Yesterday was my birthday. And it looked nothing like I had planned it to look, by no choice of my own.
If I'm honest, I was dreading yesterday. Time away, a visit from a friend, a chance to celebrate . . . all of these were taken away from me due to the current situation in our world. And I wasn't feeling much like celebrating.
I wanted to hide from the world. But, at the same time, I'm also tired of hiding away. All I wanted was for things to be normal and to be able to celebrate with my friends.
It would have been easy to stay stuck in the things I was missing that I wanted. In the things I couldn't do that I had been planning. And that would have made for a long and depressing day.
When I arrived at work yesterday morning and said hi to a coworker, I realized that I still had a choice. Instead of staying stuck in what wasn't, I could choose to look for the good. That coworker turned and very cheerfully wished me a happy birthday. Although it couldn't come with the hug it would have in other years, she reminded me that there was still reason to celebrate.
I wasn't expecting blessings in my birthday in the midst of all the current reality. But, as the day went on, I realized that's exactly what God had in mind.
A favourite coffee delivered. Coworkers finding a way to surprise and celebrate together when we have to keep space between us. Lunch brought to me. Supper made. A favourite cake. Cards from those I love. Facebook messages and texts from friends.
Unexpected blessings in a day I could have easily missed it all. A reminder of where I need to focus. I went into the day seeing only what I had lost, what had been taken away from me.
But, I was reminded to look up. To see what God wanted to show me in the middle of challenge. To see the unexpected blessings God provides.
Can I challenge you to look up? Look for the unexpected blessings God wants to bring your way. Open your eyes to see what God has in store in your day.
I don't always do this well. I forgot this same thing today, and I'm sure I missed things because of it. But, as I write this, I'm challenged again to pay attention and see what God is up to in my day.
Showing posts with label generosity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label generosity. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
What about Social Justice?
Is social justice part of the gospel?
Should the church care about it?
I've watched with interest over the last few weeks that debate that has begun about the role of social justice and the gospel that we, as the church, should be preaching.
The debate began with a statement from some well-known Christian leaders and scholars saying they didn't believe that social justice was a part of the gospel that the church should be proclaiming. Shortly after this statement was published, other Christian leaders and scholars began to talk about how the gospel is incomplete without social justice (here and here).
There are wise and godly men and women on both sides of this debate. People whose thoughts and writing I turn to when I'm wrestling with an issue myself - to help me think it through and form my thoughts based on Scripture. I've spent time reading the arguments on both sides of the debate. And I went back to Scripture to see what it says.
Ultimately, it's God's Word where my understanding needs to come from. As I was studying Scripture on this topic - Jesus' words and actions while He was walking on this planet and at how the early church lived their faith - I came to what seems to me to be the conclusion that makes the most sense to me.
What we often call social justice today is absolutely a vital part of the gospel. If the gospel we're preaching doesn't include this, or even intentionally ignores it, then we're presenting an incomplete gospel to those we're trying to reach.
If this is true, then the church should be at the forefront of these issues in our society.
Not as a political force.
Not in the same way that our world might tell us social justice should look.
But as the hands and feet of Jesus doing the work.
These days the term social justice can divisive. There's more than one definition people throw around for it. I want to be clear on what I'm saying, so before I go any further, I'm going to explain what I mean when I use it.
For the purposes of the rest of this post, social justice is about being involved in caring for, providing dignity, and providing opportunity for those who are commonly seen as less than in our society - whether because of homelessness, addiction, mental health struggles, poverty,r ace, sexuality, or any other way we separate people into groups. It' snot about taking away from one person or group to give it to another. It's about opportunity and removing barriers for people - through education, support, etc. It's about loving and caring for those in our society who need help.
When I look at Jesus' teaching in Scripture, I see a focus on helping the poor and caring for those seen as less than in His day. Jesus treated every person He encountered with dignity and love - whether lepers (Luke 10:11-19), or the woman who was unclean because she had been bleeding for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34), or the Samaritian woman at the well (John 4:1-26).
All of these examples are of people Jesus' society would have said He could ignore and treat poorly, but Jesus didn't do that. He gave them His time, His attention, His healing.
In Matthew 25, Jesus speaks this clearly on this:
We also see the early church was involved for caring for the poor among them and in their communities. Wee it described in Acts 4:34-35. In Galatians 2:10, we see a conversation between Paul and the apostles that placed and importance on caring for the poor.
Finally in James 1:27 we have the clearest words on this:
I see no way around it. Social justice is a vital part of the message of the gospel the church is to be proclaiming to a broken and hurting world. We cannot separate the two.
