Buildings & Churches

Mark 13:2

“And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

I distinctly remember riding down the McDowell Creek Road with Kelly behind me, topping the rise and seeing this beautiful Catholic Church sitting in the middle of the valley. Built of limestone rock it set serenely in the midst of the valley, from a distance the beauty of place and form struck, but when you drew close the truth became evident. It was dilapidated and had been unused for quite some time, the roof was in need of repair, as well as interior renovations. The large Catholic families that had farmed the area simply didn’t need the building anymore.

Emmanuel United Methodist Church was a thriving Christian community. It had three services, all of which were well attended, and I believe total attendance was around six hundred while I was attending. Talk quickly turned to a new building that could better meet the needs of this large congregation. The charismatic Pastor was drawing a crowd. Funds were raised and the church moved to a new facility better equipped. As Pastors go and come, the vitality of the church never reached that fevered pitch again. A different church (assembly of believers) was able to take the old building and continues to use it. Talking with some of my relatives that are still in Abilene, I am struck by how many “regularly visit” the new church in the old building. The theology is different, the ecclesiology is different, all that is the same is the building (maybe even the carpet), yet they go to the old building.

Neither of these buildings match the grandeur and historic place of Notre Dame. Yet, as I listen to multitudes mourn, weep, and pledge millions to rebuild, I am struck with the question why? The Disciples had just come from the temple. They had seen all that Jesus had seen; they had watched him drive out the money changers. Yet, his judgment and prophecy against the temple cut them to the core. Right worship had not occurred and Jeremiah had made it plain in his prophecy against the first temple, God wants right worship more than nice buildings (Jeremiah 7:4). As I look at the images of old churches rotting through out our countryside the same sadness overtakes me. Seeing and remembering what strong faith had once ruled our county. I mourn with the French people, but mostly because they cry for a building and not for the absence of a true church within it. Even as they loved the beauty of their skyline, and of the architecture, they had no use for the Church that built it. Nor do they still. They mourn with tears the loss of a building, a fire claimed it, and do not quake with fear at the knowledge that the eternal soul they bare is bound for a similar fate.

Let us cling to the cross and to church, but never let us cling to and cry for buildings. Cry for the immortal souls that live next to you who will not hear, because we will not speak. Are we broken for our neighbors, or just sad for empty pews?

Coram Deo

Resonance

Psalm 109:4

In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.

Reading through the psalms is finding water for the dry and thirsty soul. They resonate with the heart. Who has not “been there”? Seeing the pain other people are causing themselves and wanting to speak wisdom into their lives, we speak wanting to love them. Wanting the person to leave “him”, stop working at the strip club, quite drinking, willing to do whatever it takes to help, and yet only find angry looks and colorful words. So, the psalmist crying out in frustration at being mistreated, wishing for vengeance, longing for justice. You can imagine David hearing the words of Nabal, “there are many servants these days who are breaking way from their masters”, remembering all he had done to help this man preserve his flocks, he is overcome by malice and vengeance and starts down the path of sin only to persuaded by a wise woman (1 Sam 25:33).

It is easy to find ourselves in these scriptures to feel the resonance in our souls as the trials and frustrations of our lives come full force on us, and we remember all the slights done in return for our love and neighborliness. How our closest neighbor overlooks all the little loving acts we do for them, even disdaining them, if they notice at all. The sacrifices falling on deaf ears. The love showered on stone hearts, returning frustration and tears to be cried out in the middle of the night.  It is as if these songs, written millennia ago, are written from our own heart. The cry of a man’s heart has not changed over the course of millennia.

Even as we see this in the Psalms, we must recognize that we have it backwards. We do not find ourselves in the Psalms; the psalms are in us. God has placed a hole in our hearts that only he is able to fill. He has given a portion of himself in the psalms and it resonates with the natural frequency of our heart. Scripture teaches us that Christ is the fulfillment of the scripture. (Matthew 5:17) Psalms is fulfilled in Christ. The cry of David was an echo of what Christ would experience in his time with us. The Spirit carried David along to write not about his own experience but of him who would come. Our high priest was tempted like us in all things but was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) One of the great blessings of reading plans is making connections across Testaments and Genres. The Psalm above was linked with Mark 3.

“Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:4) These are the words from Jesus to the Pharisees. He was worshiping and saw the man in need of help. Yet, he also knew the purpose of this man, the Pharisees had laid a trap to see if they could find anything to accuse him of. They remained silent and Jesus took pity on a man in great need and healed him. Recognizing the beauty of doing good on the Sabbath to the Glory of God. For this he was driven from the region and they began the process of plotting his path to the cross.

Truly our high priest knows our hearts. He has been tempted as we and more, and he stands at the right hand of God petitioning for us, and the spirit is interceding, with groans to deep for words. This is the reality of prayer. When all of this is overwhelming you and you retreat to scripture for comfort and The Word places the Balm of Gilead upon your broken heart and down trodden spirit, let him encourage you. Let him breath courage into you that you might walk another day to his glory and your good. That you might walk another day for the glory of him who died for you, and yet lives.

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO

The Fellowship

Acts 2:42 ESV

And thy devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

It was evening service at Jefferson Street Baptist Church in Eureka, KS. Kelly and I were locked out and the person inside was literally waving and laughing at us. We had been in town two weeks at the time and were still trying to find a church, having only been married for three weeks, at the time, everything was still pretty new. Turns out the lady, a vivacious forty something high school Spanish teacher, who thought we were friends of a college couple from the area that she had taught, since “we looked so young”. The shades of red she turned when the young man next to her, whom she thought was our friend, asked who we were still brings a smile to my face. We ended up joining that church, and becoming good friends with that young man, but not before we were given a few lessons in church life.

One of those lessons has remained seared in my brain. Coming to the conclusion that this church, that didn’t want to let us in, was the one we wanted to be a part of, I took the unusual step (I have learned) of reading the Church Constitution and By-laws. The lesson seared in my mind is the reality that many of that congregation hadn’t read or didn’t bother following said document. This has turned out to be the norm for those churches we have chosen to join. In this case it was a line about “alcohol for medicinal use only” that was simply ignored by some in the congregation and not enforced by the rest. How do we understand this situation? Even given the age of many in the congregation, the church and its documents predated them, so all of those members had agreed to abstain from alcohol. All other issues aside they were in sin simply because they chose to pledge themselves to the teaching of the church and then violate that pledge, they were liars.

This same issue plays itself out across the theological spectrum, on varying issues. As the Methodist General Conference recently voted to affirm its book of Doctrine and attempt to actually enforce it, this same issue was made plain. They did not affirm any new verbiage or amendments. That means that those who were wanting the “full spectrum” of LGBTQ+ affirmed, and had worked for that change, were operating in a way that showed them to be dishonest people, no matter how nice they were. Recently, I have heard of multiple teachers in Catholic schools that are upset because they were fired for violating the police and teachings of the Catholic Church on human sexuality, one man and one woman in marriage. I find this interesting since I believe the churches policy hasn’t changed in a few hundred years on that issue.

I bring all these up because the central question becomes one of purpose. Do we want people in our club or do we want to be the bride of Christ? Holding to biblical standards of morality will be limiting. Those not wanting to submit to Christ as lord of their lives won’t be able to remain or perhaps won’t desire to remain. Being shut out will spur some to anger and others it will make wonder what they must do to “get in”. We however are responsible to make sure that the “apostles teaching” is being taught from the pulpit and that our congregations are “devoting themselves” to it, as well as to the fellowship, communion, and prayer.

CORAM DEO

All to Him I Owe

Psalm 87:7 ESV

Singers and dancers alike say,

                “All my springs are in you.”

As our the intellectual and entertainment industries have become the major sources of cultural change it is interesting to see how God has used the root of these American industries in the course of History. To rightly understand it we look to how he has used these skills previously and what he has chosen to record for us in the text of scripture? The Harvards and Hollywoods of this world have sought power and control and found corruption and the praise of man that they long for. Into this the Psalmist cries out in praise, wonder, and joy for The City of God.

The Psalm begins with the Love of God for his city. We see Jesus declaring his love for the city as he weeps over the city he is about to enter (Luke 19:41) he then pronounces its destruction as he is leaving a few chapters later (Luke 21). He cries because he loves it and longs for it to repent and turn but his righteous justice will not be denied its destruction is sure. The Psalms are fulfilled in Christ. The Psalmist tells of the wonder of this City of God. The end tells us that the entertainers recognize that ALL their “springs are in you.”   To have all that makes the heart leap for and long for be bound to God himself!

