Renewal, Revival, and Spiritual Awakening

Renewal, Revival, and Spiritual Awakening are all terms I have heard lately to describe a new movement of God's Spirit upon His people. None of these terms are particularly new, but they have perhaps started to resurface again in my circles of influence. But, what is revival? Often when the word is used it is used by disillusioned church leaders or long time Christians who say that what the country needs is revival; what the church needs is revival; what we need is revival! How true these statements are! We DO need revival in our world, nation, churches, and in our own lives. Truth be told, we need constant revival in our hearts because the alternative is a state of complacency in the now and decay in the long run.

Revival – (Hebrew – Kwaw-yaw) – A return, or recovery from a state of neglect, forgetfulness, obscurity or depression in order to give more active attention to religion; and an awakening of men to their spiritual concerns. Revival is also translated as "quickened" in Psalm 119:50, 93; to give life or to make whole to revive or Restore (2 Kings 8:1, 5).


Spiritually speaking, the divided kingdom era of ancient Israel gives us a great picture of this pattern, not to mention the period of the Judges. There were periods of great national and personal revival that took place as people sought the Lord with all their hearts. This was typically driven by the king, the prophet, or the judge.


There are great examples of persons in the Old Testament who were used mightily to bring about changes in their day. Joshua is a great example of this. Long before Joshua ever became the leader of Israel following the death of Moses, we find that he was a man who longed for God and desired to spend time in His presence. During the period of the Exodus, Moses led the Children of Israel through a 40 year wandering on the Sinai Peninsula as God was chastening and preparing them to take possession of the Promised Land. During this time, the scriptures describe a ritual that Moses undertook when they were encamped.


Exodus 33:7-11 describes how Moses pitched a tent outside the camp, quite a distance from the regular camp. It says in Exodus 33:7: "And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp." It is interesting to note that there was a special place established for people to seek the Lord and that place was a good distance off from the regular camp. I imagine it was quite a visual as at times a trail of people headed out to the "Tent Meeting" going on outside town! As a matter of fact, the next verse says: "So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle." (Vs. 8)


Now this is where the idea of revival takes shape in our story. Joshua, according to this passage, stayed in the Tabernacle of Meeting long after Moses departed and went back to the camp. "So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle." (Vs. 11) So how do I arrive at my assessment that he stayed long after Moses departed? Verse 7 tells us that Moses pitched the tent of meeting "far from the camp" which would mean a walk of quite a distance to get to the tent.


The text would indicate that after Moses departed and walked the considerable distance back to the camp that Joshua stayed and "did not depart." Some have taken this to mean simply that Joshua was the guardian of the tent in the absence of Moses as a sort of "custodian." However, when you look at the whole picture of what was happening when Moses entered the tent of meeting we see a larger picture emerge. The people all stood to watch as Moses walked by headed to the tent. When Moses arrived according to vs. 9, "the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses." Then something else very interesting takes place in vs. 10: "All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door."   


Moses has entered the tent of meeting, God descends in a pillar of cloud upon the place. Joshua is present in the tent while this is taking place. The people from the camp see the cloud descend from a distance upon the tent of meeting and it says they stood to their feet and worshiped the Lord from there own tent. This worship from afar was also the case earlier on when Moses went to the mountain top to receive the Ten Commandments. Prior to Moses going up He said to Moses: "You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death." (Exodus 19:12) Afterwards however, there was no such prohibition given by the Lord and yet the people were content to remain distant from God and let Moses be the "middle man" so to speak:


"Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was."  (Exodus 20:18-21)


The Children of Israel were free to experience God's presence in the tent of meeting outside the camp according to Exodus 33:7. There were no prohibitions holding them back. However, something distinct took place when Moses would go to the tent to meet with God; His very presence would descend upon the tent and He would speak to Moses face to face. The scripture does not indicate that the others from the camp were present during this time, but instead rose as Moses passed by them and then stood again to worship when the presence of God descended upon the tent. They were "content" to worship God at a safe distance. This seems to be the case today for many good church going folks. We are very content to worship the Lord from a distance with our modern "concert" type church setting. There is a feel of the band performing while the rest of the people are spectators. However, when we draw closer to the thick blackness of God's presence we become increasingly uncomfortable because we become increasingly aware of our own sinfulness and way-ward tendencies.


