Are You Stashing an Egyptian Wife Somewhere?

            ¹¹Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.”

                ¹²Then Solomon offered up burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD that he had built before the vestibule, ¹³as the duty of each day required...   - 2 Chronicles 8:11-13a

When a high-profile celebrity is compelled to function normally and proficiently against the backdrop of some scandal or crisis in his personal life, he is often praised for his ability to "compartmentalize." On one level, the ability seems valuable. The business of life must go. The responsibilities of a job do not screech to a halt because of problems at home. But, in matters of sin, righteousness and love for God, "compartmentalization" is a serious and sinful pathology.

Solomon is one of the Bible’s most perplexing characters. He was renowned for his wisdom. God once offered to give him anything his heart desired, but Solomon asked for "a discerning heart" (1 Kings 3:9) with which to govern the nation. The king became world-renowned for the wisdom God have him. He did not ask for riches or fame, but because he made a noble request of the LORD, he was blessed with those things as well. Solomon was well on his way to becoming one of Israel's greatest kings.

But, the sheen on Solomon’s image began to tarnish as his power and prestige increased. His wise and discerning heart gave way to carnal passions and geo-political ambitions. He married many foreign wives and took for himself even more concubines. Their idolatry was introduced into Israel, so the king built pagan worship sites throughout the nation to appease them. Thus, while Solomon’s reign was marked by numerous positive achievements, particularly, when it came to construction projects and global acquisitions that built up the majesty and prestige of national Israel, the spiritual life in Israel was imperiled.

One of Solomon’s greatest accomplishments was to build a temple for the LORD in Jerusalem. Not only did he design it and oversee its construction, but he was also central in leading the people in worship when the temple was dedicated. It was in the aftermath of this great event that Solomon’s sense of what was holy compelled him to find another town in which his Egyptian wife might live, for the City of David housed the temple, which in turn, housed the Ark of the Covenant. This wife was a pagan. Jerusalem was holy.

It is difficult to judge Solomon’s reaction to this peculiar predicament. Perhaps, he should be credited for recognizing the holiness of Jerusalem as well as the inappropriateness of this foreign wife living there. Solomon may have thought that he could make the best of an awkward situation by stashing this forbidden bride off-premises. More likely, the awkwardness of the situation was lost on him as this woman was just one of many forbidden women in his life. Solomon may have simply thought he could get a pass from God on this matter because of all the worshipful and cultural things he had done for God and for Israel.

For a fellow who was supposed to be so smart ... Even if Solomon’s precise motives were unclear, the foolishness of what he thought he could accomplish was manifest. He thought that he could “compartmentalize” his life into godly and ungodly categories and carry on temple business as usual by offering sacrifices "as the duty of each day required."

That is what happens when a believer fails to grasp the priority of purity in the Christian walk. Though God is faithful and just to forgive our sins, many of us still wrestle with baggage from the past and temptations in the present. But, while wrestling is a part of life, unrepentant succumbing is sin. And yet, many trade on what they foolishly believe is the cheapness of grace (I'll repent when I'm done doing as I please). Or, they bargain with God within their minds (If I maintain everything else in my religious walk, God should not care too much about this little vice). Whatever the rationalization, this is foolish compartmentalization, which is really just spiritual schizophrenia.

Are you stashing your own Egyptian wife in a tower somewhere where you pretend God will either not see, or mind if He does? Is there some private sin, some area of disobedience, or some indifference to the development of your maturity that you have deluded yourself into believing will not impede your spiritual character? Perhaps, your language or your sense of humor are coarser than they ought to be. Or, could it be that you have grown too comfortable with a temper that is undisciplined? If so, send your Egyptian wife away and repent. God will not be mocked. You cannot love Him with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength as long as she is still hanging around.

When Love Finally Clicks

I am my beloved's,

            and his desire is for me.  - Song of Solomon 7:10

After recently sitting through a Sunday School lesson on the Song of Solomon, this particular verse struck a different chord for me than it ever had before. Jim McKay provided an outline which gave a very sensible progression to the modern reader for this ancient love poem. It is not merely a story of romance, but also a picture of how the love of Christ for His people conquers our sundry insecurities and various crises of belief.

The king in Jerusalem falls for a country girl, and this is not lost on her. She is initially enthralled, but she immediately begins to have doubts. She examines herself and realizes that she looks nothing like the beautifully adorned, alabaster baby-dolls that typically vie for the king's affections. She is dark-skinned, either tanned or sun-burned. For some undisclosed reason, her brothers got mad at her and relegated her to the role of the family's vineyard keeper. Even though Solomon reassures her of her beauty in his eyes, she remains somewhat unsure of why she is the recipient of the king's affection.

