A Voice in the Wilderness

Paul's final summation in his instruction to Timothy has always been a great encouragement to me...to be bold and proclaim the gospel without fear of reprisal. Why? Because there are literally thousands of people within my sphere of influence who will surly die in their sin unless they can receive the blessing of forgiveness and restoration. They will never be able to come to Christ if the message of salvation isn't shown to them.

There is no season...no so-called good time to speak the truth in love. In fact, to not speak it when I know it to be essential to life...is to, by my own inaction, relegate those who might have heard and responded to hell.

There is, however, a challenge. As Paul says in 2Cor.4:3-4, "For the time is coming (in fact is already upon us) when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions...will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

In this environment we who have been called to preach the gospel, know a little about how John the Baptist might have felt as a "voice crying in the wilderness". We, like he are trying to prepare the way for Jesus to come into the hearts of the people. It is a spiritual wilderness, empty and void. It does feel at times as if we are talking to ourselves and there is none to hear. None the less, we must speak the word, for the scripture tells us that God's would will never come back empty!

So Lord, I pray that you will give us a holy boldness to speak your truth to the lost and broken in the world around us. Make us courageous and without fear, without concern for our popularity or safety. Father, send your Holy Spirit as Jesus promised in the gospel to lead us in all truth...so that the myths which have captured the hearts of man will be destroyed and only the reality will be made manifest. Amen
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Battle Belongs to the Lord!

So often we who have been called to minister in dark places get to be believing that we need to personally do battle with the forces of evil. That is, we go out looking for a fight, seeking Satan's servants that we might, through the exercise of the spiritual authority we believe God has given us, vanquish evil from our midst. And, by doing so demonstrate to those around us not only that God is great and powerful, but we also.

I was reading this morning in 2Chronicals 20 about king Jehoshephat's conflict with a great and powerful hoard of Moabites and Ammonites. The king's response to this impending attack is to pray, not fight! Jehoshephat's first act is to turn to Yahweh, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You" (20:12)

His example to the assembly (read leaders) caused them to pray also, and their obedience encourage the whole nation to do likewise. "All Judah with their little ones, wives and children, stood before the Lord." (20:13) God spoke through the prophet Jahaziel (surprise, surprise!) And said, "Do not be afraid...Do not be dismayed...for the battle is not your, but God's" (20:15) "You do not need to fight this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf". (20:17) Yahweh moved mightily that day to defeat a great army, and not one weapon of Judah was raised!

How often do we create destruction for ourselves and others when we presume to do battle that belongs to the Lord? What do you think might happen in our small community if the leadership, both religious and secular...instead of arming ourselves and wading into the fray, were to come before the Lord in prayer and song, accepting that the battle is already won and giving thanks for God's great mercy? ". Who knows what we might see?

"Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever" (20:21). Do you believe it?
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Taken Captive

Here is a question worthy of attention. Can committed Christian believers be taken captive by the forces of evil? The short answer is, yes they can. That is what Paul teaches in The second and third chapters of his letter to the Colossian church. It happens when we do not literally and intentionally "put off the body of flesh."

The question is, how? The way of the world is to be dependent on things that we can manipulate and control...touch, feel and perceive with our sin-limited intellect. All of these are human constructs opposed to those things which Paul identifies in 2:2 as "according to Christ".

He lists 4 things to which we, in our brokenness often default. They are: 1. "philosophy"...or that which we believe we can figure out by observing the past exploits of humanity; 2. "empty deceit", or that which we chose to believe because it is easy or convenient and we are too lazy to do the work necessary to determine its truth or efficacy; 3. "human tradition...or automatic compliance...that which we have "always done" and are too lazy to assess because we just don't want to change; 4. "according to the elemental spirits of the world", which is just a long winded way of identifying behaviour that is carried out in willing and intentional obedience to the demonic.

I have deliberately used the word "lazy" twice because I believe that this is the primary cause of captivity to sin. We humans search for and willingly take the path of least resistance, least effort,most "safe", and that which we believe will bring the greatest immediate satisfaction. All of these are deliberate traps set by the servants of Satan designed to capture and hold people in bondage to sin.

The frightening part is that this phenomena is common in religious communities. Paul describes it as "self-made religion and asceticism" or "indulgence of the flesh". However, it doesn't need to be that way. When Christ died on the cross for our sins, the power of self-indulgence, the power of demonic rulers and authorities, of human based philosophy and human tradition were destroyed.

Notice that I said "the power of". These things still exist as temptations and destinations of our sin, but according to the scripture, they no longer have the ultimate power to take and hold us captive. For those of us who choose instead to "abide" in Christ, the sacrifice of Jesus has provided us the power to triumph over the sin and death that those things brought . We cannot be held in bondage. Alleluia!

