Stablizing Thoughts

As I was considering the prophecy and fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey's colt, a son of a beast of burden as Matthew puts it, one of the adjectives used to describe the rider was "gentle" (Greek:praus). It is best translated "meek" and used in Jesus' sermon on the mount. "The meek shall inherit the earth." (Matt.5:5) Peter uses it to describe the required demeanor of a woman married to an unbeliever, if she is to win him. She must have "a gentle and quiet spirit." The noun of the word is used in James 1:21 to describe the attitude we must have if we are going to receive the word planted in us. Those who do receive this word are wise and prove it by deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom. (1 Peter 3:13) This allows them to then given appropriate answers to those who ask for reasons for hope, an answer given in gentleness and reverence. (1 Peter 3:15)

 

Aristotle explained this word/concept as a mean between two extremes: getting angry without reason and not getting angry at all. Now this is where balance comes in. Finding such a fulcrum is truly a balancing act. If you want to know how difficult this is, as if it needed to be proven, then stand on one foot or walk a narrow board, or a tight wire if you are that brave. The struggle to maintain balance becomes immediately evident. Just as our brain, inner ear, and muscles work together to find some stabilizing force to keep us from falling over or off, so we wrestle internally with thoughts which flood into our minds when we feel unstable and threatened.

 

Here is Jesus balancing on the back of a donkey's colt, jostling about on a small untested beast of burden, one on which no man had ever rode, seeking to maintain His balance on the uneven streets of His day. But just as it may have been difficult to stay atop of this animal, what was happening in the mind of Christ, who was clearly focused on the events that would soon unfold? Surely He possessed a disturbed mind, one agitated with the circumstances surrounding Him. In fact when He arrived at the temple His meekness was tested as He observed, yet again, the money-changers and robbers who had broken into His Father's house. What is the appropriate response to a home-invader? We know what He did. But, more importantly what stabilizing thoughts guided His response?

 

Perhaps if we carefully consider Jesus in this scene we might learn how much more we need stabilizing thoughts, truths that keep us balanced and focused and free from the extremes of becoming angry for no reason and not being angry at all. One thing I have learned in my journey into Challenger Deep is that Jesus possessed a beautiful mind, one tuned perfectly and one calibrated to respond to any and all circumstances of life with just the right degree of love, justice, mercy, wisdom, and grace. He found the balance between grace and law, justice and mercy. But, it all began with the thoughts of His mind.

Redistribution Of Wealth

I have been in Luke 19 for a while. There is a parable that comes after the story of Zaccheus that the NIV calls "Parable of Money Usage." It is a difficult parable and MUST be kept in the context of Jesus' present circumstances. These circumstances included 1) Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem for the last time, to die; 2) as he passes through Jericho he heals two blind men who have enough faith to cry out for healing and mercy; 3) he also takes some time to visit Zaccheus' home and bring salvation to it; 4) Zaccheus takes his considerable wealth and redistributes it to the poor and the ones he has cheated in his tax collection business. Now with this as the immediate backdrop, the crowd has a supposition in mind, i.e. that "the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately." In response to that Jesus told this parable.

The parable was about a nobleman who had ten slaves. Before he left to go to receive a kingdom for himself he distributed ten minas (about 100 days labor's worth) to the ten slaves. He told them to "do business" with their mina while he was gone. On his return one had turned the mina into ten, another to five, and another had nothing to show because he hid the mina in a handkerchief assuming the master would punish him if he lost his mina. So what does the nobleman do? He redistributes the wealth. He tells bystanders to take the mina from the slave and give it to the one who has ten minas and has been put over ten cities within this new kingdom. The bystanders complain that this is not a fair redistribution of wealth because the first slave already has ten minas and, by implication, does not deserve more.