What is the key to renewal or revival in our day and age? I believe it has never changed. The key is a brokenness and humility before God and a desire to "draw near the thick darkness where God is." Every major example of revival in the last 400 years has been marked by very similar characteristics.

• Prayer - Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle states: "Prayer begets Revival, which begets more prayer." Every major revival has been preceded by men and women of God seeking God in ever increasing ways. One of the most well known passages on prayer and revival in the scriptures can be found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 where there seems to be a sort of recipe for revival: "... if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
• Repentance - God is attracted to our brokenness but resists pride. The only way we can ever truly approach God is through a humble acknowledgement that we are sinful, flawed people in need of His provision of grace and forgiveness. The Apostle Peter states: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)  And again, Isaiah declares: “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (Isaiah 66:2)
• Hunger for Righteousness - The people of God over the centuries have often returned to the Lord when they see the decay of the society around them and a decent into permissiveness. When society begins to declare that anything goes and moves to a "Do what thou will" mentality it is a sure sign that true men and women of God will come to a point where they can no longer stand the stench of sinfulness around them and will begin to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Jesus Himself in the Sermon on the Mount stated: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6), and "Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God."

But how will we know for sure that revival and spiritual awakening us upon us? People will hunger for God in a greater way. Rather than entertainment and business with life in general, you will see people devote more and more time to prayer, reading scripture, and worshiping God. Family BBQs will be transformed into family prayer meetings. Radio stations will go from pop music to worship and preaching. People will begin to rise earlier in the morning longing for quiet time with Jesus. Our churches and chapels will begin to fill with people who have no idea why they are there, they just know they need to be there! Altars will begin to fill with people hungry for more of God. Preachers will barely get the words out of their mouths and people will repent and call out for God to save them. You will see an overall shift from common and ordinary to divine and extraordinary in people's lives. This process is not easy for sure.


According to Mario Bruni: "Revival is not cheap! It is not some blessing you can obtain and add to your life or your church. Revival reaches to the very core of who you are and brings utter brokenness and repentance. It will cost you everything. Revival will transform you into a holy vessel that God will fill and put to powerful use. Are you ready for revival? It is coming! Are you willing to pay the price?"

