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Freedom & Peace
Ahh, the end of Camp. Bittersweet. Bitter because I hate to see a season end with all the joy that the ministry brings. Sweet because we are tired and worn out and need a break. Last night when I finally got home, I felt a great sense of lightness. I felt like I could float into the air with the absence of the weight of camp. On the other hand I miss the campers and the staff and feel bad as I hear about the struggles that some of them are already encountering.
All this today got me thinking about freedom and peace. As I watch the lives of people, especially as they reveal themselves on Facebook, I see so many people whose lives are not characterized by much peace or a sense of freedom. This is too bad, especially when those people are Christians. I think there are a couple of major reasons why we don't experience peace and freedom. First, we don't understand what they really are in Biblical terms.
Freedom in the Bible is the absence of negative bondage. The Bible tells us that Christians are free from death, free from sin. We no longer have to live controlled by those things. Peace is the security of mind and heart that comes from trust in Christ.
Too often we think of freedom as the absence of any restraint and peace as the absence of any trouble. This is not the case. Often God's people have been imprisoned, even tortured. They have suffered hardship and persecution. Christians can suffer from disease, accident, or any of the other things that plague our world today. Jesus said in John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." This verse was really driven home to me this summer. Notice what Jesus says, we will have tribulation or trouble but He gives us peace. Peace and the freedom of Christ comes no matter what we are going through. We can have terrible times that are hard and hurt, but we can still have peace. Peace and freedom come when we are focused on Christ, His work in us, and our standing with Him.
I may find myself facing hard times, difficult and even painful situations. How well I cling to Christ and allow Him to live in me and I in Him will be evident by the amount of peace you see me reflect.
Interesting Article
Here is an interesting article about pastors, time off, boundaries, families, etc.
For the record, I think BCBC does a good job of taking care of its pastors. I am looking forward to vacation in August with my family. It is always very refreshing and renewing. I am thankful that the deacons not only support this but encourage me to take the time to get recharged. I am working to make sure that Nate takes the time he needs as well to take good care of his family ahead of the church. Too many pastors put the church ahead of family.
Leaving Christianity
Ok, I agree with Anne Rice as I disagree with her.
She has declared that she is leaving Christianity. The reasons she gives is that she "refuses to be “anti-gay,” “anti-feminist," “anti-science” and “anti-Democrat." So I have to disagree with her on all these three points at least to a point. While there are Christians who are "anti-gay" in an inappropriate way, the point is simply to follow Christ in all areas which includes the Bible's teaching on sexuality. This goes with "anti-feminist" as well. There are some churches or Christians who have distorted the Bible's teaching on the gender roles, but that does not change that in Christ there is no male or female. All are equal before God but equal does not mean identical roles. "Anti-science" drives me crazy. I am very pro-science, just anti-bad science. So much of what passes for science is an ideology trying to be proved, not true science. Finally, "anti-Democrat." I find that interesting since there are Democrats that go to our church.
So I disagree with her on her need to leave Christianity. Here is what she said that I agree with. "But following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been or might become.” I can agree with that. There are "followers of Christ" who I would not follow because I feel they don't truly represent Him. Christ is important.
Again, though, I must say that I feel Anne Rice has missed the point of Christ. Some create Christ in their own image instead of seeing the god/man. Jesus was a man of love and acceptance, but not without repentance and dealing with sin. He was not always tolerant in the way our world thinks of it today. We must fall in love with Christ as He is, not as we would make Him be.
Discipline Not Joyful
My kids do not enjoy it when they need to be disciplined. Most of the time this discipline is in the form of consequences for their actions. They fool around at the dinner table so they don't get dessert. They take too long getting ready for bed so they don't get a bedtime story. Often when we have to discipline in this way, they get upset and they tend to blame their mom and I for their unhappiness. My older son is very apt to say, "You aren't being nice to me!"
The Bible describes this reaction as it says, "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful." That's for sure. But that doesn't mean that it is a bad thing. Sometimes we need correction because we are wrong. However, pride starts early and we don't like to admit that we are wrong, even to ourselves.
I have watched the behavior I've seen in my kids manifest itself with adults too. Sometimes it is necessary for church leadership to bring discipline to bear. This is usually because someone is refusing to deal with something or accept their role in a problem. As with my kids, church discipline is not about punishment as much as allowing or creating consequences to help demonstrate that behavior needs to change. For those who are teachable, this can be a very positive thing, even if it is sorrowful. Often though, I hear the same phrase as I get from my son, "you aren't being nice to me!'
Tough love is just that, tough. There are those that see any toughness as a lack of love. For them there is either tough or love, but they don't understand that both can take place.
Correction and tough love are an essential part of love. I don't want to think about what my kids would be like if I didn't discipline them in love. They may not like it, but later they will be thankful for it.
May all of us, whether parents or church leaders, try to make sure that we provide discipline, but always in love, and provide love, but not be afraid to correct.
A Monkey in your Girdle
Enjoy This Article about a man smuggling monkeys!!