11

Jump Start # 2615

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2615

1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

I saw recently that the classic movie, Gone with the wind, was being shelved because of the racial discrimination and overtones that are featured. The movie offends some people. And whether it is right to now ban that movie or not, I’ll leave that for others to discuss and kick around and decide. It does however present a much larger thought that bridges with the Bible. And, that subject is what to do with a tainted past?

Our verse today, found in the New Testament, discusses Israel’s choices from the Old Testament. It wasn’t a pretty picture. They shamed God, violated His law and suffered the consequences. They craved evil things. They were immoral. They were idolaters. Students of the Bible know the period of the kings was a long and dark departure from God. Many bad examples are found there. Even among our heroes of the Bible, we find dark moments of sin. Noah got drunk. Abraham lied. David committed adultery. Hezekiah lost it at the end. Why keep those things before us? Why not remove them? Why not clean the Bible up so the people look better? Why these reminders of failures? Why present leaders with clay feet?

Here is what we ought to keep before us:

First, our past isn’t pretty. That’s true of the planet. That’s true of this nation. And, that’s true of us personally. We all have a story and our story involves sin. We have done things that today we are ashamed of and regret. We have said things that should never have been said. We have mistreated people, broken promises and hurt the hearts of others. Fact is, we have offended others by our bad behavior. That’s us. That’s our story. Now, we can pretend that none of that ever happened, but it did. We can wash that out of our memories, but it doesn’t change the fact.

Had the story of David been perfect, we might wonder why Jesus ever came. Had Elijah never hid in the cave, we might not understand what James meant by saying he had a nature like ours. We are not always on the mountain top. Had Abraham not been seen lying, the father of faith, we might feel like we have no hope. We know that we mess up. We know that we fall short. But having perfection all around us, would not encourage us, but rather, it would make us feel more like failures. Noah wasn’t perfect. Job had questions. Abraham was afraid. Peter talked too much. And, with that, I can see myself. I can learn from them. Their mistakes help me from making my mistakes.

Second, a clear picture of our past helps us remember where we came from and how far we have traveled with the Lord. This is my concern about rewriting our nation’s history. There was racism and prejudice. If we eliminate those histories, the next generation may believe that we have never had problems. We have always gotten along. Relationships are a journey. Mistakes are made. Improvements and adjustments and repentance is part of the learning process. Dumping the past doesn’t mean it never happened. Out of sight and out of mind doesn’t work much in these areas. So, when it comes to the Bible, we find some of the first churches had problems. The death of the first Christians wasn’t through persecution. It was God striking down two liars. We see some that were neglected. We see some inner fighting going on. We see some tolerating wrong. We see pride driving some away. Division. Lawsuits. Apostasy. The picture of the first congregations is not pretty. Then you get to Revelation and you find a dead church, a lukewarm church, and a church that left it’s first love. Why does God show us these sad, sad pictures. I’ve often wondered, if I had the choice of any N.T. congregation to be a member at, which one? It’s not a simple answer. Those churches were on a journey. Now, when I look at the congregation I am with, I find that we too are on a journey. There are some days that we step on each other’s hearts. There are some days that we are not at our best. Can we do better? Is there hope? Look at what God has shown us. Look before us.

Third, our past reminds us that we can change. We can do better. Through the love and grace of God there is hope. We don’t stay sinful. We don’t hold on to prejudices. We are molded by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can forgive. We can be kind. We can be helpful servants. Peter told his readers that if they fail to add the virtues of character, they have forgotten their purification from sin. They forgot where they came from. They forgot the promise they made to God. They forgot what it felt like to be lost. They forgot how great it was to learn of the hope that is found in Christ. The past pushed them forward. Our past isn’t honoring wrong, but it’s a reminder of what we have left and now what we have become. We are not the same people as we once were.

Paul uses the past, in our verse today, to remind the Corinthians that you can learn and do better. Denying the past can be as dangerous and wrong as remaining unchanged from the past. Pretending we never made mistakes won’t help our children. They can’t live up to perfection and neither could we. Our choices, our struggles, our mistakes have helped us move closer to Christ. We can’t do it on our own. We made a real mess of things on our own. We need forgiveness. We need to think better. We need to do better. This is the past, with all of it’s warts and wrinkles, it’s mistakes and failures, it’s sins, is necessary.

What better words to describe this than: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.”