So what is the point? Verse 26 seems to be key: "I tell you that to everyone who has shall more be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does not have shall be taken away." WHAT? This can't be right! Shouldn't wealth be distributed equally? Well that is not how things work in the real world nor in the kingdom of God. Now if everyone used what they were given equally then no one would lack anything they needed. But, people do not use what they have for the good of the kingdom. When the blind men used what they had, i.e. their voices to appeal to the Master Healer, they gained sight and the responsibility that came from it. When Zaccheus accepted Jesus' invitation to come to his home that day and he received salvation, he accepted the responsibility that comes with salvation, i.e. to use what he has for the good of the kingdom. He used his wealth to bless the kingdom of God and surely was rewarded for it. The slaves who multiplied their master's minas were rewarded with more responsibility (not more luxury).

So how is this redistribution of wealth supposed to work? Each person must access what they have received from God (see 1 Cor.4:7). Then they must use it to extend the influence of the kingdom of God throughout the earth, bringing everything under the King's control. By doing so they are blessed but also receive more responsibility. This kind of redistribution of wealth requires faith that is able to take a risk and character that is willing to receive the increased responsibility that comes with success. Merely moving money from one pocket to another is not God's means of redistributing the wealth! Think about it.

The Question

The context is Matt.20, Mark 10, Luke 18. Jesus asks the blind men (read all the accounts) a very important question: "What do you want me to do for you?" Look closely and you will see six elements to the question.

What: The object. Defining the "what" may sometimes be difficult. How specific must we be? What is important? What do I really need? Have I thought it through that if I get what I want will I like it or be prepared to manage it? Most who win the lottery are ill prepared  to handle it and disaster follows. In this case the "what" is sight. No ambiguity-it is clear. But, he could have asked for anything. When the Son of God says what do you want and you know he can do anything the "what" is pretty important to get right.

Do: This is the action word. Did Jesus have the ability and the capacity to do the "what?" If not, then his asking was cruel. Or, did He have the desire to do something for these men? Is Jesus able? Isn't this one of our great questions? We want to know if He can-as well as will. Does Jesus have the power to open blind eyes? He has proven He can, so the blind men ask according to His proven ability.

You: In this case the "you" is two blind men. This is personal. Jesus does many things for everyone, But, just as He raises Lazarus by calling him by name and not everyone in the graveyard, so today He was healing the "you." "It's me, It's me, It's me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Not my brother, not my sister....."

Want: Here is the heart of man, the seat of desire. The "want" must be in line with the "what." We have many desires and not all are good and useful. It is hard to sort through our heart's desires to find "what" we will ask for. This is why I like Psa. 27:4: "One thing I ask of the Lord...."

Me: The "me" is Jesus. Jesus is not asking him what he wants others to do for him. Otherwise Jesus could just command someone else to help him. No, the gift was coming from Jesus Himself which required trust by the blind men. We sometimes ask men for what we should be asking Jesus.

For: Jesus qualifies the question to only what is beneficial to the blind men. Jesus wants to do something for them and not against them. How important it is that Jesus always acts for us and not against us. The crowd was not for them-only Jesus asked the question. Let that sink in-"for you."

Good question!

Four Gears of Life

  Sometimes when you counsel people concepts that you have been teaching for years come together in a visual way that helps others to grasp how things work. I am big on wanting to know how things work, especially things pertaining to  our lives. In most areas of life there is the WHOLE and the PARTICULARS. To understand we must address both. So let me give you what I see as the Four Gears of Life.

 

GEAR ONE is PERSONALITY. For years I have administered dozens of Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis tests, and interpreted the personalities of individuals within pre-marital, couples, and individual counseling. Regarding personality, we all have one. We also have personalities that will not change significantly over time. But, we do have personalities that can be understood, and can be managed so that we can effectively live and relate to others. The more you understand your personality, accept responsibility for it, and effectively manage it the more content you are in life.

 

GEAR TWO is BEHAVIOR. We all have patterns of behavior. We do things over and over again, repeatedly (pun intended). We develop preferences that drive choices. We have routines, habits, and styles. We dress certain ways. We pursue hobbies and careers. We say and do things that are peculiar to us. We have skills that set us apart. Some behaviors are moral and some are immoral. It is easy for us to see each other's behaviors and make judgments primarily based on what we see. We condemn or excuse, we promote or discourage, and we endorse or denounce according to our view of what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.

