THAT'S NOT FAIR

Have you ever said that? If not, have you thought it. Maybe we all have. "That's not fair." I remember when one of our children was at a stage when deep offence was taken any time a teacher did something that seemed "not fair."If you are a parent of more than one child, you've probably heard this phrase when one child is being disciplined and not the other; or when one is receiving more than the other whatever it is - larger dessert, larger allowance, getting a second turn, etc.
In a marvellous parable, Jesus puts these words - to be accurate, puts this attitude; the reaction typified by these words - in the mouths of those who work much longer, but receive the same pay. Remember the story? Matthew 20:1 - 16 It seems that the kingdom of heaven is not quite like the average "pay per hour" job. So many religious people feel it is, don't they?
If I put in x number of hours of church attendance, good deeds, Bible reading, or _________, then I will receive a nice life, financial prosperity, protection from harm, eternal life, or _________. The blanks may be filled in differently but the perspective is the same. If you put in something good and/or religious, you should get a fair something from God in return.
Jesus says that the landowner, accused by the workers, didn't see it that way. In the story, he replies:

 ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ Matthew 20:13 - 15

In God's kingdom, the guiding principe is grace not merit. Judging by the legalism found in so many religions and among so many Christians, this is a hard concept for us to grasp. As Donald Carson writes in his commentary on Matthew:
"God's great gifts, simply because they are God's, are distributed, not because they are earned, but because he is gracious."Those who have understood the heart of the Christian faith are humbled and grateful because we know and we count on, not God's justice or fairness but upon His great, amazing grace.

MOST IMPORTANT COMMANDMENTS

Which are the most important commandments? Easy question? Which commandments would Jesus list if He were asked that question?
Jesus once said to a man, "If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man replied.
Jesus then listed five commandments, the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 5th commandments of Exodus 20. Can you name them? I find it most interesting that Jesus did not mention commandments one to four. And that he skipped commandment 10 (one commentator suggests that it summarizes the 8th and 9th). Also, it is interesting that Jesus added the 5th at the end. Did he do that for emphasis?
Now have I caused you to stop and look up Exodus 20 because you can't remember which commandments to with each number? Actually the 5th is "Honour your father and mother". This is emphasized to the rich young man. Evidently the 5th commandment is not just for those under age 18! And this dialogue is found in Matthew 19:16 - 21.

I know, I know, you've been thinking of what Jesus taught in Matthew 22:34 - 40. I agree that the answer found there is His absolute answer to the question: "Teacher which is the greatest commandment in the Law."And there is where we must focus - loving God and loving others.
I referenced the discussion in Matthew 19 just to get you thinking, as it did for me yesterday.

Jan and I were at different congregations today, since I preached at our "original" congregation site this morning. We both enjoyed the worship and fellowship where we were. I hope your Sunday experience is the same - except I should add that "enjoying" is not nearly as important as worshipping well, responding to the preached word and encouraging some fellow believer. I hope that all of the above happened in your Sunday. 

HARD TO BELIEVE

Reading Matthew 19 today, I was struck by how hard the sayings of Jesus really are. Of course we know that this is true occasionally. However I paused to wonder how many of the evangelical Christians I know truly believe - that is are willing to respond to - the sayings of Jesus in just this one chapter. Am I fully committed to His teaching here? Let me put it another way: how many do you know who believe enough to live out what Jesus teaches in just this chapter?
What am I talking about? Well let me give you several examples with just a little comment to prompt your thinking.
Matthew 19:1 - 9. Over the decades, as a preacher and teacher I've wrestled with this text on marriage and divorce. I've read numerous books and articles; preached and taught on the subject. It is a huge subject. I want to simply challenge whether we take Jesus words seriously. Let's take just one sentence from what our Lord said. It is a familiar verse but on that is apparently "not believed" by a huge number of believers.
"Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 19:6
How many evangelical Christians do you know who, influenced by our culture, have really more or less rejected this statement? How quickly are believers advised: "well if your spouse is doing that or treating you that way" no wonder you've left him/her? How seldom are believers told lovingly but firmly be evangelical friends: "It is a very, very serious thing to separate what God has joined. Be very slow to consider divorce."
I could ask the same thing about our Lord's brief words on singleness (19:11 -12) or his words on wealth and entering the kingdom of heaven. (19:16 - 26)
However in this brief post, let's just look at one of the last verses in the chapter.
^"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." 19:29
How many sincere, quite committed believers do you know who by their actions and word refuse to believe this verse? I have suggested to a variety of believing adults - young and old, those in business and those in Christian ministry - that they consider leaving and serving God in another country and culture. It does not matter whether I was suggesting leaving for one year, three years or a lifetime.
The answer only slightly varies: I couldn't leave: my career; my company; my young adult children; my grandchildren; my pets; my aging parents; my house, etc.
The answer comes often so quickly, often seemingly with little thought, that either they don't know what Jesus promises, or they simply think Jesus does not mean what He promises: "will receive 100 times as much". I know people struggling to find investments that will simply guarantee 10% return!!