Commandant of the Marine Corps

Today I wanted to share a very cool story published in my book "Reflections from the Battlefield" back in 2005. The reason this is such a neat story is because of a recent development at the top of the ranks for Marine Corps. The new Commandant of the Marine Corps was just announced to be General Joseph Dunford. Why is this exciting? Take a look at my post from the 5th of October, 2004: Day 8 “The Fear Of The Lord” “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” —Proverbs 9:10 5 October, 2004 Today I have been meditating on a situation I had the occasion to observe last night in the chow hall during evening dinner. Halfway through my meal as several hundred Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and civilians ate their dinner, I noticed the General came in to eat. As he waited in line to get his food, nearly everyone was somewhat conscious of his presence with us—some going out of their way to acknowledge a “Good evening sir!” while some were going out of their way to avoid him. If you ever pictured in your mind what a typical general looks like, you would picture this man—confident, strong, intelligent—one who commands respect simply by his presence. As I watched the General find his way through the line and get his drink, he scanned the many tables for a place to sit. Those having empty spots at their tables seemed to be nervous thinking that perhaps the General would sit down next to or across from them. I watched as he found a table with several other officers. There was one chair open; he found his spot and sat down. „The Fear Of The Lord‰ The part that I found most interesting about this event is that the person on the other side of where he sat down was a young Lance Corporal who immediately had a look of fear and discomfort on his face as soon as he realized that the General just sat down across from him. He didn’t know whether to stand, sit, or go elsewhere. The General tried to put him at ease and insisted that he stay where he was. I found this moment in time comical, and yet, I felt for this young guy. It was obvious that he did not enjoy his meal and was very uncomfortable. The Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart about this scene. The lesson was one of God speaking to me about having a healthy fear of Him. Did I have it? This Lance Corporal had a very healthy fear of the General; it was clearly all over his face. The General is actually a very personable and nice man as I have on several occasions been with him during briefs and in various dealings within the Command Operations Center. He is a pleasant, even compassionate man, but this Lance Corporal did not know this. The General is concerned and cares about each person under his command and does all in his power to ensure they are safe and taken care of. In fact, there is not much this man would not do for his troops. Do I have a healthy fear of my God? If there is anything in my life that is not right or any sin big or small, do I fear my God? I understand that God loves me and wants the very best for me in all things, but do I fear Him—not a shaking in my skin type of fear, but a true reverence and Holy respect for Who He is as Lord and God. A few years ago there was a t-shirt circulating that had a picture of Jesus on the front of it that said “Jesus is my homeboy.” While I am not opposed to thinking of Our Lord as a friend who sticks closer than a brother, I do have a hard time diminishing His place to a casual “homeboy” position. This seems to truly lack reverence or respect. To add Day 8 146 to my suspicion, those who were wearing this t-shirt were folks who were anything but followers of Christ including several rock stars, actors, and adult models. The Hebrew word used for fear in this example is the word yir’ah which means “awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear), fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety, or revered.” The presence of the General caused all of these emotions and caused all who were around to check themselves. They automatically wondered if their shirt was un-tucked, or uniform worn properly, or do I have a good haircut? Are we always conscious of the “GENERAL” who is ever with us? This knowledge of the Holy One and realization that He is at our table, in our car, in our home, at our place of work could just give us the incentive we need to stop the next time we think about sinning. The scripture says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. —Proverbs 9:10 Try to remember my friends that the GENERAL is with us always. He knows each of us by name and has our very best interests and welfare in mind. God bless you all! Pastor Ryan Ramadi, Iraq." The General is was writing about back then was a brand new Brigadier General who had just arrived to work with our Division Commander, Major General Natonski. From the very beginning General Dunford was a man who stood out and commanded respect. What an amazing blessing for me 10 years later to see that he will be the next Commandant of the Marine Corps! The lesson from my post back then still applies to us today. A healthy reverence and fear of God is always necessary for us to walk right with God.

Pay No Attention To The Man Behind the Curtain!

Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain! "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 I had the wonderful blessing of playing the part of Martin Luther the Reformer during a weekend illustrated sermon at our Church. The pastor was sharing a message about people standing in the gap through the ages for the Christian Faith and forming a bridge of sorts, from the past to our present day. Martin Luther was one of those faithful heroes! In the midst of the second performance during the second morning service I was back stage listening to the pastor and the other parts in the play. I leaned on the door between the sanctuary and the back-stage area and peered out the small window to those seated in the congregation. I could see them but they were not able to see me due to the darkness of the window and the back-stage area. I listened to the Pastor share the message during one of the scene changes where the stage crew was setting up the cross for the crucifixion scene. The crew was busily scampering about like so many ants on an ant hill. People going here and there, all with a purpose, but to the untrained eye, in chaos! Soon the scene was set up backstage and those who sat in the seats of the congregation had no idea what was happening behind the curtain. From my vantage point I looked left to the congregation, focused on the words of the pastor, and to the right to the crew racing the clock to get everything set just right for when the curtain would again be drawn back. I felt the Lord whisper to my heart that this was like a glimpse into the heavenly throne room. The people of God see only what is in their view and what has their attention, but behind the scenes God and the heavenly hosts are working mightily on our behalf to set the stage favorably for our lives. We are so often unaware of the flurry of activity taking place, the ground being taken, and the blessings being prepared as we pray and believe God for our lives. As the unlikely band of misfits came before the great and mighty Oz, they could not have known what was in store for them. At one point a little activity was noticed to the side behind a curtain to which the man (Oz) rebuked: “Pay no attention to the Man behind the curtain.” Unlike Dorothy and her crew, we are to always pay attention to the Man behind the curtain, knowing that He is ever working on our behalf, preparing the next scene for us in life! You may not know what the next scene for your life is, but one thing is sure…The One who has set the stage for you is faithful and good, able to preserve and propel you into a new and awesome adventure! Are you ready?