 

GEAR THREE is PAST EXPERIENCES. Like personality, we each have our own unique experiences. We were raised in certain ways. We may have experienced trauma of varying degrees. We made choices that led to either good or bad places. We had friends, relatives, and teachers who influenced us. We have accidents and illnesses and deaths, all of which help shape who we are. Some of these experiences need to be bathed in forgiveness. Some need to be treated with understanding through adult eyes to correct the mistakes of looking at them through a child's eyes. Some need to be let go of and others need to be cherished and preserved. But, no mistake, we are a product of our experiences.

 

GEAR FOUR is VALUES AND BELIEFS. What we hold to be true is of great importance to shaping our lives. We all have a worldview. That does not mean it is a good one or that it is consistent with itself. But, we all, if given a list of doctrines or moral positions, could answer one of three ways, i.e. agree, disagree, or 'I don't know.' Our values and beliefs may come from a religion, a book like the Bible or Koran, or from a person. Our faith (and we all have faith in something or nothing) drives behaviors, helps us interpret past experiences, and shows us how we should manage our personalities.

 

If a person is having trouble in life or in their relationships, it would be good to consider how the patterns of each gear operate in sync with the other gears to form YOU. The better you know this, the better you can choose in the exercise of your WILL. This is the power source that makes the gears turn. You get to decide where these gears will take you. Now, if I can take the metaphor a little further, you may need someone to help you grease the gears to get them moving freely so you can more easily go in the right direction. That why we have counselors and friends who have an understanding of the FOUR GEARS.

The Ideology War

 What are people drinking (or smoking)? The world is awash in conflicting ideologies. An ideology is "a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy." All ideologies that exist within the world must, if they prove to be correct and worthy of a following, must be in harmony with God's perfect idea.

 

There is much debate today as to whether or nor IS (Islamic State) is either Islamic or a State. We seek to label this group for the purpose of identifying its contents. I would ask, which comes first, the label or the contents? Before Coke can be labeled "Coke" it must be "Coke." IS believes something and professes something and is motivated to its actions by something. What is it? Is it the writings of the Koran, their unique interpretation of the Koran, or a mixture of Islamic tenants and other streams of thought (even revenge for perceived injustices)? Who is more consistent? Those who profess Mohammed as the prophet and his way as The Way yet never preform acts of terror, or IS? That is a debate for Islam. Even though we might have a difficult time precisely identifying IS's ideology we do know they want everyone (even fellow Muslims) to be what they are under the threat of death.

 

As Paul labored to convince King Agrippa to consider the claims of Christ, he said, "King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do." Agrippa replied: "In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian." Paul answered thus: "I would to God that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains." (Acts 26:27-29) Did Paul want to change Agrippa's ideology? Did he want the king to wear a new label, i.e. Christian? Did he want all who heard him that day to BE what he was in belief and way of life? "Yes" to all. Paul represented a Christian ideology rooted in the Law and the Prophets, the actual words of Christ Himself, and the continued revelation he and others received from the Holy Spirit.

 

What I fear is that those with terrorist ideologies will care more about the spread of theirs that we do about the spread of ours. I fear that not only will they seek to eradicate anyone who does not embrace their ideology, but that many in this world who are seeking a radical ideology that has a semblance of power, strength and success will gravitate to it just to be a part of a movement that stands for something, no matter how misguided. I fear that we who call ourselves Christians and are casual about it will not only not be able to stand against their swords, but more importantly will not be able to give an answer for the reason of the hope that is within us. (1 Pet.3:15)

 

In my opinion, the drift away from the deep truths of Jesus, and the radical nature of the gospel and the kingdom continues unabated. We have encased the Gospel within modern culture to such extent that folks, even those who self-identify as Christians, are inoculated against it. We have been injected with enough cultural antibodies that we cannot catch Jesus. The prophylactic of the secular ideologies prevents us from becoming pregnant with the doctrines of Christ. And even if we do become pregnant with Jesus, society has a pill that will abort Him before he attaches. This is a serious matter. A world where an IS ideology could actually succeed demonstrates how little the ideology of Jesus is succeeding. Our task is to convince not only non-Christians to be what we claim to be, but to convince our casual fellow-Christians to be what Jesus calls them to be. 

