“They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’” (Mark 9:33-35 NIV)
Lately there has been a lot in the news and on social media about what have been dubbed “celebrity pastors.” There is one in Charlotte, NC who has been the focus of several local news organizations because of the 7000+ square foot house he is building. He told his congregation, “it’s not that big of a house.” There is another in Washington State who was accused by the New York Times of hiring a public relations firm to boost sales of his books and having his books ghost-written without attribution. He denied any wrongdoing, but did confess to his congregation of losing sight of his priorities as a pastor.
One of the three temptations Jesus overcame in the desert was to be famous and have undisputed power over the world (Matthew 4:8-10). So it shouldn’t be surprising that the twelve disciples were and modern-day pastors are tempted in the same way—to desire to be viewed as great. Many aspire to lead mega-churches, to have book deals, and to be regulars on the conference speaking circuit. And they will be rewarded with adoring admirers and, often, great wealth. But as with all temptations, it is a trap.
As Jesus told His disciples, trying to be first, trying to be the greatest, is the surest way to find yourself last and the least in the one Kingdom that really matters. And those who have freely accepted the call to be pastors should be the ones demonstrating this truth. And you can find them if you know where to look, but not necessarily on TV screens, book jackets, or on conference stages.
There are pastors in the underground church in China who walk from village to village ministering to small congregations of committed believers for little money. Pastors in India face persecution on a near daily basis as they seek to evangelize and disciple in a Hindu-dominated culture. In South Africa, there are faithful pastors who labor in obscurity reaching out to men working in the gold and platinum mines. And in our own country, there are pastors on Native American reservations, in small towns, in poor neighborhoods in big cities who faithfully and effectively minister in the name of Jesus. You will likely never hear of them in this world because fame and greatness are not what they seek. They seek only to be faithful in serving. But make no mistake, they will be greatly rewarded when it really counts.
Today, in an age where celebrity worship has infiltrated the Church, be on your guard. The pastor (or any Christian leader) who seeks to be known and adored has forgotten his first Love (Revelation 2:4), and has fallen for the same temptation the devil served up to Jesus. For in order to be first in the Kingdom that really matters, you must live in this world as a servant of the only One who is truly great.
© Jim Musser 2014
“Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are ‘out of our mind,’ as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Corinthians 5:11-21 NIV)
The question for the Church has always been, how do we best persuade people to follow Jesus? And the answers have varied over the years. Popular when I was growing up was to scare people with thoughts of eternal condemnation and death. “Turn or burn,” we use to call it. There was also a heavy emphasis on the “end times,” again seeking to persuade people through fear of a final judgment.
Shaming was also a popular tool back then. “Come as you are” was not a concept most churches operated on. To be accepted, you were expected to dress a certain way and act a certain way. Otherwise, stay away until you get your act together.
These approaches still exist in some corners, but have mostly fallen out of favor as unloving and unproductive. Today there is a lot more emphasis on accepting folks where they are and seeking to persuade them Jesus loves them in spite of their sins. This indeed has been a welcome change, but as with so many reactions, it has overshot its mark. No longer is the emphasis on becoming new creations, but rather recognizing your value as a creation of God. There is no need for you to change because God loves you just the way you are.
No doubt this line of persuasion has become very trendy because it works and is pleasing to the ear. But it’s wrong. Being reconciled to God in full requires transformation in our hearts and our lives. We can come just as we are to Jesus, but we can’t remain as we are if we want to accompany Him on the journey to eternal life, because that journey is all about being transformed into His likeness so that we might also become righteous. Simply put, you cannot continue to live and act as you want if you decide to follow Jesus. Once you step onto that path, your life is no longer your own to do as you please (I Corinthians 6:19-20). You have freely given up your rights in order to live in a way that is pleasing to Him.
Today, as you seek to persuade others to follow Jesus or be persuaded yourself, know that Jesus accepts us where we are, but does not want us to remain as we are. Because He loves us, He wants to change us into new creations that look more and more like Him. He does not force anyone to follow Him, but once we make that decision, change is part of the deal.