"I am a meadow flower, pretty enough I suppose out here in the sticks, but (by implication) nothing compared to the ornate floral delicacies to which you are accustomed in your regal circles. In response, the king makes a play on her own words and reassures her that she is by far the most adored of them all.

SHE: I am a rose of Sharon,

            a lily of the valleys.

HE: As a lily among brambles,

            so is my love among the young women.  - Song of Solomon 2:1, 2

This reassures her for a season:

SHE: He brought me to the banqueting house,

            and his banner over me was love.  - Song of Solomon 2:4

The romance is expressed mutually, but this young woman endures two dreams, one premarital and one after the nuptials, that betray a fear that her lover is not into this romance with both feet (see chapters 3:1-4 and 5:2-8). The latter dream is particularly terrifying. But, they are just dreams. His love is indeed genuine.

A thought recurs in the song that is similar to the text that introduced these thoughts:

SHE: My beloved is mine, and I am his ...  - chapter 2:16

SHE: I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine ...  - chapter 6:3

These declarations suggest the covenant reality of the courtship and marriage, but they are not quite as intense as that final declaration in chapter 7:10, which drops the idea that her lover is simply covenanted to her and replaces it with the certainty that "his desire" is for her. Could it be that she has graduated from her insecurities and doubts about her lover's authentic passion for her? Is she finally able to trust his heart? Is she finally willing to accept that he longs for the same degree of intimacy with her that is so much more than she has thus far been able to fathom?

It's poetry, folks. The analogies are not perfect. The historical Solomon had many serious moral deficiencies and character flaws, rendering him a very imperfect "type" for Christ. (His troublesome penchant for keeping a harem is alluded to within the song itself.)

Still, the Song of Solomon hints at a spiritual journey that can be recognized by many believers. This path leads them from trust in Christ, through personal doubts, fears of inadequacy, and crises of faith - all of which might finally lead them to that rest in Christ and intimacy with Him for which every believing soul craves.

A Few Thoughts for Thanksgiving

If God were to never answer another prayer you prayed, could you still pray? Would you still thank Him? In other words, have the benefits you have already received from His hand established Him as unendingly worthy of your gratitude?

When we browse the scriptures on this topic of thankfulness, we often see specific reasons for gratitude provided: deliverance, provision, mighty deeds in the past, covenant faithfulness and the like. But, the scriptures are also replete with calls to thanksgiving for which no precise cause for gratitude is mentioned.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  – Colossians 3:15

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  – Colossians 4:2

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  – Ephesians 5:3, 4

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  – 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Paul seemed confident that believers should require neither coaching nor prompting in this matter. When we are still before God, truly attentive to His presence, thanksgiving ought to be instinctive, a natural posture for each of us.

Twenty centuries ago, Paul described the attitudes that typify the people who would populate the last days:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful …  - 2 Timothy 3:1, 2

At best, the natural man thinks about giving thanks once each year. The Thanksgiving holiday has a way of thrusting a “gratitude attitude” into one’s face. He may acknowledge a few good things in his life (without acknowledging their source.) But then, he digs into the feast. Of course, we also live in this world. If we are careless, we can be heavily influenced by our society's attitudes of discontent, self-centeredness, grabby-ness and ingratitude. This is why the call to self-denial is a daily one. It takes a special resolve for a Christian to peel away the jaded filter through which others in this world view life so that he might always be captivated by the goodness and generosity of his God.

In her now classic book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells about an incident that taught her the principle of giving thanks in all things. It was during World War II. Corrie and her sister, Betsie, had been harboring Jewish people in their home, so they were arrested and finally imprisoned at Ravensbruck Camp. Their barracks were extremely crowded and infested with fleas. One morning they read in their tattered Bible from 1 Thessalonians 5 the reminder to give thanks in all things.

"Betsie said to Corrie, 'Corrie, we've got to give thanks for these barracks and even for these fleas.'

Corrie replied, 'No way am I going to thank God for fleas.'

But Betsie was persuasive, and they did thank God even for the fleas. During the months that followed, they found that their barrack was left relatively free, and they could do Bible study, talk openly, and even pray there. It was their only place of refuge. Several months later they learned that the guards never entered their barrack because of those blasted fleas."