Roger

11

Jump Start # 2615

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2615

1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

I saw recently that the classic movie, Gone with the wind, was being shelved because of the racial discrimination and overtones that are featured. The movie offends some people. And whether it is right to now ban that movie or not, I’ll leave that for others to discuss and kick around and decide. It does however present a much larger thought that bridges with the Bible. And, that subject is what to do with a tainted past?

Our verse today, found in the New Testament, discusses Israel’s choices from the Old Testament. It wasn’t a pretty picture. They shamed God, violated His law and suffered the consequences. They craved evil things. They were immoral. They were idolaters. Students of the Bible know the period of the kings was a long and dark departure from God. Many bad examples are found there. Even among our heroes of the Bible, we find dark moments of sin. Noah got drunk. Abraham lied. David committed adultery. Hezekiah lost it at the end. Why keep those things before us? Why not remove them? Why not clean the Bible up so the people look better? Why these reminders of failures? Why present leaders with clay feet?

Here is what we ought to keep before us:

First, our past isn’t pretty. That’s true of the planet. That’s true of this nation. And, that’s true of us personally. We all have a story and our story involves sin. We have done things that today we are ashamed of and regret. We have said things that should never have been said. We have mistreated people, broken promises and hurt the hearts of others. Fact is, we have offended others by our bad behavior. That’s us. That’s our story. Now, we can pretend that none of that ever happened, but it did. We can wash that out of our memories, but it doesn’t change the fact.

Had the story of David been perfect, we might wonder why Jesus ever came. Had Elijah never hid in the cave, we might not understand what James meant by saying he had a nature like ours. We are not always on the mountain top. Had Abraham not been seen lying, the father of faith, we might feel like we have no hope. We know that we mess up. We know that we fall short. But having perfection all around us, would not encourage us, but rather, it would make us feel more like failures. Noah wasn’t perfect. Job had questions. Abraham was afraid. Peter talked too much. And, with that, I can see myself. I can learn from them. Their mistakes help me from making my mistakes.

Second, a clear picture of our past helps us remember where we came from and how far we have traveled with the Lord. This is my concern about rewriting our nation’s history. There was racism and prejudice. If we eliminate those histories, the next generation may believe that we have never had problems. We have always gotten along. Relationships are a journey. Mistakes are made. Improvements and adjustments and repentance is part of the learning process. Dumping the past doesn’t mean it never happened. Out of sight and out of mind doesn’t work much in these areas. So, when it comes to the Bible, we find some of the first churches had problems. The death of the first Christians wasn’t through persecution. It was God striking down two liars. We see some that were neglected. We see some inner fighting going on. We see some tolerating wrong. We see pride driving some away. Division. Lawsuits. Apostasy. The picture of the first congregations is not pretty. Then you get to Revelation and you find a dead church, a lukewarm church, and a church that left it’s first love. Why does God show us these sad, sad pictures. I’ve often wondered, if I had the choice of any N.T. congregation to be a member at, which one? It’s not a simple answer. Those churches were on a journey. Now, when I look at the congregation I am with, I find that we too are on a journey. There are some days that we step on each other’s hearts. There are some days that we are not at our best. Can we do better? Is there hope? Look at what God has shown us. Look before us.

Third, our past reminds us that we can change. We can do better. Through the love and grace of God there is hope. We don’t stay sinful. We don’t hold on to prejudices. We are molded by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can forgive. We can be kind. We can be helpful servants. Peter told his readers that if they fail to add the virtues of character, they have forgotten their purification from sin. They forgot where they came from. They forgot the promise they made to God. They forgot what it felt like to be lost. They forgot how great it was to learn of the hope that is found in Christ. The past pushed them forward. Our past isn’t honoring wrong, but it’s a reminder of what we have left and now what we have become. We are not the same people as we once were.

Paul uses the past, in our verse today, to remind the Corinthians that you can learn and do better. Denying the past can be as dangerous and wrong as remaining unchanged from the past. Pretending we never made mistakes won’t help our children. They can’t live up to perfection and neither could we. Our choices, our struggles, our mistakes have helped us move closer to Christ. We can’t do it on our own. We made a real mess of things on our own. We need forgiveness. We need to think better. We need to do better. This is the past, with all of it’s warts and wrinkles, it’s mistakes and failures, it’s sins, is necessary.

What better words to describe this than: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.”

Roger

11

Jump Start # 2613

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2613

1 Corinthians 16:10 “Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid; for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I also am.”

