Jump Start # 3578

2 Corinthians 3:2 “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men.”

Our verse today worded in the King James comes out as: “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts…”. And, that makes us think of the hymn, “The World’s Bible.” And, in many ways, that is very true. When people see you, right or wrong, they make three judgments based upon what they see in you. First, they make a judgment about your faith. They may think that you are strict and narrow. They might conclude, from what they see, that you are a hypocrite. You talk a good game, but your talk and walk do not match. They might see a picture of true love, grace and faith. This is what a Christian is supposed to look like. Secondly, they make a judgment about the congregation you attend. They assume that just about everyone in that church is like you. Now, if their judgment of you is not positive, they will have a concluding negative judgment about the congregation. They do this without ever stepping foot into the church building, This is all based upon what they see in you. Finally, from what they see in you, they make a judgment about Jesus. The Jesus you present to them, through the way you live, is favorable or something they want to run from. Your attitudes. Your words. Your reaction to stress. All of these things forms a version of the Bible based upon you.

In that hymn, “The World’s Bible,” the question is asked, “What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?” I have in my library some looks that are that way. It’s difficult to read them. The poor print job distorts the message. The hymn is not asking about a literal book. It’s not asking about the print in your Bible. It’s asking about the way you live. You are our letter, Paul said. The way you live is witnessed by so many people. There are those who watch you and you are not even aware of that.

So, what if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?

First, none of us will be the perfect version of Jesus. We’d love to be, but we won’t. There are times when our type will be blurry. There will be times when we appear crooked. This is when honesty makes a huge difference. We apologize when we have done wrong. We admit that we are a work in progress. We are not Jesus. He was the perfect, unblemished sacrifice.

Some leave a congregation because of the way they were treated. Gossip, ignoring others, petty attitudes hurt friendships and ruin fellowships. But Jesus has never treated us like this. People may have neglected you. Jesus didn’t. People may have been mean to you. Jesus wasn’t. The message isn’t about us. It’s about Jesus. Even blurry, we can point people to Jesus.

Second, we must do a better job of walking in Christ. Some are incredible examples. Some are terrible examples. Just getting baptized and sitting in a church building isn’t it. Are you walking daily with the Lord? Are you letting His word dwell within you? Do you leave your faith and convictions at the door of the church building when you leave? Maybe there would be less blurry print if we did a better job of being devoted to the Lord. We put up with mean spirits and gossipy tongues far too long. Although those folks may have been baptized a long time ago, they certainly are not walking very close to the Savior. We can do a better job of making the print less blurry in our lives.

Third, what we want the world to see is our kindness, our generosity, our faith in the Lord, and our hearts of service. This is what will catch the eye of your family and the world. Being quick to forgive. Being one of the first to jump in and help out. Knowing when to keep quiet and not say anything. Living joyfully. Bringing sunshine upon a gloomy world. Less judgmental and more inviting. Sharing your time, your heart and your life for others.

When the world sees these things, they may not notice the crooked type so much. But with pointed fingers, a judgmental tongue and a blaming attitude, the world will revert to a defensive position and start picking apart your life. The flaws seem greater when one is looking for them.

Many a person first noticed a Christian before he knew anything about what he believed. Kindness attracts. And, in a season of hatred, racism, and destruction, mouths that flow with gentleness and love are refreshing. Christians are not to blend in. We are not like everyone else. Be not conformed, but be transformed is our calling in Christ.

You are the world’s Bible.

Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today…

He has no feet but our feet to lead me in His way;

He has no tongue but our tongues to tell men how He died,

He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible the careless world will read,

We are the sinner’s gospel, We are the scoffer’s creed;

We are the Lord’s last message given in deed and word,

What if the type is crooked? What if print is blurred?

What if our hands are busy with other things than His?

What if our feet are walking where sins allurement is?

What if our tongues are speaking of things His life would spurn,

How can we hope to help Him and welcome His return?

Anne Johnson Flint (1866-1932)

Roger

Jump Start # 1647

2 Corinthians 3:2 “You are our letter written in our hearts, known and read by all men”

  There is a hymn that is often sung, “We are the world’s Bible.” There is getting to be more and more truth to that everyday. For many people, their own connection to God is what they see in a Christian. The life of a Christian is the only Bible that they will ever see. So many modern churches have moved past what the Bible teaches. Many have replaced the gospel message with a simpler message of goodness. Just be good. Be a good neighbor. Be a good friend. Be a good person. The message of goodness doesn’t involve Christ, commitment or righteous living. The message of goodness changes from person to person. The common answer for most today, when asked, “What is a Christian?” it is a good person. The world today needs living examples of what a Christian is like.

This falls upon us who are Christians. This is tough. The world is watching. The world is testing you. The world wants to see if you are genuine. The world wants to see what works.

This is hard because many of us are dealing with our own issues. Stress, worries and the pressures of work and home can sour our attitudes and leave us weary, worn out and joyless. Miserable Christians are not a good example that the world needs to see. Complaining Christians send negative messages to the world. Why be like them, is what the world wonders. I have enough pressure and problems.

This is hard because we must work through our own temptations. We are not perfect. The world is ready to point that out to us. The world thinks that we believe that, but we don’t. The world has little patience and no forgiveness for a Christian that sins. How we deal with our sins can go a long way in showing the world what Jesus is all about.

This is hard because there are days that we don’t want people to be watching us. Leave me alone, can be a wonderful thought, but it never happens to the Christian. You are the light of the world. You must shine, even in dark places. The world judges the Christian. The world often uses double standards, expecting the Christian to be perfect, while they are far from it. The world cannot tolerate a Christian who judges.

Have you ever noticed the pressure placed upon Jesus. The Gospels tell us that they asked Jesus questions to “test Him.” They were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath. They were questioning among themselves about Jesus. This intense scrutiny was constant with Jesus. He was always watched. Every word was analyzed. He was in the radar all the time.

This is the tough side of being a Christian. The upside is that the world gets to see what genuine love, care and grace is all about. A caring Samaritan who went out of his way, took a risk, and used his own money to help someone that he didn’t even know. A father who gave his reckless son a second chance. A God who allowed one who murdered His own people, to be forgiven and to be one of the apostles. These images, these stories, these messages are the things that the world does not understand. It makes no sense to them. Forgiveness in the home. Grace in the work place. Hope in a dark world. In a time of terror and prejudice, to see that the color of skin doesn’t matter. All are loved, and all are wanted by God’s people, is something that the world doesn’t see.

The upside of Christianity is showing the world marriages that thrive and last for decades. With Hollywood marriages that are measured in mere hours, the people of God demonstrate what makes a relationship work.

The upside of Christianity is showing the world hope and optimism when everything looks gloom and doom. The hope is not in a candidate, but in God. To walk through this life with a sparkle in your heart and a twinkle in your eye because you know and you believe that Heaven is you home some day is something that the world can’t get. Why are you so happy? Because God loves me and I love Him. That doesn’t make sense to the world, but they see it and many wish they could have it.

The upside of Christianity is knowing that death isn’t the end of our story. There is no “The End” to our story. It is to believe with all of our heart that death takes us to God. Death is not dreaded, feared or whispered about. There is nothing to fear. Christians walk with a hope that is  beyond this world. The hope lies with God.

The upside of Christianity is walking with confidence in a world that is certainly unsure. The world doesn’t know what to believe. The world is waiting for someone to tell them what to think next. Not the child of God. His confidence is in the word of God. He is sure because the Bible is true. Topics such as creation, definition of marriage, concept of success, the purpose of life, are all understood by the child of God. He is sure. He walks with life with confidence. He is not fazed by those who want to change definitions, who change theories, who are doing everything except looking in the Bible. He knows what is right. He is not moved by the finger pointing of others who claim that he is narrow or judgmental. The Christian stands with the Lord. He loves what God loves and he hates what God hates. He is sure because of the confidence found within the word of God.

The upside of Christianity is a noble life that honors God first. It is a life that is spiritually based. Choices and decisions are made in view of what God says about things. He is concerned about influence. He prays for others. He tries to help others. The upside is that the Christian makes the world better than what it really is. The Christian adds peace, love and hope to this place. The Christian is thoughtful and helpful.

The upside of Christianity is that the world gets to see what pure worship was like from the very beginning. Christians don’t change what God has given us. Christians are content with what God says. You won’t find people wondering, “Is it a school? Is it a restaurant? Is it a rock concert? Or, is it a church?” That doesn’t happen with N.T. Christianity. God is honored. God is praised. Worship is enjoyed. It’s not a matter of “I have to go to church on Sunday.” Rather, “I get to go to worship.” What a privilege. What an honor. What joy there is in seeing other Christians. What encouragement in singing, praying and studying God’s word. The world scoffs at such things. The world declares such things to be old fashioned, out of date and boring. The same world that says that, is drinking itself to death, can’t stay married and is miserable and angry.

The upside of Christianity is that we notice small pieces of Heaven on earth. Without the Christian, the world would look like Hell will be. No hope. No love. No joy. No God. No future. It is the Christian that opens the shade and allows the light of the Gospel into the world.

We are the light of the world…It’s time to shine brightly!

Roger

Jump Start # 1165

2 Corinthians 3:2 “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men.”

  Yesterday in our Jump Start, I discussed the tragic death of Robin Williams and the subject of mental illness. There is more to be said. This is a delicate topic, a complex topic and one that most congregations shy away from. I think the attitude many have is, “Just go away.” That seems to be the easiest way to deal with mental issues. I’ve seen that attitude expressed. I’ve often wondered, where are they to go to? I don’t find my Savior sending people away.

Our verse today expresses the idea of influence among others. People are layered with connections. There are work relationships, family relationships and friends. Our impact upon one person can impact all these layers. Being cold and heartless has far reaching implications that many never see or realize.

Four more thoughts about mental illness that I didn’t have room for yesterday.

1. One does not have to have mental illness to be able to speak about it. Like I said yesterday, those who have never been down that dark valley may never understand what it is like, yet there is still help, hope and lessons to be learned. I sense among some, that only those who have experienced it can be in the position to say anything. That thought I do not agree with. While some many never know the dark days or what it feels like, there are valuable things that they can say. I encountered a similar thing when I was a young puppy preacher. I was single and gave a lesson about marriage. Man, they blistered me for daring to say anything about marriage. What did I know. Well, then I was married and gave a lesson about parenting. I did that before I had any kids. Again, I got blistered for speaking out on something I had no understanding. That fried my biscuits. I said in a sermon, “I’ve never been to Hell, but I can preach about it.” Does a preacher have to have been drunk in his past before he can speak on that subject? Does one have to taste every sin, every problem to be able say what God reveals? We are preaching His word, not sharing our experiences. No, I have not experienced clinical depression. I’ve never taken medication for mood swings or antidepressants. I don’t know what it feels like to want to stay in bed all day. However, I can see what God told Elijah. I can see what God did with Paul. I can share those wonderful words with others. It’s not my insights, but God’s that I want to share.