I believe divorce is an option in very, very serious marital situations. I know there are other biblical passages to consider. But do we really believe Jesus words about the "God involvement" in marriage?
And of course we all know that most believers are not asked to move and leave everything and everyone to serve Jesus somewhere else. However I doubt that most believers "really believe" his words? Believe enough to seriously consider making such a move, such a wise investment.
Some of Jesus words are indeed "hard to believe."

FORGIVEN

Did someone hurt or offend you yesterday? last month? years ago? Was it something so terrible that no one could forgive? Was it a repeat of what they have done to you numerous times? To live in our world is to suffer pain - physical or emotional; loss - of reputation, of money, of honour; offence - unjust criticism or accusations, disrespect, dishonesty.
To walk with inner peace in our world requires the practice of quick and regular forgiveness. Secular writers, with no reference to God or religion, emphasize this continually. They remind us that if we choose to live with an unforgiving attitude we will become angry, bitter people. The person who will suffer most from our unforgiving attitude is ourselves. These writers/teachers/psychologists have discovered truth - God's truth. What they cannot offer is what God offers to us through Jesus.
We who trust in and follow Jesus; who listen to his teaching and respond, have such a huge advantage in developing a forgiving attitude. A major reason, I think the prime reason, is that we have experienced  God's forgiveness. Huge forgiveness. Eternal forgiveness. Our Holy, Heavenly Father has forgiven the countless sins of thought, word and action that we have committed over a lifetime. He has forgiven all the sins of omission - what we've failed to say and do. This because Jesus, through the cross, has taken our sin and given us His righteousness. (II Corinthians 5:21)
It is as though we have been forgiven a debt of a billion dollars. Therefore when someone by hurting or offending us now owes us $10. or $100. or even $1,000. of forgiveness, we find it relatively easy to say: "I forgive you." "I choose to forgive them."
There is no way to compare the relatively small forgiveness I may have to offer you, with the huge forgiveness I have received through Christ my Saviour. That must be my perspective on forgiveness, starkly presented in the parable of Jesus found in Matthew 18:21 - 34.
I have found this parable, this great truth about the size of God's forgiveness, of great help in "letting hurts and offences go"; great help in truly forgiving others over the years. I hope this parable, the truth it teaches has helped you to become a quick "forgiver". 

PETER GOT IT

I read Matthew 16 today and paused again to identify with Peter. Jesus asks his disciples "What's the word about me among the people?" They reply that there are a variety of opinions: Jesus is John the Baptist (just recently executed), returned in another form; or Jesus is Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the other OT prophets come back to life. Then he asks the question to his disciples: "Who do you say that I am?"
Was there a pause? Were some of the disciples hesitant because they just weren't sure? Or did they hesitate because their opinion was not high enough and it might offend Jesus?
Maybe they didn't hesitate at all. Maybe it was just that Peter, whether wrong or right, was so often quicker than the rest of them. But we are so glad that Peter "got it". He had figured out who Jesus was. He'd heard the wise, authoritative teaching; seen the powerful nature miracles; marvelled at the compassionate way Jesus healed bodies and cast out demons, setting people free.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus replied,“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (16:16, 17)
And we want to say "Bless you, Peter for getting it right! For affirming what so many would deny and still deny. You spoke for all of us believers at that moment."
Then, well you know that Peter spoke again, and said the wrong thing. Although Jesus had alluded to it earlier (12:40), for the first time here in Matthew 16, Jesus clearly predicts his suffering, death and resurrection. He does so when alone with his disciples. And Peter feels he must take Jesus aside and give his Master some wise counsel.
Did Peter say: "Master, there is no way you have to go to Jerusalem. Stay out here in the province and we can start to establish your kingdom away from the religious centre." Or did He say: "Master, you don't realize how strong your popularity ratings are. Hundreds, probably thousands are ready to follow you. You are the one sent from God to re-establish Israel to its proper freedom and status. Please don't talk of suffering and death."

