Has Our Liturgy Replaced the Law?

In our East Knox Area Women’s Bible Study on Monday nights and Tuesday mornings, we have just completed chapter 15 of Acts. In this chapter the “Judaizers” came to Antioch and said to the new Christians, “Except that you are circumcised and keep the whole Law of Moses you cannot be saved.”

Of course this was not true. One must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and they will be saved. However, this was a “deal-breaker” for the Jews. It became their “line in the sand.” And I got to thinking, what is my “deal-breaker”? What is my “line in the sand” that I will not compromise on? What is it that really teaches us about Grace? The Judaizers just couldn’t accept Grace, how can we be sure that we can?

In writing the message for this particular study I was reminded of a Prayerlogue that I wrote a few years ago, and I decided to share it again.

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I was studying something (don’t remember what it was now) but I came across this quote:   “The Hebrew people climbed to the summit of legalism during the silent years that fell between Malachi and Matthew. That’s what really religious people do who don’t have much of a relationship…”

And for some reason, that really jumped out at me and I thought, “Has our Liturgy replaced the Law? Has our ritual replaced our relationship?”

Now, don’t get me wrong… I love the Liturgy. I love the “seriousness” of the Prelude and the Call to Worship and the Opening Prayers and the Prayers of the People…

I love the Apostle’s Creed and the Gloria Patri. I even love the Offering and the Doxology, and I love the organ music, but I have to wonder… is how we do it, more important than why we do it.

Has following our “Church Calendar” become a substitute for listening for God’s Voice?

And again I feel that I must ask, “Has our Liturgy replaced the Law? Has our ritual replaced our relationship?”

And, the following just flowed from my heart to the paper. Please hear it for what it is – a plea from the depths of my heart, and not a criticism…

Has Our Liturgy Replaced the Law

Do we hold to our liturgy

            Like “The Jews” held to the Law?

Has our “must be followed”

            Over shadowed our praise and our awe?

Does the “date on the calendar”

            Decide the message we hear,

Instead of God’s Voice

            Directing our year?

God, remove our blinders

            That we may see

Where we could go

            If we were free

                        To hear You…

Many times “the means to the end” loses its focus of “the end”

And stagnates on “the means…”

            God forgive us if we’ve done that!

For the Judaizers, their “deal breaker” their “line in the sand” was circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses. What’s my “deal breaker”? What’s my “line in the sand” that I will not give up? Do I have a relationship with Jesus Christ based on Grace, or on “how things are done”? Do I accept people on the basis of their relationship with Christ or on “how they dress”; “how they look”; “how they talk”?  Do I live by ritual or relationship?

Why Wisemen?

Last week I posted a devotional titled, “Why Shepherds”. In that I talked about why God sent the angel, and the announcement to the Shepherds. This week we talk about the Wisemen.  

Why Wisemen?

 

All we know for a fact about the Wisemen, or Magi, that came to Bethlehem is found in Matthew 2. But, we do know a little about the priestly tribe of the Magi from history, and from the Old Testament. They are first mentioned in the 7^th century BC as a tribe within the Median nation in eastern Mesopotamia, near Ur of the Chaldaeans. They were skilled in astrology as well as astronomy, which was the study of the stars, as well as their meanings. (Remember, God said in Genesis 1:14 that the lights in the heavens were to be for “signs and seasons and for days and years.”) Astrology and astronomy were not mutually exclusive, but mutually explanatory.

 

We find Daniel being integrated into the group of “wisemen” during the Babylonian exile. During that time they were among the highest ranking officials in Babylon and in Daniel 5:11 Daniel is made chief over them all. And I believe it was Daniel’s prophecies and writings that directed these Magi toward Bethlehemat just the right time. In fact, the expectation also arose from the dispersion of the Jews among all the nations, as they carried with them the hope and the promise of a divine Redeemer. Isaiah 9; Isaiah 11; Daniel 7.

