“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:1-10 NIV)
Recently I was told of a student who has decided they can’t believe in God because they can’t agree with what the Bible says. This is quite common. People often say, “I can’t believe in a God who would…,” fill in the blank. It might regard allowing evil in the world, allowing a young child to suffer from cancer and die, demanding perfection, restricting our freedoms to live how we want, etc.
There are also others who believe in God, and often follow Him, but only on their own terms. And to make it easier, they create their own image of God and attribute to Him traits and beliefs with which they are comfortable and in agreement. If we are honest, most of us fall into this category.
I came to follow the Lord with a bias against the work of the Holy Spirit. When I was in high school, my girlfriend and I made fun of the “holy rollers” at the Pentecostal church across the street from her house. They were ridiculous in our minds. After becoming a Christian, I became involved in a campus ministry where the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit (i.e., speaking in tongues, healing, prophecy) were viewed as being 1st Century phenomenon, but were replaced by the New Testament. Later, I went to a seminary that taught the same thing. For years, I accepted and held to this view. But the more I read the Scriptures and meditated upon them, the more my rationale was challenged. Yet, I continued to resist because it was not what I wanted to believe. The miraculous gifts of the Spirit made me uncomfortable and I had seen many abhorrent distortions of their use.
As I look at so many controversial issues within the Church and the numerous doctrinal divides, I am convinced we are where we are because of what James says—we want what we want rather than submit to what God says. So we take a verse or passage of Scripture that is seemingly in line with what we believe and build our views around it. For years I built my belief regarding the gifts of the Spirit around I Corinthians 13:9-10. “Completeness,” I was taught, refers to the New Testament; thus, no need existed for the gifts of the Spirit. It sounds so ridiculous as I type it in light of all the references to the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures, but I wanted God to be a certain way and so I made Him that way based on my view of the Bible.
This is done over and over by many who love the Lord, but who struggle with submitting to Him in areas in which they just don’t agree with Him or are just not comfortable with His point of view. Thus, as Paul tells Timothy, we gather around us those who tell us, reinforce, what we already believe or want to believe (II Timothy 4:3). And, like me, they are very sincere, but their desires lead them into error of what the Lord really teaches.
Years ago I began to see that one must interpret Scripture as a whole. Many doctrines and beliefs are formulated around one verse or passage. Doing this leaves us open to error because it fails to take into consideration the context of the passage and the possibility that other Scriptures say something different. That’s what I finally concluded about my views on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Taking the Scriptures as a whole changed my view even though it went against what I preferred.
Today, consider what views you hold on pre-destination, eternal security, homosexuality, Jesus as the only way to God, alcohol consumption, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, among others. Are they truly based on your comprehensive reading and study of the Scriptures, or are they based on what you would like to believe and what you are personally comfortable with? James’ command is to submit to God. That means your will and your desires. If they do not fit with the Lord’s, guess who needs to have a change of heart and mind?
© Jim Musser 2015
“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:11-22 NIV)
In the midst of the Ferguson, Missouri and New York City protests this past fall that centered on two black men being killed by white police officers, New Orleans Saints tight end, Benjamin Watson, posted his thoughts on Facebook. It was widely covered by the media because it was a thoughtful, emotional, and honest take on the situation by a man of color. (You can read it here.)
What Watson said is what needs to be repeated at every Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration today: “…the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn. BUT I'M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through the his son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind.”
The dignitaries at today’s celebrations will speak much about the need for diversity, education, understanding, and acceptance. They will say nothing at all about sin and God’s solution for it. They will sing “We Shall Overcome,” but will continue to try to do so by their own strength and methods. And the results will be the same: feel good moments and then back to the real world of hate, distrust, and separation. It’s been that way for decades. For the racial and ethnic hostility that afflicts our country and our world will not be solved without recognition of ultimate source and the Ultimate Solution.
