Children are a Blessing

Psalm 127:3 (ESV)

^“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.”

I want to say that I find all the news this week about abortion to be very, very sad.  Two states have passed and others are considering laws that allow late term abortions – abortions right up to and perhaps even after the moment of birth.  What does it say about a society that can justify the murder of the most vulnerable and defenseless among us?  What does it say about us that in the last 45 years there have been some 61,000,000 abortions?  I feel great sadness over this… over the pressure and stress many are under that would push them to even consider abortion.  Writing this is difficult because I know many, many women suffer through great guilt around this issue.  Abortion must be condemned.  How do you say that and yet at the same time speak a loud word of God’s grace and forgiveness to those struggling with great guilt?  There are just so many who are harmed physically, emotionally and spiritually by our society’s approval and practice of abortions. 

I have been struggling with what to write about in my blog.  So I did what I always do each week in preparation for this blog.  I started searching the Scriptures.  In that process these words from Psalm 127 jumped out at me. 

Psalm 127:3–5 (ESV)

³  Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

⁴  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children of one’s youth.

⁵  Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

This reminded me of a speech given by Mother Teresa years ago at the National Prayer Breakfast.  She said many great things in that speech.  One quote echoes this passage from Psalm 127 -  “A child is the greatest gift of love God gives to a family…”  A child is a gift – not an inconvenience… not a thing… not a burden – a gift.    

This has been my experience.  God blessed us with 4 wonderful children – 6 beautiful grandchildren and one more on the way.  Each one is a unique gift.  What about those children born with disabilities?  What about those who are Autistic?   I do not deny that parenting is hard, that parenting in those situations can be extremely frustrating at times.  Yet I know how much my family loved and were blessed by my older sister Roberta.  I have met family after family in these situations who love and see great joy in their children – even should they have different challenges than other children.  One father of a son who was born with Down’s Syndrome put it this way.  “Pastor, when our child was born, someone shared with me this perspective that really helped.  It was like we were expecting to get off the plane in Rome.  Instead, with his bith, we landed in Amsterdam.  After a while, we began to realize that Amsterdam is a pretty cool place too.”  All children are a gift and blessing from the Lord.  I believe that somewhere along the line we have forgotten that.

That’s why I am writing this blog today.  Yes, we need to loudly proclaim that abortion is a horrible sin.  Yes, at times, rare times, it may be a necessary evil chosen to save the life of the mother.  Yes, we should advocate for adoption as an alternative.   There are so many parents who want a child but aren’t able to conceive.  Yes, we need to speak Gospel, not just law, and proclaim God’s forgiveness and grace.  But also yes, we need to live lives and speak words that once again restore to our culture the value of every child.  We need to trumpet the great truth of Psalm 127.  “Children are a heritage from the Lord… blessed is the man (woman, family) whose quiver is full of them.”  

To Help or Not to Help - That is the Question

Galatians 6:2 & 5

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ...

For each will have to bear his own load.”

As a Pastor, I get asked this all the time.  “Pastor, a neighbor or a friend or my kid has asked me for help.  I don’t know what to do.”  Often the person is being asked to loan or give someone some money.  I have had a few instances where parents or grandparents have been expected over and over again to rescue their adult child from some situation.  Their son or daughter has gotten in trouble at school, they are flunking out of a program or they have gotten in trouble with the law.  Sometime the parent has stepped in to complete the child’s homework for them or pay the lawyer fees or their fines.  Often, the situation repeats itself again and again. “What should I do?  Am I enabling this person to be irresponsible?  Or am I really helping?  If I don’t help what will happen to my child?  To my friend?  To my neighbor?  I don’t think I should help but I feel guilty for thinking that?  What should I do?”

There are no easy answers to these situations but perhaps in today’s blogs I can give you some thoughts that might help you in your choices to help or not to help.  One big help for me are the two verses from Galatians 6.  In Galatians 6:2 St. Paul tells us to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”   In verse 5 Paul writes, “For each will have to bear his own load.”  At first read it may appear that Paul in these two verses contradicts himself.  That is not the case.  The key is to understand the difference between the words “burden” and “load.”  A burden is something to heavy for the person to carry by themselves.  The word “load” refers something each person can handle on their own.  Let me give you a couple of examples.  Imagine a neighbor has a yard that is a complete mess.  If that person is perfectly healthy and has the time – taking care of his own yard is a ‘load” he can handle.  However, a few years ago a friend mine had a neighbor who broke his back. For the man who broke his back taking care of his own yard had become a “burden” he couldn’t handle alone.  Therefore, my friend stepped in and started helping him.  When God send His Son to bear our sins for us… when Jesus carried the weight of those sins to the cross to die for us, He was taking up the burden of our sin – a burden to heavy for us to carry.  That might be one question to ask yourself – Is the need I am being asked to help with a “burden” or a “load” to the other person?

