What's Wrong With Doing Nothing? Everything.

Mark 3:1-6

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

        

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The Scribes and Pharisees have set their minds to destroy Jesus. On a few occasions, they are there watching him on Sabbath days to see if he is going to break the Mosaic Law by “working” on a day that God commands rest. While this is expressed in the fourth commandment (Exodus 20), Jesus intentionally poses this question to the group of legalists: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” The question invokes an obvious response; it is part of God’s law to love your neighbor, and to do good on all days. But rather than giving any answer, they remain silent, because they don’t want to admit he’s right. They want their ways and manmade laws to be correct (after all, they are educated, elite spiritual men; they can’t be wrong).

But this silence, invokes anger and grief in Jesus. It hurts God when people know what they need to do, yet choose to do nothing or say nothing. In Hawaii, this business of ‘saying nothing’ is a deep part of our culture. We’re not very confrontational people. We tend to keep our noses out of other people’s business. If something harsh needs to be said, we don’t want to be the ones to say it. There’s a time and a place for this, but more often than not this cultural practice tip-toes the line of grieving God, even angering him.

Specifically, Jesus’ opponents have hardened hearts. They seek to be upright, religious men, but they neglect the very heart of God’s Law: to be gracious and loving. They took the easy way of religion and kept all the outer layers of righteousness, but denied the core of what it means to be God’s people. To them, they weren’t doing anything wrong, it was Jesus who was doing all the wrongdoing. I notice that it’s always easier to point out from the sidelines what others are doing wrong. When I have that critical eye, I somehow remove myself from the equation as I focus all the wrongdoing and error on others. Too much of this, without keeping it in check, hardens my heart because it makes me feel like I’m somehow more right than others.

We tend to identify wrongdoing with actions. The thought goes something like this, “as long as I don’t do anything, I’m not doing anything wrong.” But sometimes, doing nothing or saying nothing is the worst thing to do, because when we choose to do nothing, we’re not choosing what God would choose. God is one of action, and one of gracious and good action. Today, I’m challenged to fight against my natural upbringing and cultural surroundings and be a person who acts and speaks for righteousness at all times.

Following Christ: Stoms, Snakes, and You Might Die

Acts 27:23-25

“This very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”

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Paul is on the sea as a prisoner, headed to Rome to appeal his case before Caesar, caught in a very bad storm with 275 other people.

I was thinking how bold of a statement it is to say that not a single person will lose their lives. In the middle of a storm, with no idea where they are, any number of people could have passed out and fallen off board, or decided to kill themselves rather than endure, yet Paul says to a few hundred people that God has spoken and made sure that no one will lose their lives.

The primary reason for this is that Paul must appear before Caesar as a witness to the kingdom of God. God wanted people along the way to know that Paul was a man sent by him. He wanted sailors, soldiers, prisoners, and native islanders (on Malta) to know that God is real and that he speaks and acts through men.

Paul also proclaims to have faith in God that he will stand before Caesar, and nothing will hinder this mission. What he doesn’t know (although I’m sure he is not unaware of) is that it will eventually be a Roman Caesar (Nero) who will falsely accuse Christians and Paul for a fire in Rome and put him to death.

Even though Paul is sent to Caesar, it doesn’t mean that Caesar will accept the gospel or turn to God (although, that does happen later with Constantine). Too often, we say God has a good plan for each of our lives, but we wouldn’t consider false accusation and death a “good plan.” Yet, that was God’s will for Paul, and nearly all of the apostles. In Acts 1:8, the thematic statement for the entire book of Acts, Jesus says that his disciples will be “witnesses” in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. The literal word for “witness” is the Greek word “martures” where we get the word “martyr.”

The book of Acts begins with the kingdom of God exploding with power in Jerusalem, then the book tells how it expands to the surrounding areas of Judea and Samaria, and even further. The book closes with Paul taking the message of the kingdom to Rome, to the very ends of the earth and the heart of the Roman empire. Just as Jesus had said that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that begins small but grows into the largest of garden plants, it went from the small city of Jerusalem and invaded the entire Roman kingdom. And that didn’t happen without men and women sacrificing and losing their lives. They didn’t live comfortably or happily-ever-after; they gave their lives fully for Jesus and his kingdom.

