Are You Educated Beyond Your Obedience?

By Allen White

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Matthew 11:20-24

We rally around sayings like “Knowledge is power.” We want to be empowered. We want to be knowledgeable. Getting the upper hand is part of winning the game. Who wouldn’t want a leg up on the competition? (Have I used all of the clichés yet?)

But, with knowledge comes responsibility. For most believers, we fall into a category called “educated beyond the level of our obedience.” Ouch, but true.

It’s not a matter of doing right things in order for God to love us. God loves us. That’s settled. It’s a matter of surrendering ourselves to God’s ways. God wants us to do things His way because He knows it’s better for us.

In America, we, the church, have become complacent. We take our faith for granted. We consider religious freedom as our right. We have access to the message of the Gospel through every medium possible -- radio, TV, internet, print, ebooks, tweets, Facebook, recordings, podcasts – you name it. We’ve got it.  Unfortunately, for many of us, the old, old story is, well, getting old.

Just yesterday, as I heard a very clear message of the Gospel presented, people came to Christ. As Water of Life drills wells among the untouchables in India, people are hearing Jesus’ name for the very first time and accepting Him as their Lord and Savior.

Much like us, the people living in the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26), and Capernaum (Matthew 8:5-13) had Jesus coming out of their ears. They witnessed Jesus’ miracles, then they went back to business. It was interesting, but it wasn’t life-changing for them.

Jesus knew if the people of Tyre and Sidon, or even Sodom had witnessed these miracles, their stories would have turned out very different. Yet, the villages where Jesus performed miracles just took it in stride.

Where are you witnessing the miraculous in your life? How has God answered your prayers? Who has come to Christ recently? Who’s been healed? How have we encountered the power of God’s Word? How have we allowed these things to change our lives?

Howard Hendricks said years ago, “The Bible wasn’t given for our information, but for our transformation.” God is not interested in occupying a compartment of our lives reserved for Sunday. God wants His Word to permeate our lives. Jesus wants to live His life through us.

It’s not a matter of trying harder. Maybe it’s a matter of putting up less resistance to what God has for you.

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You Can Please Some of the People Some of the Time…

By Allen White

To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

 “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Matthew 11:16-19

You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. You’ll kill yourself trying.

John lived a very conservative life. He owned practically nothing. No one could accuse John of getting rich off of this. He observed a strict lifestyle. Nothing about his food or beverage could offend anyone. He played by the religious rules. The religious leaders still rejected him.

John didn’t fit into their mold. He wasn’t one of them. Membership in the religious club was more important in their book than a genuine relationship with God. Talk about backwards living.

Jesus came with less restraint. He ate and drank with sinners. No one could accuse Jesus of unholy living. He never sinned. There was nothing unholy about Him. The religious leaders didn’t like Jesus either.

John lived life on the straight and narrow. He was called a demon. Jesus lived an open and generous life. He was called a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of sinners. We sing about Jesus being a friend of sinners. I haven’t heard any songs involving the other accusations.

John and Jesus had one thing in common – they both lived for an audience of One. Regardless of what the religious authorities thought or other people thought or even their families thought, they lived their lives with a laser focus on what God thought.

Whose opinion matters to you? Whose words do you take to heart? Whose approval are you seeking? Whose criticism are you trying to avoid? Spouses, children, parents, bosses, friends, neighbors, pastors, bloggers, church members, and people we don’t even know have an effect on us. But, whose opinion matters the most to you?

If we live to please other people, more often than not, we fail to please God. But, if we live to please God, we have a much better chance of pleasing others. We also have a chance at displeasing those who don’t belong to God.

I’m not saying that you should give up your job and responsibilities to pursue God full-time. What I’m saying is that in your job and your responsibilities pursue God full-time. Let Jesus live His life through you in your workplace, your home, your neighborhood, your online life, and everywhere else you go.

God is not asking you to add a huge spiritual component to your life. You don’t need one more thing to juggle. God wants you to integrate your faith into everything you do.

A marriage that pleases God will also please your spouse. Parenting that pleases God will also guide your children. Serving that pleases God will also benefit His Church. A work ethic that honors God will also suit your boss. You get the picture.

What’s the next step for you?

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God Equips the Called. P.S. You’re Called

By Allen White

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:

   “I will send my messenger ahead of you,

   who will prepare your way before you.”

