It Sounds Like a Joke

You never know who you are going to meet on the first tee.

At least that is true when you play at public courses and you show up by yourself. Some people don’t like having to play with strangers; I think it’s a great way to meet all kinds of people, like the guy I met last Friday.

The temperature was in the low 40’s, the sky was gray, dampness hung in the air and it was windy. It was a perfect day for golf!

I went into the pro shop and paid my fee. The lady behind the counter asked if I minded being paired with another single player who was only going to play nine holes. “No problem,” I said.

I made my way to the first tee and there he was. He was about my age, shorter, dressed warmly for the elements. He introduced himself and eagerly offered his hand. “My name is Majik,” he said with a Middle Eastern accent. “I’m Peter,” I said. The next words out of his mouth before we had even hit one shot were, “Peter, what do you do for a profession?”

It is a common question, especially for men. I always get a little lump in my throat because I find that when I disclose my profession it changes all the relational dynamics. Clergy people creep some people out!

“I am a pastor of a church,” I told Majik. Without hesitation, he said, “I am not a Catholic. I am a Muslim, but I am not a very good Muslim.”

“I am not Catholic, either,” I said, “I am a Protestant. And I am not a very good protestant either.”

So off we went, chasing our balls down the fairway. Our conversation covered lots of ground. Some of it was about golf. He doesn’t play very much and I was able to give him a few pointers. But the rest of it was a meandering conversation covering a vast array of topics from religion, to education, to The Hunger Games.

He is a doctor with who specializes in arthritis and has a practice in the Southern suburbs. He and his wife immigrated to the U.S. from Iran in the 1970s. He is an American citizen now and very proud of it.

He peppered me with questions about religion. He was genuinely curious. I was trying to explain to him about being Protestant, and denominations, and our denomination in particular. The more we talked the more I realized how crazy it all sounded, and how difficult it must be to grasp. One faith, Christianity, divided up into hundreds of groups from Catholic, to Orthodox, to Protestant and the hundreds of denominations.

I felt a little sheepish. Not because I was embarrassed about my faith, but because of how church history has unfolded and how we continue to divide ourselves over mostly inconsequential matters. I mean, let’s be honest, try to make sense out of why a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands need two, (or more) denominations. Try to explain to someone who knows little about Christianity, why there is a Reformed Church in America and a Christian Reformed Church.

Majik was curious and gracious. I am not sure he really understood all the nuances we have created within Christianity. I am not sure I really understand them all myself. The more I tried to explain, the more it sounded absurd. We have made a mess of what should be simple and easy.

SIMPLE VERSION:

“We are sinners, but God loves us anyway. He loves us so much he saved us from ourselves by sacrificing His Son on the cross      on our behalf that we might be one with Him through Jesus, who defeated death through His resurrection. Because He died, we can be one with God now and forever!”

 When we finished playing nine holes, Majik said, “Mind if I continue to play with you on the back nine. I am enjoying myself!”

We finished 18 holes, a Christian pastor and a Muslim doctor, who met on the first tee. (It sounds like the beginning of a joke.)

As we departed Majik said, “I really enjoyed playing with you today. But I enjoyed your company and our conversation more. You are a nice man! Where is your church again?”

I told Majik where our church was located and invited him to stop in some Sunday. “I might do that,” he said. “I told you I wasn’t a very good Muslim.”

You never know who you are going to meet on the first tee.

Unintended Consequences

“For every sermon that you preach, there are three or four you have to choose not to preach.” So goes an old preaching adage. The point being that many scripture passages lend themselves to all sorts of teaching we could do, but you should focus on one topic with a laser beam focus and save the rest for another day.

         

It is an adage too many of those of us in the trade ignore. We feel it is our responsibility to give everyone a drink from a fire hose every Sunday. However, if you know you are ADD, like me, it is better to focus on one topic because you will create enough of your own rabbit trails as it is!

         

So it was last Sunday when I was teaching from I Corinthians 11:17-34 where Paul critiques the church in Corinth about their worship services and in particular their celebration of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Paul’s major concern is that a dichotomy in the church has been developed between rich and poor. The rich were getting to house church early and eating all the food and over serving themselves on the wine, and when the poor showed up there was nothing left. Boorish behavior by any social standards; but in the church, it served to create second class citizens and divisions, an “us against them” mentality, which Paul found completely unacceptable.

         

There is a verse in this teaching which is usually ignored. “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.” (I Cor. 11:29-30)

         

An unintended consequence of the poor worship habits of the church in Corinth was physical illness and death. Huh?

         

My guess is the Corinthians hadn’t given the consequences of their behavior any thought whatsoever. In fact, apparently, until Paul pointed it out, they didn’t think their divisive attitudes in worship were anything to be concerned about at all.

         

We have a hard time with these consequences. Really, God would allow some people to be ill and others die because of disobedience in the church? Apparently, yes!

         

All parents teach their kids about consequences out of love. “Don’t play in the street, the consequence might be horrible injury.” “Don’t touch the stove, you’ll burn yourself.” “Be careful what you post on Facebook, it could really hurt your reputation or relationships.”

         

The Bible is clear about disobedience having consequences. Wandering in the wilderness for 40 years was a consequence of Israel’s lack of faith. Being held captive by foreign nations as slaves was a consequence of their turning their back on God.

         

In Corinth, people were ill and some died because of their lack of unity. It makes you wonder how individual disobedience is negatively impacting church life in our congregations. Is my failure to tithe the reason we are not successful at evangelism? Is my hostility to others in our congregation the cause of our church financial plight? Is my grumbling and complaining the reason our spiritual vitality is lacking?