 

Their presents, “gold, frankincense, and myrrh,” were the usual gifts of subject nations (Psalm 72:15; 1Kings10:2; 1Kings10:10; 2Chronicles 9:24)

 

Q     Why do you think God directed the Wisemen to seek the Christ child?

 

Q     Which is more important to the story, Shepherds or Wisemen? Why?

 

 

Q     Now, think about this – Did God speak to or lead the Shepherds and Wisemen in the same way?

 

 

Q     What does that tell us about the way God calls people today?

 

A very good example of God’s different calling comes in Acts 10 in the event with a Roman centurion named Cornelius, and the Apostle Peter.

 

Cornelius was a Gentile and a “God-fearer”, which meant that he believed in the One True God of the Jews, but he was not a proselyte – had not totally accepted the Jewish religion. His background was that he was a Roman soldier, he’d come up through the ranks, was very dependable and brave, and living in Caesarea with his family; and like the Roman Centurion in Matthew 8, he was used to giving and taking orders. So, that’s how God approached him, God sent an angel who gave Cornelius, basically, a command. “Dispatch some men to Joppa, and send for Peter.” And what did Cornelius do? He obeyed, immediately.

 

Peter, on the other hand, was approached differently. God didn’t just command Peter to go to Caesarea, because likely his response would have been, “why?” Or worse, “What? Me go to the Roman capital in this district? No way!” No, Peter was Jewish and Jewish people are storytellers. Remember the parables that Jesus taught? Or remember how the prophet Nathan, rather than directly approach King David with his sin, instead told him a story of a man and his little ewe lamb? The Jewish people are “visual” people, so God gave Peter an illustration.

 

What this tells us is that God draws each of us differently. We each have different backgrounds and different roots. There is only one way to God the Father, and that is through Jesus, but the story of the Wisemen and Shepherds tells us that there are many paths to Jesus. And the exciting thing is, the Holy Spirit does the preparing and the calling and the directing.

 

 

Q     How do you think God directs you?

 

Why Shepherds?

Did you ever wonder why God sent the angel to the shepherds? The following is an excerpt from a Sunday School lesson I’m teaching this week.

Why Shepherds?

By Jesus’ time the Orthodox Jew hated the shepherds. Never mind that Abraham and the Patriarchs were shepherds; never mind that Moses was a shepherd, and the greatest Israelite King of all, David, was a shepherd. The pious Jew hated the shepherds because by that time they were near the bottom of the social ladder. When Jacob and his sons and family went down to Egypt during the famine, they were all nomadic shepherds. When Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt some 400 years later less of them were shepherds. And after they returned from Exile in Babylonin 516BC very few were shepherds. It had become a despised trade.

 

Shepherds were mostly uneducated and unskilled. They were viewed as dishonest, unreliable and because of that, they were not allowed to testify in court. It didn’t matter if you were the only witness to a crime – if you were a shepherd, your testimony was inadmissible – because you were a shepherd. And well, they didn’t bathe very often either. Sheep required care 24/7/365. There were no days off or vacations. And, because of the constant care, they couldn’t keep all the rites and rituals required by the Law – at least the “man-made” portion of the Law, therefore, they were viewed as being constantly ritually unclean.

 

Q     So, let me ask you this – have you ever known anyone who lived up to (or lived “down” to) expectations?

 

Q     Have you ever known anyone who said (or maybe said it yourself) “Well, this is just the way I am.”

 

However, no matter how despised the shepherds were, they were indispensable. The Temple sacrifices required 2 “perfect” first-born lambs every day. Every. Day.  That’s more than 700 lambs a year PLUS the lambs that were needed for Passover and all the other feasts and festivals.

 

Q     What kinds of jobs today might be extremely necessary, but thankless?

Q     So, why do you think God sent the Angel to shepherds?

Q     What did the angel say to them?