Ready For Inspection!

 Ready for Inspection

“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:35-37

I am completing my second week here in Newport, Rhode Island in the Navy’s Officer Development School. My 105 classmates are Staff Corps Officers that include Doctors, Nurses, Dentists, Lawyers, Engineers, Chaplains, and various other disciplines. These first two weeks would be what one could consider tense, stressful, and very challenging. The sleep deprivation alone will get to you after 3 to 4 days (av. 4 hrs. per night) but as a special added bonus we get a specially trained Chief Petty Officer who love to speak to you with a slightly elevated voice and who specialize in finding your physical weakness and exploiting it. The first morning of training (4am) we awoke to a cranky Chief Petty Officer banging a trash can in the hallway and screaming at the top of his lungs “get up, get up, GET UP! We were then taken down two flights of stairs to an empty hallway were our physical “character building” began! It was a bit like doing the P90X workout after being startled awake by a plane crashing into the house next door!

Needless to say, our first taste of Newport was not exactly peace and tranquility that some had perhaps expected for dignified Naval Officers. The distinct impression was left upon us that morning that this same wonderful experience could happen to us at any time, in any place, and for any length of time if we failed to comply with every command immediately. Incidentally, some of those commands were foreign to us because we did not yet understand the terminology or the substance of the command. This small fact was apparently not relevant and frequent physical thrashing was experienced by me and my 105 closest friends. (You become very well acquainted with your neighbors when you spend so much time next to them doing pushups or jogging in place!)

Another added joy was the tossing of our dorm rooms. By tossing I mean tossing…literally! Our beds, bedding, clothing…all tossed in the center of the room! If your room was not spotless (a technical term for dust, lint, and microscopic particles) at all times, bed made perfectly with sheets and bedspread tighter than a trampoline and 45 degree angles, and all stuff locked in your locker, then your room would be tossed! Apparently no one has been able to meet this expectation consistently. My bed incidentally, was so tight that one night when I tried to lie down it bounced my right back up on my feet (slight exaggeration) and yet I was tossed!

Then there is the “Rose Garden” which is apparently the Chief’s “happy place.” The Rose Garden is not a rose garden at all. In fact, I am fairly confident there has never been a rose anywhere near this field of torture and pain. The Rose Garden is a large sand pit behind our barracks overlooking the Newport bay where we receive “instruction” when we have failed to comply with orders. It is a place of joy and one can almost hear the evil laughter echoing through the Chief’s mind as the thrashing commences. As you might imagine, there has been a mild level of anxiety in our ranks. The knowledge that at any time you may encounter an angry, slightly over caffeinated Chief with a keen ability to detect fear has been enough to keep us all a bit on edge.

After the first inspection in our Khaki uniform, we actually faired pretty well. After all the anxiety leading up to this inspection most were extremely relieved to be done with this monumental task and many were even feeling a bit bold and confident. Some of the fear wore off for a few days and the purpose in our step waned a bit. Where only a week prior we would sprint to every place we were to be and double, triple, and quadruple check everything we did, now we were meandering as though on a brisk walk. We were quickly becoming unintentional in our ways. This fact did not go unnoticed by the all seeing eye of the Chief! (This is what led us to discover the Rose Garden) There was a sense of complacency that set in for several days.

The same thing happens to us as members of the Body of Christ. We think at some point that we have this Christianity thing figured out and we begin to let our guard down. Rather than instant obedience to what we know God expects of us, we slack off. We don’t read our bible as often or pray regularly. We get caught up in the cares of life and stop attending church regularly. We may even get to a point where there is little about our life that would give the impression that we are a Christian. It is as though we forget that Jesus said to watch a wait, warning that He could return at any time. As the Chief is lurking around every corner here at ODS Newport, God (who does not lurk incidentally) sees everything and has told us He is coming soon for His people.

What will He find when He returns. Are your ready for inspection?

Judge Not!

Matthew 7:1-5

 

 

In the Late 1990s, a scandal of unprecedented proportions broke within the LAPDs Rampart division. The scandal went deeper and wider than anyone thought possible and was centered on two police officers. When all was said and done, nearly 100 convictions were over-turned due to corruption such as witness tampering, evidence planting, bad shootings, improper arrests, and others. The estimated total cost of the Rampart scandal topped 125 million dollars. Additionally more than 15,000 cases are being investigated for possible corruption.

