How to handle obnoxious Christians-or anyone

September 10, 2010

Ever notice that sometimes when you’re going in too many directions and barely keeping your nose above the metaphorical water your body, tired of being ignored shouts, “Stop!” ? I’ve pondered my next post on this blog from many angles. In the evening of 8/31 as I prepared for a quick drive up to Cleveland for a meeting. Then from the perspective of laying on my back on the garage floor Wednesday morning 9/1 when the muscles in my left leg told me rather forcefully “you ain’t going nowhere, buddy”. Then I received one of those dreaded calls that one of my friends was about to die from cancer.

Even I could finally stop the frantic space and just rest a little. Even in the early morning pain when the pills haven’t done their job and I can’t sleep. Slow down, breathe deeply, focus — on God.

I’m contemplating attitude. What’s my attitude about life right now? How do I approach small setbacks? Then news started hitting. Pastor of a small church in Florida (I think) decides it’s a great time for a publicity stunt. He’ll burn a pile of books he doesn’t like and generate a lot of attention (I think that idea was tried in the late 30s and early 40s in Europe–didn’t work too well). Well, he got a lot of attention, but problem in a connected world is that one small-time opportunist can create havoc for thousands. He literally could fan the flames of hatred and put the lives of thousands of Americans in danger half-way across the world. Is it time for growing responsibility? Or are we headed toward another era of hatred and warfare such as the Nazis incited?

Problem is, the guy claims to be a Christian (I leave the judging to a higher authority). So how do you deal with an obnoxious Christian? Well, how do you deal with an enemy? With love, right? So…

Jon Swanson is one of the best writers I read on these subjects. Try this on for size.

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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.

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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.”

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New Leadership Rises

August 24, 2010

I’m still contemplating the end of the gospel of Mark. So the group has an intimate, friendly if not joyous, but yet strange Passover meal. The leader is acting a little strangely, what with washing their feet and all. They whisper about betrayal, but still don’t really know what to expect. Little do they know that by tomorrow night they will be leaderless–sort of. Or at least temporarily. Little did they know that they had to go from student to leader almost overnight. It’s sort of like going from adolescence to maturity in the space of a month.

Think about high school athletics. OK, maybe a stretch, but consider this. One year there is senior leadership of the team, but they inevitably graduate (or get too old). But the next year, last year’s juniors are this year’s seniors, and new leadership arises.

While the disciples had Jesus, they didn’t have to think. Jesus made the decisions. Jesus did the teaching. Jesus chose the inner circle. Jesus arranged the Passover dinner. And the next night he was gone.

So we sit in our comfortable homes and churches and criticize the disciples. What would you have done. You don’t become a leader overnight. Think of times in your life when there was a leader and then she or he was gone. Died. Moved away. Whatever. Wasn’t there a period of time for adjustment?

So they gradually regrouped. Then they experienced the new Jesus. Then they started to exercise their own leadership muscles. And in only 40 days came the day of Pentecost when they announced to the world, “We’re back.” And they each went out and started faith communities. And Paul, Barnabas and others were called, and they traveled the world establishing faith communities. And so, here we are.

The thing that grieves me personally is this thought–what have I done to start new faith communities and raise up new leaders? Have I done enough? Have you? That is one of our tasks–to bring up new leaders to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is here.

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Jesus is with you

August 23, 2010

Returned from another business trip where I’m on the go from early until late. Still pondering Mark’s gospel, though.

There are two endings to the gospel. It appears that some in the community long ago added another ending–perhaps because what appears to be the original ending seemed to stop short. No one can know for certain today. But both endings have a similar conclusion. Jesus went with the disciples as they spread the gospel of God’s salvation.

Sunday, our pastor challenged us (based upon the three stories in Luke 15) to find the lost. Remember the three stories? The lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son. While he was talking, I was thinking–how do you approach those who have been in the church then left in bitterness because of something someone said or did years ago? It’s hard. I’ve had those conversations. You don’t just sweep in and drop a few words of wisdom and solve all the problems.

Then I read the conclusions of Mark again and it dawned upon me. You don’t approach situations just within your own emotions and intellect. You step back momentarily and find that Jesus is with you (you could say the Spirit or God–all the same). Then you use the added help that you now have because you are with Jesus. He’s helping you do the work.

Those early Christ followers really felt Jesus’ presence. How long since you have? What better things could you do if you realized that he’s walking with you?

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Figuring Out Jesus

August 16, 2010

We’re coming up on Jesus’ last two days on Earth as a human. His closest followers, indeed almost everyone, thought they had him figured out. That doesn’t mean everyone agreed with him. After all, he threatened the positions and spiritual security of many. But they thought they had him figured out.

Then he’s arrested, questioned in several tribunals, found guilty of a trumped up charge, and executed as the King of the Jews. Jesus has shown many great powers. Both his friends and his enemies expected him to use those great powers to avoid execution and assume leadership of the Jewish nation.