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good ...   - Psalm 107:1

When Facts Take the Fun Out of Being Sure

The simple believes everything,

    but the prudent gives thought to his steps. - Proverbs 14:15

If one gives an answer before he hears,

    it is his folly and shame.  - Proverbs 18:13

The one who states his case first seems right,

    until the other comes and examines him. - Proverbs 18:17

God prefers caution on the part of His people rather than a habit of jumping to conclusions. This has always been His will, but these days, the urgency for our taking it to heart seems especially acute. Rumors, accusations, and innuendos targeted at public figures seem to be daily occurrences. Via social media and mainstream news media, I have observed that many people have no qualm deciding "what is so" about the veracity of the charges and running with their judgments.

This has become especially vivid with the recent explosion of accusations touching on sexual abuse and domestic violence that have saturated the news in recent months. Please understand that I have no sympathy for any abuser or predator. And, I have nothing but sympathy for the victims. I am simply confessing that I am not clairvoyant. In other words, I do not reflexively know who is telling the truth. Just this week, I read multiple posts by persons who clearly "know" that the charges of sexual misconduct against an Alabama senatorial candidate are absolutely true. That was followed up by breakfast with some fellows who are just as sure that they are false. I am left wondering from where all this so-called "certainty" comes. I know that there are bad people in the world who do bad things to other people. I also know that there are deceitful people who lie because of various agendas. I have not yet mastered identifying either.

I have the same tendency to react with knee-jerk belief and disbelief as anyone else, but I have also come to the conclusion that my reactions contribute nothing to establishing the facts of any case. So, without facts, why do we make up our minds so inflexibly? The reasons we do so are the very same reasons that God commands us NOT to jump to conclusions.

We are hopelessly biased. Our own life experiences color our judgment. Our ideologies shape our conclusions. Some social or cultural narrative of the day that is being pushed poisons our objectivity. Even loyalty to a sports team can impact our verdict of "Guilty" or "Not guilty" regarding a charge levied against some star player. We do not know our own hearts well enough to read the hearts of others.

Am I making too much of this? After all, we are not directly involved in the real processes of establishing guilt and innocence. Perhaps, our popping-off without knowledge is harmless, even recreational.

Christian, it DOES matter because Jesus only calls us to operate in the realm of truth. Do not be indifferent to the real fact that you are making your own contributions to the rancor, the chaos and the intellectual clutter of this age by speaking "folly" as Proverbs calls it. There is always a fifty-fifty chance that your judgment devoid of knowledge will be dead wrong. And, when we factor in all the nuances of any given situation, the chances are almost 100 percent that you will NOT trip across the absolute truth of any matter.

(On a parenthetical note: While the children of this age delight in elevating their idle speculations to the status of fact, they also delight in using Jesus' own words, "Judge not ..." against believers who speak to matters of sin. That's quite the irony. Christian, we are to speak what we believe God Himself revealed through His creation, His Word and His Son. To echo His revelation is to honor Him, not to be judgmental. Never be rattled by the world's silly accusations. Man cannot judge what God has already judged. In the proper perspective, the world's appropriation of Jesus' words becomes pathetic ... tragic only in relation to the blindness in which the accusers are steeped.)

As scintillating as it can be to pass judgments without being privy to the facts, learn to keep your mouth shut and your keyboard under control. You are a steward of your own words. Don't waste them on such "folly and shame"  (not my words). Besides, at the end of the day, when the facts do come to light, you wont have to be angry or embarrassed for being wrong, or smug for being right. Neither reaction is a fitting reflection on the kingdom where your true citizenship resides.

The Saddest Song in the Hymnal, or, "Sheol on Earth"

While preparing a Sunday School lesson touching on an introduction to the Psalms, I ran across a piece of miscellaneous trivia that I passed along as such to the class: "Psalm 88 is the only psalm that ends without some sense of praise or hope in God." Of course, I knew I would have to look into that. I am familiar with the sorrowful language voiced throughout the psalms, but for the most part, the sufferer comes around near the end, as if expecting some answer or relief.

That is not the case for the pitiful soul behind Psalm 88. His hope in God is implied, but he never articulates a request for deliverance. Has he grown so accustomed to his lot in life that he feels it is no longer appropriate to keep on requesting a turnaround? He is certainly not claiming or demanding any such thing, a notion peddled by so many Gospel hucksters today.

In the ascription, the song is attributed to Heman and to the Sons of Korah, the former probably a member of the latter. There is no back story and no clue as to where or when this psalm was written. The only thing that is obvious is one man's distress.

It is often speculated that this is the psalm of someone in the throes of a disease, specifically, leprosy. The theory is not without merit as the word "Mahalath" in the ascription bears a similarity to a Hebrew word for disease. The anguish of the language certainly reflects what we might imagine a leper would experience.

