discussion, at first glance, appear to offer great promise. After all, we have seen that legalism did not work as we may have wished.  Further, we have seen that legalism did not work as we may have wished.  Further, we know that the New Testament teaches that Christ came to set us free from the Old Law of death which was ,in reality, the same system of frustration that many Christians have tried to follow.

This second approach receives eagerly the idea that Christ was and is our substitutionary avenue to righteousness and thus the theme of obedience tends to be deemphasized.  The great danger here is that in this direction we find all manner of incorrect positions ranging from apathy to antinomianism (the denial of any divine Law). Such thinking often leads to apathy disguised as “tolerance” or “broadmindedness.”  No matter what we do or do not do, we have a comfortable “out” in that our theology tells us that we must not expect to be perfect and we may simply continue to pile our actions at the feet of Jesus only to return to the same life-style.

These two extremes  - legalism and license- are two ends of a spectrum and illustrate the difficulty the Church has faced for centuries.  Every Christian will struggle to find the middle road that will ultimately lead to real joy and stability in the Christian life.

The goal of this discussion is to see if that middle road where law and grace are in harmony  meet is mapped as we try to search out the Biblical concepts of obedience.  At the end of the journey, hopefully, will be an understanding of obedience from both Old Testament and New Testament perspectives.  Along the way, an examination of the complementary nature between the obedience  and some to avoid.

God’s Demands, Humanity’s Prerogative

It is significant that the matter of obedience is dealt with from the very first chapters of the creation account. Adam’s relationship to God included the fundamental principle of obedience.  This obedience was enjoined to Adam in the context of Liberty. As early as Genesis 2:16-17 we find the instruction, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of goo and evil, thou shalt not eat of it.”  Here is the tremendous reality: Adam holds within his the potential to obey or disobey. What incredible consequences rest upon simple obedience. How far reaching was the result of Adam’s decision.  The outcome of this historic drama is a key element of basic Bible literacy. Humanity has reaped the results of the fall of Adam ever since.

What is crucial for us to see is that this obedience was a matter of trust and free will. This fact is often overshadowed in our concern with the simple fact of the Fall itself.  While obedience was a component of the relationship of humanity to God, and an essential one, the real heartbeat of humanity’s relationship to God was the principle that we identify by such terms as trust, love, faith and so forth. This dynamic principle was the basis of the kind of relationship God has always desired with His creation.  This relational principle appears repeatedly as one traces the concept of obedience through scripture. It was also dramatically changed by the Fall and the result was catastrophic for humanity.

Fallen Humanity: The Crippled Creation

It would be easy to become destracted in exploring the how and why of Adam’s fall in the garden, but it is the result s of that Fall where our focus should turn.  All that follows through the Old and New Testament rests on the actions subsequent to that decision to not obey.

In brief, humanity received disfellowship from God. Humanity no longer enjoyed the benefits of the Garden life described in Genesis.   Indeed, when God came to walk in the Garden, Adam and his wife found they were unable to stand in His presence (Genesis 3:8). The perfect trust was destroyed and the human relationship with nature was negatively affected, where once all had been available as easy bounty, now all was to be obtained by hard toil (3:17-19).

Most importantly, humanity changed. From an estate of innocence, humans discovered they were driven by base desires that warred with their better selves.  Over time it became clear that the first human’s initial inclinations were often their worst inclinations.

Paul expresses this condition of the fallen human in Romans 7:19: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which would not, that I do.”

Theologians have referred to this as a “depraved” nature, meaning that as humans we are firmly caught in a trap from which we cannot escape.  It is the trap of God’s demand for perfection and our inability to achieve it.

We may summarize humanity’s situation. We are the Fallen Man and Fallen Woman.  We have all sinned against God and deserve the penalty of our rebellion, which is death. There are no resources at our disposal to pay this ‘debt of sin’ and reconcile ourselves back to God. Further, we are consistently powerless to change our course of conduct. We are guilty and we are continually becoming guiltier.  We stand in the rain of a fallen world, hands raised, and scream through the ages, “O wretched man that I am! WHO will deliver me?”

Who indeed….

To be continued

[Author's note. I am revisiting some work - consider this 12 part series, a work in progress and subject to change!]

NO PAIN, NO GAIN

A familiar animated father figure known to television watchers is somewhat famous for his advice to his son who has failed at a particular task.  It runs, “Don’t worry boy, it it’s hard, it can’t be worth doing.”  I fear that during my lifetime this has been the credo for many within our culture.

 

 During my formal educational years, it was well known at the time, that my generation of students tended to avoid anything that was deemed hard.  Science, math, and languages all lost popularity.  Do you recall the alarmed reports from various authorities that pointed out that as Americans, we were slipping behind other parts of the world in technical subjects, as students opted for less rigorous coursework?  During my baccalaureate years, it was possible to obtain a degree without any college math at all.  I also remember postings from the Foreign Service that announced the increasing difficulty recruiting competent linguists for duty stations.  “If it’s hard, it can’t be worth doing.”  