In Paul’s day, the conflict between Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews of every belief and ethnicity) was raging. There was great prejudice coming from both sides. And into this context stepped Jesus and the Gospel. At first, it appeared the Gospel was for the Jews only, although Jesus hinted otherwise. And then the Gentile Cornelius experienced the Holy Spirit (Acts 10). The reaction of the Jews to this demonstrates the depth of their prejudice: “The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles” (v. 45).
So when Paul writes to the Ephesian church about the power of the Gospel (of Jesus) to break down prejudices, he wasn’t writing sentimental fluff. He knew the power of Jesus to transform minds and hearts because He had done so with his on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). It was and is a hard slog to put into practice because of that one big problem—SIN, as evidenced early on by Peter (Galatians 2:11-14). Yet, just because it’s so difficult to practice doesn’t make it any less true.
Benjamin Watson’s critique of our racial and ethnic divisions is true. The problem is SIN and the only solution is Jesus and our humble acceptance of our desperate need for Him every day in every way. This is the only way we truly shall overcome the prejudices that afflict us.
© Jim Musser 2015
“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (I Peter 3:13-16 NIV)
We live in a world of fear and it shows. Fear is always proceeded by anger, harsh rhetoric, isolation, and, often, violence. Today there are fears of Islamic terrorists; the right fears the left and the left fears the right; the world fears Ebola and other potential pandemics; people of color fear the police; a lot of people fear people of color; religious people fear secularists and secularists fear religious folk. And it shows, as evidenced by the continual headlines of news stories in newspapers, riots, harsh and unkind Facebook posts and tweets, lawsuits, and just a general sense of tension in the world.
And so I think it important to remember these words of Peter. His world was no different than ours in essence. Sure, technologically things have dramatically changed, but not the essence of human behavior. 21st Century sin is the same as that of the 1st Century and still reaps the same destructive consequences. Yet, Peter followed His Lord’s lead in proscribing how to we should live in a fallen world—trust in the Lord (John 16:33)
When we trust in the Lord, rather than living in fear, we will have peace. And when we are at peace in our hearts, rather than reacting to fear with harshness, anger, or violence, we instead can respond with gentleness, a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and a word used by Paul four other times to describe how believers should conduct themselves toward others. Webster’s defines gentleness as: “having or showing a kind and quiet nature; not harsh or violent; not hard or forceful.”
My question is this: Is this how you, I, or the Church as whole tend to respond to the crises of the day? For me, I am doing better, but I admit my tendency is to want to mix it up with the people with whom I disagree or fear are going to lead people astray with their wrong thinking. Many a time I read a Facebook post and I want to respond with a harsh retort, or I’m tempted to think, “what an idiot.” But the more I have come to trust in the Lord to handle the ills of the world, the more I have been able to take other people’s beliefs and actions in stride. I may still strongly disagree with them, but I can respond more often with gentleness because I am growing in confidence that my Lord has everything under control.
I think this is the key for the Church. Do we have confidence that the Lord is truly in control or are we under the impression that He needs us to defend Him? If we fear things are falling out of control, regardless how small or large the issue or event, our natural response will be fear. I think there is plenty of that already.
Peter implies there should be such a difference in the followers of Jesus in how they handle life that others will inquire about why that is. Today, know that if you live your life in a fearless manner, with gentleness that bespeaks an underlying peace, there will be many who ask why that is. And wouldn’t that be a nice change in today’s world?
© Jim Musser 2015
“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (Psalm 94:18-19 NIV)
The Apostle Paul tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always.” And for emphasis he adds, “I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) But this is very difficult to do in the times in which we live where we are used to immediate gratification and often seek emotional highs by which to carry us through life.
As I was doing some painting at our house yesterday, I was listening to worship music on Pandora. There were a number of “live” selections that played and it struck me how many of these songs were led in such a way as to get people charged up. And it worked, as evident by the audience’s response with screams, shouts, and applause.