• He is near to death. He is, in fact, counted among the dead already. He moves among others who are counted as dead (in the realm of Sheol) (vss. 3-5).
• He is shunned by his companions (vs. 8).
• His sight is failing. (The delicate tissue of a leper's eyelids would deteriorate, rendering him susceptible to maladies of the eye, even blindness (vs.9)
• To plea for healing would be to ask for his own special miracle, unprecedented in the greater community of lepers (vs. 10).

Of course, the greater questions are: "What is Psalm 88 doing in a hymnal?" "What is the author expressing to God?" "What is the psalm's teaching value for God's people?"

The most positive phrase in the psalm appears in the first verse: "O LORD, God of my salvation ..." but the meaning of even that stanza is unclear. Is the psalmist speaking of a present and spiritual salvation that he perceives he already possesses? Or, is he speaking of a potential deliverance from what is currently afflicting him?

What is clear is that YAHWEH is this man's only hope? As he attributes his suffering to the hand of the LORD, one might conclude that he is lashing out at or even blaming God. I think it is more reasonable to conclude that he is simply acknowledging God's sovereign activity, or, in this case, His sovereign inactivity. A handful of older writers speculated that Job is the author if this psalm. While there is no shred of evidence to support this idea, I can concede that it is difficult to conceive of a second man who is bearing his intense suffering with such acceptance.

I can think of few things so detrimental to securing commitments to authentic discipleship as the unwillingness of many believers to acknowledge the place of suffering in the Christian experience. How many times have trite clichés and empty promises, foolishly attributed to God, caused only shipwrecked faith in others when they did not come to pass. If we constantly present to the world the notion that faith in God must expect some remarkable, short-term pay-off that only applies to this temporal realm, then, we are undermining the essential message that people must be reconciled to God simply because they are sinners and He is holy.  

I wish I could bring some satisfactory closure to all the curiosity that is piqued by this psalm, but no one ever has. What does seem clear is that this is a man who remains steadfast in believing there is nowhere else to go. If there is to be any deliverance from this malady, it must come from God. And, even if God does not deliver him from this temporal affliction, He is still too good, too wise, too sovereign, too omniscient, too glorious, too faithful ... too God ... to be abandoned. Where else could this suffering soul turn?

Even though this man is almost certainly not Job, one cannot help but to think of the tenacity of that precious ancient soul:

"Though he slay me, I will hope in him;

            yet I will argue my ways to his face.  - Job 13:15

"Nature Abhors a Vacuum"

You may recognize this postulate credited to Aristotle. It is generally accepted in science though some debate occurs. Jesus seemed to endorse the idea in the spiritual realm (see Luke 11:24-26). I suspect that it applies to society as well.

But, bear with me. We'll get back to that.

A few weeks ago, a female reporter asked quarterback Cam Newton a question that suggested a somewhat sophisticated knowledge of wide receiver routes and techniques. It took Newton by surprise and he responded, "It's funny to hear a female talk about routes like ... it's funny." From the media reaction, this was apparently the most egregious, condescending and sexist assault on women in the workplace year-to date.

Newton continues to insist that his reaction was complimentary. As awkward as his words were, I can process how they could have been generated by a sense of being impressed. But, the talking heads on the sports shows, those who read the minds and know the hearts of athletes say, "No, it was an insult," so that's the narrative we're stuck with. The following week, as Newton was muddling through his requisite penance, he showed up with a "Rosie the Riveter" pin on his hat to let the world know that he understood the contribution of women to the war effort during World War II. This act of penitence appeared more clumsy than the original sin.

Some of those same talking heads like to tell us that the NFL is a cross-section of America. I always found that sentiment a bit odd considering that the league tends to have more multi-millionaires per capita than the block where I live. But, now I must reconsider. In a culture that seems to be losing its collective mind, the NFL may very well be representative.

Like most of my acquaintances, I struggle mightily with this current culture of political correctness as well as with the speech police who monitor it. I sincerely wish it would go away. So, I am probably being wildly optimistic when I detect evidences that the PC culture may be losing ground. People seem to be ignoring it, even belittling it on social media. I suspect that our current president's aversion to political correctness had much more to do with his election than his adversaries would care to admit.

So, let us assume that my instincts are right; that political correctness has overplayed its hand and is on the decline. What's next? Back to Aristotle: "Nature abhors a vacuum." I do not foresee the vacuum being filled with decorum and thoughtful arguments. I can only anticipate elevated vitriol from all sides.