Recently, Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois was removed from office for federal corruption charges which included: attempting to auction off Pres. Obama’s house seat, blackmailing the Chicago Tribune into firing columnist he considered overly critical of himself, and strong arming to get his wife a high paying job. Later, His appointment to congress, Burris, is of questionable legitimacy because of who appointed him.

·     Hypocrite: the man who murdered both his parents... pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan.  ~Abraham Lincoln

·     The world is full of fools and faint hearts; and yet everyone has courage enough to bear the misfortunes, and wisdom enough to manage the affairs, of his neighbor.  ~Benjamin Franklin

I wonder if you’ve ever seen the scales of justice.  They are usually represented by lady justice holding a scale in one hand, a sword in the other having a blindfold. The purpose is to show how the law is to be true and impartial.

When the rule of law is undermined or the basic fabric of our judicial system is unraveled it is like:

·       A sail with no wind

·       A hotrod with no fuel

·       A refrigerator with no food

·       A bank account with no money

·       The extended discussion of how delicious and wonderful a juicy steak is without actually taking a bite

·       A baseball player taking a swing with a rope

·       A rifle shooting blanks

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:1-5 NKJV

In our society of so called "tolerance," we are often struck with an opposition of people who cry that we have no right to judge them. In fact, I've even heard some go so far as to claim that "Jesus never judged people; He even taught that we are not to judge!" Strangely enough, they will quote Matthew 7:1 in attempts to convince others that Jesus has condemned all judging.

In the first two words of this passage, Jesus does tell us to "Judge not..." But these two words have been perverted and twisted to teach that when one calls the actions of another error and expresses that continuance in such ways will condemn the soul, that individual is judging, which is supposedly "condemned" in the Bible. But from the context of this passage, what judging is forbidden?

If we take the view that judging is completely and totally forbidden, then that would make the doctrinal and moral purity of the church impossible to maintain. This would violate other teachings and divine examples that Christ has revealed in His word:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ^You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ^A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ^Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ^Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:15-20

This stance would commit us to neutrality and that is the very opposite of the stance Christ wants us to take.

As a matter of fact, Paul’s stand in Chapter 5 of 1 Corinthians would make not sense at all if we were never to judge! But what gave Paul the authority and right to judge? It was that he lived in the fullness of God’s Spirit with a pure conscience before God. Other wise, he could have never said, emulate me as I emulate Christ!

What many fail to realize is that Jesus taught, that we are given the right and responsibility to make judgments in order to help our fellow man with their problem of sin, provided we have first "remove the plank from our own eye." Jesus expects you to be able to see clearly, so that you can "remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:5). So there are judgments to be made, within ourselves, and of others.

But then, what judging is the Lord telling us not to practice? In our text, Jesus is forbidding the judging that is for the purpose of putting down others to exalt one's self. It is the habit of finding fault in others when really there are more faults within you. How can you expect to help a person with a few transgressions when you are overwhelmed with many transgressions? Jesus simply teaches that in order to pass righteous judgment on another, we ought to first examine ourselves. Let us remove the plank in our eye. Then, and only then, can we see clearly to remove the speck in our brother's eye.

In John 8, the scribes and the Pharisees seeking to test Jesus brought to Him a woman caught in the act of adultery and asked the following question: “Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” Jesus responded by saying, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (v. 7). “Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one. . . . When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more’” (vv. 9-11).

What are the lessons we can learn from this story? What does it say about sexual immorality; is adultery no longer a sin? Are we to conclude that it is wrong for Christians to judge behavior and condemn sin? Are there no longer any consequences to sin in the New Testament era? What would Jesus say?

JESUS DID NOT EXCUSE ADULTERY. Although Jesus said that He did not condemn the woman, she was unquestionably an adulteress. In other Scriptures, Jesus says that adultery is on par with things that are evil and wicked, and, like murder, adultery defiles a man. Jesus says that adultery is a sin that can cast you into hell (Matt. 5:27-30). Whatever the lessons of John 8 are, one cannot conclude that Jesus does not consider adultery a sin.