Of course, we are emotional beings and, obviously, worship should not exclude our emotions. Yet, I see an unhealthy trend here. Too often we base our relationship with the Lord on feelings and circumstances. If we feel great and are excited, we’re good. If life is going the way we want it, we’re good. As a result, this is reflected in our worship music and services. We are drawn to that which makes us feel good and excited. So the worship music is designed to charge us up, and the services as well. Look at many of the “mega” churches, and you will often see this.
What concerns me about this trend is it teaches us that we have to feel good in order to be joyful, whereas the Scriptures never define joy in this way. Rather, joy in the Lord is present regardless of our circumstances and often in spite of how we feel. Paul was in a Roman jail when he wrote to the Philippians. David was facing many deadly enemies when he wrote Psalm 94. Neither of these men was experiencing “feel good” moments when they wrote of the joy of the Lord. Rather, they were finding joy in the Lord in the midst of very trying circumstances.
What the Scriptures teach is that joy comes from the Lord (Galatians 5:22) and is not based on how we presently feel or our present circumstances. We do not need to get emotionally charged up to feel joy. We just need to draw near to the Lord, for His joy is deeper than any of our present circumstances and greater than any fleeting emotions.
Today, know you can have joy in the Lord no matter what you are currently experiencing. For His joy is not tied to your highs and lows. It goes much deeper than that. David and Paul experienced this. You can as well.
© Jim Musser 2015
“Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:12-14 NIV)
Resolutions are as much a part of beginning a new year as a trip to Wal-Mart before school starts in August. So what are yours as we begin a new year? Losing weight and getting into shape? Being a better student, father, mother, husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend? Developing a new skill or hobby?
While these are commendable goals, let me suggest another resolution that I have adopted for 2015 and beyond: Not sinning intentionally. Of course, we all sin. There are the sins that we don’t even recognize we’ve committed—the hidden faults David speaks of to which we are blind. There are also those sins that our limited spiritual maturity has yet to conquer. We know the sin, but in our immaturity we cannot stop ourselves. Like a toddler learning to walk, though we really want to remain upright, sometimes we can’t help but fall down. These sins are easily covered by God’s mercy and grace. God understands and is patient with us.
What David calls “willful sins” are another thing. These are sins when we know what we are about to do is wrong and decide to do it anyway. In other words, our will is fully engaged in doing what we want rather than what God wants. A guy sees a woman walking on the street with a low cut top and ample cleavage. After catching a glimpse of her, he decides to fix his gaze upon her and lustful thoughts fill his mind. A woman in a conversation about a friend decides to add a couple juicy unflattering tidbits about her. In an argument, someone decides to say very hurtful things in order to gain the advantage.
Willful sins are the most blatant and the most ugly because we intentionally choose to disobey the One who loves us the most and has paid the highest price for that love. Yet, His mercy and grace even extends to these as well. But if there is the one sin I long not to commit, it is the one I do intentionally and fully aware of what I am doing.
So as David did, I am praying the Lord will help me not to sin willfully. That when I am thinking about doing something I know to be wrong, I will make the right choice and step away from making the wrong one.
Today, I invite you to join me in this resolution. It is going to be a year where we struggle with sin. Let’s just not let it be one where we do so intentionally. With the Lord’s help we can do it!
© Jim Musser 2015
“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.’” (John 8:23-26 NIV)
Werner and Hannelie Groenewald knew the dangers of going to Afghanistan as Christians working with relief agencies. The Taliban had long made it clear that Christians were their enemies regardless of what they were doing to help the people of the country. The Groenwalds went anyway, leaving their comfortable lives in South Africa and taking their two school-aged children with them, because they felt the call of God on their lives.
Late in November, the Taliban targeted the compound where the Groenwalds were living, shot Werner and the two children, and then a suicide bomber blew up the house, destroying all of its contents. Hannelie, who was several miles away at the medical clinic where she served as a physician, was literally left with the clothes she was wearing. Everything else was gone. A Taliban commander posted, in reference to the murders, that an operation had been successfully conducted “against enemies who hated us.”