And that’s what we’re called to do as well. We’re called to be witnesses, martyrs even, for Jesus Christ. We can’t just be people who believe in God and try to make this life the most convenient and comfortable for ourselves as we possibly can. When Paul and the other 275 people run ashore on the island of Malta, the native islanders greet them and start a fire for them. Paul helps out and gathers firewood, and it says this:

“When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.’ He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.” (Acts 28:3-6)

These people knew nothing about Paul or his God. To them, he was a despised person because they believed him to have done something that deserved divine justice. After the snake bite had no effect on him, it says that the people “changed their minds.” That’s what our lives should look like too. Not that we should expect people to think that we’re gods, but for people to have this drastic change in their thinking.

After this event, Paul heals many people of sickness and disease. No doubt he makes it clear that the healing comes from God and lets them know that the kingdom of God has come near to them. So even though they thought he was a god, Paul most definitely made it clear that he was no god, but served the One true God.

Father, just as you spoke to me yesterday to not shy away from talking about the resurrection, it’s clear today that part of your good will for my life may include my persecution and unjust death. Give me a heart to not expect anything greater; to not live with a sense that I am somehow exempt and entitled to a different life. Create in me a clean and bold heart, that I may be found faithful in your sight.

Don't Not Talk About Jesus

Acts 24: 24-26

24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you."

26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.

Acts 25:18-19

18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.

19 Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.

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There's no doubt about it; Paul is the man.

Acts, chapters 24-26 retell Paul's trials before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, before he is sent off to Rome to appeal to Caesar. While Paul's words during his trials are full of boldness and clear truth, I'm drawn to his words and actions outside of his trials today.

While he is being detained, Felix comes with his wife to hear Paul speak about faith in Jesus. The entire time, Felix is hoping that Paul will give him some money as a bribe, but Paul uses these opportunities to evangelize this Roman official. Paul doesn't hold back. He talks about righteousness (Felix is greedy and has unrighteous motives), self-control (the historian, Josephus, records that Drusilla was the daughter of Herod Agrippa and the sister of Agrippa II, the same Agrippa who makes his appearance at Paul's trial in Acts 25. Felix needed to hear about self-control because he had taken Drusilla as wife by crafting a divorce between her and her first husband), and the coming judgment (because he needs to know that he will answer to God for his life one day).

This goes on for two whole years and it doesn't say that Felix was converted or changed his behavior. It shows that there are some people, no matter who talks to them and no matter what is said to them, they won't accept the gospel; they won't follow Jesus. Still, Paul doesn't fall into discouragement, he presses on with his calling, just as he wrote to the Philippians in Philippians 3:13-14. Paul never wavers from speaking about faith in Christ. He specifically preaches Jesus Christ as the risen Lord.

We know that Paul always spoke about Jesus and the resurrection, because when Felix was succeeded by Festus, it was Festus who told Agrippa what Paul had been saying. Acts 25:19 shows that out of all the disputes of the Jewish religion, he knew at the very least that Paul spoke about someone named Jesus, and claimed that he was alive, though thought dead.

The resurrection was a huge part of Paul's message, as it was also central to the other apostles. Today, we speak of Jesus as one who is God and Lord and working in our lives, but it seems like we sometimes fail to mention that he actually died and rose again and is in fact, alive right now. Talking about Jesus is something that anyone can do. Even historians talk about Jesus. But saying that he died and was raised again to life, and that this was all made clear by the Law and Prophets in the Old Testament, and he ascended into heaven and sits on the throne of God and works through the universal body of the church....that changes the message quite a bit.

The resurrection is everything. Unless that's made clear by his followers, we're not talking about Christianity; we're just talking about a nice way of living and a cozy belief system.

I find myself very guilty of this. Even though I talk about God and Jesus to others, I rarely mention the resurrection.

Father, please seal this into my mind so that I may share it with others.

The One-Night Baton-Pass

Acts 12:17

But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.

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A few days ago I journaled on how the Lord had scattered the church, but called the apostles to stay in Jerusalem, despite persecution. After this, Herod kills James (John's brother) and imprisons Peter. After a miraculous escape from prison, Peter goes to Mark's mother's home by night and then leaves Jerusalem that same night to go somewhere else. Luke doesn't tell us where he went but scholars generally speculate he went to either Rome or Antioch as likely locations.

If my timeline is not off, this is about one year after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, as it says that these things took place during the Feast of Unleavened bread (a week-long feast following the Passover). In one single night, the church in Jerusalem changes leadership. Peter leaves in one night and leaves a message for James (the brother of Jesus) and the other apostles. That he mentions James first, by name, and no other apostles, gives us a glimpse of a leadership baton-passing. It happens in one night.