We may all have different ways we're involved in this based on how God has created us. But, we have no excuse not to get involved.
If you're still reading, I realize I probably stepped on your toes a bit with this. I know studying this stepped on my own toes too. But, I think this is too important an issue to just stay quiet on. Sometimes we need to face the uncomfortable truths we say we believe and see if our actions match them. Whether you agree with me or not, we have to wrestle with this and figure out what it looks like for our lives.
Should the church care about it?
I've watched with interest over the last few weeks that debate that has begun about the role of social justice and the gospel that we, as the church, should be preaching.
The debate began with a statement from some well-known Christian leaders and scholars saying they didn't believe that social justice was a part of the gospel that the church should be proclaiming. Shortly after this statement was published, other Christian leaders and scholars began to talk about how the gospel is incomplete without social justice (here and here).
There are wise and godly men and women on both sides of this debate. People whose thoughts and writing I turn to when I'm wrestling with an issue myself - to help me think it through and form my thoughts based on Scripture. I've spent time reading the arguments on both sides of the debate. And I went back to Scripture to see what it says.
Ultimately, it's God's Word where my understanding needs to come from. As I was studying Scripture on this topic - Jesus' words and actions while He was walking on this planet and at how the early church lived their faith - I came to what seems to me to be the conclusion that makes the most sense to me.
What we often call social justice today is absolutely a vital part of the gospel. If the gospel we're preaching doesn't include this, or even intentionally ignores it, then we're presenting an incomplete gospel to those we're trying to reach.
If this is true, then the church should be at the forefront of these issues in our society.
Not as a political force.
Not in the same way that our world might tell us social justice should look.
But as the hands and feet of Jesus doing the work.
These days the term social justice can divisive. There's more than one definition people throw around for it. I want to be clear on what I'm saying, so before I go any further, I'm going to explain what I mean when I use it.
For the purposes of the rest of this post, social justice is about being involved in caring for, providing dignity, and providing opportunity for those who are commonly seen as less than in our society - whether because of homelessness, addiction, mental health struggles, poverty,r ace, sexuality, or any other way we separate people into groups. It' snot about taking away from one person or group to give it to another. It's about opportunity and removing barriers for people - through education, support, etc. It's about loving and caring for those in our society who need help.
When I look at Jesus' teaching in Scripture, I see a focus on helping the poor and caring for those seen as less than in His day. Jesus treated every person He encountered with dignity and love - whether lepers (Luke 10:11-19), or the woman who was unclean because she had been bleeding for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34), or the Samaritian woman at the well (John 4:1-26).
All of these examples are of people Jesus' society would have said He could ignore and treat poorly, but Jesus didn't do that. He gave them His time, His attention, His healing.
In Matthew 25, Jesus speaks this clearly on this:
"Then the righteous will answer him: Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?I'm not sure where it could be more clear that we need to be involved in these things.
The King will reply: Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:37-40)
We also see the early church was involved for caring for the poor among them and in their communities. Wee it described in Acts 4:34-35. In Galatians 2:10, we see a conversation between Paul and the apostles that placed and importance on caring for the poor.
Finally in James 1:27 we have the clearest words on this:
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."Two things listed that God is looking for in us, and the first is about caring for the poor and defenseless in society.
I see no way around it. Social justice is a vital part of the message of the gospel the church is to be proclaiming to a broken and hurting world. We cannot separate the two.
We may all have different ways we're involved in this based on how God has created us. But, we have no excuse not to get involved.
If you're still reading, I realize I probably stepped on your toes a bit with this. I know studying this stepped on my own toes too. But, I think this is too important an issue to just stay quiet on. Sometimes we need to face the uncomfortable truths we say we believe and see if our actions match them. Whether you agree with me or not, we have to wrestle with this and figure out what it looks like for our lives.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
A New Name
What is your name?
What are you called by those who know you?
What is the name others would be introduced to you by?
Isaiah 62 is an intriguing chapter to me. It's all about names and about God changing the name His people are known by. Isaiah 62:2 says, ". . . you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow." The same chapter ends with words declaring what God's people would now be called:
As I read and reflected on this chapter, I was struck by the power of names - the names we believe about ourselves, the names others call us, the names God gives us. What we're called really matters. It can change everything.
The power of names is so evident in our society. People regularly live up to or down to the names they've been called, by themselves or others. People can be completely destroyed by the names they're called,. People can also be lifted up by the names they're called.
We need to pay attention to the names we believe about ourselves. They may be names we gave ourselves or names that others gave us. But, these can become a part of how we live and act and talk, so we have to pay attention.