They were all confounded. When it appeared that the authorities had won, his male friends disappeared. His female friends, however, watched everything and waited. His enemies taunted him with his own words, but still they thought they had him figured out.

What extraordinary power did Jesus exhibit? The power of self control in the face of nasty, false accusations and violent treatment. But nobody could figure out where that was going.

The description of Jesus dying is not really detailed. But what we do know that the way he died was extraordinary. It was different from any other execution the people around had ever experienced. It was so different that a pagan Roman officer exclaimed, “He truly is the Son of God.” That must have been a truly “other worldly” moment. The sky turned black, the curtain in the Temple was torn. It was as if (or maybe better said, he actually did) God reached through the fabric of the universe he had created from wherever God is (he must be outside the universe since he created it) and changed the course of history at that point.

Everyone was looking for evidence of who Jesus was in the wrong places. He was the one person in history who walked (in the Hebrew sense) totally with-God. So, his dying was no ordinary event. It was extra-ordinary. So significant that pagans noticed.

Are you looking for Jesus in the wrong way? Think you have him figured out? Probably not. He is extra-ordinary. Don’t trap him in a little wrist band. To meet him, you must live with-God. And that is a challenge.

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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.

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Balance Needs Focus

August 13, 2010

Yoga is a discipline of bringing body, mind and spirit together. Psychologists, even those who observed humans 5,000 years ago, know that one sign of illness is when your emotions, mind, body are out of balance and working at cross purposes. One classic Yoga pose that is often the picture used when someone discusses it is called tree pose. This is a balance pose where you stand on one leg, the foot “rooted” to the ground. The other foot is placed on the inner thigh of the “trunk.” The hands are above the head with palms together.

I try to hold this pose for at least 10 breaths. What you discover is that the trick is not balance, per se, but focus. You must clear your mind, focus your eyes on a stable object then concentrate on your breathing.

I’ve been writing a lot about focus lately, because I’ve discovered it is key to a spiritual life. My study of Mark has reached the last 3 chapters where Mark tells the story of Jesus’ last couple of days on earth as a human. I’ve been contrasting Jesus (our model) with Peter (someone with whom we can identify).

Except for the interesting story about his cursing the fig tree, Jesus faced his coming trials and knowledge that his friends would desert him with tremendous focus and balance. His stable object of focus was God. He never wavered from his life with his father. And he kept his balance. Whether being grilled by the ruling council of his religion or by civil authorities with the power to kill him, he was a model of balance. He did not lash out at his accusers–even though the accusations were not true and even contradictory.

Peter, on the other hand, lost it. His emotions swung from blustery “I’ll never desert you” to “I never knew that man.” He lost his focus out of fear. But do not condemn him. Can you say that you have Jesus’ perfect courage? Look inside yourself. What would you have really done in his place? Stand up in the face of the crowd and be killed, too?

Then Peter came to self-realization. He saw into his own mind, body and spirit. He wept. This was a moment of realization. You cannot truly live with God until you realize deeply that you don’t have that focus on God. We also know the rest of the story. Jesus said he would go ahead of them to Galilee after he was raised from the dead. He did. And he met Peter. And he blessed Peter three times to counter the three denials. And Peter realized his focus, his strength, and his balance. And he became a great leader.

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Wakeful or sleepy prayer

August 12, 2010

You have a friend facing a great trial. Life or death hangs in the balance. She’ll know shortly. She asks her friends to pray for/with her. But the threat doesn’t seem real to you. Somehow you just cannot work up the same level of concern as she. While she is sweating in anguish over what might happen to her in the next hours and days, you close your eyes to pray and … fall asleep. She wakes you. You try again. And again…you fall asleep. Some friend!

Jesus brought his three closest friends to a hillside garden across the valley from Jerusalem to pray with him. He knew that the events were building and that his final confrontation with the religious leaders was coming soon. He knew it wasn’t a game he was playing. It was for “keeps.” It was life or death. He had the dread we all face when we are about to undergo a trial and can’t really picture the outcome. We don’t know how bad the experience will be. He wanted support. He got…nothing. They went to sleep on him. They just didn’t feel that same sense of urgency that the one about to undergo the trial felt.

In the discipline of meditation, there is a state called “restful awareness.” You are resting, focusing your mind on God, yet you are aware of things around you. You hear sounds, feel presences. Your focus remains on God. In some traditions, masters watch their students. They may ring a gong. Some will be startled. They are the ones who are dozing instead of praying. It’s a lesson.

Prayer is a discipline. It requires training and practice. Earlier, the disciples asked Jesus how to pray. They noticed that he went often to a quiet place to pray. They wanted to emulate him. But in the hour of need, they went to sleep.

What about you? Can you sit in silent prayer, alone with God, for minutes, hours, without sleeping? Try it. Paul used the words of athletics when discussing spiritual training. Think in terms of the hours of practice that a star athlete puts in so that he can perform well on game day. Emulate that. Start practicing and training so that when your friend needs your support, you are a champion supporter.

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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.

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