A.     Luke 2:10-11 – “I bring [to] you good news (the same word as “gospel”)

                  Of a great joy

Which shall be for all the people (not the word for “their” people only, but ALL people, gentiles included.)

 

Isaiah 61:1 in the Amplified Bible says, “THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound.”

 Don’t we all fit into those categories at various times in our lives? Why did God send an angel to the shepherds? We are ALL “shepherds” at times.

 

(coming later – “Why the Wisemen”?

Such a Simple Word – A Christmas Meditation

I’m sure you’ve seen the Geico commercial where the man teaches three guinea pigs to row a little boat while another one cries “row”. And the man says, “Such a simple word, ‘row’.” 

I thought about that recently as I was thinking about Paul’s words in Philippians 2:5-8 where he tells of what some have called Jesus’ “7 steps down from Glory.” It can be broken down this way:

 

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God,

1. did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
2. but emptied Himself,
3. taking the form of a bond-servant,

 

4. and being made in the likeness of men.

 

(Then) Being found in appearance as a man

5. He humbled Himself
6. by becoming obedient to the point of death,
7. even death on a cross.”

 

The first three steps take place in heaven, and the last three take place on earth, but it’s that 4^th step that creates the transition between heaven and earth. The last part of verse 7 says, “…and being made in the likeness of men.” That little word “made” is the key word here.

 

Such a simple word… “made…”

 

The word literally means “to come into being.” This… is… the Incarnation. Jesus was “made in the likeness of men.” He was born. He came into the world through the birth canal. He was attached to His mother by His umbilical cord… but He had His Father’s blood. His birth was for real. He didn’t “just appear.” He was born, just like you and I were. He didn’t come into existence in Bethlehem, but He was “made” in the likeness of men. And you know what? He still has that body.

 

Such a simple word, “made…” but oh what significance!

 

 

Oh, and think about this… Jesus has a bellybutton. Doesn’t that just blow you away?

For All Saint’s Day

THE SAINTS

(A long held feeling, finally put to paper.

 Inspired by the passing of Nova Smeltzer, July 2, 1996 and remembered each and every time one of the “Saints” passes on. )

 

From since my days of childhood,

                        there have always been those saints,

I’ve tried so hard to emulate,

though my efforts fairly faint,

when compared to their deeds.  

 

They may have played the piano,

or maybe taught a class,

or maybe smiled at children,

or maybe never passed

someone in need.

 

They may have always spoken out,

or ne’er had much to say.

Sometimes a quiet presence

touches hearts the deepest way.

 

But whatever was their manner,

and GOD makes no two the same,

we somehow can’t imagine

“Church”

     without their name.

 

Who’ll be left to carry on?

Who’ll be left to fill the pew?

Who’ll be left to do the things

we depend on them to do?

 

I know that every generation

has had a childhood,

and watched the saints.

And every generation

feels their efforts

too, are faint.

 

Then, every generation

becomes the saints in turn.

And childhood eyes are watching them,

with eager minds to learn

the ways of GOD.

 

And so the awesome task is laid

upon unready hearts.

As GOD calls Saints to their reward,

this earthly cycle starts,

anew.

 

Past Saints are never forgotten though,

their wisdom;  a gift from GOD.

As we face the challenge before us,

we tread where Saints have trod.

 

Betty Newman © 1996

10 Characteristics of a Vital Congregation

For the new “Call to Action Plan” this is from Acts 2:41-47.

10 Characteristics of a Vital Congregation

Acts 2:41-47 Amplified Bible

Acts 2:41  Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.

Acts 2:42  And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord's Supper] and prayers.

Acts 2:43  And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).

Acts 2:44  And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common;

Acts 2:45  And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need.

Acts 2:46  And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord's Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts,

Acts 2:47  Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death].