When we discover names that are destructive to us, names that are not in line with God's names for us, we need to ask for His truth to replace that. We need to take those lies to God so He can speak the truth over us. God wants to give us names that speak to the reason why He has placed us here, that speak to who He see us as. As we allow Him to speak these names over us, they become what we live and that changes everything. That's how powerful names are in our lives.
Revelation 2:17 says:
Reading these words to the church in Pergamum seems to also speak well to the church today, we need to heed the same call. We're also told that our faithfulness to God will be rewarded. We will have in intimate relationship with God where He teaches us ("gives us some of the hidden manna" Revelation 2:16) and where we receive a new name. A name that speaks to who God created us to be and what He created us to do.
This is the same thing God was promising to Israel in Isaiah 62. When they turned to Him, He would give them a new name that spoke God's truth over them.
What are the names you've been believing about yourself that are lies that you need to allow God to replace with His truth?
What is the name God has given you?
What are you called by those who know you?
What is the name others would be introduced to you by?
Isaiah 62 is an intriguing chapter to me. It's all about names and about God changing the name His people are known by. Isaiah 62:2 says, ". . . you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow." The same chapter ends with words declaring what God's people would now be called:
"They will be called the Holy People,
the Redeemed of the Lord;
and you will be called Sought After,
the City no Longer Deserted."
As I read and reflected on this chapter, I was struck by the power of names - the names we believe about ourselves, the names others call us, the names God gives us. What we're called really matters. It can change everything.
The power of names is so evident in our society. People regularly live up to or down to the names they've been called, by themselves or others. People can be completely destroyed by the names they're called,. People can also be lifted up by the names they're called.
We need to pay attention to the names we believe about ourselves. They may be names we gave ourselves or names that others gave us. But, these can become a part of how we live and act and talk, so we have to pay attention.
When we discover names that are destructive to us, names that are not in line with God's names for us, we need to ask for His truth to replace that. We need to take those lies to God so He can speak the truth over us. God wants to give us names that speak to the reason why He has placed us here, that speak to who He see us as. As we allow Him to speak these names over us, they become what we live and that changes everything. That's how powerful names are in our lives.
Revelation 2:17 says:
"I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it."This is the ending to the letter to the church in Pergamum in the letters to the seven churches that begin Revelation. This church was commended for not falling to the culture around them that was full of evil. But, they still had allowed some false teaching to enter their lives and were being called to turn back to the truth. These words are the encouragement to those who stand firm and are victorious.
Reading these words to the church in Pergamum seems to also speak well to the church today, we need to heed the same call. We're also told that our faithfulness to God will be rewarded. We will have in intimate relationship with God where He teaches us ("gives us some of the hidden manna" Revelation 2:16) and where we receive a new name. A name that speaks to who God created us to be and what He created us to do.
This is the same thing God was promising to Israel in Isaiah 62. When they turned to Him, He would give them a new name that spoke God's truth over them.
What are the names you've been believing about yourself that are lies that you need to allow God to replace with His truth?
What is the name God has given you?
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Generosity in Giving
The subject of giving our money can be a touchy one. We don't like it when other people talk to us about our money - especially if we didn't ask them first. I don't like it, so I've usually avoided the topic on my blog. But for the last week or so, I haven't been able to shake this post. It just keeps coming when I sit down to write.
In 2 Corinthians 8 & 9, Paul talks about giving money. He was writing to the church in Corinth about a collection for the poor of the church of Jerusalem specifically. Paul commends the church for their willingness to give out of what they had to help others - even when they didn't have a lot themselves.
Now that we have the context for this writing, there are a couple of verses specifically speaking to generosity that have stuck with me.
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Paul was reminding his readers of the importance of generosity in their giving. He wasn't telling them there was a certain amount they had to give, but was encouraging them to be generous.
Generosity was a value Paul was emphasizing to his readers. He reminded them of a very simple truth about the results of giving generously or giving sparingly. Generous giving results in generosity from God in our own lives. This generosity from God is not promised to be in terms of earthly wealth - Paul is speaking of a spiritual reward here. But when we choose to be generous with what we have on earth, God is generous with us.
These two chapters in 2 Corinthians are not the only place where Scripture talks about giving to God for use in furthering His kingdom. But they are the two where I've been spending my time recently. And they have challenged me in the area of generosity in my life.
Am I being generous with what God has given me?
Are you being generous with what God has given you?
