Archive for the ‘Living’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Speak Evil of Others

October 4, 2010

In yesterday’s class that I teach, we were looking at James where he says (after the teaching on curbing your tongue), “Do not speak evil of others.” Someone said, “But can you only speak evil about people you know?”

I’m not sure what she meant by that. Could it be that speaking of people you don’t know doesn’t count? I’m not sure. But I answered that it is easier to speak evil of others, precisely because you don’t know them. Although I’ve lived long enough to hear plenty of judging, put-downs, gossip, derogatory comments and the like directed at people the speaker does know.

But the Internet, email and the Web give us instant communications. We can connect with more people more rapidly with more misinformation than at any previous time in history. Therefore the hate emails that get blithely spread from so-called Christians full of untruths and exaggerations passed off as fact designed to get your emotions aroused against certain groups–usually gays or Muslims these days, but could be directed at anyone.

James had an answer to this human condition. It was to tame your tongue. Speak out of mercy, peace, truth, gentle without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. I certainly have long tried to live up to this Christian ideal. I wish I could say I always succeeded.

God, I tame my tongue, help me when I fail.

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Living | 2 Comments »

Beyond Hate and Anger

September 30, 2010

Underlying so much of the so-called discussion of messages floating around the Internet and reactions to various people and ideas are hate and anger. Now anger probably leads to hate, because it must eventually manifest itself against someone or something. Anger usually springs up from inside yourself. Causes are individual, but certain general causes accumulate from the individual. Often anger comes from internal feelings of lack of self-worth, or feeling threatened by events, or feelings of fear of others who are different from me, or fear of losing my wealth–or not getting the wealth I feel I deserve.

The generation now in its 50s and entering the 60s has been described as the “me generation” since before 1970. And that’s a lot of what I see. Too many people are still striving for everything that they think they are owed, when in fact, they are owed nothing. Too wrapped up in accumulating things and worried simultaneously about losing what they have and not getting as many things as they desire, they lash out at others who threaten their lifestyle–at least as they see it.

I’m back to Thomas a Kempis in The Imitation of Christ, but you could find similar words in most spiritual writers. “A man is raised up from the earth by two wings–simplicity and purity. There must be simplicity in his intention and purity in his desires. Simplicity leads to God, purity embraces and enjoys Him.”

Only by simplifying your life and striving for purity by focusing on God through Jesus can you deal with all the internal turmoil–the conflicts that lead to hate, anger, fear. I counsel that to so many people I meet these days who are so conflicted by striving and worry. Calm down, breathe, seek God, meditate on His Word. In these you can start toward simplicity and the true peace that God offers.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Living, Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Rush to Judge Others

September 27, 2010

We live in a time, I don’t know, maybe like other times in human history, where people are so quick to judge others. I know Christians who perfectly know the mind of God and can point out exactly who is going to heaven and who isn’t. Of course, for them, the game played is about heaven. I’ll never forget a Mad Magazine cartoon from when I was a kid that talked about the first preacher who moved to Hartford, Conn. (then the capitol of the insurance industry) and sold “fire insurance.”

The book I’m currently studying is “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas a Kempis. This contemplative from the Middle Ages wrote, “If a man would weigh his own deeds fully and rightly, he would find little cause to pass severe judgment on others.” These certainly reflect the voice of Jesus–speck in someone else’s eye, log in yours; he who is without sin cast the first stone.

If you spent more time in your morning prayers reflecting upon where you fall short and asking God for help, you would approach the day with an entirely different attitude than when you, like the Pharisee, begin the day with the prayer, “Thank you God for making me perfect.” When you look inside yourself and see the sin that lurks in both things you do and things you are capable of, you’ll understand why relationship with God through Jesus is key to salvation–not so much from the future hell but from the hell of today.

Why live bitter, resentful, judgmental? Why not live free to love God and love other humans? Throw off the chains of your limited, fearful view of God and enter into relationship with Him.

Tags:, , , , , ,
Posted in Christianity, Living | Leave a Comment »

Open Eyes to Dynamics of Life

September 25, 2010

Sorry not to post for a while. I had a thigh muscle pull bad enough to land me for an overnight stay in the hospital followed by a couple of weeks on a narcotic pain killer. While I realize there exists a minor literary tradition of writing on spiritual topics while on drugs, that’s not my style. On top of that, I had a magazine to get out (no rest when you publish monthly), a special project newspaper for a conference coming up next week, and then my long-time boss, mentor and friend passed away last Wednesday. It’s been a month that tries my balance, to say the least.

But a couple of weeks on your back give you time to contemplate. At the same time my wife was reading some of those hate emails that circulate the Internet. Me, I just delete unopened. She? She reads every one, to the bottom, then gets upset. I tell her that a good way to maintain emotional and intellectual balance is to pare out things from your life that unnecessarily cause distress. (There are life events, of course, that confront you that must be met, but that’s another matter.)