It should go without saying that a “vital congregation” is one that is filled with “those who have accepted [the message of] Salvation, been baptized and ‘added to’ the number [of the church].” (Acts 2:41) Therefore:

• A Vital Congregation is steadfast or devoted. (Acts 2:42) The concept literally means “to be strong toward…”  People are “devoted” to a variety of things; these believers were devoted to four areas of responsibility in particular.
• A Vital Congregation is devoted to the study of the Revealed Word of God. (Acts 2:42) Each “saved” person was nurtured in the faith and continued to learn the doctrine of the apostles.
• A Vital Congregation is devoted to the community of believers (Acts 2:42) AKA “the fellowship” or the koinōnia (koy-nohn-ee’-ah) which means “partnership” or “sharing.” In other words, those who receive Jesus Christ become partners with Him AND with all other believers (see 1 John 1:3)
• A Vital Congregation is devoted to “the breaking of bread” or “The Lord’s Supper.” (Acts 2:42) Devotion to this sacrament brings with it a devotion to remembering Who Christ is and what He did as well as to the equality of believers at the Lord’s Table. It has been said that, “In Communion all believers meet on common ground at the foot of the cross.” (See Galatians 3:28)
• A Vital Congregation is devoted to prayers. (Acts 2:42) This is not just individual prayer, but the prayers of the congregation. A Vital Congregation prays and shares burdens with others of the same such precious faith.
• A Vital Congregation is reverent and awe-filled. (Acts 2:43) There is nothing “lackadaisical” about worship as the congregation realizes that they are indeed “standing on Holy Ground.”
• A Vital Congregation touches lives. “(Acts 2: 44) Wonders and signs” continue to take place as hearts are mended, worth is proclaimed, and relationships are restored.
• A Vital Congregation is a sharing and caring congregation where needs, both inside and outside the congregation, are met through sacrificial giving. (Acts 2:45)
• A Vital Congregation is a worshiping congregation whether they are in a “church” setting or in one another’s homes. (Acts 2: 46) “Worship” spills over into the everyday life of the believers. A Vital Congregation works out their salvation with fear and trembling; (See Philippians 2:12.)
• A Vital Congregation praises God and is well spoken of by the community. (Acts 2:47) As “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:52) so a vital congregation is continually growing spiritually and relationally as well.

A Prayer for Caregiver Decisions

“Oh, if I just knew what to do” a friend cried to me recently. And I thought, “Oh yeah… I’ve been there.” 

We’ve been called “the sandwich generation” – taking care of parents as well as children. But, in reality, ever since Adam and Eve’s children, had children, there has been a “sandwich generation.”

Still, having a “title” doesn’t make it any easier. So – if you are there, just know – you are being prayed for…

O Heavenly Father of comfort, I lift up those with extremely difficult decisions to make today. Give them wisdom and peace. And, I pray Lord, for those “about whom” the decisions are being made. How difficult it must be to have to give up the freedom to make your own decisions about your own life. May we always be sensitive to that dilemma. (For, as we know – we’ll one day be there, too.)

I also pray Father, for those who are not making “big” decision, but are instead, continuing in the struggle of a thousand daily decisions that never seem to let up. Comfort them too, Lord, and give them Your strength, because I know, they feel theirs is nearly gone. 

For those of us who’ve been through it, give us a spirit of remembrance that we may offer our hand of help for we remember Paul’s words when he said that You comfort us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others*. 

And for those who’ve yet to face it, give them a spirit of understanding and patience that they too may lend support. For we each, need each other, and we thank You for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and it is in His precious name we pray – Amen.

 

(*2 Corinthians 1:4)

You Can’t Thumb Through a Kindle

Have you ever been thumbing through your Bible, turning to a particular scripture, when your eyes fell on an “underlined” passage that just “jumped out” at you and spoke to your heart? Well, we’re quickly losing that type of encounter in our society because…

You can’t thumb through a Kindle
Smart phone or I-Pad
There’s no “random” experience
In the latest gadget or fad.