Does that mean we should never help some one with their load?  No. If you want to do something for a neighbor or a child out of love and a desire to serve – that may well be a really nice thing to do.  You just don’t want to be enabling laziness or irresponsibility.  I will give you an example from our life.  This past summer we asked people to help us with something while we were gone on vacation.  Even though they didn’t need to – they have continued to do this for us.  Why?  They are acting out of a servant’s heart of love and gratitude.  We really appreciate them. 

That may be the second thing to ask.  Ask yourself why you are doing something?  Too often I find myself doing something for others because of my need to be liked… my need to be needed… my need not to feel guilty.  Think about that.  Who am I really trying to help – myself or the other person?  Sometime my need to be needed can create an unhealthy dependency.  After while resentment may well take hold in my heart or the heart of the other person.  So another question to ask is this – “Who are you really trying to help – yourself or the other person?”    Sometimes the answer to that question may be “both.”

Think for a moment about the time when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.  It wasn’t that the disciples couldn’t do that work themselves.  Most likely the problem was that they wouldn’t.  What’s more Jesus didn’t have to step in and do it for them.  Yet He did.  Why?  Because He loved them, wanted to serve them and wanted to teach them that being a spiritual leader in the church means being a servant.  Is that your motive – you want to serve like Jesus?

To help or not to help is not always an easy question.  But if you choose to serve and help – do so with a free and grateful heart… love and help not because you have to but because you want to… love and help because that is what God did freely for you by giving you His Son.  

The Eighth Day of Creation

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

 Romans 6:4

This past Sunday we had an opportunity at Fishers to celebrate the 8^th day of Creation.  Now you may be wondering – “What do you mean?  I thought there were 7 days of creation?  What’s this 8^th day of creation?”  Well the 8^th day is the Day of Resurrection – Easter!  “But this past Sunday wasn’t Easter.  It was the Baptism of Jesus.” 

Let me explain.  We believe that God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7^th.  That’s the account of Genesis 1.  However, God’s creation was, as Paul wrote to the Romans, “subjected to frustration” by man’s fall into sin.  Since that fateful day when Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit and ate, this world, like us, has been dying! Scripture is clear – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…” (Romans 5:12).  Our Lord though had a plan… a plan for undoing sin and death…  a plan for a “do over…” a plan to start a new creation.  That plan was to give His Son to begin a new humanity.  That’s what Jesus did by His life, death and resurrection.  Jesus lived the life we fail to live… the perfect life that the Father commands and desires.  He lived that life on our behalf… in our place.  Then He offered that life up on the cross as payment for our Fall and failure.  So, when Jesus rose again… when He conquered death… when He became the “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.  (1 Cor. 15:20-23)  With His resurrection that first Easter Sunday the new creation had begun in Him.   Jesus is the new Adam.  That’s why we call Easter the 8^th day of creation.

Now what does that have to do with January 13 worship at Fishers?  January 13 was not Easter.  Well in a sense it was for us… especially for the youngest among us last Sunday.  Little newborn Luke was baptized last Sunday at our 8:30am worship.  Listen or read how Paul explains what happens to us in baptism.  “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Through baptism God adopted Luke as His own child.  God united him with Jesus – buried with Christ and raised with him.  In that moment Luke began a new life in Christ… as part of the new humanity – as a part the body of those who believe in Jesus!  Sunday, January 13 was Luke’s personal Easter.  He became a part of God’s new creation.  January 13^th was for Luke the 8^th day of creation.

That, my friends, is also true of your baptism.  As one baptized into Christ Jesus, God has adopted you.  He buried the old you in Christ’s empty tomb and raised you up with Jesus to live a new life.  Think what that means.  For one thing sin is no longer master over you.  Oh, you still sin – daily and much – but each day as you confess your sin to God you Father, you return to Him.  Once more, He forgives you.  He raises you up again and again.  That’s the pattern baptism sets up for your new life… daily crucified with Christ and raised up with Him.  That’s God’s promise for this new life.   