You have already noticed that very little of the dissent against the PC crowd is thoughtful and measured. On the contrary, it can be quite fierce. For the lack of a better word, the resistance puts the "fun" back into matters of sexism, racism and the like. I don't have the time to count the memes that appear daily on my Face Book feed that serve very little purpose than either "to preach to the choir" or "to tweak the leftists." Don't get me wrong. I am not exempt from getting caught up in it. Some are hilarious. But, others are angry and still others are quite coarse.

Strange, but when I see the memes and the articles from the other side of the political spectrum, my reaction is that they are unoriginal and lazy ways of saying, "Gotcha!" by people who cannot express themselves. They just aggravate me. Suddenly, I had an epiphany. If left-wing memes and forwarded articles do nothing but annoy me, it is highly likely that right-wing memes and forwarded articles do nothing but annoy left-wingers. Allies within their respective camps may exchange a digital "thumbs-up" or a "high-five," but no one from the other side is persuaded of anything new -  or is even inspired to think.

My concern is the role of God's people in all of this. Ultimately, we do not abide on the right or left fringe of a political ideology. Our call is to seek and to advance a kingdom that is not of this world. We will be utterly impotent in that endeavor if we engage our culture using the methodologies of the age.

It is not easy to reflect Christ in such a torn and divided world. On the contrary, it is very hard. We have the burden of being clear and uncompromising in matters of morality and societal rot without being flippant or mean-spirited. If the only tool in our toolbox is to comfort ourselves, amuse ourselves, work ourselves up, or play "gotcha" by forwarding memes and articles on social media, then, the real battle will be very uphill.

Our speech is to be seasoned with salt, not cayenne pepper.

Being on the Same Page Helps

“Do two walk together,
            unless they have agreed to meet?  - Amos 3:3

In context, this verse means that there was no basis for covenant fellowship between the LORD and the northern kingdom so long as Israel was violating the terms of the agreement. But, the proverb's general meaning is that estranged parties cannot make progress together when they are not on the same page.

A supreme example of this is the current controversy over the national anthem involving the NFL, the President of the United States, the appropriateness or inappropriateness of the protests, and the veracity of the social narrative behind all of it.

In 2016, one player engaged in a protest for which there was no way of gauging whether or not he would ever accomplish anything. Colin Kaepernick chose to kneel rather than stand during the national anthem, explaining his actions in the following terms: "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color ..."

The issue itself created an impasse. If some meeting of the minds has been officially reached, I clearly have been napping. Some people seem to believe that the matter of police shooting black men is EPIDEMIC and that some major societal adjustment is in order. Others believe that the incidents are ANECDOTAL, that the country itself is not to blame, and that the culture is not systemically racist. All such incidents should be addressed through the justice system on a case-by-case basis. As I see it, any common ground for assessing the situation seems elusive at best.

Suddenly, after a single season, Kaepernick was done with his kneeling. Was the matter now resolved to his satisfaction? If so, was it resolved due, in any part, to his protest?

Now, in the current season, others had been following Kaepernick's lead when President Trump chimed in. Suddenly, it was impossible to determine who was reflecting Kaepernick's original issue and who was simply asserting, for the president's benefit, the right of the players to protest anything, everything or whatever.

This is my prediction. Eventually, the noise will fade, and the issue will simply pass. The NFL will find some way to move forward that will ultimately satisfy no one. They have to. There is no remedy. Once again, the issue is rooted in a perception of a problem for which there is no consensus while the protest itself has no metric for measuring its effectiveness.

Christian, if you are firmly convinced of one version of the narrative or the other, contend for social justice and peace accordingly. But, by all means, avoid the strident rhetoric that poisons the dialogue. Every Bible-believing Christian understands that when the world's din has calmed and the dust has settled, all that will matter is a person's standing in Christ. Ours is a greater and more urgent cause than any limited to this terrain. And, if we cannot engage in the issues of this world in such a way as to earn a hearing for matters that have eternal consequence, what difference will it make if we are on the winning side of some temporal argument?

Like Sheep without a Shepherd

The American Civil War claimed around 620,000 lives, 49% of the nation's combined death toll for all the wars in which the United States has ever been engaged. That's just a little fact to bear in mind the next time you hear someone lament, "Our nation has never been more divided."

Our country has always been divided. Partisan wrangling has always been brutal. I suppose that the proliferation of 24-hour media, social media, identity politics and the like has exacerbated the typical citizen's awareness of the various schisms, but make no mistake; discord has always been present. On occasion, some foreign enemy may cause us to pull together for a season, but whatever unity is produced is never perfect, and it has never been enduring.