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Whatever is Commendable

I wonder how many believers would have the courage to ask that others look at their lives and act likewise? This is exactly what the apostle Paul does as he closes his letter to the Philippian church. "Whatever you have learned and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Phil.4:9)

This isn't arrogance, but confidence in God's redeeming transformation and forgiveness. The use of the word that we translate in English as "whatever" presumes that there were and perhaps still are things in Paul's life that are not commendable. The way of the world would be to define Paul by these things, by his sin and failure.

However, the way of faith is exactly the opposite. Sin and failure is confessed as it comes to light and redeemed by the cross. The life of the redeemed should defined by those areas that reveal God at work in us. Paul outlines them for us, "Whatever is true, honourable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise." (Phil.4:8)

We are all works in progress, being remade in the image of Christ. That in us which is commendable to others is only what has been revealed and changed by the redeeming love of our Saviour. So, Paul can say with confidence, "...practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
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Unity Through Humility

It may seem to those of you who have been following my posts that I am obsessed with the unity of the church. I am, and unashamedly so. I have come in these last few months to realize that the survival of the church, and particularly the Anglican family of the church in North America, is utterly dependent upon unity. Divided, we will continue to fail and fall.

In Phil.2:20-21, Paul speaks about the state of the Christian community in his day, but he could well be speaking to faithful Anglicans today. He commends Timothy, but says of some of the others, "For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." We often couch our continued separation in "spiritual" statements about vision and calling that are, in reality, little more than thinly veiled excuses for the personal retention of power and control of our environment.

How do I know this? Because that was me. As the leader of our small Anglican group, I was...for many years, desperate not to submit myself or in any way be subject to those who in past relationships had caused me pain. My lips declared the need to maintain our distinctive mission focus...that I said others were not pursuing, but it was really just an excuse for not seeking reconciliation and rapprochement. It was and is a sin for which I have begged the Lord for forgiveness.

Reconciliation is both messy and risky. It requires that I make myself vulnerable to the others, trusting that Jesus will see to my needs as His process and purposes are fulfilled. It is self-sacrificial act requiring a huge measure of humility. Paul outlines God's process for reconciliation. It contains these elements: "encouragement in Christ, comfort in love and participation in the Spirit." (Phil.2:1). We are to take encouragement not from ourselves, but Jesus. Our "comfort" is to come from love for others, not devices and desires of our own hearts (BCP Confession)...and we are called to participate (with the others) in the work of the Holy Spirit.

These can only be fulfilled when we have, "the same love", that is hearts joined together..."full accord", which means not separate, but along-side and completely agreeing, and of "one mind"...that is an identical vision and purpose. (2:2) None of these can be fulfilled when we insist on protecting our own ideas of how the church should be.

It can only be accomplished when we, "do nothing out of rivalry or conceit.". That means not considering my way the best way. We are also to, in "humility count others more significant" than ourselves, (2:3) all of which is only possible when we have the "mind of Christ" (2:5) Having the mind of Christ means, even though I may have position, power and authority...I become a "servant to the point of death" (2:8) and let The Father decide who and what vision is to be exalted.

My brothers as sisters, I beg you for the sake of the gospel and the body of faithful Anglican believers, to be reconciled with each other as you have been reconciled to God.
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Love or Rivalry

I was reading this morning in the first chapter of Philippians and reflecting on the current state of our Anglican brotherhood and the many broken relationships that result in or even cause the kind of rivalry and pretense of which Paul is speaking. In some respect, we are all guilty of this presumption that our way or our perspective is best. Fear of loosing control binds us and prevents the church from fulfilling God's purposes for us. Our witness is hampered by this brokenness and lack of unity. Lord forgive us.

However...and I am glad there is a however...thanks be to God, our sin cannot prevent the gospel from being heard! "Whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice." (Phil.1:18)

I wonder, though, just how much more powerful our witness would be if we could shed the pretense and walk in unity and righteousness before him? Is the "manner of our lives worthy of the gospel of Christ"? (1:27). Are we "standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel"? No we are not. How that grieves the heart of God.

My brothers and sisters, I pray with Paul this intercession for the church that, "love may abound more and more...that we will approve what is excellent and be so pure and blameless...filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.". (1:11)


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Unity of the Church

As we approach next week's ACNA Provincial Assembly, let us pray for unity. In John 17:20-21, Jesus said, "I do not pray for these only, (the Apostles) but also for those who will come to believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you Father are in me and I in you...that they may also be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me." (ESV).

Lord, this is my prayer for all faithful Anglicans in North America, that we be one just as you and the Father are one...not just in a loose association, but organically a part of each other...a body of faith working as one to fulfill your will and purposes for the world. Only then will those who see us and observe our behaviour come to understand the reconciliation and rapprochement for which you sacrificed you life.

Jesus, I pray that our unity, our working and striving together for the gospel, will be a righteous and holy example to the fallen and broken world around us...and through that they will come to know the depth of your love for them...that they to will be one, just as you and the father are one. Amen
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