How often does my heart fall short? Not only taking joy where it should not be found but, even when it is a place where joy should be found, I do not ascribe the source of that joy to him who has graciously given every good and perfect gift! I join the Israelites in the Exodus and the Northern Kingdom of Israel in choosing to think it is because of my ability and wisdom that victories have come. When in reality, it is because of his great name!

Jerusalem was not a great and majestic city, because David chose to centralize his government. It was not beautiful because Solomon chose to spend the wealth of an arms dealer on its walls. Nor was the Temple Holy because Herod chose to garner the peoples favor by endowing it with multiple building projects. God used all these means to accomplish what he desired, but the reason Jerusalem is Holy ground, and above all other cities is because it is the place that he chose to put his name. Because God chose to build a new Jerusalem to outshine its earthly predecessor.

To this city every right minded “artist” must recognize his creativity and skill are given him. Springing forth from the author of life, the champion of peace, the joy of man. Even as he gave to Bezalel and Oholiab the skill to build his temple (Exodus 31:1-3), he fills skilled craftsman today with the abilities they have. Even as many in our modern entertainment industry choose to use those gifts to corrupt and pervert what God desires, they must do so through the gifts he has given them. Even as they deliver their message, they must tip their hat to him who created all things.

The spring of water was the ancient source of life, blessing, prosperity, a future and a hope. Our spring is truly and rightly grounded in God himself.

“In Christ Alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song.”

Coram Deo

The Faithful

Exodus 24:1 ESV

Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.

“Past performance is the best predictor of future results” is a mantra I learned while working. The idea was that if the process didn’t work the first time or the second time, we shouldn’t expect it to work the third. Weather that be people or machinery. This has flowed into my parenting I am afraid.  In trying to help one of my children understand why I won’t allow them to do things that the others get to do. It recently comes down to a familiar mantra “but I won’t do _______” to which I must refer back to two minutes previous when said action had just taken place. Then I am told “but I won’t do ______” and my response is “its not that you won’t its that you already did.” It still hasn’t sunk in so the circle continues until I simply say no.

This quickly moves me to my own short comings. How often do I long for those blessings that I have already shown I don’t have the ability to manage, by how I have used the small things? Recognizing that “he who is faithful with little” (Luke 16:10) applies to me is a terrible reality I don’t often enjoy thinking about. I desire a newer car, bigger house, more kids, more discs… the list is as large as my own depravity. The lack of contentment is palpable and odious. Then the question is laid before me, have I been faithful with those things I have? Have I kept GOD’S cars, house, and children to the level that more would be reasonable? Am I using the house such that a bigger one would grow the kingdom or just my status?

Then comes the scripture. The flash of light and brilliance of God’s word strikes deep at the heart of my sin. Seeing my self in the scripture instead of God is a fault laid bare time and time again. Yes, conviction of sin is there to be found, but the text is not about me nor is it about you. Reading of God’s call to Moses and the elders struck me by who is allowed to come up. The seventy elders are not listed by name but Aaron’s sons are. Nadab and Abihu go down in infamy a few pages from this point. Desiring to worship God in the wrong way, and they are sentenced to death and consumed by the fire of God (Leviticus 10).

“Does God know all things?” Is one of the questions we work on with our children. The answer being, “Nothing can be hidden from God”, applies in this instance. God knows that these two priests will disobey him. That they will leave their positions to Eleazar and Ithamar. Yet, he calls them up to him. As we have worked our way through the scriptures on Sunday morning, we are often confronted with the command to remember or be reminded about something. Looking at scripture we must remember that God is faithful and merciful to those who are least deserving. He walks with Judas for three years knowing what will transpire. He weeps of Jerusalem, knowing they would reject their salvation. He calls us up to fellowship with him, knowing we will fall short over and over. He calls us to dine at his table, on his body and blood, knowing that we have lightly esteemed it and we will go out lightly esteeming it. Yet, he does it anyway. Not because we are faithful, but because he is faithful. The faithful is a singular term.

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO