This video presentation on what relationship with God through Jesus Christ means was done by my friend Justin Barringer. Justin is an awesome man of God who attends my church. This video is well done and right to the point. Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Martha, Lazarus & Whats-Her-Face
Admit it, you have been conditioned to judge Martha as a hopeless case.
If you've grown up in the church like me, you are expected to give Martha the evil eye. She's so obsessed with household chores that she doesn't love Christ or something. I don't think that I've ever really sat under someone teaching something positive from Martha's example until recently. She's always been this one-dimensional busy-body who is the personification of works-based theology. She only cares about works and misses the Messiah entirely or so the standard boiler-plate teaching goes.
Having a mother who bears the name of Martha, I always hoped for some kind of shout-out from the pulpit pointing out something positive about Martha. Sadly, Martha remained a cautionary tale against the evils of cooking, cleaning and other sinful household chores.
Meanwhile, we obsess over Mary lethargically sitting in awe of Christ and wiping his feet with her hair and anointing them with oil. While we heap praise on the emotional yet work ethic-challenged Mary, we tend to heap judgment on Martha. And to simply retain that simplistic view of these two passionate followers of Christ is to diminish them and to miss the complete picture.
As God is a God of perfection and the Author of the complete picture, there's sure to be more to the story. Let's look at the original text with haughty Martha running around like a chicken with its head cut off from Luke 10:
It sets up an active-passive contrast between the sisters. Martha's faith is one of an active and bold woman. Mary is more of a silent and passive taker-in kind of gal.
Martha has been referred to as the "female Peter" for her fearlessness in approaching the Lord and her boldness. Martha's boldness during that time is in many ways more remarkable than Peter's due to her gender. Jesus' rebuke to Martha is not one of complacency but of priority. It's not a call to a life of lethargy but a life of ordered priorities. He's not upset with Martha for cooking and cleaning. He's upset with the condition of her heart AT THAT MOMENT.
In John 11, we see more of Martha's tenacious faith. Lazarus is sick to the point of death. The ladies call for Jesus to come and heal their brother:
And when Lazarus dies and Jesus tarries, it is the bold Martha that approaches Jesus while the more passive Mary stays home:
She's not happy and she's letting Jesus know. There's something powerfully bold and authentic to her faith in this passage that the passive Mary doesn't seem to demonstrate. Martha speaks her mind, but still acknowledges that "even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."
Mary later meets Jesus and her weeping causes Jesus to weep. After raising Lazarus to life, Jesus again encounters the sisters and Lazarus in the following chapter of John where Martha is still about the business of serving and Mary is anointing Jesus' feet with oil. There is no condemnation here of Martha as in the Luke account.
Martha may have temporarily missed the point but she had a bold and active faith. Faith without works is dead. Pastor Gary Clark from Calvary Fellowship of Gloucester County recently pointed out that this family trio represents the mission of the church. Martha represents serving, Mary represents worship and Lazarus represents witnessing. People were drawn to this family because of Lazarus' testimony and resurrection. Jesus celebrated the powerful and authentic worship of Mary. And it was the boldness and action of Martha that demonstrates faith through actions.
As people of faith, we need to be about all 3 of these things. We need to get up and serve like Martha. We need to passionately worship like Mary. We need to boldly witness like Lazarus. To remove any pillar of our faith will distort the view of authentic Christianity to our children and our community. Parents who don't follow the teachings from Sunday in their daily living will undermine the Gospel and detach their children from having a relevant faith. Parents who focus only on accomplishment and deeds will fail to impart the message of grace and the importance of worship. There's a huge difference in attending church and being a Christ follower. Following Christ demands action and sacrifice. Bottom line? Do the dishes and your devotions.
To diminish Martha as simply a cautionary tale about the evils of works based theology and to elevate Mary to a place of spiritual perfection is a woefully inaccurate picture of these two very complete Christians. As with Biblical heroes from Abraham to John, these ladies are not perfect. And in their imperfection we can find valuable lessons of how to live as followers of Christ. Plus, Martha's one heck of a cook. Or so I've been told.
If you've grown up in the church like me, you are expected to give Martha the evil eye. She's so obsessed with household chores that she doesn't love Christ or something. I don't think that I've ever really sat under someone teaching something positive from Martha's example until recently. She's always been this one-dimensional busy-body who is the personification of works-based theology. She only cares about works and misses the Messiah entirely or so the standard boiler-plate teaching goes.
Having a mother who bears the name of Martha, I always hoped for some kind of shout-out from the pulpit pointing out something positive about Martha. Sadly, Martha remained a cautionary tale against the evils of cooking, cleaning and other sinful household chores.
Meanwhile, we obsess over Mary lethargically sitting in awe of Christ and wiping his feet with her hair and anointing them with oil. While we heap praise on the emotional yet work ethic-challenged Mary, we tend to heap judgment on Martha. And to simply retain that simplistic view of these two passionate followers of Christ is to diminish them and to miss the complete picture.
As God is a God of perfection and the Author of the complete picture, there's sure to be more to the story. Let's look at the original text with haughty Martha running around like a chicken with its head cut off from Luke 10:
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."Yes, Martha misses the point of having Jesus there because she's concerned with her household chores and preparing for her guest. Yes, Mary understands the importance of just basking in the presence of Christ. Notice, however, who it is that "welcomed" Jesus into her house. It wasn't Mary.
It sets up an active-passive contrast between the sisters. Martha's faith is one of an active and bold woman. Mary is more of a silent and passive taker-in kind of gal.
Martha has been referred to as the "female Peter" for her fearlessness in approaching the Lord and her boldness. Martha's boldness during that time is in many ways more remarkable than Peter's due to her gender. Jesus' rebuke to Martha is not one of complacency but of priority. It's not a call to a life of lethargy but a life of ordered priorities. He's not upset with Martha for cooking and cleaning. He's upset with the condition of her heart AT THAT MOMENT.
In John 11, we see more of Martha's tenacious faith. Lazarus is sick to the point of death. The ladies call for Jesus to come and heal their brother:
Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.A small caveat and yet everything in the Word of God is intentional. Look at verse 5, "Jesus loved MARTHA and her sister and Lazarus." God is a God of restoration and healing. Jesus may have rebuked Martha for missing the point of his previous visit but he loved her. And the wording of this verse basically reduces the so often over-glorified Mary to the status of "what's her face?" I believe the wording here is intentional and meant to restore the readers view of Martha to a positive one.
And when Lazarus dies and Jesus tarries, it is the bold Martha that approaches Jesus while the more passive Mary stays home:
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."Martha is breaking societal protocol by approaching Jesus directly. As a woman, this would be highly unusual. As a woman in mourning, Martha would be expected not just to submit in silence, but also to remain home. Martha, however, pulls a Peter and runs right to Jesus demanding answers. She recognizes His lordship: "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is com into the world," but she also boldly declares to Jesus "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."
She's not happy and she's letting Jesus know. There's something powerfully bold and authentic to her faith in this passage that the passive Mary doesn't seem to demonstrate. Martha speaks her mind, but still acknowledges that "even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."
Mary later meets Jesus and her weeping causes Jesus to weep. After raising Lazarus to life, Jesus again encounters the sisters and Lazarus in the following chapter of John where Martha is still about the business of serving and Mary is anointing Jesus' feet with oil. There is no condemnation here of Martha as in the Luke account.
Martha may have temporarily missed the point but she had a bold and active faith. Faith without works is dead. Pastor Gary Clark from Calvary Fellowship of Gloucester County recently pointed out that this family trio represents the mission of the church. Martha represents serving, Mary represents worship and Lazarus represents witnessing. People were drawn to this family because of Lazarus' testimony and resurrection. Jesus celebrated the powerful and authentic worship of Mary. And it was the boldness and action of Martha that demonstrates faith through actions.
As people of faith, we need to be about all 3 of these things. We need to get up and serve like Martha. We need to passionately worship like Mary. We need to boldly witness like Lazarus. To remove any pillar of our faith will distort the view of authentic Christianity to our children and our community. Parents who don't follow the teachings from Sunday in their daily living will undermine the Gospel and detach their children from having a relevant faith. Parents who focus only on accomplishment and deeds will fail to impart the message of grace and the importance of worship. There's a huge difference in attending church and being a Christ follower. Following Christ demands action and sacrifice. Bottom line? Do the dishes and your devotions.
To diminish Martha as simply a cautionary tale about the evils of works based theology and to elevate Mary to a place of spiritual perfection is a woefully inaccurate picture of these two very complete Christians. As with Biblical heroes from Abraham to John, these ladies are not perfect. And in their imperfection we can find valuable lessons of how to live as followers of Christ. Plus, Martha's one heck of a cook. Or so I've been told.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Backstabbing Brothers & Birthrights
Editor's Note: I'm very impressed with the alliteration in the title of this blog. You should be too.
Jacob and Esau. It's a story that we all know well. Jacob gets dissed a lot. What with all of the deception and thievery that the smooth skinned Mama's boy did, we can probably understand why.
And yet as I read through the story this time around, I was struck with Esau's hatred of his birthright.
Sure Jacob took Esau's birthright and then later conspired with his mother to steal his blessing from his blind and old father. These are not traits that we would usually celebrate to our children or encourage in our church. They are traits that we would typically identify with a villain.
And yet Jacob is the dude that get's the blessing and the dude that God continues to build His Biblical narrative through.
Why? Well, let's look at the beginning of their story in Genesis 25:22-26:
And it dawned on me that the story of Jacob stealing Esau's birthright is just as much about Esau as it is Jacob. Jacob would never have been able to take the birthright if Esau hadn't "despised it" so much.
Here's the text of the story from Genesis 25:29-34:
Now, it's not clear from the wording if he always despised his birthright or if he just in this moment despised it by his actions. Either way, the man clearly held his birthright in low esteem.
Jacob is a great cook apparently, but it still doesn't seem like a rational person would give up his inheritance and role of leadership over his family for a meal. I say this as an intense lover of food. As much as I love cheeseburgers, I'd never forfeit my standing in my family for one.
And that is exactly what Esau does here.
While we don't typically in this day and age have siblings enticing us to forfeit our inheritance over some fine cuisine, we do have many many lessons to learn here.
Again, think about that for a moment that if Esau esteemed his birthright as he should have, Jacob would never have succeeded in his plot. And by Jacob's passionate desire to obtain that birthright from Esau we can infer that he saw the birthright for the blessing that it was.
So in that sense Jacob's wrong-doing here is akin to Jack Bauer breaking all sorts of laws as he pursues the higher good of saving folks from terrorists or biblically speaking the prostitute Rehab lying about the Israelite spies in order to protect their lives (a feat for which she is credited in the Hebrews hall of faith.) Again, this doesn't dismiss his wrong-doing, but it does reveal the nature of his heart.
And the bottom line for us today is to not be Esau. The enemy prowls around seeking to "steal, kill and destroy" anything that brings glory to God. Your family is the basic building block upon which Jesus has built His church. The loving relationship of mutual respect, submission and self-sacrifice between a husband and wife is to testify to the love of Christ and His church. The parents are responsible to apply God's word and faith in Christ to the hearts of their children. Church can provide illumination of those truths, but it is the daily relational dynamic of the family that is responsible for making that faith real.
And so, when the enemy is attempting to steal, kill and destroy things that will bring glory to God there is no bigger target than Christian families. If he can destroy our families, he can render us spiritually neutered in this world and will radically diminish and water down the effectiveness of the church.
In order for his dastardly deeds to succeed, however, we have to "despise our birthright" just as Esau did. Every time we choose sin over Christ we despise Him. Every time we choose sin or self over our spouse and children we despise them. Every time we lose a blessing, diminish our ministry, or rip apart our family it is because we have despised them.
It is only when Satan convinces us to do an impersonation of Esau that we can lose our birthright. If we love our spouse and children more than ourselves, he has no foothold. If we love our Jesus more than our sinful desires and temptations, he has no foothold.
So, quite simply, instead of heaping judgment upon the head of the trickster Jacob for his thieving ways, let's take a moment to reflect on the heartless folly of Esau. He sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. He so despised his blessing, his family and his faith that he was willing to barter it away for a snack. Don't trifle with sinful stew. Esteem your birthright as a man or woman of God and put your God and your family before yourself and before anything else that easily entangles or ensnares us.
Know that Jesus is faithful and will always provide you a way to stand.
You cannot positively influence the lives of your family for Christ without first esteeming Christ and family above all else. Your family cannot influence and expand the ministry of the local church without first esteeming your birthright to each other first. Your church cannot stand and influence our culture and community with weak ineffectual families who esteem their birthright no more than a Happy Meal at McDonalds. Don't be a gaggle of Esaus trading away the eternal for the temporal and the important for the trivial.
Love your God and your family like the world is depending on it because it is.
Jacob and Esau. It's a story that we all know well. Jacob gets dissed a lot. What with all of the deception and thievery that the smooth skinned Mama's boy did, we can probably understand why.
And yet as I read through the story this time around, I was struck with Esau's hatred of his birthright.
Sure Jacob took Esau's birthright and then later conspired with his mother to steal his blessing from his blind and old father. These are not traits that we would usually celebrate to our children or encourage in our church. They are traits that we would typically identify with a villain.
And yet Jacob is the dude that get's the blessing and the dude that God continues to build His Biblical narrative through.
Why? Well, let's look at the beginning of their story in Genesis 25:22-26:
22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If all is well, why am I like this?" So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger." 24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.Jacob and Esau were warring in Rebekah's womb. God told them in advance that this was going to be a case of textbook sibling rivalry. And while we can't excuse the deception and the bad things that Jacob does, we can't deny his passion.
And it dawned on me that the story of Jacob stealing Esau's birthright is just as much about Esau as it is Jacob. Jacob would never have been able to take the birthright if Esau hadn't "despised it" so much.
Here's the text of the story from Genesis 25:29-34:
29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day." 32 And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?" 33 Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.Now, I'm a simpleton. I don't claim to be the smartest man in the world nor do I claim to be the final authority on all scripture. As I understand it, however, the birthright in Biblical terms meant that the firstborn was to get a double portion of the inheritance from the father. The firstborn would also become the head of the household after dear old dad kicked the bucket. This is what Esau despised.
Now, it's not clear from the wording if he always despised his birthright or if he just in this moment despised it by his actions. Either way, the man clearly held his birthright in low esteem.
Jacob is a great cook apparently, but it still doesn't seem like a rational person would give up his inheritance and role of leadership over his family for a meal. I say this as an intense lover of food. As much as I love cheeseburgers, I'd never forfeit my standing in my family for one.
And that is exactly what Esau does here.
While we don't typically in this day and age have siblings enticing us to forfeit our inheritance over some fine cuisine, we do have many many lessons to learn here.
Again, think about that for a moment that if Esau esteemed his birthright as he should have, Jacob would never have succeeded in his plot. And by Jacob's passionate desire to obtain that birthright from Esau we can infer that he saw the birthright for the blessing that it was.
So in that sense Jacob's wrong-doing here is akin to Jack Bauer breaking all sorts of laws as he pursues the higher good of saving folks from terrorists or biblically speaking the prostitute Rehab lying about the Israelite spies in order to protect their lives (a feat for which she is credited in the Hebrews hall of faith.) Again, this doesn't dismiss his wrong-doing, but it does reveal the nature of his heart.
And the bottom line for us today is to not be Esau. The enemy prowls around seeking to "steal, kill and destroy" anything that brings glory to God. Your family is the basic building block upon which Jesus has built His church. The loving relationship of mutual respect, submission and self-sacrifice between a husband and wife is to testify to the love of Christ and His church. The parents are responsible to apply God's word and faith in Christ to the hearts of their children. Church can provide illumination of those truths, but it is the daily relational dynamic of the family that is responsible for making that faith real.
And so, when the enemy is attempting to steal, kill and destroy things that will bring glory to God there is no bigger target than Christian families. If he can destroy our families, he can render us spiritually neutered in this world and will radically diminish and water down the effectiveness of the church.
In order for his dastardly deeds to succeed, however, we have to "despise our birthright" just as Esau did. Every time we choose sin over Christ we despise Him. Every time we choose sin or self over our spouse and children we despise them. Every time we lose a blessing, diminish our ministry, or rip apart our family it is because we have despised them.
It is only when Satan convinces us to do an impersonation of Esau that we can lose our birthright. If we love our spouse and children more than ourselves, he has no foothold. If we love our Jesus more than our sinful desires and temptations, he has no foothold.
So, quite simply, instead of heaping judgment upon the head of the trickster Jacob for his thieving ways, let's take a moment to reflect on the heartless folly of Esau. He sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. He so despised his blessing, his family and his faith that he was willing to barter it away for a snack. Don't trifle with sinful stew. Esteem your birthright as a man or woman of God and put your God and your family before yourself and before anything else that easily entangles or ensnares us.
Know that Jesus is faithful and will always provide you a way to stand.
You cannot positively influence the lives of your family for Christ without first esteeming Christ and family above all else. Your family cannot influence and expand the ministry of the local church without first esteeming your birthright to each other first. Your church cannot stand and influence our culture and community with weak ineffectual families who esteem their birthright no more than a Happy Meal at McDonalds. Don't be a gaggle of Esaus trading away the eternal for the temporal and the important for the trivial.
Love your God and your family like the world is depending on it because it is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)