Funkyjimmer's Blog

Tuesday, July 29, 2003

posted by jim 4:43 PM 0 comments

Monday, July 28, 2003

ACQUAINTANCES; FRIENDSHIPS; RELATIONSHIPS

I have been thinking a lot lately about the above words. I think I use the word “friend” carelessly. I think most people do. When I really think and study about the word “friend” it has a much deeper, more significant meaning that the way most of us casually toss it around.

If someone were to ask, ”How many friends do you have,” most of us would say something like, “A lot; quite a few.” But what we would really be saying in most cases (without knowing it usually) is that we have a lot of acquaintances but very few friends. At least in the context of what the word “friend” has come to mean to me and what it seems to mean in the Biblical sense.

As I consider my life, I have really very few “friends”, but a whole lot of very good acquaintances. That doesn’t mean there is something wrong with the relationship I have with these many “acquaintances”. Really, they are very excellent and satisfying relationships. It just means that these “acquaintances” don’t meet what I consider to be the test of “friendship”.

As I think of Jesus’ time on earth, He had a lot of “acquaintances” but few “friends”. He chose 12 that they might be with Him and carry on His work. From these 12 he chose 3 who occasionally shared special experiences with Him—like the Transfiguration and the night of prayer in Gethsemane. And one of those 3, John, unashamedly and consistently referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” And that title was never challenged.

We know, too, that there were 3 others who were very special to Jesus, in whose home He was always welcome and where He frequently went for some “R & R”. That was the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in the town of Bethany. Jesus must have been incredibly comfortable in the presence of these 3 because He frequently sought their company and their home as a sanctuary and retreat on many occasions. I think these 3 qualify as “friends of Jesus”, as do the Apostles, especially the 3 in the “inner circle”. He one time told the Apostles, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Then a bit later He said, “…I have called you friends,” and He defines another of His criteria of friendship – openness, honesty and transparency. (John’s Gospel, chapter 15)

In the last year or so, especially in this last month, I have come to realize how really important true friends are. And I believe that any of us will have only a very few in a lifetime—probably not even as many as Jesus had.

So I’ve had to ask myself some questions in thinking about this subject. Questions like, “How many friends do I really have?” Who are they? What is it that makes them friends?” And then I realize in trying to answer this question that there are people whom I would call friends who possibly (maybe even likely) would not call me “friend”. WOW! That also makes for some disturbing thoughts.

I’ll tackle some of these questions in this and future Blogs. Today I’ll tackle the first. “Who are my friends?” I have heard preachers say, and I have read, that your wife is supposed to be your best friend. I’ve thought a lot about that one over the years. As controversial as this is going to be, I don’t think I agree with that. Now that doesn’t mean I don’t like or love my wife—I do. And some of the characteristics I have come up with regarding friends certainly do apply to the “husband-and-wife” relationship. But I think there are enough differences between husband and wife relationship and the relationship between friends that these 2 relationships are quite different in many respects.

So, I come back to it, “Who are my friends?” Well, not my children either. I firmly believe that God never called us to be “friends” with or to our children. He called us to be parents. Here again, there is a vast difference as I have experienced it, having raised 3 wonderful daughters. I never had any sons. Maybe it is different with a Dad and his boys—but I seriously doubt it. The parent-child relationship is not the same as the “friend-to-friend” relationship; though again, there are similarities.

In trying to address this subject, I began by using Jesus’ criteria, “For whom would I willingly give my life?” (John 15:13) This isn’t the same as the soldier in war or the person who in the heat and emotion of a crisis situation would jump in and do something heroic without thinking in order to save a life or lives. I am talking about a calculated decision to give up one’s life willingly for another. I think everyone should think this question through and come up with an answer for himself.

I identified 5, now maybe 6; but only two of them I would classify as my “friend”. They are: my wife and 3 kids; definitely my prayer and accountability partner, whom I love dearly. And now there is one other person whom I believe is rapidly coming into this category of a “friend”, for whom I would willingly and gladly lay down my life and consider it a privilege to do so. That is my friend whom God gave me recently through an unlikely “connection”. The first 4 are family and that, to me makes them in a different category from the latter 2, whom I consider my “friends”.