Timothy is coming! That would have been exciting for the Corinthians. Timothy was young. Timothy knew the word of God. He would do so much good for the Corinthians. But Paul adds, “see that he is with you without cause to be afraid”. A scared preacher isn’t effective. A scared preacher will steer clear of topics that need to be addressed. A scared preacher plays it safe. That’s not what the Corinthians needed. They needed a preacher to tell them the truth. They needed boldness, courage and a confidence in the word of the Lord.

What would scare Timothy? In the next verse, Paul warns the Corinthians not to “despise” Timothy. That word comes up again in Paul’s letter to Timothy. There he said, “Let no man despise your youth.” What might scare Timothy were the Corinthian brethren. It’s easy to allow age to become a power weapon. What can a young guy tell us? He doesn’t know anything. Age plus pride is all it takes for ears to close and a power struggle to begin. So, before Timothy arrives, Paul is telling the Corinthians to behave. Don’t let Timothy be afraid.

Now this makes us think about ourselves. Are there things that we do that might cause other brethren to be afraid of us? If that atmosphere develops, then the ‘family’ concept of the church is gone. Now, what are some things that people may be afraid of?

First, the shepherds or elders. They are supposed to be among us and help us. They are to lead us. They are to know us, love us and care for us. In a healthy congregation there should be no fear. But when things are not healthy, the fear level rises. When the elders want to talk to you, some may see that as going to the principal’s office. The first reaction is “what did I do wrong?” Rather than a light, enjoyable, beneficial chit chat to connect better and see how they can help you, much fear and anxiety develops. The way to eliminate fear, is by becoming approachable and by having many experiences with the sheep that are social, fun and encouraging. When no relationship exists, then fear is a natural feeling.

Second, the preacher. Some are afraid to ask a question in class because they fear the preacher will make them look like the village idiot for even asking. They feel intimidated because they believe the preacher knows so much and they know so little. Those that have advanced degrees in Biblical studies or languages can even put more fear in asking a question. But rather than being afraid, folks ought to use that wonderful blessing and resource around them. Now, how the preacher answers the question, can make things worse or it can put people at ease. We need to be comfortable around each other and be ourselves.

Third, the different generations. The older were to instruct the younger, Titus was told. To do that, there must be a common love, understanding and atmosphere for that to work. Things change. The old way is not always the best way. The older folks can learn from the younger. It’s a two way street. Having a wonderful open and kind fellowship where young moms can ask the empty nesters advice only helps. But if the older ones sigh, roll their eyes, and mumble things under their breath, then a distance will be created among them. It shouldn’t be that way. Within the church family we ought to have adoptive moms and grandmas who are willing to help others. There are a lot of people who have never been taught how to do things. Asking for advice will only work if it is not perceived as a big bother and inconvenience.

Finally, fear should never exist within our fellowship. We will never ask for advice, help or confess sins if we are afraid. Some are afraid of getting a tongue lashing or a stern lecture. So, in silence we journey on. Our fellowship becomes superficial and artificial. The true feelings can never be expressed. Open dialogue and discussion never takes place. One is afraid to disagree, even though he does disagree. Certain topics are viewed as off limits. Suspicion is cast upon one’s faith if they do not line up with everyone else. This is a unhealthy, dysfunctional way to be together. The one mind, one voice of the New Testament does not actually exist when one is fearful and intimidated. And, so sadly, what too often happens is that the fearful person gets to a point where he can’t take it any more. He explodes. Then, he leaves. Those that remain write it off as a faith issue. Nothing changes. No good comes from it. How better it would have been to have some open discussion with open Bibles. Maybe a teaching moment would have shown the person why the church does what it does. Maybe some areas of neglect would be brought to the front and changes would be made for the better. But as it is, fear keeps the lid on our mouths.

Don’t let Timothy be afraid. I expect later on Paul would ask Timothy about his Corinthian experience. If the Corinthians didn’t behave, Paul would likely let them have it. They were warned. Timothy was doing God’s work. Don’t let his age fool you. He knows what he is talking about. Don’t be so proud that you can’t change.

Good words then and good words for now. Let’s eliminate the fear factor among us. Love ought to abound. No one should be afraid of coming home, as the prodigal did. No one should be afraid to ask for help. No one should have to be grilled and receive the third degree treatment for confessing wrongs. No one should feel afraid to say, “I don’t understand,” or, “I don’t see what you are saying.” We are in this together and let us act that way.

Roger