Finding True North

In Boy Scouts, when navigating on a map in the wilderness, we learned how to find true North by knowing the declination based on where we were on the Earth. Because of the curvature of the Earth, magnetic North (which shows on the compass) and truth North (applying the degree shift of declination) are different.

If you would consider yourself a Christian, our culture and politics (in light of current events) would point you in a direction that is fear based, self-insular, and ok with the potential mass murder of 100's of thousands of people. I would argue, a few degrees off of true North.

Jesus is our true North as Christians. If Jesus is the exact imprint of God's nature, then we really do know what God thinks of life, war, and the potential at being harmed at the hands of others. 

My hope is that in these difficult times, the Church of Jesus would be the bringers of peace and not the ambassadors of war. Rather than "peace through strength", our cry would be "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven".

May we accurately reflect what it means to be the ambassadors of Christ. 

You Follow Me

“You follow me.”  -Jesus

These words have been rattling around in my brain these last few months. 

I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that these have been some very difficult few months for me personally.  On top of that, let’s add the contentious political season we just went through (who’s kidding who, it’s still going).  Social media was just as bad as the attacks the candidates were running on each other (it was worse in some ways).   The church that I belong to and pastor, Calvary Chapel in Silverdale, is part of a network of churches that are also going through a challenging time as well.   Not an easy season of life.   

The political season has been difficult for many reasons.  One reason in particular is seeing friends that have been sexually assaulted in the past, friends that have been made to feel like second class citizens, and those who are silenced and demeaned by the actions of individuals who are just as aggressive and mean in their rhetoric as President Elect Donald Trump.  The election of Donald Trump to the highest office in the land seems to reopen these wounds that affect them so deeply.  It's very hard to watch. 

Calvary Chapel was founded by a man named Chuck Smith in the late 1960’s.  God used this man to turn one church into a global movement of over 1400 churches, various Bible Colleges, a University, and countless para-church organizations.  Pastor Chuck Smith passed away in 2013.  Since then, there has been an inability of those entrusted to guide the organization of churches to be unified in their methodology of carrying out the distinctives that make Calvary Chapel what it is.  It’s difficult to see these particular men, who are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, having an inability in doing this among themselves.  

It is easy to sit on the sidelines and cast judgements and pick sides.  One of the temptations in doing this is to mischaracterize someone’s hurt, concern, or feelings and then minimize it.   The reason this happens is because it’s easier than actually listening, being vulnerable, and having a conversation.  It’s been an observation of late that we have seemingly lost the art of civil disagreement.  In other words, to agree to disagree and still love the other, though there is a disagreement. 

Jesus’ words to Peter are simple, “… you follow Me.”  (John 21:22).   In a time where it is easy to react to those things that strike a deep nerve, the command of Jesus should ring in all of our collective ears, “…you follow Me.”  This should translate to us denying ourselves (our self will and need for retaliation), picking up our cross (crucifying our fleshly desires), and following Him (being obedient to His word).  Our greatest commandment is to love Him and love others. 

May we seek to love God, in all circumstances.  May we seek to love those that bless us and those that hurt us.  That is what our Master did, He loved you and me while we were still sinners; going to the cross for us despising the shame because of the joy that was set before Him.   So the next time someone says something or does something that hurts you, if you have the ability in the moment, love them and pray for them.  If you don’t have the ability to love, walk away praying for your heart and theirs… this too is love.  If someone is hurting, don’t try and fix it or minimize their pain. Sit with them and let them know they are not alone.  Love them by just being there. 

This isn’t easy and nor is it intuitive.  It’s learned.  May the Lord richly bless us as we seek to follow Him.

Who Is My Brother?

Who is my brother?

I’ve wondered this in the past when I would come upon it in my Bible regarding some sort of command or action geared towards my "brother".  Is my "brother" different than my neighbor? Is it literal, figurative, or is there a secret meaning?  Don't judge me, you've thought that too, haven't you? 

Looking at the current political and social climate in my country, I don't even think many Christians understand or know who their "brother" is.   When groups disagree ideologically, they don't tend to treat each other nicely, let alone even with civility.  

Many times, consciously or even subconsciously, I’ve always considered my "brother" as Christians as I myself am a Christian.

Upon further reflection and discovery, and maybe now with even the greatest of conviction, my brother has to mean every human being. 

From a Biblical Christian worldview, we (every single human being on planet Earth) are all literally sons and daughters of Adam and Eve.

We are all related, made in the image of God. 

What now becomes the global realization that we are all family?  

Yes, there are great passages in Holy scripture that speak to the poor, hungry, homeless, and those without to whom Jesus identifies with (“the least of these”).

But that person that makes our blood boil or we think they are stupid, does it change our interaction and feelings towards them if we take into consideration that they are our brother/sister? 

The LGBTQ community, the politician, the social justice advocate, the dead-beat dad, the ignorant person on social media spewing hate and division, or the terrorist who wants to destroy you, how does your heart change knowing they are your brother/sister?  Shouldn’t it?  Shouldn’t it at least change your prayer life for them… you do pray for your family, don’t you? 

You may not run out to embrace the terrorist (except to knock them out and subdue them), but shouldn’t our hearts be moved for them as our brother/sister? 

That’s the mandate Christ gave us… “Love your neighbor”, “love one another”, “we ought to lay our lives down for the brothers”, “…sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”

As we pray in the way that Jesus taught us, “…thy Kingdom, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven…” may we see love abound.