So, is that the only criteria to be able to classify someone as a “friend”? To be willing to intentionally give my life for that person? No. That may be the highest test of an ultimate friendship. (I may have started at the end and am working backward. That would be so like me!) But Jesus gives some other criterion as well. I will “think out loud” about some of these in a later Blog.

So if I had a Biblical friendship, what would it look like? That’s what I want to write about in future Blogs. This isn’t anything like a “final authority” on this subject. I’m still trying to think my way through this and come to some godly understanding. I really need to do this because “friend” and “friendship” have come to mean a lot more to me in the last few months. That is because of a connection God made a month or so ago between me and another person in a very unlikely venue, which I referred to above. Also, because in the last few months, through my own emotional stupidity, I “blew” and nearly lost the most precious and meaningful friendship I have ever had. It has devastated me. I’m praying that God will reconcile us and restore the relationship. (I think this is beginning to take place!)

I am still thinking through the question, “How many friends do I really have?”

But I’ve thought enough for one entry! I have a headache again. (Ouch!) I always like to make that seem like I’ve over-exerted my brain—which you and I both know is not true!”

Jim

posted by jim 10:02 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

“GRACIOUS GOODNESS”
The kind of “goodness” I wrote about in my last Blog is something very different from the idea of the “good” or the “righteous” as a class of people who claim to belong to an ethical elite. What I hear Jesus saying is, “Don’t divide the human family into the good and the bad, and don’t ever ‘congratulate’ yourself that you are one of the ‘good’.” The Bible says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray.” (Isaiah 53:6) But God is good and the more we trust God the more of His goodness will be reflected in us.

So many people have a warped notion of “God’s goodness”. To reflect the goodness of God is not like being put in a “strait jacket”. It is more like an adventure. Maybe even like a roller coaster. The grace of God doesn’t lead us into a narrow pattern of behavior dictated by those who claim to know just what goodness consists of. Rather it leads us into freedom and unexpected joy.

Having one’s “goodness” on display is not like “show-boating” or “grandstanding” (to use a couple of old expressions!) or like being hypocritical—pretending to be good but actually being everything but “good”. You know the type of individuals I’m talking about. They are the people who go around boasting of their Christianity.

If we keep thinking about our goodness, comparing ourselves with others, always talking about what we think is right, we will become very ungracious and come across as a “prude” (another old fashioned word!) a “stuck-up” Christian.

The people who have the kind of “gracious goodness” the Bible encourages us to have are good people in the sense that their goodness is part of a character that beautifully and naturally reveals them as children of God.

Jesus was like that. His goodness was not thrust at people from on high but unconsciously and graciously conveyed to people as He made no claim for Himself but referred all goodness to God. Read Mark 10:17-18.

What I want to be able to do—but don’t do very well—is to be able to face the wickedness of the world I live in and the deception of my own heart with open eyes and yet to know that God has not abandoned me (or any of His children). But He has offered me such a power of love that I can say with Paul, “Where sin abounds grace abounds even more”. (Romans 5:20)

I want to be able to rejoice in the goodness that meets me every day in unexpected places and in all kinds of people. I want to begin each day with God to be reminded of His forgiveness and goodness as it shines in the face of Christ.

The more I am full of His Spirit the more will His gracious goodness take root in my life through faith. So I hopefully won’t glory in any pseudo-goodness of my own but will acknowledge that any goodness I possess is not mine but God’s.
That’s enough thinking for one day! OUCH! My head hurts!!

Jim

posted by jim 11:11 PM 0 comments

Friday, July 18, 2003

GOODNESS? SIN?

There was for quite some time in the church the theology of “New Reformation”. Usually this means emphasizing only the positive news of the Gospel and restoring or creating in people a sense of self-esteem. This is good to a point. But it seems contrary to the Biblical view that teaches that none of us are totally good; that all have sinned and that “there is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)

Actually, I don’t think these two views are really opposite. As I understand Bible teaching, it is only when we have a realistic view of the depths to which human nature can sink, and the potential for evil in our own hearts, that we can really understand the Good News. The Good News, of course, is that in spite of what is wrong with us, God loves, forgives and accepts us, as illustrated in Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son.