2. There is a delicate balance between mental illness and behavioral choices. How much will God hold one accountable for is up to God to decide and not you and I. It’s hard to know what is racing through someone’s head. However, this is a big however, it is very easy to use any illness as a cover for wrong choices. “I can’t help it,” may be true. It may also be a mask for laziness, indifference, and other problematic choices. Only the person truly knows. There have been people through the years that just couldn’t make it out to church services, but somehow they could go shopping, golfing and vacationing. We must be careful about others. This point is directed to us internally. I know me. I know why I do what I do. I know when I’m genuine and when I’m putting on a front. I know. God also knows. I can fool others, but I can’t fool God. It doesn’t help my character, my walk with God, nor my influence when I could but I won’t. Laziness doesn’t fly well with God. Read Proverbs. The sluggard is not held in high regards with God. Maybe a guy can’t go to work. I don’t know. I know if I can. When I can and I don’t, that’s a choice. That’s not mental illness. That’s not being responsible. Sometimes people don’t want to do things. Life is like that. Kids don’t want to go to school. Tough. You have to go. Some don’t want to be parents. Tough. Be a parent. Some don’t want to go to work. Too bad. Go. The impression from the Gospels is that Jesus did not want to go to the cross. He prayed for another way. There was no other way. He did what was hard, tough, and He didn’t like. We must do the same. Hiding behind mental illness, when that is not the cause, is wrong.

3. In describing homosexuality, Romans says, “women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural.” I find that expression interesting. Did the unnatural behavior also make their mind think unnatural? Or was it an unnatural mind that led to unnatural behavior? God condemned them for what they did. He didn’t get into the “I can’t help it,” or, “It’s natural to me,” nor, “That’s just the way I am.” No, it was sin. It is sin. I don’t understand how someone can think the unnatural is natural. I can’t understand how they think this is normal. Our thinking leads to our behavior. However, with Christ, learning self control and to think rightly, our thoughts do not have to become behavior. Every thought becomes captured in Christ. The Corinthians were told that. The sin of the mind does not have to become the sin of the body. The lust of the mind does not have to be fulfilled in fornication. Change the thinking and the behavior changes. The key is the mind. Renew the mind. Set your mind on things above. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you. Walk by the Spirit. These are not just positive thoughts to stencil on the walls of our homes. This is it. This is the difference. Who you hang around with. What you fill your mind with—the type of music, movies, TV. What you read. All of these things lead us, influences us and leaves an impression upon us. Satan is shifting us to become “unnatural” in all ways. God is influencing us to be righteous and holy. There is a battle taking place in our minds every day. Mental illness affects this and makes this difficult. Will God excuse someone because they “weren’t in their mind?” You and I can’t say. That’s God’s department. As an old preacher once wrote, that’s God’s end of the stick. We are not to whittle on His side of things. Don’t spend time worrying or trying to figure out what we can’t know. Spend our time on ourselves. I know. I know what I can do. I can’t hide my sins behind anything. I need to confess and be honest with myself and with God. My hope is not in excuses but in my Savior.

4. Clinical depression and many, many mental illnesses are not something that a person “gets over” like the cold. It is different from being down. There are let downs in life. Monday morning after a vacation can be a real bummer but it’s not a life changer. I’ve had many young preachers ask me if I ever felt like quitting. My standard answer is, “Yes, every Monday. But Tuesday comes and I have to get things done.” So telling a person to “snap out of it,” is similar to telling a blind person to “see.” He can’t. There are things that can help a person manage and even make him functional and productive in life, but it may be a battle he has the rest of his life. Some of us will never know nor understand this. There have been few prayers offered for those who struggle mentally. Maybe it’s about time we started. We sure pray for the physical sick, why not mental illness? I think we are afraid. It’s time to get over that fear and seek Heaven’s help.

Robin Williams’ death reminds us that behind the curtain things may look differently. I hope these couple of articles have opened our eyes and our hearts. It would be wonderful for some honest and open discussions about this to begin in our families and congregations. I hope it helps us watch what we say to one another. I hope it helps those who have spent a long time in those dark valleys. God loves you. He always has. Now, it’s our turn to love you and to quit trying to make everyone “Normal.” The only place you find normal is a setting on your dryer. Every family has drama. Every congregation has issues. Everyone of us has good days and bad days. And God loves everyone of us.

I must end on this note: several years ago I was preaching in Illinois. There is a town named Normal. Nearby is another town, Oblong. The local paper said, “Normal man marries Oblong woman.”

‘Nuff said.

Roger