And we, had we been there, would have agreed with Peter. "Thanks for speaking for all of us, and pointing Jesus in a better, more optimistic direction."

I am sure Peter felt he was giving wise advice, sound counsel with loving concern. And he was very  wrong. In fact Jesus rebukes him, because it is evident this advice to avoid the Cross was from the Evil One. Jesus emphasizes that Peter is thinking from a human perspective not a Divine perspective. He needs to learn; we all need to learn and relearn: The way up, is first the way down. The way to win, is first to lose. The way to be greatest is first to become servant to all. The way of the cross is the way all of Jesus' followers are to take. (16:22 - 27)

POWER AND MIGHT

Yesterday we worshipped with a total of just 19 people, including two children. Not very impressive when we usually worship with 175 or so. Not very impressive when we have attended a church service with 4, 000 and others yesterday met with perhaps 10,000 people or more.
Numbers are important to God. I've argued that many times from the book of Acts. God does want thousands to come to faith, not simple dozens. He is pleased when His church reaches many, not just a few at least that is what I read as Acts records the growth of the early church.
Yet on the other hand, God does not always act in large, impressive ways. We don't always find God where things are most impressive in human eyes. Sometimes God's Spirit is doing His work where people hardly notice. So God indicates through His prophet Zechariah as his people begin rebuilding the temple. It was not nearly as impressive as the temple King Solomon built. So God reminds them, lest they get discouraged.

"‘Not by might nor by power,but by my Spirit,’says the LordAlmighty."
“Who dares despise the day of small things," Zechariah 4:6 and 10


So Jan and I rejoiced to worship at the very first service of The Well, a new International Church started in Ho Chi Minh City with legal, official status. How wonderful to see this answer to hopes and prayers of many years. It is the congregation we had hoped to start 18 months ago. Now it is a reality. Small, yes. However faithful Christians are committed to growing this church. Only God knows what He has in mind. Only He knows how He will use this small beginning for His glory. Where His Spirit is at work, power and might don't matter.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

We are in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) this weekend. We enjoyed a wonderful Vietnamese meal tonight in a quaint old house that two years ago was turned into an excellent restaurant. We ate with a good friend who was born here, grew up in the USA and with his wife has lived here for the past four years. Then we watched fireworks light up the sky over the Saigon river as we walked back to our hotel.

Vietnam has fought many wars. At least three are celebrated with a special day. Today one Independence Day to celebrate their independence achieved in 1945 from Japan that occupied the country during World War II. There is also special commemoration and celebration holiday during the year for the hard won independence from France in 1954. And then the Reunification of the country in 1975 is also widely celebrated.

Independence. Tonight I wonder if we believers actually could say we prefer to celebrate Dependence Day. That was the day when we came to the realization that living apart from God was sinful, foolish and very dangerous. It was the day we recognized that we are dependent upon God our Creator for our life, even if we did ignore and deny it. And if ever we were to be saved, put right, made whole we had to declare our Dependence. On our personal "Dependence Day" we confessed our need of God's help. We needed the forgiveness and righteousness only found in Jesus Christ and His death for us.
So every day, but especially on Sundays, we celebrate our Dependence Day. And since many in different Christian traditions share Communion on the first Sunday of each month, perhaps today for you, this has been your special day of the month to declare your Dependence! Freed from the control of sin and eternal death. Liberated to live in Dependence on the One who loves us and gave Himself for us. Maybe we should light fireworks every Communion Sunday!