JESUS DOES NOT CONDEMN JUDGING, BUT UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT. The woman in John 8 was an adulteress (John 8:3-4), but her accusers were not motivated by righteous judgment or disdain for sin, but a desire to test Jesus, “that they might have something of which to accuse Him” (John 8:6). The scribes and Pharisees sought to trap Jesus by His answer to their question. Jesus did not immediately answer the question, but gave the appearance of ignoring it (John 8:6). Not wanting Jesus to escape, the scribes and Pharisees repeated their question until Jesus said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” No one threw a stone and all of the woman’s accusers left her and Jesus alone (John 8:9-11). In their zeal to trap Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees had allowed their own improper motives to blind their judgment. With one statement (“He who is without sin among you…”), Jesus caused the woman’s accusers to be “convicted by their conscience” (John 8:7, 9).

Jesus’ statement to the accusers did not condemn judging, but caused the accusers to consider their own motives. The men came to realize that they were actually willing to kill a woman if necessary to discredit Jesus. Jesus did not fault the scribes and Pharisees for accusing the woman of adultery because the accusation was true. Rather, Jesus pointed out that the reason why they brought the adulteress to Jesus in the first place was hypocritical.

Jesus does not condemn judging, but emphasizes the need for righteous, genuine, and sincere judgment. One cannot know the difference between good and bad fruit without judging (Luke 6:43).

Matthew 7:1-2 is often misquoted by people who believe judging is unscriptural. “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Verse 2, however, emphasizes the importance of sincere, non-hypocritical judgment.

Righteous judgment is a necessary activity for a spiritually healthy Christian. The Christian first looks inward and judges himself, and removes “the plank from his own eye” (Luke 6:42).

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ^For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 1 Corinthians 11:28-29

 

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

2 Corinthians 13:5

 

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ^But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  Galatians 6:3-4

 

The teaching of Jesus in this passage is concerned with the attitude of a man, not a complete absence of our judgment. Christ is not permitting us to avoid making hard decisions or taking difficult stands. He is warning us not to have a bitter, hyper-critical, faultfinding spirit. That is a haughty attitude God will not tolerate.

However, as God's children, although we must be cautious in our judgments concerning ourselves and others, we cannot ignore our Lord's commands that instruct us to make judgments. In John 7:24, Jesus said "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” Here we are clearly commanded to judge with righteous judgment.

But what does it mean to judge with righteous judgment? Jesus revealed this earlier in John 5:30: Jesus spoke, saying, "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."

If we seek and follow the true will of God, which can only be found in His word, then when it comes time for us to help people discern between right and wrong, then we will not judge with our opinions or what we think is right, but just like the mind that Christ had, we will only seek to do the will of the Father. Following the limitations for judgment that are taught throughout the scriptures, all we are to do in order to judge righteous judgment is to hear God's word, and judge using His standard.

How can anyone honestly say that Jesus didn't judge? For that matter, when our Lord's true followers make righteous judgments, based on His word, in order to expose sin and help the lost to be saved, why would anyone ever think that Jesus would condemn them for that? Jesus has plainly revealed that those who abide in His ways will judge with righteous judgment.

 

Side Roads

A few weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to spend 4 hours driving with a dear saint in her mid 80's. She and her husband were precious saints in my church for several years and he just recently passed away. I was honored to be able to do the home going celebration for him as he was one of my very favorite people in the world! At the age of 90 his wit and humor always kept me laughing and his playful jabs always kept me humble!

On this particular occasion I was taking her to central California for her brother's funeral. On the road she began to open up about how wonderful her precious Richard had been and how thankful she was to God for granting them 10 wonderful years together. After both she and Richard's first spouses had passed on the Lord brought the two of them together and what a beautiful couple they were! As she opened up to me about their life together she shared with me about Richard's love of traveling. He wanted to go for a ride in the car nearly every day. They drove all over California and several times across the country!

She shared with me how they didn't like taking the quickest or the most direct routes on their trips. Often they would find a side road off the freeway that led to a small town or an attraction of some kind. Over the years many of the small towns across the country had by bypassed by freeways and highways and most people just raced past them now. She shared with me how very often they would find some of the most amazing little towns and places off the beaten path. Little stores with treasures almost forgotten by the outside world, or cottages almost unknown to travelers racing by on the freeway. She said they had discovered little ponds and parks and other little secluded places of beauty that would not be detectable from the main road.

This reminded me of a passage in the scripture that speaks of the hidden treasures stored up for those who trust the Lord. Psalm 25:14 declares that God reveals His mysteries to those who fear Him. He also goes on to declare through the prophet Isaiah:

"And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—
secret riches.
I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name."   -- Isaiah 45:3

God delights to reveal His wonderful treasures and mysteries to those who are willing to press into Him deeper than a surface or cursory glance. He has unspoken and untold riches stored up for each of us if we are willing to take some of the side roads or the roads less traveled. Many are they who travel on the highways and freeways of life. It's faster, wider, and more convenient. But, as my dear friend conveyed to me, we often miss those small miracles and treasures of life when we are in such a hurry. God has promised to reward those who press in more diligently and deeply into Him with a greater understanding of who He is. (Hebrews 11:6) He IS the treasure!

The majority of those in the world travel the wide road. But Jesus challenges us to take the narrow road and the road less traveled. It will be harder...and it will take considerably more time, but it is worth it! Don't be afraid to take some side roads...you just might discover a wonderful treasure around the next bend!

Blessings!

Ryan

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

The camera pans from left to right down a busy city street and settles upon an inviting first-story establishment on a corner. The windows and stairway leading to the front door are adorned with orange and white awnings and the sidewalk is lined with classy lampposts and a large American flag hangs fluttering in the breeze from the second story. The modern scene then morphs to a late 19th century era where the cars turn to horse-drawn carriages and the men that line the streets are dressed in classy suits with top hats and canes. A piano plays simple notes in a familiar tune: "Making your way in the world today, takes everything you got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away?" The music then builds and everybody joins in: "Sometimes you want go, where everybody knows your name. And they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same, You wanna be where everybody knows your name."

This is, of course, the opening jingle for the hugely popular sitcom "Cheers" which ran for 11 season from 1982 to 1993. The show was hugely popular earning some 28 Emmy Awards and a then-record 117 nominations. The show was successfully syndicated world-wide and in 2002 TV Guide name the show 18th on its list of the 50 greatest TV shows of all time.

So what's all the hype? Why is this show about a bunch of regulars at a Boston Bar such a hit? The opening jingle melodically draws one into the show with an almost "Leave It to Beaver," home-cookin' and apple pie tagline. What is it about this show that grabbed America for so many years? Could it be the bucket loads of huge stars that came through the doors like Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, and Kirstie Alley? Was it the amazing acting? Or was it something a little more visceral? Did it grab at something deep down in each of us?

The answer to this came in a most unusual way for me. I recently returned from a grand two-week tour of three states with some of the most breath-taking and picturesque beauty anyone has ever seen. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. It was actually Eastern Pennsylvania, Western South Dakota, and North Eastern Wyoming...in January! Not exactly to most picturesque time of the year in any of those states! Not to mention the temperatures were in the minus 150 degrees range with light breezes gusting to 50mph! It is what folks in Wyoming call "a bit chilly." I remind you that I hail from this frozen wonderland that is somewhere between the frozen peas and frostbitten Neapolitan ice cream in the deep freeze! But, I digress.

As I was saying before my journey down adjective lane, the answer to the question regarding the draw of Cheers came in an unusual way. I visited my Grandparents on the Krause side of the family first, in Allentown, Pa. My Gramps, now 82, can barely get around because of several hip replacements, knee and back troubles, and a nasty case of congestive heart failure. His aluminum walker now accompanies him everywhere. My first day there he and my dad took me down the street a mile or so to a local diner called the "Top Diner." There was nothing really too remarkable about this place other than its uncanny resemblance to "Mel's Diner," complete with a red-haired waitress with a bee-hive hairdo that I was sure was going to be named "Flo!" Certainly, nothing that I could see gave me a reason for the diner's lofty name: "Top Diner."

We sat down in the moderately clean, overly busy eating establishment and this is when I began to experience what it meant to go to a place "where everybody knows your name...," literally! As we ate our omelets and breakfast potatoes there came one by one past our table the Top Diner's version of Norm and Cliff... From the waitress who called my Gramps "Bunky" to the dozen or so people standing in the isle next to our table waiting to pay who one by one said "How ya doing Bunky?" It seemed as though everyone in the place with the possible exception of the bus boy knew my grandpa like he was their grandfather! Then, as we got up to pay...you guessed it, the bus boy came by and he too was a baptized, card-carrying member of the "Bunky" fan club!

This was not a scene I was used to seeing...ever seeing, at any time in my life! I am used to ordering a fat burger from Applebee’s and being lucky if I can get the people sitting around me to make eye contact much less come by my booth and greet me with a special nick name. Most people who make eye contact with you causes you to wonder if they might later stand up to reveal a short sleeved white dress shirt and tie with a name tag that says: Latter Day Saints: Elder Zedekia. Then the secret came out. No doubt as my dad saw the look of amazement on my face at what I was witnessing. My Gramps has come to this same diner in his neighborhood for 50 or 60 years. Apparently, after 50 years you start counting in decades rather than years. He has outlasted 4 owners and certainly the current decor. The waitress, who I was sure carried the name "Flo," had been there 26 years! Now that was simply amazing to me!

I was literally experiencing firsthand what the cheers jingle made us all believe was possible. I was watching literally everyone who passed by my gramps call him by his nickname "Bunky." A week later I found something almost as amazing when I popped into Rapid City, South Dakota to visit with my grandparents on mom's side, the Wipfs. They are regulars in a restaurant called the "Millstone" and the waitresses and manager greet them by name when they come in and have my grandma's favorite slice of pie ready for her. Amazing!

This phenomenon so captured me that it has been percolating in my spirit since coming home three weeks ago. This "cheers" phenomenon is no mystery really. It is a need that is built into each of us for acceptance and love. We were created to be social and interactive with others. We were born with a deep need for connection and to be fulfilled by closeness with others. This is most clearly seen in marriage relationships. There is a deep sense of longing for companionship that we are "hard-wired" for from the time we were born. The scriptures speak of this very early on when God created Adam and then said: "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." Genesis 2:18

Over and over again in the New Testament we find a term that describes this deep need in each of us to be with other people and to love and feel loved. The phrase is "one another." The bible gives gobs of examples of what it means to "one another":

• Wash one another’s feet—John 13:14.
• Love one another—John 13:3; 15:12, 17; Romans 13:8; I Peter 1:22; I John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11.
• In honor preferring one another—Romans 12:10.
• Don’t judge one another—Romans 14:13.
• Receive one another—Romans 15:7.
• Greet one another—I Cor. 16:20, II Cor. 13:12, I Peter 5:14.
• Serve one another—Gal. 5:13.
• Don’t provoke one another or envy one another—Gal. 5:26.
• Bear one another’s burdens—Gal. 6:2.
• Forgive one another—Eph. 4:32, Col. 3:13.
• Teach and admonish one another with song—Col. 3:16.
• Comfort one another—I Thess. 4:18.
• Edify one another—I Thess. 5:11.
• Exhort one another— Heb. 3:13; 10:25.
• Consider one another—Heb. 10:24

Apparently, there are a whole lot of reason to be with others. The world has the deep need for love and acceptance that plays out in all the wrong ways. The deep need for acceptance and love drives people to harmful relationships, dangerous habits, and destructive behavior. Cheers very clearly illustrates the human need for acceptance that we all have inside. Sadly, the Norms and Cliff's of the world will search for a lifetime and never fully find what they're looking for until they settle of Christ. Augustine once said: "Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee." 

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name...Perhaps we should run to the only One who truly knows our name and every detail of our lives. Jesus is the only one who can truly satisfy the deep longing we have inside us. Jesus said the woman at the well: "Whoever drinks this water will thirst again. But whoever drinks the water that I give will never thirst again." John 4:13-14

God's best!

Ryan Krause