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Matthew 11:7-15

John the Baptist was an unlikely leader. He lived in the wilderness, not in a quaint cabin or a posh RV. From his description, we might assume he just slept on the ground or in a cave (Matthew 3:1-6). John wore animal skins. He ate bugs and honey. There was something wild and rustic about John. He was the contrast to the wealthy, well-heeled religious leaders.

John’s message was repentance. He challenged every sinner to repent – even the religious ones. John was the last of a dying breed. He was the last prophet.

As unconventional as John appeared, he was exactly the person God sent to carry the message. His ministry had been prophesied by Malachi centuries before (Malachi 3:1). John’s ministry fulfilled a prophecy pointing to the Messiah.

God uses all kinds of people. In fact, over the years, I’ve discovered that some of the most unlikely people make some of the best leaders. God equips His people in ways suitable to their callings. He doesn’t call the equipped as much as He equips the called.

What has God called you to do? What excuses are keeping you from doing it? Moses said he wasn’t a good speaker, so God gave Moses a partner in Aaron. Your reluctance isn’t a sign of inability as much as it’s a lack of faith in the God Who called you. But, there’s an easy solution, God will give you the faith you need to accomplish His Will. You must need to ask.

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Defensive or Defended?

By Allen White

After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Matthew 11:1-6

John asks an interesting question: “Are you the one or is it somebody else?” Did he forget his proclamation the first time he saw Jesus? He exclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Maybe prison was messing with Him.

Notice Jesus’ response. He doesn’t answer John’s question with theological statements or apologetic proofs. There is no philosophical debate. There is no demand to respect His authority. Jesus told the messenger, “The proof is in the pudding.”

Eyes are seeing. Legs are walking. The marginalized are mainstream. Ears are hearing. Dead people are living again. Good news is being proclaimed. Any other questions?

How do we respond when someone questions us? Many of us get defensive. We might even get offended that the question was even asked. “No one works harder in this place than I do. I don’t deserve to be treated like this. Don’t they know all of the good work I’ve been doing. If they can’t respect me enough to honor my efforts, maybe they don’t deserve me.” Fortunately, the Messiah was more secure than many of us.

Understand that their question to Jesus wasn’t any random question from any random person. John was paying the price for proclaiming the Messiah. Very soon, John would pay the ultimate price for his faith (Matthew 14:1-12). He just needed assurance that all wasn’t for naught.

But, why didn’t Jesus just say, “Yes, I am the One” or something like that. John already had that answer more or less. John needed reassurance while he was sitting in prison for God. That reassurance came through the visible proofs of Jesus’ work.

What is the evidence of your good work? What difference have you made in the world? Big or small, your contribution is significant. When someone questions your contribution, rather than getting defensive point to the good things you have done. If you don’t feel there’s adequate evidence, then it’s time to get with it.

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The Fraternity of Faith

By Allen White

Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward. Matthew 10:40-42

Have you noticed an affinity among certain groups of people? How do smokers know each other even when they’re not smoking? I’ve sat with smokers, who had not lit up, someone would walk up to the table and ask the smoker for a cigarette. The fellow smoker didn’t even consider me. How did they know?

I have a friend who wears very long hair for a man, in my opinion. I was out with him and his wife one day. As we passed another long haired man, they gave each other a knowing nod. I asked if they knew each other. His wife to me, “It’s a long hair thing.” There was a kinship, a fraternity. They had to band together to avoid the scissors of our culture. They were brothers who looked a little like sisters in my book.

Christ-followers have a fraternity of their own. We’re all in this together. Have you ever looked at someone and just knew they were a Christian? Not because they were carrying a Bible or scowling in a judgmental way, but there was just something about them.

Jesus said if people accept believers, they also accept Him. And, if they accept Jesus, they also accept the Father. How do they do this?

Jesus wasn’t just speaking of those who proclaim the message of the Gospel, but those who supported it. If someone helped a messenger of God’s Word, it was as good as if that person were the messenger himself. If you helped a prophet or a righteous person, you are entitled to the same reward they will receive. Even helping another believer with something as simple as a cup of water was worthy of a full reward.

If you have public ministry gifts like speaking, singing, writing or leading, how have you enlisted the help of others? How can they share the load and share in the reward?