Back to my wife’s reading and the subject of my last post–like many people my age, I started meditating in the late 60s. I’ve explored paths, had experiences. I combine practice with reading. The thing that has consistently amazed me during my reading the ancient spiritual masters for 40 years is that they write very little about prayer or meditation techniques. They write about the person. Where do all the passions originate? How do you overcome them? How do you live your life? It’s not a method or a word to memorize. It’s all about how you live, where you focus.

So, I deal with many Christians who have memorized a few verses from the Bible. Some of them, though, when I observe how they live, how they interact with others, what their attitude toward others is, I wonder.

Allow me a metaphor. I am a soccer referee and instructor of referees. I’ve noticed two types of referees. One type is “book smart.” They are dissatisfied with anything less than 95% on any test we give. They know every law or rule and every interpretation–in their head. But, put them on the pitch (field) to actually do refereeing, they fail at any tough contest. Like life, soccer is a dynamic game. It has flows of activity. There are many nuances. Sometimes it’s a matter of perspective or flow of the game that determines what is a foul and what is called. A good referee at this higher level knows the written laws thoroughly. That is only the start. The key to success is to develop a feel for the game, relate to the players, move the game along within the boundaries.

Some Christian traditions have developed a formula: accept Christ + read Bible + attend church religiously = go to heaven. Oh, by the way, judge other people based upon what you’ve read and whether they agree with you. It’s the “know the law” type of religion. Sounds a little like the Pharisees to me.

There is another way, much more ancient than that, which says something like, recognize Jesus, develop a living relationship with God through Jesus, read the Bible to deepen your knowledge and follow the two commandments Jesus gave us–love God, love people. (Love as an action verb, not an emotion.) That’s my tradition. I wish I could do it as well as I can say it.

Tags:, , , , , ,
Posted in Living, Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Spiritual Fitness and Endurance

August 29, 2010

I have refereed soccer for over 20 years. Along the way, I’ve been privileged to work some pretty high-level games. In order to be successful, I had to continually train my body and my mind. Part of training the body is to have the endurance to still be running at the end of the match along with the players and not be so tired that you begin to make poor decisions (mind).

People ask me about the spiritual life. Is it one burst of enlightenment? Or, is it believing in a set of words? Baptists (among others) emphasize the importance of decision. Some think that once you make the decision for Christ, then you’re pretty much done. Nothing else to do.

The answer to all of that is pretty much “no” or “there’s more.” Paul often uses the metaphor of athletic training when speaking of the spiritual life. Just as it is necessary to train your body and mind to be fit to be a soccer referee, you must train your body and mind to be fit for the spiritual life. How do you train? You train your mind by study–study the Bible; study scholars who study the Bible and help explain terms the original languages and the like; study writings from spiritual masters; and, most of all think abut what you’re reading. You train your body by working to avoid sins of the body–sexual, alcohol abuse, and the like. You also train through the discipline of prayer.

James makes a similar teaching at the beginning of his pastoral letter–you gain endurance by living through trials.

Once you decide for Jesus, the spiritual life begins in earnest. Begin training now.

Tags:, , , , , ,
Posted in Christianity, Living, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Grieving About Separation

August 25, 2010

My heart breaks when there is separation–when couples separate, when peoples decide to separate into hatred against each other. This week I’ve heard two talks based on stories from Luke’s gospel. One was based on the story of Zacchaeus, the “wee little man” of kid’s song lore. He was a tax collector and “sinner.” The other talk was actually based on three stories in response to the religious leaders’ criticism that Jesus hung out with “sinners.” The three stories from Luke 15 regard the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.

Now, when one group labels another group “sinner,” that must mean that there are two groups–them and us. They are sinners, while we are, evidently “not-sinners.” We’re perfect, in touch with God, in fact blessed by God. They are not. Jesus said that is not true. God loves sinners and fervently wants to “find” them. In fact, God says everyone is a sinner. In reality, there is only one group–sinners. That’s all of us. When we forget that, then sin has entered us.

I thought about this after reading a couple of news reports this week. First was a Lutheran pastor who has separated from his church because they are letting “sinners” into the ministry. Sorry, but I think I detect a couple of sins by interpreting his comments–in him. He’s classifying people into the good guys (him, of course) and the bad guys (people he doesn’t like). Instead of bringing healing, like Jesus did, he is bringing division. And I think division grieves God’s soul.

The other item is the hatred popping up in New York because a Muslim group wants to build a cultural center in lower Manhattan. One group says that having anything to do with Muslims in the area is an affront to the memory of those who died in the tragic attacks of Sept. 11. But that is to divide people again–and probably falsely. There are Muslim (or call themselves that anyway) terrorists. They have perpetrated some horrendous deeds. On the other hand, there are Christian terrorists (or call themselves that anyway) who go around killing people they don’t like. No one reading this would say all Christians are terrorists because we have a few who go over the edge. Likewise to call all Muslims terrorists because of a few is a travesty.

These divisions grieve me. I have friends from around the world who are spiritual, but from within their home religious traditions. To classify them as less than human or less than spiritual grieves the heart. Only when we can be like Jesus and get over those classifications and realize we’re all in this together will we start the healing process that will bring everyone to God.