Encouragingly, I believe this trend is reversing to a degree.  (No pun intended) However, there is still a basic human lazy gene to defeat.  Over the past few months, I have been introduced to a series of excellent historical novels that have stretched my mind and more than once prompted me to stretch my arm for the dictionary.  Repeatedly, period accurate terms cause me to say, “What in the world?”  The link here is that when I read the consumer reviews of the series, I was struck by the number of persons who did not like the books because the words were too technical (hard) or archaic. “If it’s hard, it can’t be worth doing.” 

 I wonder how much in life we miss because this mantra sells us short.  It is harder to make homemade biscuits and gravy than to go to a fast food place and have theirs.  Nevertheless, do we not all note the tremendous difference?  

 Further, what are the achievements within your life of which you are proudest? I hazard the guess that they are the ones you reached for with the most diligent effort.  Contemporary fitness buffs are familiar with the phrase “No pain, no gain.”  Are you making some gains in your life today?  “If it’s hard, it may be well worth doing.” 

A Future-Seeking Church

Dr. M.J. Hudson

A church of Jesus Christ is a future-seeking church. It is a church that knows and appreciates it historic roots but recognizes what is in the past... is past. As the saying goes, the past really is only a prologue of the future.Any one person, at any one time, is to serve, as the active participant in a vast, generational torch passing process. As they pass the flame of faith the light should be burning bright and steady. Some churches – like the virgins discussed by Jesus – may have fallen asleep on the job. Their lamps are burning so low and so weak as to appear unlit.The modern American Church, however, has often fallen into several behaviors that are counter-productive to the true mission of the Church.

The “Present-Tense Congregation” model. They live for themselves focusing only on the present. The pews are too hard, the music too loud, the pastor does not visit enough, and the list goes one. This focus on self rather than on mission and outreach creates a tension in the church. The tension may be between those who know the mission of the church is not self-focused but ministry focused and those who want a nice comfortable chaplaincy church. It is the epitome of the modern consumer mentality that wants what they want and when they want it. Church, for these so-called Christian people, should be there when they have a need. As a result, volunteerism disappears, spiritual vitality decays, love is replaced by ego, and the church enters an ice age devoid of life or growth.

The “Past Perfect” model. Even though a past pastor might have been totally incompetent or the church people were so spiteful the church split – the past is so much better than the present. If only we could return to those halcyon days, life would be good. Don’t misunderstand me; history and an awareness of the past are crucial to successful church development to avoid making the same mistakes all over again! Often this model sees things in vague and hazzy terms lacking clarity or connection of cause and effect.

It is through an awareness of the rich heritage of the saints of the past that we can appreciate our faith today. The church, like some like prehistoric creature in a slab of amber, does not remain static. The church is alive. It is organic. It changes and adapts to meet the needs and problems of every generation with the unchanging love of God.

The “Transient Verb” model. The people who attempt to manipulate a congregation by threatening to leave. They take offense, get their feelings hurt, are unappreciated and move off to the next church down the road with an “I’ll show them” attitude. It is not all-bad though. Some churches would have no membership growth at all if it were not for these folks. The truth is that most of these “here today – gone tomorrow” people are pure trouble mongers. Look around your community at the many tiny churches struggling to stay afloat and you often see the result of these people who bring division and leave discord.

The “Future-Seeking Congregation” is a church that has restored their relationship with Jesus Christ. They recognize their mandate is “Go – into all the world!” Church is then a refreshing station in their own individual ministry modeling the love of God in their slice of the world. Church is the place of encouragement and celebration. Church is the place to learn, to be equipped, and then back out into the daily grind as witnesses of the love and joy found in a relationship with God.

The “future-seeking congregation” is a church that does not rest on what they used to do but dreams about what they are getting ready to do in the future.The “future seeking congregation” focuses on serving others and making a difference in the world. The willingness to take risks, engage in vision, take action, and remain spiritually vital is the foundation of the “Future-Seeking Congregation.”

A Friend is Another Self

Our title comes from Aristotle. It speaks of the close affinity that binds two individuals together

in a warm and affectionate relationship. This could of course be the relationship that one encounters in marriage, but by no means is it limited to that estate.

Aristotle is thinking of the kind of friendship where an individual is so closely related to a friend, that no falsity or dissimulation is thought necessary to preserve the relationship. Far from it, one may be open as though sharing with oneself. Patrick O’Brian places this distinction into the mouths of his literary characters as they occasionally refer to one another as their “particular friend”. This is a somewhat anachronistic figure of speech that describes not just a friendly acquaintance, but a true friend.

Now, let us assume that we have such a person in our life. How does one care for that relationship? Permit an illustration to get at this question. I have noticed that on Facebook, the category of “friends” is the general pot where persons we know are parked unless they are put into some other category such as family or the so-called V.I.P. list. Probably most of us have a good number of people in the friends category. In my own case, this is a repository for individuals who never seem to interact with me at all and I fear that I am equally guilty. 