September 29, 2014  Rod Myers

 

 

Black and Blue

Still in Luke 18. This unrighteous judge who did not fear God and did not respect man was being pummeled by this weak widow. She would not give up. She kept coming. Maybe she got a petition drive going, or organized a march around the courthouse. Or maybe she had a letter writing campaign or got her friends to post things on Face Book. Maybe she camped out in front of the judges door and called out to him at all hours of the night. Maybe she filled up his inbox with text messages, one after another, like Mike Tyson going after a defenseless opponent.

 

Jesus says he was getting worn out from her continuous coming. Every day she was in court asking if he was going to hear her case. The word for worn out comes from the area just below the eyes on the face. It stands for the part of the face that might get beaten and be rendered black and blue. Paul uses it in 1 Cor.9:27 in talking about buffeting his body to bring it under submission. It is a harsh form of discipline that seeks to coerce. She was pestering him and he was feeling the effect. She was wearing him down. Perhaps this would be a good model for diplomacy. Provide consistent, continual, and well-placed blows to vulnerable parts of the enemy until they are beaten down into submission and cry "uncle." Make them holler "enough."

 

Remember this story is about praying and not giving up. Do we have to beat God till He is black and blue to get him to listen to us and do what needs to be done? Actually no. This is a lesson in contrasts. God is not the unrighteous judge who has to be boxed black and blue like a street thug or terrorist in Get Mo to get him to "give it up." God is not some tyrant who could not give a care to your situation and need. But if a punk judge can be made to submit by a relentless widow, then how much more will a loving Father be persuaded to answer his precious children? God is not black and blue from our prayers. He loves to hear us consistently and continuously pray for justice.

Fear and Respect

 It seems the widow got the wrong judge. (Luke 18) If I had an appearance notice I would want to know something about the judge I would stand before. Is he fair? Does he follow the law? Can he show mercy? Does he listen? Is he in cahoots with the prosecutor? When folks are given the power of life and death over others, there is a tendency for this power to "go to their heads." Power eaten too quickly is like eating very cold ice cream too quickly.

The storyteller of Luke 18, Jesus, is quick to say that this particular judge neither fears God nor respects man. This isn't looking too good. The judge himself confirms this truth when the poor, vulnerable widow stands before him. This is not a good combination. Lack of fear of God is a prescription for the making of a fool. Read Proverbs on that one. Fearing God is merely the beginning of wisdom, and it is the first half of the whole duty of man. (Eccl.12) Lack of respect for people, especially weak and powerless people is a prescription for abuse. So we have a fool for a judge who is likely to heap abuse, or at the least neglect, on this poor widow. Her life, her future, her financial security is being weighed in the balance of his court. And, he just doesn't care.

Surely this judge was not born this way. Fear of God and respect for others is really the most natural of ways to live. Observation of God's creation should make it clear without a lot of thought that God is pretty powerful, creative, and wise. And, the interdependence we have with others in this world should tell us without a lot of thought that respect for others is the best way to do business in this world. But somewhere along the line this judge loss the most basic building blocks of human existence. He found a way to compartmentalize God so that he would not have to fear him. He put God in a cage. I don't fear a rattlesnake that is contained behind a foot of bullet-proof glass. I don't fear a lion that is secured in a steel cage. But, my fear level goes up considerably if I know they are roaming freely around my house. God in a cage is not feared.

And how did he lose empathy for people, especially the vulnerable ones among us? The ability to feel compassion, mercy, and love is essential for human relations. What happens when someone just does not care anymore? What happens when this person has power over me and you? This is called tyranny. This is the stuff terrorist are made of.

So here she is. a pitiful, needy widow standing before a fearless and disrespectful judge. He is going to eat her alive right? Wrong! She has a quality of her own and it is called persistence. It is the thing prayers are made of. And if it is effective on this worthless judge how much more effective will it be when made to a God who is feared and respects all men he made.