         

We live in such an individualized culture that we rarely think about how our disobedience may impact the lives of an entire congregation. But, it is clear that disobedience has consequences, individually and corporately.

I better spend some time doing some soul searching not just for my sake, but for the sake of the body of Christ.

Post Easter Malaise

There is a dramatic shift.

Last week there was a bevy of activity. Extra services, numerous rehearsals and preparations, groups in and out all week long. This week everything has gone back to normal, only with a little less energy than usual. Those in vocational ministry and volunteers are dragging a little. Holy Week was a heavy burden, ending with spectacularly beautiful and joyful services on Easter Sunday.

         

The extra activity and the huge buildup and excitement that come with Easter, leave us a bit sluggish the next week. We are drained, weary, and a bit spent.

         

For people outside of vocational ministry, Monday meant the return to our regular routine of school, or work, or whatever our regular routine might be. Holy Week and Easter are in the rear view mirror. It is time to press on.

         

It makes me wonder; did any of it make any difference? Did all the effort, the creativity, the rehearsal of the events of the last week of Jesus’ life, the decorations, the fanfare...did any of it make any difference, or were they just traditions that we follow, rituals we perform, nods to the holiday, and then we return to normal.

         

In some ways, our post Holy Week activities and attitudes mirror those of the first post-Easter week. Some followers left Jerusalem and headed for home on the first Easter distressed and depressed over what had taken place. They were returning to their homes full of despair because their hopes had been crushed and their dreams trampled.

         

Other faithful followers of Jesus huddled in a secret room with the door locked because they were afraid. Their leader had been crucified, and if the Jews would do that to Him, there was a possibility it could happen to them.

         

Some grieved their loss and were completely consumed with mourning. The week after Easter, they were exhausted, depressed, and faced a return to normal.

         

Some of them had heard about the possibility of a resurrection, but they were skeptical; they needed proof. And it came.

         

The resurrected Jesus appeared to the two who were on the road to Emmaus.

         

The resurrected Jesus broke into the room where the disciples were locked in fear.

         

The resurrected Jesus eventually took away the depression, grief and mourning.

         

It didn’t happen immediately. It took some time.

         

As the week has progressed our spirits have picked up at church. Our energy has returned, our excitement for the next opportunity to acknowledge and worship a risen Savior is building for Sunday, and our enthusiasm for ministry is being rejuvenated.

         

Some people who have returned to their regular schedule can testify to “God Moments”; situations and circumstances where we have seen the work of God and His Spirit.

         

Some people have experienced a glimmer of hope in very dark circumstances.

         

I will be officiating at a funeral on Saturday morning. A long time acquaintance passed away on Easter Sunday. I have spent some time grieving with the family and I have spent some time living in the hope and comfort that the resurrection brings them.

         

Hopefully you have been reminded of God’s mercy, grace and love that we celebrated last week in your living this week!

A Hope Fan

I’m a Hope fan.

         

For those of you who know me, even casually, you are probably going, “Duh!”

         

A graduate of Hope College, an employee for 8 years, a member of the Board of Trustees for 24 years. I am a Hope fan.

         

But that isn’t what I am writing about. I am a hope fan; the kind of hope that this week is built upon; the hope that we possess because of Easter; Christ’s resurrection.

         

We battle a lot of enemies in life: physical ailments, emotional turmoil, relational challenges, economic stress and personal demons that haunt us for a variety of reasons. It would be easy to be discouraged, to grow worried and to give up. But for those who claim Christ as Lord and Savior, there is always hope. Jesus defeated our most intimidating and feared enemy...death. If Jesus conquered death on our behalf, what is it that you and I cannot overcome?

         

I am a glass half full person; an optimist. I always think things can get better, that we will figure out a way, that whatever hurdle, or barrier, or momentary affliction we may encounter can be overcome.

         

Some people would say it is a personality trait. Others would attribute it to my competitive nature. I would say it stems from my firm belief that Christ can overcome anything!

         

I also know that there are situations and circumstances where hope is crushed. I have sat at the bedside of people who are dying and their relatives are grieving; I have been with parents who have lost a child; I have listened as people have described spouses who are impossible to live with; I have tried to comfort those who are despondent because they have lost their jobs, or because one of their children is addicted to drugs, or suffers from severe mental illness.

         

In these moments we are not ready to hear about hope; hope is a distant companion, pushed to the periphery of life. At the same time, we need to have hope in our arsenal. It needs to be something we can call on when we are ready, otherwise we give in to constant despair which turns into anger and bitterness.

         

The hope of Easter is the hope that puts things in perspective.

         

“...we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:16-18)

         

We are only visiting here. We have an eternal home. No matter what we face here, we do not lose heart. We do not get discouraged. We always have hope.

         

Robbie Seay expressed this truth in the lyrics of one of his songs, Song of Hope:

         

          All things bright and beautiful You are

          All things wise and wonderful You are

          In my darkest night, You brighten up the skies

          A song will rise

          I will sing a song of hope

          Sing along

          God of heaven come down

          Heaven come down

          Just to know that You are near is enough

          God of heaven come down, heaven come down

          All things new

          I can start again

          Creator, God

          Calling me your friend

          Sing praise, my soul

          To the maker of the skies

          A song will rise

         

Hopefully, Sunday you will find a place to worship the author of the hope within us and join me in being a Hope fan!

         

Happy Easter!