I don't mean for that to sound fatalistic, but my Christian worldview informs me that divisiveness is rooted in sin and selfishness, so it is our default setting as fallen human beings. And, there is nothing that mankind can do about it as he has proven time and time again.

More than that, I am not convinced that many who occupy seats of power are really that bothered by the factions in America or anxious to seem them bridged. In the world of partisan politics, few people are ever persuaded of anything. Occasionally, an issue may capture the collective imagination so as to sway a vote one way or the other. More often, it is all about ginning up a base. President Trump does not tweet anything so as to persuade left-leaning hardliners to want to give him a hug. His critics who call him, "white supremacist" or "Fascist" know they are not increasing their camp. Neither major party corners the market on hyperbole, demagoguery or ad hominem attacks. Both camps will welcome converts wherever they can find them, but the game, primarily, is to sufficiently agitate the respective bases so as to have them show up at the polls.

Many of the calls to peace and unity that we hear are quite lame when we examine them. Poets, songwriters and others tell us to "teach love not hate" even though there seems to be no consensus in the world today as to what love is. John Lennon's alleged great anthem of the historical "Peace Movement" called us to join him and "Imagine." (Now, that was meaty advice.) On the other hand, the rhetoric of activism is typically quite strident. Far from bringing opposing parties together, the result more often seems to be to further galvanize the differences.

Occasionally, someone dares to speculate as to how Jesus might vote were He registered to do so in our day and age. I am persuaded that His involvement is still precisely what it was in His Own first-century world. He looks upon us and feels compassion for us, because we are so clueless, that is, "helpless and harassed, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36).

How should God's people, the citizens of His kingdom, respond to the current tumult? I am socially and politically conservative and would surrender all credibility were I to fail to admit that I have biases. Still, I learned long ago that when I immerse myself too deeply in the political fray, I descend into a state of chronic crankiness. Occasionally, if some rhetoric seems too over the top, I perk up and pop off. But for the most part, I observe more than I participate.

How do believers, as "the salt of the earth," live redemptively rather than merely as contributors to the noise? Our greatest ministry in the world is to compassionately see the helpless and harassed futility of lives lived without Jesus and to be attentive to any and every occasion to address that greatest of all needs. Pride compels us to want to be persuaders of the many, but realistically, any impact we have upon this world will probably be on one person at a time. The greatest common ground the human race has for unity is a shared recognition that we are broken and sinful people in need of a Savior. Many are called, but few will ever come around to seeing that need. Still, our calling is to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ over every other agenda.

It would be the height of arrogance to claim that in and of ourselves we are above the fray. It is the path of obedience to attempt to keep our eyes above it.

Sins that Are Not Sins that Can Become Sins

I recently read a blog posted and widely-liked on Facebook. It was entitled "5 'Sins' that Aren't Sins" (www.beliefnet.com/faiths/galleries/5-sins-that-arent-sins.aspx). I cannot disagree with the author, one Carolyn Henderson. In fact, I share her desire that believers walk in freedom and rest in God's grace. I suppose that Ms. Henderson writes from her own unique body of experiences just as I am responding to her thoughts from mine. My thoughts should be construed as no more than a cautionary note to this particular age of the church as I have observed it.

The 5 "non-sins" in question were: 1) Skipping Church, 2) Not Participating in Sunday School, 3) Thinking or Speaking a Negative Thought, 4) Just Saying, "No", 5) Disagreeing with Your Pastor (or other Leader).

My immediate reaction to the article was that there was a bit of the straw-man to the five entries. In thirty-plus years of ministry, I have seen the legalist marginalized for the most part. Few people today pay much attention to the old curmudgeon who insists that folks should be at church "every time the doors are open." Few people would take to heart the counsel that one must never say, "No," to a plea for help. Few people today would show much tolerance toward the notion that it is forbidden to disagree with a pastor. And, the idea of never thinking or speaking a negative thought has always been a bit of a fringe position, so I'll not address it in this article.

For as long as the Gospel of grace has been with us, factions have gravitated toward one of two extremes. The first is legalism, which utterly negates the whole concept of Christian liberty. The other is antinomianism, the practice of unrestrained freedom, that is, the exercise of freedom without that useful prerequisite of self-denial. It will always serve the flesh.

As I said, this age of the church does not seem to be overly plagued by the legalist. On the contrary, it seems more captivated by a comfortable Christianity that is not particularly disciplined at all. The cost of being a disciple and the path of the cross are not in vogue. In fact, they are often recoiled against as if they were some sort of "negatives" that bring people down.