In this way, right now, by this work, God is continuing that work of new creation in your life and mine.  He is growing that new creation through our witness to the world.  He uses us to invite others to know Jesus, believe in Him, be born anew of water and the Spirit.  One day, when God is finished with this new work of creation He will invite you and me to do what He did on the 7^th day.  He will invite us to enter the eternal rest of heaven.  So, my challenge to you is to think daily about your baptism, to consider daily the work He began in you on that day!  Live your life in that hope, trusting His promise and work begun in you on the 8^th day of creation!  

Being a Man is a Good Thing Not an Illness

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)

^“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

Apparently, according to an article I read online this week, the American Psychological Association (APA) has published new guidelines warning of the dangers of “traditional masculinity.”  The APA has warned that "Socialization for conforming to traditional masculinity ideology has been shown to limit males' psychological development, constrain their behavior, result in gender role strain and gender role conflict, and negatively influence mental health and physical health.”  That article is the reason for this week’s blog.  Now I haven’t read the guidelines.  Neither do I trust medical information published in the news media.  (The media tends to oversimplify such things.)  I don’t intend this is a critique or analysis of the APA guidelines.  Neither is anything I write here intended to be a comment on women.  What I write here about men is not intended to imply anything about the importance of the women in our lives.

My intent is simply to say that being a man is a good thing, not an illness.  While I have mine ideas about what “traditional masculinity” is, I don’t presume to know how the APA is defining it.  What I do know is “God created us male and female.”    Manhood, along with womanhood, are both gifts of God to us and to our world. 

Does the Bible define for us what godly masculinity looks like?  While you can’t find a specific definition, it is implied all over in the Scripture.  Think of Jacob wrestling with God.  Consider Joseph refusing the temptation of Potiphar’s wife, forgiving his brothers and taking care of His family.  Or what about Joshua leading the people of Israel in the conquest of the promised land?   Then there is young David going out to face the giant Goliath so that the world may know that there is a God in Israel. Words like courage, integrity, strength, conviction, leadership and more come to mind as I think of these men. 

The best definition of manhood is to be found in our Lord Jesus. He is the perfect man, like us in every way except for sin.  He couldn’t be bullied.  Remember how he walked straight through the crowd that wanted to stone him.  Jesus was secure in his relationship with His Father to become the foot washer for his disciples.  He wasn’t afraid to do the right thing.  We see this he cleansed the temple.   Jesus was both strong and gentle.  Hence the Scriptures would say of him that he wouldn’t even break a bruised reed.  Jesus was a man of faith – trusting His Father’s plan even though it took Him to a cross.  Humility, righteousness, strength, courage. Leadership and more are all words that describe Jesus.

St. Paul held up Jesus as an example of what it means to be a godly husband.  Having written that the “husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,” Paul goes on to explain exactly what that means.  He wrote, “Husband’s love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…”  As I understand it that word “head” is a roman military term.  The Romans attacked in a triangle formation.  “The Head” was the man at the point of that formation.  The man who took that position was almost certain to sacrifice his life.  That’s what Jesus did for us on the cross.  He took the point.  He gave up His life for us.  That’s what it means to be a godly man – to take the point for your wife and family – to put yourself out there for them… to be willing to sacrifice everything, even your own life for them.

Sure, all men (except Jesus) have faults.  Some make a terrible mess of things and do terrible things, but that’s not because we are male.  That’s because we are all sinners.  Being male is not something to be ashamed of… our sin is.  The only hope for all of us is God’s forgiveness in Christ. 

When I look at the men God has put in my life over the years – I have to say thank you Lord for these precious gifts.  They have lived out in my life the words of Proverbs 27 - “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”   Let me just talk about a couple.  My dad taught me about being a man… taught me the value of hard work, of patience, of a good sense of humor, of providing for your family, of being generous, of loving children, of faith and much more.  God has given me great Pastors – Miles, Doellinger and Koch.  They all taught me about Jesus.  David Koch mentored me as Pastor and husband, and passed on to me that desire to mentor others.  Dick Lasch has been a brother to me, listening to me, advising me and more.  Jim Otte has spoken powerful Gospel into my life.  I could list a host of other men God has brought into my life. I don’t know where I would be were it not for the faith, courage, strength, love and integrity of these men.  I think you understand my point – Being a man is good thing not an illness.  My challenge to you today is to take a moment to consider the good men the Lord has brought into your life.  Then take a moment to write them or call them and say thank you.  

What Kind of King are You Seeking?

“Where is He who is born king of the Jews?”

