The 2nd Greatest

There is no question but what the Cross is the greatest demonstration of love and grace the world has ever seen or will ever see. Have you ever thought about what could be considered the second greatest? I have, and while it may be open to some debate, let me suggest this possibility. I remember a number of years ago the first time I became aware of the fact that Judas was still present in the upper room the night that Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. I had heard the story many times of course, and often thought about it, as no doubt you have as well. And I just always had thought, for some reason of which I am not sure, that Judas would have already gone off to do his dastardly deed when the foot washing took place. But he was there. He was there and Jesus washed his feet. How do we know? Well, a couple of reasons. One, foot washing, for reasonable purposes, would have taken place before the meal, not during or after. And then there is the simple fact that the Scriptures are clear on the chronology of this as well. If you read John 13 you will see that the first seventeen verses recount the foot washing which is followed by verses 18 to 30 (read them for yourself) which tells us what happened next. Judas was there. He was there and Jesus washed his feet.

To imagine Jesus, the Lord of glory, washing the disciple’s feet, anyone’s feet (thus Peter’s reluctance) is truly an amazing thing. But Judas?! What was that like? Can you just imagine it!

When we consider the foot washing account in relation to how Paul describes the entire ‘Christ event’ – Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection & ascension – in Philippians 2, we can see that it was not only a single act of humility, kindness and servant-hood, but it also had monumental typological significance as well. If you have not yet seen this comparison done I’m confident it will astound you as well as bless you. Take a look:

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God” (Jn 13:3)  … “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped”  (Phil 2:6)

“So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist” (Jn 13:4) … “But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness.”  (Phil 2:7)

“After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (Jn 13:5) … “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!”  (Phil 2:8)

“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.” (Jn 13:12)

… “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name”  (Phil 2:9)

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.” (Jn 13:13) … “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (Phil 2:10,11)

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (Jn 13:14,15) … “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:3-5)

What is totally evident then from this is that Jesus’ whole life and death ministry was a gigantic act of service which we are called to emulate. And what about Judas? Well, Paul says that, “… while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”. I’m not suggesting that Judas will be in heaven. I don’t see any biblical warrant for that. But I am suggesting that Jesus loved him, and that (with apologies to the Calvinists) Christ’s death was on Judas’ behalf, and that forgiveness (cleansing) and salvation was available to Judas or anyone else who will come to Christ for it. Sufficient for all, efficient for those who believe. The offer is there. “Whoever wills may come.”

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”  1Jn 2:1,2

Think about it though – Christ’s love for sinners - absolutely incomparable, and yet we are called to emulate it. 

Healthy Church

Over the course of the last few weeks I’ve been trying to get ready for a ‘break-out’ session that I am responsible for as part of our Fellowship Atlantic Regional Convention taking place this coming weekend. The session is supposed to be a workshop on church health and its indicators. There has been a lot of good work done over the course of the last few decades to help church leaders identify the marks of a healthy church. For example, German researcher Christian Schwarz and his team spent years doing what may be the most comprehensive research on church health ever conducted. The initial research was done with over 1000 churches in 32 countries. Nearly 4.2 million responses were analyzed. According to the organization’s website they now claim that they have analyzed data from “more than 70,000 churches on all six continents”!

That’s a lot of data. And the results of the findings are significant. Schwarz set out to answer the question - “What are the essential qualities of a healthy, growing church, regardless of culture and theological persuasion?”  What did he find? Eight things:

• Empowering Leadership

• Gift-Oriented Ministry

• Passionate Spirituality

• Functional Structures

• Inspiring Worship Services

• Holistic Small Groups

• Need-Oriented Evangelism

• Loving Relationships

This is a pretty impressive list. And though it does not gain a complete consensus among church and leadership authorities, it does appear to me that a church possessing each of these characteristics in some measure would have to be a pretty healthy church.

I guess, the thing I’m struggling with though is this – so much of church health just seems to be ‘a God thing’. I mean a healthy church is ultimately a work of God. That’s why we can look at a list like the one above and readily recognize it as being pretty much bang on, and yet still have that sinking feeling. Because realistically, as leaders, how do we go about making some of these things a reality?