Am I free to skip church? Sure, but is that the best choice I can make on any given Sunday morning? After all, it is the corporate worship expression to God of one local manifestation of the Body of Christ, that manifestation to which I belong. I have no more valuable place to be. The author suggests that Hebrews 10:25 is thrown around loosely. Perhaps. So, let us consider what it does mean, for I am sure that it means something.

"... not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

The book of Hebrews was written to believers in Jerusalem who were flirting with a return to Jewish ritualism as they faced the threat of persecution. To abandon the pattern of meeting together for mutual encouragement may have seemed like a safe thing to do, but it would not have been a wise thing to do. That author's point was that in view of the circumstances under which they lived, those ancient believers very desperately needed one another.

American believers today do not face the same degree of persecution as our ancient counterparts. Still, we are marginalized by the wise of this world. We are viewed as rubes for our stands on a plethora of issues; purity, sexuality, creation, morality, life. etc. From where will the encouragement we need come? Will it come from the world? Will it come from the media? Surely, educational TV will affirm us as we struggle to cling to God's truth? Obviously, we need people of like mind to remind us that God's Light is truly light, and the world's light is darkness.

Clearly, choosing to sleep in some Sunday does not constitute a pattern, but it does constitute a precedent, and a precedent is the first step toward establishing a habit. Am I going to call anyone, "Sinner!" who blows off a church service? No. That's well above my pay-grade. But, I will plead with anyone, "Don't allow such a choice to become cavalier."

On the matter of Bible School, it could be argued that its addition to the Sunday-morning schedule actually brings the worship of the modern church more into harmony with ancient worship, not so much in form, but in content. It provides a venue for the systematic study of God's Word. Some churches have retired the Sunday School in favor of other approaches to Bible learning. That's fine on paper even though the numbers of people involved seem to plummet when they do so. (That's not the empirical result of a study, so much as an observation from my little corner of the world.) The question for me is not, "Am I sinning if I don't participate in Sunday School?" Rather, it should be, "Am I engaged at all with others in the systematic study of God's Word?" The blog's author noted the Bereans who searched the Scriptures to measure Paul's preaching. They must have been in some sort of a learning network to effectively do that.

Is it a sin to say, "No?" Of course not. But again, my observation is that the ability to say, "No," is becoming quite easy for many as the church is becoming a much less generous bunch than it once was. We are indeed gifted in particular areas to serve the Body of Christ, but the argument, "That's not my gift" can become a cold and vacuous dismissal of Christian duty. We are servants. Servants serve. (See Luke 17:7-10).

In my years of ministry, I recruited many people. I never once played the Hebrews 13:17 card ("... obey your leaders ...") that the author of the blog suggested was a commonplace practice. The author rightly takes issue with throwing Bible verses around too loosely, so I was taken back by her own use of Acts 5:9 as a way of resisting being asked to do something. When Peter and John said, "We must obey God rather than men," they were being commanded to no longer speak in the name of Jesus. They were not being recruited to organize crafts at Vacation Bible School.

Finally, you are not sinning if you disagree with your pastor. The author cited the Bereans for examining the Scriptures to scrutinize Paul's teaching, which is good. Then, she suggests that believers read the Bible on their own to police the pulpit. That is valuable as well, but only so long as they are engaged in some systematic study themselves. After all, if a pastor is prone to error in his private interpretations, so is his critic. My advice is that disagreement with a spiritual leader should never be a kneejerk reaction. So many times when I thought I heard heresy, all I really heard was a different way of looking at something that was over both of our heads. Of course, there is a place for disagreeing with and even calling out a leader, but that cannot be a casual thing for it will inevitably become an arrogant thing. Often, conversation and clarification will prove much more fruitful.

Again, my point is not so much to be disagreeable as it is to call each of us to a point of thoughtful balance, for we gravitate toward extremes. In his own discussion on the exercise of liberty regarding dietary matters, Paul penned these provocative words: "... For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).

If a believer decides to skip church, there are no amount of words anyone can write to either indict or acquit him or her of sin. That is the risk God took when he granted His creatures liberty. Ultimately, I will follow my heart, which imposes on me a profound duty to examine my thoughts and motives, conceding how deceitful my heart really is. Am I making a God-honoring choice or a fleshly one? And, if getting to the bottom of that issue is too perplexing, then, I hope I would choose to err on the side of the spiritual discipline.

Another Blog, Really?

I was a bit of a late entry into this whole social media scene. Basically, I just wanted to keep track of old friends, share interesting anecdotes from my own experiences, and brag about the grandkids. However, it soon became obvious that many people like to disclose insights into their religious beliefs and convictions. At times, that is a source of great encouragement. Other times, it can be rather distressing. Many times, it is simply perplexing.