The next morning I imagine James finding out that Peter has been delivered from prison by an angel, and then hearing that he's left and now James is in charge. I'm sure by this point, James is already a well-respected leader in the church (it also doesn't hurt to be the half-brother of Jesus Christ), but still, Peter had been the head leader for a year and now it's James' time. There isn't any leadership preparation period, no transitionary phase, no 90-day test drive, he's up to bat.

In my experience, these types of rapid transitions still happen in the church today. Even though it may seem like it all happens so fast and without warning, God is still the one who ultimately ordains these things. I don't think that I'm going to be facing a higher leadership role anytime soon that comes suddenly, but I'm honestly still a little unsure as to why I feel led to journal on this particular event.

Maybe it's a reminder for me to have disciples that are currently raised up and ready to take on more responsibility should the situation require it on short notice. This will require much more intentionality on my part, but it is undoubtedly what God has called us to do: to make disciples of Jesus who will in turn go and make other disciples.

Stay. Make Disciples

Acts 8:1-2
1 And Saul approved of his (Stephen's) execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

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Jesus promised his disciples that they would be his witnesses to the entire world, beginning in Jerusalem. Up to this point in the narrative, they haven't branched outside of Jerusalem. As the church, they haven't expanded beyond one city. With the murder of Stephen, the official persecution against the early church begins and the church is scattered. Because of this scattering, everything goes just as Jesus had proclaimed, that Judea and Samaria would also be filled with his witnesses.

This event is similar to the Tower of Babel incident, but with a little twist. At Babel, God confused everyone's language so that they could not understand each other. On Pentecost, God also brought various languages into one place, but people from other nations were present and could understand what was being said. After the Tower of Babel stopped building, the people scattered throughout the nations, just as God had proclaimed to Adam and Noah (be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and rule it). After this scattering of the church, his disciples go throughout the nations and proclaim the good news of the kingdom.

What stands out to me today is how all twelve of the apostles remain in Jerusalem. There needed to remain a solid foundation in Jerusalem, the center, the hub. It says that none of the apostles were scattered or left Jerusalem, whereas before, all of the apostles scattered when Jesus was arrested. Here, they all remain in a bold statement of courage, "We're not going anywhere. The church is here to stay." As I read these verses, it gives me encouragement to know that God has called me to my place, and he has not scattered me to pick up and leave, but to remain steadfastly.

I imagine that not every single disciple in Jerusalem left except for the apostles, and that there were only twelve Christians in the entire city. It does say after all in verse 2 that "devout men" buried Stephen. Devout to what? To the faith; they were devout followers of Jesus. But the disciples who did go out didn't just run away, they were also bold and had important work to do. Verse 4 says that "those who were scattered went about preaching the word." In order for them to do so, they had to have known how to preach the word, how to share the good news. These disciples were equipped for ministry (Eph. 4:12); not in a formal, educated sense, but they had spent time with theOctober 18, 2011 8:49 AM apostles and devoted themselves to their teaching. They had committed to a lifestye of being actual followers of Christ, not just Sunday attenders.

It shows that the apostles were effective and faithful in raising up the saints to be doers of the word, and not just hearers (James 1:19). The key to raising up any disciple is relationship. Not powerful teaching or programs, but life-on-life relationship. When it says that devout men buried Stephen is also says that they made great lamentation over him. In previous chapters, it tells of how Stephen was selected along with Philip to take a higher position of leadership in the church. That all came about because of relationship with the apostles and the other believers.

I'm not just called to stay where I am and be a steadfast worker, just chipping away at my daily tasks. I'm also called to raise up disciples in the process. In fact, I think that's flipped. I think I'm supposed to raise up disciples first and foremost. My daily tasks and workload gets done in the midst of relationship. Those who are ministers with me should be able to be scattered, or leave, and be able to minister wherever they end up. Sometimes we get so caught up over the incredibly miraculous and powerful things the Holy Spirit did in the days of the early church, like teleporting Philip from one place to the other, that we overlook how these disciples were prepared to proclaim the good news, and willing to be wherever the Lord led them. That's the key for us today as well.

For me specifically, I am challenged and encouraged to make relationship and disciple building my primary focus. Because the true test of my calling and leadership will be the effectiveness of those who are raised up under me. The Lord wants better disciples, not just better programs and services (although, those things should be happening, in the context of building disciples).

Father, thank you for this challenge and reminder. Forgive me Lord for switching my priorities. Fill me with your goals and cares, and may I be found faithful to raise up committed, effective disciples for your name, glory, and kingdom.

A Warm, Fuzzy Beginning?

Acts 2:12-14
        And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

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Ten or so days after Jesus ascends into heaven is the day of Pentecost. This particular day is often touted as the birth of the New Testament church. Peter is given an amazing task, to basically preach the first church sermon. In it he proclaims several important things that all churches must teach:
All nations are a part of the church, (v.5)
Old Testament Scripture has been fulfilled, (v.16)
All classes of people are part of the church, (v.17-18)
Jesus was a man, (v.22)
God had an eternal, sovereign plan through his Son Jesus, (v.23)
The resurrection actually happened, (v.24)
The Old Testament prophesied about Jesus’ death and resurrection, (v.31)
The Holy Spirit has been poured out on the church, (v.33)
Jesus is man and God, (v.36)
The response to the gospel is repentance and receiving the Holy Spirit, (v.38)
Believers are to be baptized (v.41).

After this message and mass baptism, Luke records for us the life that follows those who have believed in the gospel (v.42-47).

What strikes me about this chapter today is the level of confusion and activity that this all takes place. Prior to Peter’s message, a few things happen that no one has ever seen before: the sound of a rushing wind takes place in a room, the Holy Spirit descends in great power, things that look something like fire rest above peoples heads, and these people start speaking in foreign languages, which are understood by many people there since many nations are present in this place at this time. As this is going on, some people are completely confused, trying to make sense of it all. Others are mocking the event, saying that the people are just drunk at 9 in the morning.

It’s not an easy situation to stand up in a crowd and make sense of it all for everyone, especially for a working class fisherman from Galilee. But Peter declares powerful truth and calls people to specific action in the midst of chaos and disorder. In fact, that’s what God loves to do, bring order into chaos, it’s what he did at creation.

When I think about giving a sermon or conducting a church service I have a set of preferences that need to be met in order for me to feel good about it all. I don’t know what I would do if I walked into a situation that was full of chaos and confusion at church on Sunday. For me, and I’m guessing for many others, we like for things to be in order and comfortable and nearly predictable. We don’t like surprises. The problem is, God is full of surprises.

I wonder if this is meant to speak into my dream I had early this morning. I was at church but hardly any of the volunteers or staff were there, and service was starting and I was on worship team; but none of the instruments could be heard and no one knew where the singers were and the congregation was confused and I was very frustrated. There was one strange looking man who was being a big distraction and carrying out his own agenda and leading people into more confusion; I told him to stop and allow us to move along with our service and he had a tantrum and broke stuff as he stormed off.

I guess the reality is, every Sunday (even every day) we walk into chaotic situations where nothing is as it should be, yet like Peter we are called to stand and speak order and life into these situations. We are called to commit ourselves to put our hope and trust in God and obediently allow him to work through us. We’re not called to get everything comfortable and predictable and safe and live a Goldilocks life where everything is “just right.” We are called and equipped by God to stand in the midst of chaos and put everything in order.

Word!

Luke 24:25-27
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

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These two disciples have just explained to Jesus all the things they saw and experienced before Jesus had been crucified and killed. And when they are finished, Jesus doesn’t say anything about all the things they had personally seen or heard. He rebukes them for being slow in their hearts to understand and accept all that the Old Testament says about the Messiah.

They couldn’t believe that the Messiah would be one to suffer such torture and then be killed, even after he had gained such notoriety, but Jesus goes through all the Scriptures even back to Moses to explain how all of that was written clearly throughout the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. Jesus also told a story of a rich man and a poor man who both died - one went to torment, the other to Abraham. In this example Abraham tells the rich man in torment that the Word of God is enough to show people how to avoid damnation (Luke 16:29-31).

Even if we see signs and wonders, our faith is grounded in what is written. If we are slow to believe God's word, we won't understand the miraculous things we see. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). So often I find myself wanting to see more of God's miracles, and yet today I feel the sense that even if I never saw anything I hoped to see, his word is enough.

It really drives home reading God's word on a daily basis. If I am slow to read the word, I will be slow to believe all that the word says.