© Jim Musser 2014
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “’Be holy, because I am holy.’” (I Peter 1:10-16 NIV)
The vast majority of students with whom I’ve worked over the years have been made up of those who have grown up in the church and made commitments of faith long before they arrived on campus. One thing that is fairly consistent about many of them is they can be fairly ho-hum about their faith. It may be Good News, but it seems like old news. They’ve heard about Jesus since they were toddlers and heard the familiar Bible stories over and over. Like a car bought brand new, after a year or so the excitement wears off and it’s just a way to get around.
It’s difficult to stay excited about something old and familiar, whether it be a car, a relationship, or faith. I decided to follow Jesus when I was 19-years-old and I can remember vividly the excitement of that time. But I have to admit, as the years have gone by, there have been times where my walk with the Lord has been more out of routine than love. I have gone through the motions because it is so familiar.
It seems to be the way of things in this life. While familiarity may not always breed contempt, it definitely breeds apathy. Anything—a marriage, a job—with an accumulation of years is prone to create apathy. And this certainly includes our walk with Jesus.
Peter tells us the Old Testament prophets longed to know the mysteries of salvation. Even the angels, he says, would like to know more about it. So great is the salvation we ourselves have received! Yet, it now has become so familiar to many of us that we easily can just be going through the motions. So what to do?
Peter gives us this counsel: “With minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” He goes on to say to live our lives in obedience to the Lord. In this we have our answer: Be intentional and be obedient. Be intentional about your appreciation for what a great gift you have been given and be obedient to the One who gives it.
The greatest clarity and excitement comes when everything is new. It gets harder after that. But what can help us is to continually remember how great and marvelous salvation truly is. We were destined for eternal death, but were granted eternal life because of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. There is nothing ho-hum about that! And we can help keep it that way by living in ways pleasing to the Lord. For by pleasing Him, we will continue to fuel our passion for Him.
© Jim Musser 2014
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)
This morning the landscape is covered with a blanket of snow. Everything is white. The grass, the dirt, the litter along the road—all covered over. If you didn’t know better, just by looking you would think nothing lies beneath.
There is something beautiful in looking out over a snow-covered landscape. Everything is so clean and fresh. This is the image that comes to mind when I read these words of the Lord to Isaiah.
Sin is dirty and ugly. And its stain on our world has proved difficult to remove. Think of all the programs, movements, and legislation in the last 100 years that have tried to reduce crime, eliminate hunger and neglect, and curb injustice. Think of the wars that have been waged to bring about peace. The stain still remains.
We can try various techniques and remedies, but the stain of sin is stubbornly resistant to removal. Most of us resign just to cover it up by good works, denial, or distraction. Out of sight, out of mind. But it’s still there and the implications are eternal.
So what a blessing it is to know there is One who can permanently remove that ugly sin stain, and make us as white and refreshing as new-fallen snow. And not just once but every time we have a spill or take a fall. He is there to remove the stain.
People have tried since the beginning of time to cover over the stain of their sins, using a variety of methods, but all have failed. The truth is we are incapable of doing it. That power resides outside of us in the person of Jesus. Today call on Him and your life can be as clean as the freshly fallen snow.
© Jim Musser 2014
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.’
The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?’ And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” (Acts 8:26-40 NIV)
It happened again last night—a divine appointment. A student believing God wanted her to find a group of Christians on campus stepped into the small conference room in the student union after seeing the sign posted outside. We were there learning together what it looks like to follow Jesus. She was there because the Lord had sent her.
If you search the Scriptures, you will find many divine appointments—those times where it is clear God is directing a certain person to a specific place for a specific reason. In this passage, the Holy Spirit leads Philip to the chariot of an influential Ethiopian official who is struggling to understand the writings of Isaiah in the Old Testament. His heart is open, but he needs some assistance. Philip helps him to understand the prophecy regarding Jesus and explains the Gospel. As a result, the man comes to faith and is baptized. The story ends, but tradition says the official returned to Ethiopia and proclaimed the Gospel, thereby becoming the first missionary to Africa.
I have seen many divine appointments in my life. Years ago, a young man struggling with cancer and the meaning of life heard music coming from a house on the edge of campus and came through the door to find students playing worship music and what he had been searching for. Another time, a student was driving through town, missed his turn, and passed a Christian bookstore. He didn’t know why at the time, but he decided to go in and clerk asked him if he needed a Bible. He left with a new Bible, headed up into the mountains, and began to read. He has been following Jesus ever since.
So when this young woman came into the room last night, I knew it was a divine appointment. She was there for reasons only known to the Lord, but I can guess it was to find something for which she had long been searching.
