This past week a judge in Ohio removed a teenaged girl from her parents and gave permanent custody to her grandparents. What horrible thing did those parents do that would cause a judge to take such drastic action? Were they starving her or beating her? Had they locked her in a room and held her prisoner? Just what kind of depraved behavior by the parents would warrant that judge’s decision?

            The parents wouldn’t allow her to get hormone therapy so she could turn into a boy. You read that right. The girl wanted to start intense hormone treatments so she could be a boy and her parents said no so the government took their daughter away from them.  Here is one of the most important aspects of that story: the lawyer for the girl cited the parents religious beliefs as one of the reasons that they said no. They’re were chided for seeking a Christian counselor to help her. Their Christianity was publicly used against  them concerning their fitness in raising their daughter.

            That should scare us. Which of our sincere, long-held beliefs will be next? I guarantee that it isn’t over. As long as we strive to live Biblically we will be persecuted. The evil one is emboldened with every judgment against Christian faith and lifestyle and will only push harder. Those misguided folks who hate us will find ways to keep up their assault.

            While it is, indeed, so sad that this great nation, founded on Christian principles is turning its back on the very God who helped us and sustained us as we held firm to His teachings, we should have expected it. Jesus said “ If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18 NIV).  So our reaction should be Biblical, too. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

(James 1:2-3 NIV) Have faith and be courageous. Like the Psalmist in the 23^rd Psalm: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me”.

Bro. Tony, pastor

Church on the Bluff

In the past month I have seen three separate articles or videos stating that Christians shouldn’t eat pork. They were followed by vigorous discussions about whether or not that was true. I read some of the things people wrote and the discussions soon spread to catfish and shrimp. Honestly I felt like I was roaming the desert with Moses or sitting at the table with Pharisees. Listen, I am doing neither; I  am striving to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and He said I was “set free” from certain things.  But what?

First, and foremost, I have been set free from my sin. I am no longer a slave to the passions and burdens of my sins. I am not a prisoner of my past. I am a new creature, washed white as snow by His blood. But also, I am set free from the burden of “the law”. Let me explain.

Many of the Old Testament laws from God were given for a couple of specific purposes. One was, of course, to set God’s people apart from those who were morally and spiritually bankrupt; those who worshipped false gods as well as those who worshipped no gods.  Another was the dietary and cleanliness laws designed to keep God’s people as physically healthy as possible. Hence, don’t eat hazardous animals or touch dead bodies. All of God’s expectations were greatly enhance with human logic over the years, even to the point of being detrimental to a loving relationship with God.

Then Jesus appeared and brought grace instead of the law.  He touched dead bodies, ate with unclean hands, forgave even adultery, and gathered food on the Sabbath. He said that a right relationship with the Father was accomplished, not by ceremony and ritual, but by salvation by His grace through faith and that it would play out by loving Him and loving our neighbor.

That doesn’t give us a license to sin. The Ten Commandments are pretty clear in themselves and Jesus evens heightened them by prohibiting the things that lead to our breaking of those precious commands. But it does mean that we don’t have to micro-manage God’s word to the point that we trade the slavery of sin for the slavery of judgement and ceremony. I like what Paul said in his letter to the Galatians: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1).

Bro. Tony, pastor

Church on the Bluff

The absolute last thing I want to do with anyone with whom I interact is to hurt their feelings. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I can’t fathom someone hurting another person’s feelings on purpose and believe that the overwhelming majority of you feel the same way.  So what do we do when a person we know takes a lifestyle stance that is opposite to what the Bible teaches?  Suppose you have a family member that “comes out” as gay or transgender; how do you handle that without hurting them? If a friend or neighbor tells you that they are an atheist or even a member of some hate group, how do you maintain any sort of relationship to them?

First we must remember that as Christians our purpose is to bring help and healing to people; we are called to show the love and purpose of Christ. There is no wiggle room in there for anything else if we are to let others see Jesus in us. We will never reach anyone for Christ if we allow ourselves to look down on others or judge their sin as worse than ours.

So the first thing is respect. We must work to developers mutual respect with those who believe/think/act differently. That doesn’t mean acceptance of their chosen lifestyle and it doesn’t mean affirming what they believe. It is simply a mindset of compassion and understanding based on our knowledge that God loves them and wants what is best for them.  That allows meaningful dialogue with them.

Next is patience. Things don’t happen overnight or with just one discussion. Impatience can lead to argument rather than discussion and, as far as possible on your end, you must keep the door opened for more interaction. Be patient because you have the truth and they have been hearing lies from everywhere else. You may be the only truth they hear; they need that. The truth will set them free

And last, but not least, you must know the truth and be prepared to share it lovingly. Know how to answer such lies as “God made me this way” or “I was born like this”. Be prepared to respond to truths that they miss-use: “God loves me just like I am” or “You can’t judge me”.

It is tough many times for they are being taught that because you disagree with them that you hate them.  Have faith in God’s word that through all the lies and misconceptions, the Spirit can and will reveal the true love in your heart.

Bro. Tony, pastor

Church on the Bluff

Almost every week some celebrity “opens up” about something. Today one opened up about his battle with depression. One opened up about her sickness during pregnancy. Last week one opened up about her divorce. Too often these “opening ups” coincide with the release of a new book/song/movie and are more of a publicity set-up than just an urge to cleanse the soul. But truly “opening up” can be a great thing.

                When is the last time you opened up to God? I mean truly opened up? When is the last time you just got away by yourself and poured your heart out to him; telling him your fears and concerns? When did you last talk to him, confessing your sinful desires and un-Godly thoughts? Have you ever really poured yourself out to him?

It’s ok to tell Him that you are angry with him because of something that happened, or to tell him you have honest questions about why things are going on in your life. He wants you to open up to Him about your weaknesses and your problems. Listen….He knows those things anyway. He certainly does. He is just waiting to have a meaningful dialogue with you. He loves you tremendously and is waiting on a conversation with you about it; not wanting to chastise or punish, but to help.

Just be ready to listen, too. The listening is as important as the telling. Listen as He speaks to your soul. Listen as He speaks through scripture. Listen as He works in people and events around you. God is waiting on you to open up to Him because He is ready to open up to you. And, while some of what He says may be tough to hear, He speaks the truth. We all need His truth.

Bro. Tony, pastor

Church on the Bluff