The theology sounds simple–it’s them vs. us. But the reality is, in the words of the comic strip Pogo, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Living | Leave a Comment »

Spiritual Energy Crisis

August 14, 2010

The motivational speaker industry sort of sprung up in the 70s and eventually became a big business. There are now speakers who target business people, sports people, men, women–wherever there’s money to be made. The first time I heard one of these speakers was at a management conference in the 70s during a previous energy crisis. His point, though, was that the real energy crisis was personal. Too many people just don’t have the kind of energy they need to succeed in life.

Doug Wysockey-Johnson, executive director of Lumunos (formerly Faith@Work, a leader of the small group movement), just posted an essay on the Lumunos blog about this same energy crisis. Have you noticed a lethargy, a lack of energy for your work for God? He links this to “call.” You sometimes need to remember your call, and renew your commitment to it. Your call should give you energy. Check out his essay. Overcome your personal energy crisis.

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Living | 1 Comment »

Too Much Bluster

August 11, 2010

You know the type. Over the top. Seems to go overboard in telling how much faith, joy, enthusiasm for God they have. Shakespeare, who had great insight into human nature, said, “Methinks thou dost protest too much.” This type of person also seems to deny too vigorously when someone asks something.

Fortunately, I meet few people like this. Fortunately, because a “red flag” raises in my mind when I do meet them. I think that sometimes the bluster and vigor of their profession masks a deep uncertainty. Perhaps they really do want to follow Jesus. Inside, though, there is still something not committed, unsure, conflicted. Some just can’t overcome a deep passion or emotion. And that holds them back. Somehow they just need to get to the point of compete trust in God. Maybe it takes an “existential event,” that is, an experience in life where they truly understand the need for decision and trust.

Peter was just such a person. He believed, sort of, but he was always a little over the top. He professed that for which he didn’t understand. On Jesus’ last night while at dinner, he told Peter that tomorrow he would deny ever knowing him. Peter was aghast. How could that happen? But it did.

While we  should model our lives after Jesus, Peter is a better example of how most of us really are. Peter’s example also shows how you can overcome. Peter went from denial to leadership. Examine your own life. Are you, too, a little over the top? Where have you not committed your life to God. You can. Peter did. He showed the way. It’s not too late.

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Living | Leave a Comment »

Defend Yourself

August 10, 2010

How do you defend your positions? When someone confronts you with a false accusation or with an argument that is counter to everything you believe in, how do you react? Are you defensive? Do you attack the person? Do you lead with phrases that include “you”? Does your defensiveness or insecurity result in angry responses?

What if your life were on the line? You were wrongly accused, and if you can’t defend yourself adequately, you’ll die?

Watch how Jesus handles himself in his final days. He showed some irritability (cursing the fig tree), and he showed anguish. But mostly he was calm, self-composed, self-assured. He quietly answered questions, but with confidence and courage. He didn’t back down. He didn’t speak evil of his accusers. He even reached out to others (the criminal on the cross). In fact, he was still teaching.

What a role model. When confronted, maintain your poise. Be assured in your relationship with God. Answer with civility and gentleness all the while being firm and confident. Wish I could always be that way.

Tags:, ,
Posted in Christianity, Living | 1 Comment »

Betrayal and Forgiveness

August 9, 2010

[Note: I was on another business trip with days that went from 6 am to 10 pm. Somewhere I need to either budget less sleep or budget my time better on these trips. I slipped on all my blogs.]

I’ve reached the end of Mark where he devotes several chapters to Jesus’ last couple of days. I’ve thought about betrayal. The Bible is full of stories of betrayal. Certainly Jesus was betrayed by one of his friends. That happens. Usually this betrayal is a scene in a larger plot–that of enemies trying to undercut you or even kill you in extreme cases.

And that’s happened to me. I worked for a failing company. One day my boss came into my office and said, “X is going to the president of the company telling him you’re not working hard enough.” I was in the habit of eating lunch at my desk and reading the Wall Street Journal and other business information. Thereafter, I went to a restaurant with the group and had a hamburger and beer. That was considered more productive.

Later when I was at another company, I’d run into X around town. He’d smile and greet me like an old buddy. I remember the incident [the old saying “forgive and forget” isn’t always possible], but I don’t care about him. Within me, I forgave him. He was just trying, in vain, to save his job at the expense of me and probably others. Mostly I just thought about the stupidity of the entire situation.

I just read somewhere a quote that went something like, forgiveness is the beginning of healing. If you carry the betrayal within you it will have the ability to destroy your life. If you forgive, then you can get on with your life free of those negative emotions that destroy you.

Jesus seemed to forgive Judas in a way before the betrayal actually went down. Even facing death, he knew someone had to do the act. Judas was playing his part. Jesus knew. He didn’t go to his death carrying bitterness and revenge toward his betrayer. He was past that and on toward his freedom.

We’re unlikely to face a betrayer who is out to kill us. But the same model exists. Following Jesus as the pioneer of our faith (as the writer of Hebrews puts it) means emulating his model. In this case, forgive them the wrong done to you (I’m not talking about God’s final forgiveness here–that’s up to Him) and then you’re free to live with God.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Christianity, Living | Leave a Comment »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »