It Can Be Hard

Sometimes it's hard to continue in faith. To believe. I struggle with this more than anything else I know. And not just believing and having faith in God. For me, it's believing and having faith in anything. I'm jaded and cynical. I'm worn out and beaten up. The old vaudeville comedy sketch of the sad clown holds true in my heart so often: "Nothing good ever happens to me."

Sometimes it's hard to believe, and what makes it harder is the constant teaching that we believe what we feel. Our culture is so about feelings. How do we know if we love somebody? We feel good about them. How do we know we hate them? We feel bad toward them. How do we know what's right? We go with our feelings. How do we know we're spiritual? We feel it. How do we trust God? With our feelings.

What a crock! And we all fall for it to some degree or another. Some poor souls are completely lost in this Gospel of Feelings.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord. James 1:5-8 Revised Standard Version

Sometimes I have been just like that. I haven't been able to "grab on" and hold. I'm tossed hither and yon by my emotions.

Emotions are powerful things, and if we let them they will rule our lives. Not a good way to live.

My mother used to adhere strongly to the Gospel of Emotions. It was here belief that she the truth was what she was feeling. Thus, when she was happy with us (me) she lavished love and praise. However, let her emotions falter and her tune changed drastically. Suddenly, she "hated" us, and felt no qualms about telling us so. To this day I don't know that she fully understands the faultiness of emotions.

Emotions are like a logic test in which so many people have reversed things. Consider this question, similar to one I took on an intelligence test years ago. I will pick something foremost in a lot of people's thoughts right now.

If all coins are money, then which of the following is true?

• All money is coins
• No money is coins
  
• Some money is coins

The answer, of course, is the last choice, for some money is also paper. But so many people get it wrong and say the first answer is right. Not with money, but with emotions.

If love contains happy feelings then what is true?

• All happy feelings mean love
  
• Some happy feelings mean love
  
• The absence of happy feelings means the absence of love
  

How would you answer that question?

It works true with faith, too. Faith is not how we feel about a thing any more than love is.

Here is how God defines love. (emphasis mine)

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 Revised Standard Version

If you read this carefully, you will not find any stress on feelings. What is stressed are decisions and attitudes. So, if you think you are loving others as God intended, then let me ask you this: what is your opinion on using torture against terrorists? How does that fit into God's definition of love and his commission that we should love everyone as we love ourselves?

Here is what God has to say about faith.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Revised Standard Version


This is what Merriam-Webster says about assurance.

Main Entry:
as·sur·ance Listen to the pronunciation of assurance
Pronunciation:
\?-'shu?r-?n(t)s\
Function:
noun
Date:
14th century

1: the act or action of assuring: as a: pledge, guarantee b: the act of conveying real property ; also : the instrument by which it is conveyed cchiefly British : insurance 2: the state of being assured: as a: security b: a being certain in the mind assurance of salvation> c: confidence of mind or manner : easy freedom from self-doubt or uncertainty ; also : excessive self-confidence : brashness, presumption 3: something that inspires or tends to inspire confidence assurances of goodwill>

Faith is not a feeling. It is a belief. It is demonstrated through our actions. If we have faith the ice is thick enough to hold our weight, we walk across it. If we do not have this faith, we avoid the ice. Walking across the ice can be one of two things: acting in faith; acting in pride.

Jesus gave this example when he was tempted in the wilderness.

And he (Satan) took him (Jesus) to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; for it is written, 'He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" Luke 4:9-12 Revised Standard Version

What does this teach us? That sometimes we have to use our brains and determine what it is we believe and why. Are we acting in faith, fear, or pride? Only faith will keep us right with God. When in doubt, remember to act in love. Love is greater than faith. That you can count on.

We Are the Reason We Should Be Ashamed

Yesterday I brought my son to Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN, for his saxophone lesson. While there I found a copy of the July, 2009, edition of Minnesota Christian Chronicle. On page 4 I found a short editorial by Carl Nelson who, as it is explained at the end of the editorial, is president and CEO of the Greater Minnesota Association of Evangelicals.

I won't take word-for-word excerpts from the paper (as I would probably find myself sued for copyright infringement), but I will give the gist of what Mr. Nelson wrote.

Apparently, Pew Research did a national survey and found that "62 percent of white evangelical Protestants believe 'the use of torture against suspected terrorists to gain important information' to be often or sometimes justified." The greater frequency of church attendance and the more likely this was true.

Now, Mr. Nelson is against this trend. In fact, he writes that he added his name to the National Religious Campaign to Ban Torture, and participated in a speaking event at the Center for Victims of Torture. He gives a web address: www.evangelicalsforhumanrights.org. Good for Mr. Nelson.

So many of us Christians get self-righteous about the fact the the world hates us so much. And let's be honest - the world does hate us. But when we support torture, hatred, intolerance, exclusionism, imperialism, and a host of other evil practices, I don't think we have much to be proud of. In fact, we are in danger of hell fire.

One of the main biblical themes God gives us in Holy Scripture is the the concept of sowing and reaping. "As a man soweth, so shall he reap." Spew out hatred, and that is what you will get in return.

So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12 Revised Standard Version

If you are in favor of torturing suspected terrorists in order to gain information, think about what it is you are in favor of. What if someone - anyone - suspects you of something? What you are saying is that they should torture you in order to find out about it. This is true whether you know anything or not.

You say these people would not be in custody if they weren't guilty? What are you saying? Think about it. This means if anyone thinks you are guilty they should put you in prison and torture you.

Carry your thoughts through, people! Don't base your actions on fear. We live in a culture of fear. We are constantly being told by all kinds of people that we should be afraid. Politicians want us afraid so we will vote for them. Merchants want us afraid so we will buy their products. News and weather people want us afraid so we will watch/listen to/read their reports. Preachers want us afraid so we will come to them for guidance.

People. God is NOT about fear.

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 1 Timothy 1:6-7 New King James Version

Jesus set us the example when he was here. How did he react to sinners? And I mean real sinners, and not just people who were different, or hated him. The woman caught in adultery is probably the finest example Jesus gave. (I still find it amazing that only the woman was brought. It takes two people to be caught in the act of adultery.)

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." John 8:7 Revised Standard Version

So, what am I saying? We should do nothing with these suspected terrorists? Yes. I guess so. Without proof, we are as evil as the evil we purport to fight if we hold them. With proof, we should deal with them according to the law - the real law and not invented law based on fear. Real law forbids torture.

People, the saying is true. God started it, but it has been modernized. "What goes around, comes around." Whatever we unleash on others will eventually come back to us. It's a boomerang.

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1 Revised Standard Version

We live in a world of fear. Jesus told us it would be so. Let us learn to relax in God's will and in the truth that God is in control. It is a learning experience, and it takes effort as well as time.

Luke Chapter 21 (emphasis mine)

[8] And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them.

[9] But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immeidately."

[10] Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

[11] And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and tehere will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

[12] But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to th synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.

[13] But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.

[14] Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;

[15] for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

[16] You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.

[17] And you will be hatd by all for My name's sake.

[18] But not a hair of your head shall be lost.

[19] By your patience possess your souls.

[20] But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

[21] Then let those who are in Judea flee t othe mountains, let those who are i nthe midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.

[22] For thse are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

[23] But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.

[24] And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

[25] And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;

[26] men's hearts failing them from fear and the expecation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the hevens will be shaken.

Who and What Should We Fear

So much of our human cultures are built on fear. We're afraid of this, that, and a host of other things.

Here is a partial list of things we fear:

• Losing our job/finances
  
• Losing a loved one
  
• Losing health
  
• Being attacked/terrorism/mugging/rape/murder
  
• Having our faith corrupted
  
• Gay/Lesbian/Bi-sexual/Transgender people
  
• Religious fanatics
  
• Religious intolerants
  
• Pollution
  
• Governments
  

This is just a very small list, and a good number of them are valid fears. But what does God have to say about all of this fear?

I just finished going through my concordance. What I found were 284 command references to us - from God - regarding fear.

At least 112 times God tells us to NOT FEAR. This is done a LOT when prophetic events are described. Twenty-six of those admonitions occur in the New Testament. Many from Jesus' own mouth. The very first admonition about fear is to NOT.

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Genesis 15:1 New King James Version

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus talks about what things will be like in the years shortly preceding his return.

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.(emphasis mine) Luke 21:25-26 New King James Version

When we, who claim to trust God, are afraid of these things - and I am guilty like everyone else - what we are really saying is that we do NOT trust God. If we did, we would not be afraid, because God has already told us to calm down and not be afraid. Not of these things anyway.

There is something we should fear. God tells us this no less than 172 times: 21 times in the New Testament. What is it that we should fear?

God.

If we fear God - if we trust Him - we will be less and less disposed to act out violently and irrationally against those who frighen us. For they will not frighten us anymore.

We become afraid because we become so bound to and caught up in this world that we forget this is but a short time in our existence. ALL of us are going to live forever. The question is: Where?

Do not hinder your chances of living with God by focusing on your fears - especially when those fears drive you to inflict pain, hardship, harassment, and even death to others. Focus on God. Do not be concerned about what other people are doing. It cannot happen unless God allows it. Speak out. Be heard. Make your opinions known. But do so in love and tenderness. Not hatred, fear, and violence. And trust God to keep things under control no matter how things play out.