So, are they really friends? Further, would Aristotle define them as friends? I think not to both questions. These friends may only be acquaintances. In addition, in some cases, these friends may want to keep up with what is going on in your life without investing any energy in a personal relationship. Facebook allows them to hear the news with no time or energy expended in the relationship. This is friendship based upon a few keystrokes. 

On the other hand, real friendship is work. It may be a labor of love, but it does require activity on our part. To care for a friendship requires that we extend ourselves on behalf of the friend. I believe that this is personal and intentional in nature. We have coffee. We go to lunch. We converse beyond the realm of passivity. I grant that we may legitimately offer examples of friendships that flourished over years and distance without the privilege of close personal interaction, but I posit that they are the exception. I have known some who affirm that they have friends that they had not spoken to or interacted with for years and when reconnected, they picked up as though they had never been apart. I must accept their affirmation, but my experience says that this is an exaggeration. People change and evolve and even as your high school sweetheart no longer is in the blush of youth, your friendship has not retained its same reality.

Therefore, returning to the question of how one cares for a friendship, I would say take care of your friends. Spend time with them. Talk to them. Go to lunch with them. You get the idea. Be a presence in their lives to the degree that is appropriate and allows the relationship to be nurtured. Even if this requires some long distance communication, for heaven’s sake, do not ignore them and then expect them to be “particular friends”. Take care of your friends.

Killers in the Church

I can see the heads swirling around now checking the corners and the hallways.  No, there is no mad monster with a power saw and a Halloween mask stalking the halls leaving beheaded corpses in his wake.

A killer walks but not that kind.  The killer is that personality type that professionals call the psychopath or sociopath.   Some sources indicate as many as 1 in every 25 people is a psychopath.

Simply put, these are people who lack certain elements of their makeup associated with the best of human nature.  They lack sympathy, they are manipulative, they lie, they are self-centered, and their own needs come first.  

The Gospel speaks of being born anew, Romans stresses the need for transformation by allowing Christ to consume the human nature changing it into His own, and Corinthians and the Letters of John warn of what happens when this does not happen.

What happens is there are killers in the church.  There are people who are hard at work slaying the souls, the hope, and the dreams of those in the community of faith.  They stalk like a hungry lion, leaping out when least expected and shredding human hearts.  

They are often invisible, the classic mild next door neighbor who never caused any trouble, until they are captured and charged with a string of horrific murders.  

The weapon for such stalking killers in the church is prayer and an ever deepening spiritual relationship with the God who saves, makes new and brings love.

BE NOT WEARY IN WELL DOING

Have you heard this time honored Scripture passage?  I have heard it preached or taught more times over the years than I can count.  It is usually linked to admonitions to continue to do so-called good works as a Christian.  This is not inaccurate. We need to be diligent about putting our hands to benevolent activities whenever possible.  Goodness knows that there is more than enough need on our world to keep us all occupied on a daily basis.  Further, I also believe that we live in communities where there are people all around us who are more than ready to step up and make a difference whenever there is a need for compassionate response.   

 

However, let us consider another possibility.   

Well doing can be more than just episodic acts of charity or compassion.  Well doing can be the determination to embrace a manner of living that is committed to the highest standards of ethics and morals.  In the past, this might have been referred to as ‘righteous living’ in the sense of living as closely to a Godly lifestyle as possible. 

 In the Bible, the story is told of a Roman officer by the name of Cornelius who though he was not a Christian, was a determined God seeker.  He was committed to living the loftiest life style he possibly could and the biblical writer portrays him as a noble person for that commitment and one who received God’s special attention because of it. 

 I submit that this is hard work.  The discipline required to choose the high road of life on a daily basis is demanding.  All around us are enticements to lower our standards.  We are invited to behave in ways that are lesser in ethics and values with the false assurance that it will not really matter and after all, everyone else is doing it.  To overcome such messages and continue in well doing requires energy that may at times leave us weary.  But, make no mistake the benefits of staying the course are well worth it. 

Let me mention only two or three of the most pragmatic.  You can sleep at night, which is the gift of a clear conscience.  You can be the role model for those around you that they truly need.  You can face life without the feeling that you have sold a piece of your soul thus leaving yourself the lesser for it. 

Press on friends.  Be not weary in well doing.

Hudson Takes Up New Assignment

Dr. Marvin J. Hudson, Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist,  was appointed May 30, 2013 by Bishop Hayes at the Oklahoma Annual Conference to serve as pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Marvin J. Hudson,  “I consider it a great joy to be appointed to serve at Wesley UMC. The community is full of creative and capable people who will do great things, I am sure. I look forward to our shared journey of faith and ministry.“

Wesley is located in the heart of the cultural and historic districts of Oklahoma City, near Oklahoma City University, and was established in 1910. His first Sunday will be June 9, 2013.