Take the last one for example – Loving Relationships. If real love, the kind that puts the needs of others ahead of our own, isn’t a work of God in a person’s heart, then what is?  Just ask anyone attempting to work with a bunch of back biting, self-centered individuals adamantly affirming all the while their devotion to Christ. We’ve all heard the horror stories and some of us have lived it.  

I guess that’s why our focus needs to remain on the Lord. It’s ultimately His work. We have only the privilege of being part of it. And as for that part, though it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of it, I received some really good advice one time - focus on the one. No, you can’t save the world, you can’t even change your local church. But you can make a difference in the life of an individual in Jesus’ name. Focus on what you can do, instead of all you can’t do. Yes, the church is the body of Christ and it’s all about community, but community is built one life at a time. And in each of those lives, each act of compassion is significant. Our ability to focus on the one (remember the story that Jesus told about the one lost sheep and the ninety nine others?) allows us to make a difference without being overcome by the huge waves of all that we can’t do. If we can truly represent Christ well in the life of one person at a time, one action at a time, then we are doing the work of God.

The Parable Of The Steering Wheel

Life is like a highway and as you’re driving along one day, not really sure where you’re going, you meet Jesus. Aware that you are lost, you stop and invite Him into your car (life). Jesus climbs onto the passenger seat and, before you know it, you’re speeding off together down the road to adventure. Of course, your new passenger has some very strong opinions about where you should be going, and the places you should be steering clear of, so within no time at all it seems that your life has taken on a whole new direction! So, the difference that this new Navigator has made in your life is nothing short of amazing, but then one day you get an even more profound thought! “Jesus shouldn’t just be in my life, He should be the Lord of my life! Jesus shouldn’t just be my co-pilot but my pilot!” So, eventually, in one final act of ultimate submission, you pull over to the side of the road and invite Jesus to take the wheel. Which, of course, the ever obliging Jesus does, so now He is fully in control and you are along for the ride of your life!    

With apologies to Carrie Underwood, this does not really depict spiritual truth. I think we can say that certain parts of the story do reflect reality. Jesus doesn’t want to be just in my life. He deserves to be Lord of my life. This is true for sure. However, we need to be careful how we understand this truth.

For those of you who are partial to it, I’m not trying to be critical of the popular song. When it comes to the arts, we have to allow for a certain amount of ‘poetic license’ and I understand that. I am more concerned that we have a proper understanding of what it means to surrender our lives to God. Yielding the direction of your life to the Lord is not analogous to ‘removing your hands from the wheel’. In fact, to remove your hands from the steering wheel of your life does not fit with the biblical directive at all. For one thing, it implies that you become totally passive, merely a passenger in your own life. I will remind you here that part of the fruit of the Spirit is ‘self-control’ (Galatians 5). A failure to keep a firm grip on the wheel is analogous to reckless endangerment.

What am I saying? It isn’t the steering wheel that Jesus wants, He wants your ear and your heart. He doesn’t want you to be just along for the ride, He wants you to learn how to steer. He doesn’t want to be your chauffeur, He wants to be your Driving Instructor. 

Life Is Wasted Without Intelligence

William Swinimer showed up for school on Monday wearing his tee-shirt. The grade 12 student had just finished a controversial suspension from Forest Height’s Public High School in Chester Basin, Nova Scotia, for insisting on wearing his ‘Life Is Wasted Without Jesus’ tee shirt.

When I first heard last week about William being expelled from school for wearing the message, I felt, and expressed, my indignation over the obvious denial of his basic human right to free speech. My feelings about that part of this story have not changed. However, almost everything I’ve heard and seen in the media circus since has left me saddened, not with the denial of William’s rights and freedoms, but with the misguided behaviour and unfortunate attitudes of the other adults in his life, including his father and the pastor of his church.

Is it just me or does every Christian that makes the news these days just happen to resemble one of the Three Stooges?  