Often we may feel as if God is distant and detached from our lives, but, in reality, He is more engaged than you could imagine. When we are in need, He even orders our steps to lead us to those who can help us. Or, when others are in need, to lead them to us so we might help them.
Today, be on the lookout for divine appointments. You just never know when the Lord will direct someone to cross your path and the impact it can have when you allow Him to use you.
© Jim Musser 2014
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:17-20 NIV)
We pick this up in the middle of the story. The younger son had demanded his share of the inheritance from his father long before he was dead, had taken the money and squandered it all on lavish living, and now he was broke. Having come to his senses and realizing the desperateness of his situation, he decides to go back home. Smartly, he decides to make no claims on his old room. He will gladly sleep out back with the servants.
When we come to the realization we have messed up, we instinctively know our unworthiness before God. Like Adam and Eve in the garden, we feel the shame. It is what we do with that shame that makes the difference.
The Enemy will seek to reinforce our shame. He will try to convince us we have truly blown it and now there is no going home. If we try, there will be no warm greeting, only a stern lecture and a room out back. And we would expect nothing else because that’s the way it should be. Actions have consequences. If we screw up, we deserve what we get.
That’s the Enemy’s view anyway, and, probably, yours as well. It’s what makes sense and is fair. But it’s also hopeless. No chance for redemption. No chance of ever returning to the family. As my mom used to say, “You made your bed; now sleep in it.”
I know, and have known, students who come to college and decide to go their own way. Like the son in this story, they grew tired of living under what they perceived as the constraints of the Christian life. They wanted to be free to live as they please and they have. But there always comes a point where they have (or will) come to their senses and realize they have wasted their inheritance. They are filled with shame and regret, and, likely, hopelessness. They made their bed; now they get to sleep in it.
Yet, this is why Jesus told the story—to give hope to those who have messed up. You can go home again! Your Heavenly Father anxiously awaits your return. No lecture is waiting, only a warm embrace. You won’t have to endure the second-class status of a household servant. You will be welcomed back as a member of the family.
Today, know Jesus has made it possible to return home to the Heavenly Father no matter how badly you have messed up.
© Jim Musser 2014
“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:11-15 NIV)
For over 20 years, I lived just down the Kansas Turnpike from Fred Phelps, the infamous “pastor” of the Westboro “Baptist” “Church.” Mr. Phelps died yesterday to the great relief of so many who had been the targets of the hate-filled protests he led. I had a front-row seat to several of those—at the church I attended, at a Girl Scout convention, and on the campus of the University of Kansas.
From the get-go of the protests, there was no doubt Mr. Phelps was not a pastor nor a Baptist, and the group of 20-30 family members he assembled certainly was not a church, at least to anyone with some knowledge of the Scriptures. Yet, because of the outrageous slogans and signs (e.g., “God Hates Fags!”), along with the audacity of holding their protests at funerals, Mr. Phelps and his family became symbols for the world of the intolerance and hatred it believed were at the heart of the teachings of the Church. Yet, as so often happens in the media and the world at large, they failed to understand how Mr. Phelps had grossly misinterpreted the Old Testament, as well as his total ignorance of the New Testament. Taken together, they formed an impression of Christianity totally divorced from biblical reality.
As Paul writes in Galatians 3, the intent of Old Covenant (the Jewish Law) was to lead us to Jesus because He is the only One who can save us from condemnation. With only the Law existing, we are condemned because no one can perfectly keep it. One screw-up and you’re toast! This is why the Hebrew writer spends much of his letter writing about the superiority of the New Covenant, which took effect upon Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Law was replaced by Grace. No longer are we who follow Jesus judged by the many tenets of the Law, but rather we are the recipients of His grace if we submit our lives to His Lordship. “Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) Sadly, Mr. Phelps was unfamiliar with Hebrews or Romans, and his false teachings have led many others to believe Christians are more about condemnation than grace.
Today, if you have been embarrassed, or even ashamed, by the legacy of Fred Phelps, don’t be. He represented only his warped views and, basically, only his family ever believed what he was saying. Only in the minds of those ignorant of biblical teaching did he represent God or the Church. The best way to counter the Phelps legacy is to proclaim what the Scriptures actually say and live accordingly.
© Jim Musser 2014