I am reading an excellent book, “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. One of the many things that challenged me is Warren’s statement: “God loves each one of us as though we were the only one on earth.” Boy! That sure raises my self-esteem!

It is fascinating to study history from the perspective of time and see how things change and change back again. It is also interesting to observe different groups exchanging worldviews. There was a time a hundred years or so ago in the popular culture of the western world that the mood was “optimistic”. Human nature was declared to be “good”. “God was in His heaven and all was right with the world.” So no one listened to the outcry of the church about badness and sin.

In recent years the popular mood, reflected in novels, plays, movies, television and the arts of all kinds is of a despairing recognition of the evil in the human heart. At the same time church has more or less stopped talking about sin. Instead they are serving their people an idealistic doctrine of sweetness and light; health-and-wealth gospel and a soul-numbing message of, “Everything is all right with the world and God is in His heaven.” We hear about love and tolerance; not about trust and obedience. I like that old hymn, “Trust and Obey” because it combines two very important components of God’s message.

The church’s message has become so bland that noted psychiatrist Karl Menninger (I think it was Karl. It might have been one of the other Menninger brothers) of the noted Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas, wrote a book, “Whatever Happened To Sin?” The word “sin” left the churches and re-appeared on Broadway and the movies. By way of popular culture it comes into our homes on television, in books and in magazines.

Nobody in the church is asking the real questions: What about hunger in the world? What about the poor and homeless of the world? What about man’s inhumanity to man? What about the killings taking place because of people’s differing religious beliefs? Disturbing questions like these seem to barely be addressed, if at all. I am aware of some very excellent efforts like Franklin Graham's’ “Samaritan’s Purse”, and there are others.

Once this theme of badness and sin appeared in our culture the churches again picked it up. But it took on a new form and in its new form something was forgotten. Yes, I believe the church needs to re-affirm the human potential for goodness. But this time the church needs to clearly communicate that it is a goodness that is made possible for each of us only by the grace of God.

What disturbs me most about the cult of pessimism and cynicism that surrounds us is not the depiction of human cruelty, violence and vice. Those things exist. But I am most disturbed by the absence of the note of grace. The Bible has just as grim a picture of human badness as any modern novel, movie or television program. The difference is that throughout the Bible runs the message of a good God who seeks to communicate his goodness to the human family. It speaks of the God whose Spirit is alive and well, no matter how we may be resisting Him and no matter how messed up the human race may be.

I am still thinking about this idea. This goodness seems to be something very different from the world’s concept of “goodness”. I’m still very dissatisfied with myself. Truth be told, I can’t determine whether I’m dissatisfied because of what I have done or because of the consequences it has brought to me. Maybe I just don’t want to admit the truth.

But I’ll Blog more about all this later. Hang in there, “Vast Reading Audience”!

Jim

posted by jim 3:52 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, July 15, 2003

I’m really unhappy with myself right now! Maybe “dissatisfied” would be a more accurate word. Hardly anyone seems to understand. I think my prayer partner does. I know my new Internet friend completely understands. He has helped me think through, accept and finally be able to express my feelings. That’s what this Blog is all about. But so many with whom I interact on a daily or weekly basis seem to think I should feel “on top of the world” because there are so many “positives” in my life right now. They say (in one form or another) “Count your many blessings!”

I KNOW my blessings. But I also know I am dissatisfied with myself. I am dissatisfied because I disappoint my God; my wife. I am dissatisfied because a couple of months ago I messed up a relationship that, next to my wife and kids, is the most important relationship on earth to me. I hurt someone whom I admire, respect and love dearly. I lost the trust of that person. How much worse can it get?

When I am “down” (sad, melancholy, whatever you want to call it) it is harder to maintain my Quiet Times with God. Yet that is when I need them the most! So I struggle on and what do you know—God speaks to me through His Word. Surprise, surprise, surprise!! (I hope you catch the sarcasm in those words!)