I saw William himself interviewed on Canada AM last week and, although he never really answered the continuous objection to the message on his shirt, he did speak well enough, and was clear that he has no hatred for anyone of any faith. That’s good.

For their part, the school officials, after making the really dumb decision to suspend William in the first place, followed it up with a few less than intelligent comments. But then they reversed the decision on the tee shirt and planned for a day of dialogue on Monday in order to discuss the issues with the students upon William’s return to school. Superintendent of Schools, Nancy Pynch-Worthylake described the plan for the day as a series of gatherings with students to talk about what’s appropriate when expressing your convictions, what isn’t, and how to deal with things when there’s a conflict. Included in the plan was an evening session open for other family members.  

Now, I know that the day likely consisted mainly of propaganda from school officials, along with some nonsense from some of the students, because that is what we’ve been seeing on the news, and what we are used to. But I can’t help but think of how it would also have been a golden opportunity for a defense of the truth.

What is the truth?

The South Shore Regional School Board had posted their position online stating that students would be allowed to wear clothing expressing their beliefs but that, “It is expected that students will not wear clothing with messages that may offend other’s beliefs, race, religion, culture or lifestyle”.

And the truth is that this is absurd. Keep in mind, we’re NOT talking hate speech here. We’re talking about anything that someone might say that someone else might find offensive. The idea that someone cannot be allowed to say anything that might offend someone else's beliefs is not only unreasonable but completely untenable. It’s the same old ‘tolerance’ message ad nauseam, the not so subtle way contemporary culture attempts to shut up anyone that would disagree with their ‘lifestyle choices’ and shut down debate on ultimate values and beliefs.

And it also causes me to wonder… Do any of these officials ever listen to the lyrics of the most popular music of our day! Or do they ever watch what we are all, young and old, being exposed to coming out of the television and movie industry?!!! Being offensive IS a lifestyle!!! Being offensive IS our culture!!! Being offensive IS what we believe!!! We love it. We embrace it. We can’t get enough of it!!!... Anyway, I digress.

So, Monday comes and the next thing we know, here is William’s father big as life on the news. He allows his son to go to school and then shows up at the school himself, for no other obvious reason than to make a public spectacle one has to assume, waving a Bible in his hand, and yanks William out of school like he’s a toddler. He admitted to the camera that he was acting out of anger but it didn’t seem like much of a confession. According to the Chronicle Herald, when he was asked what was wrong with having his son take part in the debate, John Swinimer said, “It is time that we rise up. I am not taking questions right now. I am making statements.”

The ‘rising up’ language seems a little bit scary to me. I hope it isn’t as anarchistic as it sounds. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, hoping he means we need to ‘stand up’ for human rights. Either way, what a missed opportunity! Throughout this whole fiasco, what an incredible opportunity it could be for a real dialogue over ideas and beliefs. What a tremendous forum this could have all been for real learning to take place on such crucial issues as personal rights, freedoms and faith in the context of respect for others.

You see, the truth is that my respect for you does not depend on me agreeing with you, or you agreeing with me. It depends upon me valuing you and caring about you, whether we agree or not. In fact, the Bible teaches that we are to love even those who mistreat us. How’s that for ‘tolerance’!!!

The Swinimer family attends a small, independent Pentecostal church in Bridgewater and the pastor of the church, Varrick Day has apparently been encouraging both William and his father along the way and has himself been both visible (He accompanied John to the School Monday morning) and vocal. Here is just one thing he has said publicly:

“They have taken the Ten Commandments out of schools, they have removed the Bibles from the schools, they have taken God, Jesus, out of the schools and right now the school is in a mess and we need morals, we need principles.”

Sigh.

Just for the record, I personally believe that, should you choose (and you have that God given right) to live your life without Christ, when you come to the end of your days on this earth, your life will have been wasted. I take no pleasure in it. I grieve for you, if that is your decision. But it is your decision.  

AND furthermore, I believe you have the right to either agree with what I am saying or to disagree with it. That is also your right.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”  Martin Luther King Jr.

This is what I believe, and I am a person of faith - a Christian. I would just like to see faith AND intelligence on the news for once.