If you have less public gifts like intercession, helps, serving or mercy, how can you support those with more public gifts? Your work might not be obvious, but everyone’s work together is powerful.

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When Our Mission Becomes a Lukewarm Mess

By Allen White

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:37-39

When I was seven-years-old, I trooped off on the old church bus. A “new church bus” would somehow be an oxymoron. We were headed to Wheatstate Camp just east of Wichita, Kansas. Hot, desolate, barren, did I say hot? This is where young people in our church went to meet with God, because frankly there was nothing else there.

I was excited. It was the first time away from my parents. As a rising second grader (I had a late birthday and no I wasn’t held back), this was a big adventure. We bunked in cabins with a dozen or so other boys and a counselor who probably wasn’t much older than us. This was church camp.

We made crafts. We watched puppet shows. We swam, though separately from the girls, for mixed bathing was sin. We worshipped. We bought treats from the snack bar. And, when it got really hot, we ate salt tablets.

Everything was new and exciting. I practically forgot I had a family until Wednesday night. I woke up in the middle of the night not feeling good and wanting my mom. None of the other campers knew it, but I had broken into a full-fledged case of homesickness. That had never happened to me before or since. I made it through that night, and I was, well, a happy camper for the rest of the week.

Jesus gave His disciples a lot of instructions against pining for home. While longing for home certainly wasn’t disloyal, it would take them off mission. When things got hard, the disciples would be tempted to go to their happy place, even if it wasn’t so happy.

Just like a hot cup of coffee loses heat in the cold air, the passion for a mission can soon become a lukewarm, disgusting mess. If things get bad on the road, then certainly they would be longing for home. The pull of comfort would draw them away from God’s plan for their lives.

Jesus challenged them to take up their cross before He took up His. People carrying crosses have nothing left. It’s their last day on this earth. What have they got to lose?

But, here’s the catch – those who cling to their lives, their goals, their expectations will lose it all. Those who choose to give these things away will find abundant life. We can choose to pad our nests with more stuff or we can give our stuff away to gain something we cannot buy.

What is Jesus’ mission for your life? His mission for all of us is to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). But, what has God made you to do? What is your unique contribution?

Now a hard question – what do you love more than Jesus? Comfort and security? Control and ambition? Other people? What is keeping you from the life God meant for you to have?

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When the Prince of Peace Brings Strife

By Allen White

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn

a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Matthew 10:34-36

The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) didn’t bring peace after all? What? We like the Jesus who calmly soothes our fears. But, this Jesus stirs things up. He says what’s what. What happened to that meek Jesus we all love?

And, why is Jesus predicting all of this strife in family relationships? We understand the tension around in-law relationships. We live that. But, fathers and mothers and families becoming enemies over Christ – that’s hard to understand.

Alphonso is an evangelist in Sierra Leone. He converted from Islam to Christianity. His family didn’t take it so well. In fact, his aunt poisoned him in an effort to kill him. Alphonso survived.

He is bringing the message of Jesus Christ to thousands of Muslims. God is blessing his ministry. His family is not so happy about it.

In Jesus’ day, the turn was from Judaism to the fulfillment of the Jewish law – Jesus Himself. But, if the Jewish people are God’s people, then becoming a Christ-follower meant they were becoming something else. Family heritage, traditions, worship and holidays were all at stake. Becoming a Christian wouldn’t have gone over very well.

For us, most of our families will tolerate our relationship with Christ. But, there are still some tensions. For folks raised Catholic who join Protestant churches, there is tension. For others who grew up in one denomination, then later move to another, there’s also tension. For those who give God one hour a week, there is tension when a family member devotes himself to serving the church or pursues full-time ministry.

Jesus doesn’t want family members to hate each other. But, He does want first place in our life. Our most primary relationship should be our relationship with Christ. Every other relationship

follows behind.

If we put another relationship ahead of Christ, then our commitment to Christ will be compromised. We can only give what another person will allow. We can never give ourselves fully to Christ.

Please understand – this is not an excuse to ignore our families for the cause of Christ. That is out of balance too.

Who has more influence over your life than Christ? Who doesn’t understand your commitment to Christ? Where are you tempted to bend? Who is opposed to your relationship with Jesus?

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