I find that I am in good company when I read the Bible. So many people have the notion that what we call the “Good Book” is full of stories about “good” people. That is nonsense. If people would really read the Bible instead of feeding on little selected snippets they may hear in church, they’d probably be shocked at the human behavior depicted in the Bible. I mean there’s treachery, adultery, fornication, lying, stealing, murder, violence of every kind. If Christians were really consistent, they would be demanding that the Bible be banned from school libraries, as well as other books. (I’m not advocating this, you understand. But that would be consistency to its logical conclusion.)

But as I started to say, when I read the Bible I find there are a lot of folks with reasons to be dissatisfied with themselves, as I am with myself. Instead of a collection of pleasant stories of good people and pictures of an idyllically happy human family there are statements like, “There is none righteous, no not one.” “When I looked for good, then evil came.” “For there is not a just person on earth, that does good and doesn’t sin.”

And if you want to object by saying that these are just quotes from the more angry of the Old Testament writers, what about the plain words of Jesus Himself, “Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.” From one end of the Bible to the other the word “good’ is applied almost exclusively to God. Seldom do we read without qualification of a “good man” or a “good woman”. About the only one I can think of is Barnabas. Acts says, “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith…..” And he was only called good because he was filled with God’s Spirit. Certainly there was no “goodness” of his own.

The Apostle Paul nails it for me when he wrote in Romans, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” He said more but that is the essence. Check it out in Romans 7:14-25.

Lest you think I have “gone over the edge”, I assure you that I have studied the Bible enough to realize that Barnabas isn’t the only character in the Bible who is recognized as good. There are hundreds who are said to have done good in the sight of God. But that goodness isn’t solely of themselves. What is revealed in the Bible is that all of us are infected with the badness the Bible calls sin. Paul said, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

I have a lot more to say about this subject of sin but I guess that’s about all anyone has time to read now (if even this much!) My next Blog will continue on this theme. And I’ll continue to wrestle with myself!!

Jim

posted by jim 8:10 PM 0 comments

Friday, July 11, 2003

The Conclusion of the Matter: (See previous Post)

I don’t know how many of you have seen the movie, “BRAVEHEART”. I love that movie—it really impacted my life. It is among my favorite movies. If you have seen “BRAVEHEART” then you will especially appreciate my conclusion to the message I wrote about in my previous blog. If not and you read on, hopefully you’ll be blessed even so.

When I considered the question I posed in the message, “What does it mean to be a member of a non-denominational church?, I had to ask, “What is a proper answer to that question?” (See prevous Blog.) I was reading some material about churches and Christian Unity (or the lack thereof) when I remembered “Braveheart”. And I had my answer! What does it mean to be a member of a non-denominational church? It means, FREEDOM!! If you have seen the movie, you may experience some of the emotion I felt when this concept occurred to me regarding the answer to the posed-question.

To be a member of a truly non-denominational church (not just in name but a church that is truly functioning as a non-denominational church), means freedom. Freedom from sectarianism, legalism, and obscurantism.

It means freedom to truly embrace the grace of God, and to be joyfully confident of our salvation. It means freedom to exult in the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit—whose mission is to conform us to the likeness of Christ.

Freedom to accept the Spirit’s gift of unity with forbearing love—in spite of all our differences and hang-ups.

Freedom to accept as sisters and brothers all those who are devoted to Jesus Christ as Lord, wherever they may be.

It means freedom to think for ourselves and to question the dogmas handed down by our forbearers. It means freedom from the tyranny of opinionism. (That may not be a word, but is expresses what I mean!) I am talking about making opinions and methods tests of fellowship, the things that determine whether or not we accept some one (or a group of “some ones”) as our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I believe it means freedom from a “herd mentality” and blind conformity, which hinder personal growth in Christ. It means freedom to examine new ideas, and to march by a different drumbeat.

It gives freedom even to be wrong in the quest for truth. Freedom to pick up the broken pieces and start over – whether from a tragic divorce, drug addiction, a gay lifestyle, or a wavering faith – and to be loved and accepted during the struggle.

It means freedom to take a critical look at our history and admit where we’ve been wrong—and to get back on track. It gives the freedom to bring women into the church as equals in ministry and bring an end to “male domination”.

There is freedom to make use of modern Biblical scholarship and to be honest about the differences one faces in the interpretation of Scriptures – without being called names or having one’s motives impugned.