While visiting in South Africa last month, we had coffee with a friend who knew and had worked with the Groenewalds in Afghanistan. She and her husband in fact were planning to see them during the Christmas holidays. She told us of meeting up with them at a missions conference in early November and hearing Werner speak. She said his concluding remark was this: You are only going to die once; you may as well die for Jesus.
At the funeral for her family, Hannelie said she had no regrets because they were called by God to go. She said they knew their family was a target, but that they had to be obedient to the Lord’s call and felt much peace doing what they were doing, loving the Afghan people in the name of Jesus. She recalled what her husband had said so prophetically at the missions conference, and said it gave her much comfort knowing that he, her son, and her daughter had died for Jesus.
We live in a dangerous world. Our instinct is to seek safety and comfort. We protect our lives out of fear of losing them, and we teach our children to do the same. Very few Christians anymore seriously consider putting themselves in harm’s way for the sake of the Gospel because we have made protecting our lives the highest priority. Hannelie Groenewald cautioned attendees at the funeral not to go into a dangerous place unless the Lord was calling, but, if He did call as He did she and her husband, then the choice was obvious.
Today, consider these questions: Is the possibility of putting your life in danger for the sake of the Gospel even remotely something you would consider if God called? Would you be willing to follow Him wherever He might lead you? As the Lord says, if we seek to hold onto our lives at all costs, we will ultimately lose them. Since we are all going to die, shouldn’t we be willing to die for Jesus?
© Jim Musser 2015
“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (Deuteronomy 8:11-14 NIV)
During the Christmas Break, I finished reading the New Testament, and, as is my practice, began again reading the Old Testament, starting with Genesis. Many feel the Old Testament is irrelevant to Christians with all its emphasis on laws and regulations, but I continue to find there great truths and very practical guidance.
As I began reading Deuteronomy last week, this passage stood out to me because it reveals a very common human flaw: when things are going well, we tend to forget God and become less dependent on Him. For example, working with college students I see this happen often when students get into romantic relationships. Many prior to finding “the one,” seek the Lord, pray to Him to lead them to “the one,” and then when they find him or her, suddenly their whole worlds become consumed with the relationship. Thoughts of the Lord, time with Him, and serving Him are now crowded out by the love in their hearts for another human being.
My wife and I recently bought a new house after a year’s search. It has everything we wanted and we see ourselves being very content here. And perhaps it is why this passage got my attention. It would be very easy for us to become so focused on our house, fixing it up, decorating it just the way we want, and enjoying living in it to the point that we forget who provided it for us, and that it was provided to us for the purpose of ministry, not just for us to enjoy. And there is the danger that we like it so much that we cling to it, making it a kind of idol that we will be reluctant to give up.
When it comes to the Lord, we have to hold everything else loosely, whether it be someone we love, our job, our home, etc. Nothing can take priority over the Lord. That is why Moses says, “Do not forget the Lord your God.” He has to be number one in our lives. Yet, we are so prone to forget Him or lessen His place in our lives. And, ironically, as with the Israelites, it is often the blessings of the Lord that lead us to forget Him. We get so focused on enjoying the good gifts that we forget the Giver!
However, Moses offers a solution to this problem: obedience. We often assume that obedience follows commitment, but it actually is the other way around. Commitment is the ever-growing fruit of faithful obedience. If we are obedient, our hearts will follow. Thus, if we are being obedient to the Lord in the midst of our daily lives, the good things that come our way will not easily distract us. We will instead be grateful and remember from Whom these blessings come, because our growing commitment to Him will prevent us from allowing our hearts to be wooed by anything else.
Today, consider how you can obey the Lord. Remember that obedience is a matter of the will and commitment is a matter of the heart. If you are willing to be obedient, your heart will follow.
© Jim Musser 2015