“But” (the retort comes back)
“I’ve quit ‘chasing rabbits’
I’ve streamlined my time
It’s all at my fingers
The reason and rhyme

I’ve stopped the distractions
I’m focused you see
I’m in charge of my study
I’ll decide what I read.”

(But my friend, what you don’t realize is…)

There’s no surprise encounter
With the Word to be had
You can’t thumb through a Kindle
And what we’ve lost is so sad.

 

Yeah, it’s a hokey little poem (not my best literary work by any means) but it captures the anguish of my heart. I fear we are fast becoming a world in which God’s Word is not allowed to “speak” to our hearts. “WE” are too much “in charge” of our own study these days.

Mark up your Bible. Underline passages that speak to you. Make notes that you (or your great-grandchildren) will read in the future.

If you remember… folks died to make sure you had God’s Word… in print… in your hands…

Almighty God… El-Shad-dai… my All Sufficient One, thank You for this living, breathing Word in my hands. Speak to me today in my reading, and remind me tomorrow of what You have said.

When I am so troubled that I cannot read, may I “thumb through” and just read the “underlined” so that I remember Your presence, Your faithfulness in the past, and hold to that promise for the future.

I pray this in the Name of the One Who Is the Word made Flesh – Jesus Christ my Saviour – Amen.

Losing the “Oh!” from our hearts

A.W. Tozer said, “When God Himself appears before the mind, awesome, vast and incomprehensible, then the mind sinks into silence and the heart cries out ‘O Lord God!’ There is the difference between theological knowledge and spiritual experience, the difference between knowing God by hearsay and knowing Him by acquaintance…”

He goes on to say, “We Christians should watch lest we lose the ‘Oh!’ from our hearts…”

What do you pray when you absolutely have no words? Don’t you just pitifully utter “O Lord…”? I once wrote a poem which said in part, “O Lord, hear our cries. O Lord, hear our sighs. O Lord, hear our ‘O Lord’s…”

There are times when there are simply no words. Tozer added, “When the calm listing of ‘prayer requests’ and the courteous giving of ‘proper thanks’ take the place of the burdened prayer that finds utterance difficult we should beware the next step, for our direction is surely down, whether we know it or not.”

Yes, we have the freedom, even the boldness to come into the “throne room of God” but we must never take that for granted.

Job said, “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” (Job 42:5)

Have you gone from “knowing about” God to “knowing” Him? How often do you stand speechless before Him uttering only “O Lord God!”?

Oh Father, we know that it is only through the precious blood of Jesus that we can even come before Your throne to pray to You. Perhaps that’s why we so often pray “Oh Father” rather than “O Lord my God…” Praying to “our Father” is comforting and uplifting, while praying to “Lord God Almighty” leaves us speechless and breathless. But sometimes Lord, perhaps that’s just where we need to be…

We praise Thee, O Lord God Almighty, through the precious Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Seek Your Elders

When I was a young woman I sought the advice of older Christian women. I often called my mother, my mother-in-law, my aunts, and older women in the church asking, “what do I… how do I… when should I…” There was so much that I needed to learn. In fact, I felt so lost (even at age 51) when my last “go-to” lady died. To whom would I go for advice now?

To whom do you go for advice? There is much we can learn from 1 Kings 12:1-11. Solomon was dead, and Rehoboam his son was king. The elders who had been Solomon’s advisors came around him to help him and advise him, but Rehoboam scorned their advice and turned to his buddies – and oh, what a mess that got him (and all of Israel) in!

Most of my “elders” have passed on, and, as the Werther’s Originals commercial says, “Now I’m the grand [parent]…” (Well, I’m not really a grandmother, but I’m old enough to be!) But, things have changed now. The younger “leaders” don’t want our advice. The last 4 out of 5 pastors we’ve had were either under 35 years old and/or had no experience in the pastorate, but yet, they seek the council of their peers rather than the experience of their elders. It’s so sad – and makes me feel like I’m the one who’s out of touch and not needed anymore…