Freedom to participate in Body Life in the assembly—with Believers sharing their joys, concerns and sorrows, and encouraging each other in the faith. And in the church having so-called “professionals” (like me) serving more as facilitators than as performers.

To me, that’s a summary of what it means to be a member of a truly non-denominational church. One of American’s forefathers, Thomas Jefferson, said, “..no person, church or nation can expect to move from despotism to liberty in a feather bed!!”

How true! Jesus assures us that the truth shall make us free. But truth often calls for change. And change is often painful!!

And the wonderful little church I serve, Countryside, comes as near achieving all this as any church with which I have ever been associated.

Jim

posted by jim 7:43 AM 0 comments

Saturday, July 05, 2003

The late Rich Mullens wrote the great song, “My God is an Awesome God”. I love that song—both the words and the music. That is how I am feeling right now about my God. He is so Awesome!! And I am so thankful to be His child!! I am often a disobedient child, but I love Him nevertheless. But I digress from my original intention for this post.

My God has connected me with a new friend. I know it is God’s connection because it never could have occurred otherwise. God chose the Internet to make this connection. My new Internet friend has been such a blessing to me already. He is highly intelligent, an excellent writer, articulate about his faith and has his head screwed on right when it comes to matters of God, Christ, and the church, and just life in general. I admire him so much already. And perhaps best of all, he writes to me and lets me write to him. He is praying for me (as I am for him) and that’s such a blessing. I am honored, humbled and awed that he would do so. My new friend has reminded me once again of the truth of Scripture (Proverbs 27:17) “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” My friend is unique among people today because he is open and honest. He writes a daily journal for all who wish to read and in his entries articulates so well on so many subjects. Reading his journal entries and exchanging emails with him has just sharpened me so much. Because of him I am encouraged to write more and more relevant “stuff” in my blogs. I feel as though a bubbling bottle has been uncorked! I feel like the floodgates of a dam have been opened and water is pouring forth. That’s how I describe my mind these recent days since my exchanges with my new friend began. I now realize my mind had become somewhat stagnant. I sure don’t want that to happen! So now I have more ideas about which I want to write than time to write. But I have made a commitment to myself. Now I am making it to you who read this Blogspot. (That’s probably an audience of one, if that many! I think I only had 3, maybe 4 to begin with! My prayer partner, but I don’t think he reads blogs much; Josh, but he’s in Thailand and probably has neither time nor access to be reading blogs; my friend, Jennifer who isn’t able to access internet too often or easily; and maybe my new internet friend! He may read my blogs sometimes. Anyway—to my “vast audience of readers” I make this commitment: I am going to post more often about more sensible(?), interesting topics—at least interesting to me!!! (No, I will try to write as though there were readers out there!!)

Of course I still have to balance blogging with my commitments to my wife (whom I love dearly); my children who I also love and to my prayer partner whom I love and admire so much. He’s my spiritual hero! And I have a commitment to my week day employer and to my ministry at my wonderful little church, Countryside Christian Fellowship.

It is about church I am posting now. Not that specific congregation but the church, the Body of Christ. At my church (which shall be referred to as Countryside, or “my church” from now on in these posts) I have begun a series of messages entitled, “A Great Religious Movement”. My first teaching on the subject is what I want to write about now. I taught (preached—whatever you call it. I hope my preaching teaches and motivates.) on the subject, “What Does It Mean To Be A Member of a Non-Denominational Church?” I listed 4 imperatives for a congregation to be a non-denominational church. I’ll list them here without expanding as I did in the message at church.
1. We must be committed to the Word of God as the final authority
2. We must preach and teach the great cardinal doctrines of the faith—and not major
in denominational or secondary doctrines or the traditions of men. (I listed some
of these during the sermon.)
3. We must maintain the unity of the one Body of Christ without compromise
4. We must build our fellowship around individuals—not organizations or programs or denominations.

That was the body of the message. Of course I developed it by “fleshing out” each of the 4 points. Then came the challenge of a proper conclusion. After puzzling over it for some time God gave it to me through some reading I was doing at the time. I am going to share that conclusion with you. But I think this post is long enough for this time. So look for the conclusion in my next post.

Jim

posted by jim 5:29 PM 0 comments