In 2 Corinthians 8 & 9, Paul talks about giving money. He was writing to the church in Corinth about a collection for the poor of the church of Jerusalem specifically. Paul commends the church for their willingness to give out of what they had to help others - even when they didn't have a lot themselves.
Now that we have the context for this writing, there are a couple of verses specifically speaking to generosity that have stuck with me.
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Paul was reminding his readers of the importance of generosity in their giving. He wasn't telling them there was a certain amount they had to give, but was encouraging them to be generous.
Generosity was a value Paul was emphasizing to his readers. He reminded them of a very simple truth about the results of giving generously or giving sparingly. Generous giving results in generosity from God in our own lives. This generosity from God is not promised to be in terms of earthly wealth - Paul is speaking of a spiritual reward here. But when we choose to be generous with what we have on earth, God is generous with us.
These two chapters in 2 Corinthians are not the only place where Scripture talks about giving to God for use in furthering His kingdom. But they are the two where I've been spending my time recently. And they have challenged me in the area of generosity in my life.
Am I being generous with what God has given me?
Are you being generous with what God has given you?
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Giving What You Have
Acts 3:1-10 is an account of Peter and John healing a man who had been crippled form birth. The healing in itself is a great thing. But, when I was reading it, I was struck by something different from it.
In verse 6, in response to the beggar's request for money, Peter says these words, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
Peter knew what he didn't have, but he also knew what he did have. And he gave what he had to give to this man.
This led to realization about my own life as a follower of Christ. God doesn't ask me to give what I don't have to give. He doesn't ask you to either.
This doesn't mean we won't be asked to give sacrificially. Or beyond what we, in our human strength, think we're able to give.
But, whatever we are asked to give, it will be what God knows we have to give. Even if we don't think we have it.
In this account in Acts 3, Peter and John didn't have money to give to the beggar. But they didn't let that stop them from giving him something. They gave him healing, because they knew they could give him that.
It started me thinking about how I respond in times when what I'm asked for is something I know I don't have to give. Do I back away thinking I have nothing to give? Or do I look for other things that I have to give that can help in the situation?
And about those situations where, in my humanity, I don't feel like I have the ability to give what God is asking me to give. Will I trust that if God is asking me to give it, it's because He knows that in Him I do have it to give?
What about you?
In verse 6, in response to the beggar's request for money, Peter says these words, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
Peter knew what he didn't have, but he also knew what he did have. And he gave what he had to give to this man.
This led to realization about my own life as a follower of Christ. God doesn't ask me to give what I don't have to give. He doesn't ask you to either.
This doesn't mean we won't be asked to give sacrificially. Or beyond what we, in our human strength, think we're able to give.
But, whatever we are asked to give, it will be what God knows we have to give. Even if we don't think we have it.
In this account in Acts 3, Peter and John didn't have money to give to the beggar. But they didn't let that stop them from giving him something. They gave him healing, because they knew they could give him that.
It started me thinking about how I respond in times when what I'm asked for is something I know I don't have to give. Do I back away thinking I have nothing to give? Or do I look for other things that I have to give that can help in the situation?
And about those situations where, in my humanity, I don't feel like I have the ability to give what God is asking me to give. Will I trust that if God is asking me to give it, it's because He knows that in Him I do have it to give?
What about you?
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
What Do You Have?
". . . but what I do have I give you." (Acts 6:3)
In Acts 3, Peter and John are greeted by a lame beggar at the Temple gate. The beggar had been carried there and is asking for alms - for money. The makes the request to everyone who passes by, including Peter and John. Since they have no money to give to him, they give him what they do have instead.
In Acts 3:6-7 Peter says these words, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Probably the last thing the man was expecting. He was healed and walked from that place he had been carried to every day.
I was listening to a message on this passage of Scripture a couple of days ago and those few words from verse 6 jumped out at me.
". . . but what I do have I give you."
The speaker I was listening to made the point that we can only give to other people what we actually have to give. The same as Peter and John did here.
We can only give what we have to those around us - whether materially or spiritually. If we don't have it ourselves, there is no way for us to pass it on to another person.
It's most obvious in the physical realm. It we don't have the money, we can't give it to someone else. If we don't have food, we can't give it to someone else.
It's when it comes to spiritual things that it can become more difficult to see how this looks. If we don't have a confidence in who we are in Christ, we can't give it to someone else. Probably, the biggest one I've learned with this blog is that if I haven't started the journey of learning what I write about for myself, I will struggle to communicate to others.
The good news in all of this is that God doesn't ask us to give we don't have. He only asks us to give what we have.
". . . but what I do have I give you."
What do you have to give?
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