I have been concerned for years about the authority, power, and witness of the church in America. In too many settings, the teaching of sound biblical doctrine has been neglected, and the results have been predictable. The church has embraced the commodity mindset of the culture. People begin with their needs/wants and shop for a church accordingly. Like the big box stores, mega churches have crippled smaller churches. Like the online marketplace, people are turning to the Internet for even greater personal convenience. Many have simply left the church due to apathy or disillusionment and feel no particular sense of danger in having done so.

In the meantime, some believers appear to be unconcerned about disclosing for the world to see the coarseness of their dialogue, the impropriety of their amusements, the cruelty of their humor, and the anger in their hearts. Divorce is too common in the church, as are affairs and a plethora of other sexual misbehaviors. Criminal behavior is not novel. Simple forgiveness seems much more challenging than it ought to be. Material greed is cloaked as sound theology.

Many are captivated by the glory of grace, but not so much by the cost of discipleship, the practice of purity, or the essential spiritual disciplines that bring about personal growth. I am embarrassed for some of my friends by some of their posts, not because I cannot handle it. I have done plenty through the years to make a prude blush. Rather, there seems to be a mindset afloat on the waves of Christian thought that suggests that the pursuit of relevance and relatability in the eyes of the world is more pressing than the pursuit of holiness in the eyes of God.

Sustaining Our Savor

            “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.  - Matthew 5:13

I still remember something I read many years ago in a century-plus-old commentary. It seems that what we call "salt" never actually loses it saltiness. Humidity may render it hard to get out of the shaker, but it never ceases to be salty. Salt devoid of saltiness is not a part of our experience.

The salt used in ancient Palestine was obtained from marshes along the seashore, not from clean salt water. It, in fact, COULD lose its saltiness. When this occurred, a cursory reading of the text might lead one to conclude that such savorless salt was utterly useless. Look closer. It still had one valuable function. "It is no longer good for anything EXCEPT to be thrown down and trampled under people's feet." Such salt was used to treat pathways and roads, because it had the capacity to destroy any potential for fertility, and as it follows, any potential for life.

So, is this a big thing? What is the danger of the savorless salt of a professed Christian's witness? Simply put, it is TOXIC. He or she will do more harm than good in the cause of the kingdom. Such salt is scattered to the end that drawing others to Christ is rendered impossible. It grieves the Spirit. It brings the ancient faith under reproach and subjects it to ridicule. It scandalizes the Name of Jesus. If you would harden rather than nurture the hearts of others toward the Gospel, live out in their presence some insipid distortion of Christianity - a legalistic strain, a licentious sort, a cost-free variety, a materialistic kind - anything but the real thing should do.

What to Expect

How can I tell you what to expect if I am not certain myself? Many sites are authored by those who have set themselves up as watchdogs over all things doctrinal. If I gravitate toward such a "curmudgeon-y" extreme, trusted loved ones have been instructed to reel me in. Still, if something sufficiently agitates me, I will surely chime in. It may be to address blatant falsehood, but not always. From time to time, I run across things that seem benign enough. Without attacking the source, I may wish to encourage the reader to think through all of the consequences of embracing some piece of input; hook, line and sinker.

I am not a fiercely political animal. However, the Christian lives in the world and has as much freedom to address the age and the culture as anyone else. In fact, he has a greater responsibility to speak truth to falsehood. If something vexes me, I may speak to that as well. Still, if I take a strident posture or assume a meanness of spirit that undermines my overall theme of Sustaining our Savor, I invite you to lovingly call me back to the advertised objective.

About the Author

I am a 32-year veteran of pastoral ministry in the local church. When my last ministry came to a close, I chose not to seek anything too similar. I stepped away from the pulpit ministry and told my friends that I was going to spend a little time in Arabia (see Galatians 1:17) while I reoriented. That seemed like a cleverly vague thing to say at the time. After all, no one really knows what Paul was up to in Arabia, and I had no idea what my own life would look like.

In the meantime, friends and mentors have regularly told me that I need to write. Some have come close to scolding me for not doing so. I have an active mind. I am a notorious over-thinker. Whether anybody chooses to read or not, I am the kind of fellow who finds a degree of peace in muddling though the untidy clutter of my thoughts, hopefully, to put something lucid into words.

Your feedback is welcome. Just keep it respectful. I also love the dialogue that follows when people have questions about faith, the Bible and this strange age in which we are living.

Karl Crouch