Defending honor or just picking fights

The past couple of days I have heard and read many stories of pastors and ministers who have lost their way.  They seem to building for themselves earthly kingdoms under the guise of God's Kingdom.  They are making for themselves names and leaving legacies of destruction in their wake.  They aren't teaching or demonstrating the love and character of God in any sense of the Word.

This makes we rather up set.  Since I am a minister of the gospel, and so are you, I want to stand up on the street corner and defend the name and fame of God.  But this morning I was reminded of this passage and read it again, with more intensity and understanding (2 Peter 3.8-18).

Don't overlook the obvious here, friends.  With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day.  God isn't late with his promises as some measure lateness.  He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost.  He's giving everyone space and time to change.

But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be  unannounced, like a thief.  The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.

Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?  Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival.  The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day--but we'll hardly notice.  We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

So, (here comes the part for you and me...pay attention here--my thoughts) my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace.  Interpret our Master's patient restraint for what it is: salvation.  Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing.  Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand.  Irresponsible people (these are the men that I've noticed more and more in the past couple days--my thoughts) who don't know what they are talking about twist them every which way.  They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it. (see God doesn't need me to defend His honor)

But you, friends, (here we go again--check this out--write this down--apply this to your life) are well-warned.  Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers.  Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!

 I am reminded of the only fight I ever got into.  It was elementary school and I was defending my mom and sister's honor.  A kid started calling me names--that didn't bother me, I was used to being called names.  He then started in on my dad--as if that would work, my dad is big and can take care of himself.  Then he turned to calling my mom and sister names.  He was looking for a fight.  I punched him the eye and left with my heart pounding out of my chest.  What was I doing?

After school, he came looking for me.  I wasn't hard to find since I was a safety patrol and wore a bright orange belt around my chest and waist.  I was opening car doors for kids going home.  He skipped calling me names and went right back to my mom and sister.  I punched him in the other eye and went to see the principal.  I lost my belt that day and got in trouble at home for fighting.  I thought I was defending my mom and sister's honor.

The same is so true with God.  We think that we need to defend God's honor, name and fame when it comes to false teachers.  We need to focus that much harder on our relationship with God.  We need to do our best to be found living in purity and peace.  We need to take guard against losing our footing of faith and getting swept off our feet by these teachers.  The only way to do that is to know who God is and what He is about - growing in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Peter had it right.  It is a message that we need to heed today even more.  There are lots of false teachers out there proclaiming things that contradict the Word and character of God.  Become a student of the Word and know God more today than you did yesterday.

Peter's ending is so appropriate: Glory to the Master, now and forever!  Yes!

Second Place & Second Chair

"Second place is just the first loser." That was drilled into my head as a little kid in P.E. and competitions.  I hated sitting second chair in middle and high school band.  I wanted to have the recognition and position of first place and first chair.  I am very competitive, just ask my family.  I have a hard time losing to my youngest at Wii bowling (and that happens quit frequently).  Second place isn't a very reassuring place.  It isn't the goal of many of our lives.
Humility is a virtue that many of us struggle with.  I'm gonna tell on myself, and I hope that you can identify with me on this one.  I have listened to many preachers and sat under lots of pastors.  Some of them are good, some are great, and some aren't either.  Some leave me saying, "WOW!" - while others leave me wondering, "WHY?"

The Bible is such an incredible to book.  It is truly alive and speaking to me.  This morning I was studying for the morning devotional when this passage caught my eye and captured my heart:

I have a special concern for you church leaders.  I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory.  Here's my concern: what you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd.  Not because you have to, but because you want to please God.  Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously.  Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.

When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he'll see that you've done it right and commend you lavishly.  And you who are younger must follow your leaders.  But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for -  God has had it with the proud, but takes delight in just plain people.

So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs.  God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time.  Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. (1 Peter 5.1-7 MSG)

I have read many stories of pastors and ministers who have taken advantage of their position.  I have known many that I would not want to be in their shoes when they get to heaven.  I have struggled with pride in ministry and entitlement.  Then God removed me from the ministry.  I have seen the error in my own heart.

I long, once again after many hurtful experiences in the church, to be back in the ministry full-time.  I want to be on staff in a church.  I want to deliver the Word of God once again every week.  But this past weekend, I was confronted with my pride again.  I thought that I could do it better than the man in the pulpit and wondered why does he get to do it and not me.  This is my pride again speaking.

I have to learn to be content with where I am and who's I am.  Too many times we are caught in throws of coveting and don't even recognize it.  We want what others have.  We look at our lack and their surplus and wonder, and even question God, when will we get our share.  We might not ever get our share this side of heaven.  We must learn to be content with second place & second chair.

We must put our desires and dreams aside for God's dreams and desires.  This is the hardest part of the Christian life.  We must be willing to die to ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus.  Being a Christian is about being a Christ-follower and nothing else.

Will join me in being content with who you are?  Will join me in removing the air of pride and arrogance in your life - it really stinks anyways?  Will you be "happy" with coming in second place and sitting second chair next to Jesus?