Matthew 2:2

“Where is He who is born king of the Jews?”  That’s the question the magi ask when they arrive in Jerusalem. I hear that question and I ask another one.  What kind of king where they looking for?  Everyone in this story seems to be looking for something different. The magi come first to King Herod’s palace.  That suggests that they were looking for a traditional earthly king – a child born to wealth and privilege… a descendant of a king… one who would inherit the title.  The priests seem content to leave things the way they are.  They hear the question.  They go right to the answer Scripture gives. “In Bethlehem, in Judea, for so it is written by the prophet…”  Yet they make no effort to go to Bethlehem. The only king Herod wants is himself.  He is greatly troubled.  He pretends to want to find go and worship him.  In reality he plots the death of Jesus.  

What kind of king are you and I seeking?”  What do we want Jesus to be?  Once again there are many different answers.  Sometimes we want Jesus to be like a modern day King – just a figurehead. They wear the crown.  They represent their nation. Yet they have no real power to govern.  We do that.  We say, “He’s my king.  I follow Him.”  Yet we allow Him no real power over how we live.  We live as we please not as He pleases.  If kings have any power today is in giving advice or in being a role model.  Is that what we want from Jesus? Someone to look up to?  Someone to show us how to live?  Some of us want a King with power.   We want King we can come to with problems… someone we can fix things for us… someone we can blame when things don’t go wrong.  At other times we are like Herod.  Too often the only King you want is you… or that I want is me.  We want to be able to do what we want, when we want.  Sometimes we just want a benign king who just pats us on the head and tells us, “Everything is fine. Don’t change a thing.   You and I may want Him to set things straight in this world.  Yet by that we mean straighten everyone else out – not you, not me.

Yet, no matter what we want, the King the magi found in Bethlehem is much, much different.  God doesn’t send Jesus to be the King we want. He Him to be the King you and I need.  So they find Him in a humble home not a palace.   His parents are anything but royal.  Joseph is a carpenter.  Mary is a poor peasant girl.  He was wrapped in rags, not fine linens.  Our King is one of us… one who came to live as we live, struggle as we struggle, be tempted as we are tempted.  Ours is a King who understands our lives.   

Secondly, our King chose to wear our crown, rather than His own.  When the magi come to Jerusalem they ask, “Where is He who is born king of the Jews?”  Jesus is called “king of the Jews” only one other time in the Gospel of Matthew.  At his trial Pilates asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”  The soldiers mock him with that title as they crown Him with thorns.  Pilate has those words nailed to His cross.  This is the kind of King He is.  He not only lives our life but also dies the death we deserve.  Yes He confronts us with the reality of our sin.  More importantly He pays the price for our sin.  He is punished in our place.  That’s the King Jesus came to be – the one who sacrifices everything for us, even His own life.

Third, Jesus is our shepherd king.  It’s right there in the passage that the priests quote from Micah. “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”  He is a King who takes care of us. He listens to our prayers.  He heals our wounds.  He works all things together for our good.  He leads us in green pastures and beside still waters.  He guides us in the paths of righteousness and guards us in the valley of the Valley of the Shadow.  That doesn’t mean He fixes everything the way we want.  A shepherd often pulls his sheep in a direction they don’t want to go.  He sees the danger better than we sheep do.  He knows best where to take us.   That’s what we need to remember when life doesn’t go the way we want it to go.  He comes to be the shepherd King we need, if not always the one we want.

Finally, He is a King we cannot out give.  People are always trying to find hidden meaning behind the gifts brought by the magi – gold for a king, frankincense because He will offer Himself, and myrrh an ointment used to prepare a body for death.  The Bible gives these gifts none of those meanings.  I see them as hugely out of place.  I think they brought them to give to the kind of King they were expecting – a wealthy prince living in a palace.  Here, with this king they are out of place.  Yet Jesus received their worship and their gifts.  Yet they are nothing compared to what He gives – God’s own Son given for the world, for the magi, for you and me.  Every gift we give to Him will fall short. We cannot out give our King.  Indeed the one gift that honors Him above all others is to receive His gifts… it is put your whole faith and trust in Him and Him alone.  I’ve told you a story about a man pushing a wheel barrel across a huge water fall.  At first no one believed he could. But once he’d done it, everyone said, “Sure I believe.”  To that the man replied, “If you really believe I can, then please sit in my wheel barrel and let me push you across.”  That’s faith. That’s the faith that Jesus the King seeks from you and me… to crawl into His wheel barrel.. to put ourselves completely in His hands.  That may not be the kind of King you were expecting.  But that is the kind of King we need.  That’s the kind of King Jesus is - the kind you can trust completely… with everything. Amen.