The Privileges of Membership

Membership has its privileges. Do you remember that slogan? But membership wasn't free. There was a fee associated with it and lots of deep fees if the stipulations of the "contract" were broken. You were a member, not a beneficiary. And there is a distinct difference. Consider the current issue with immigration and deportation, for instance. Social media is rife with videos of folks talking about how they came to this country to make better money; they couldn't give a rip about assimilating into our culture or being of any benefit to the people of this nation. How did this happen? Being a member of our club is a privilege or should be treated as such. It should come with dues as with most other associations. Even your local little league demands a registration fee for your child and parent participation. You might have to spend some time peddling hot dogs and canned sodas at the snack bar or be forced to purchase an indulgence. Surely, entering our country as a citizen should require something more than whipping up a batch of box brownies for the "new uniform" fundraiser!

Well, it does. There's a test --I know that much. And, depending on circumstances, the whole process can be long and emotionally agonizing. Would-be citizens are expected to enter through the proper channels, embrace American language and culture, submit to the laws of the land, and defend Uncle Sam's honor. And, of course, there is the unpleasantry of taxes. But all of that is not without benefit --benefits! Membership does have its privileges! 

Those privileges give membership its value. After all, who would pay to join a league where your child could not play or a country where you weren't given a vote? The cost of membership is offset by the value of the privileges one enjoys. But it's not only the value members realize in those privileges; it's the value leadership ascribes to them as well. What happens when the athletic association, the government, the pastors, the CEO, the parents, the board, those people who make the big decisions in any institution begin handing out privileges right and left with little to no expectation put upon recipients? The tenets of membership, if not held in high regard by the administration, will not be held in high regard by the members. If the leadership of an organization requires nothing of its members, what will happen when the resources of the organization dry up? What will happen when the resources of the organization are no longer meeting members' needs or whims? What will happen when new members arrive looking for resources that have gone unreplenished because there's been created a culture of beneficiaries rather than committed, engaged, dedicated members? What message has leadership communicated about the value of the organization and its resources?

Anyone who knows me knows this is not about little league or politics. This is about the Kingdom of God. Those of us who are members are responsible for its resources: our brothers and sisters, the message of the Gospel, the fruit of the Spirit, the ministry of reconciliation, charity, etc.; valuable resources designated for the glory of God both in sharing and guarding. To hand out privileges and positions like a bank handing out pens is to devalue the resources God has given us. Christ's words to those who encountered Him were rigorous and clear. No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. (John 3:3) Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor. (Matthew 19:21) Go and sin no more. (John 8:11) There was a necessary response, an obligation stated in very exclusive terms for each person who would be a citizen of the Kingdom of God. The cost and privilege of that citizenship is Christ's blood. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6) But it doesn't end there. The cost and privilege of that citizenship is the life of the would-be citizen as well.  If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24, 25) This is membership, dues and all; not charity. Our lives need to change, and if you're receiving the message that they don't, you're being deceived.

I know I'm long-winded today, but I'm passionate. Let's be members, citizens --let's recruit members, citizens; those who long to assimilate to the culture of God's Kingdom and serve Him with their lives. And let's be honest with them about the cost. For His glory. For the strength and breadth of the Kingdom. For the maturing of the body. And for the inestimable worth of membership's privileges. 

Midweek: Hell Is Happening

People often want to know why God allows bad things to happen to good people. The definition of "good people" notwithstanding, I think we all have more than a casual acquaintance with the "bad things". Every one of us has known a faith-filled saint who was unjustly stricken with a terminal disease, or the innocent child orphaned by a drunk driver, or the service member who is tormented by the ravages of his service. We've all had checks that bounced or children who have rebelled or spouses who have been unfaithful or a pharmacy that lost our prescription. Why are people treated this way by life? by other people? by God? And when we ask the question, the big question --Why do bad things happen to good people? --we are usually told something about a fallen world and mankind's rejection of God. Or it's explained that the things we endure provide us with all we need to encourage or comfort others when they, too, are called to endure it. Or that, maybe, there's no reason we can identify at the moment, but one day it will all be made clear. Those are great explanations, but has anyone ever told you that, perhaps, you've just gotten a glimpse of hell? Has anyone ever told you that the evil in this world is allowed to touch us from time to time in order to give us a tiny taste of what separation from God would look like? I'll grant you, it's probably not a popular thought, but what if, in seeing the mottled skin of a child with cancer or the psychological suffering of a rape victim, we are given not only the compassion to pray for them or comfort them, but the passion to pray that throughout the world the adversary and his demons would be brought to heel by the mighty power of Christ? What if, upon grieving with a grandfather over the loss of his grandchild or walking into the underlying hopelessness of an Alzheimer's unit, the reality of hell is so heavy upon us that we cannot stop praying for the souls of those who have not known Christ? What if, in bearing witness to the torment of divorce or the unconscionable hatred that is racism or the contagion of apathy that exists among far too many young people or the self-indulgence that exists among far too many of our "public servants" --what if in all of this we are meant to catch a glimpse of what existence would be like were God to withdraw His hand from our world ...and we were to begin praying fervently for His mercy? What if we are meant to know just a --thanks be to God! --glancing blow of the hell those without Christ will sustain for all of eternity if we do not preach the word in season and out, live out loud for our King, pray for those who do not know of Jesus and for the hearts of those who have rejected Him, support missions; what if we are meant to know these things so that we might develop a heart for others and refuse to cease Kingdom work until the whole world knows?

That's all I've got for today. It's been on my mind. Hell is happening all around us. What are we doing about it?

Here's a Crazy Idea

Years ago, a crazy family therapist told me that my children should be answering me with Yes, Ma'am and No, Ma'am. That's not why he was crazy, by the way, he suggested some pretty unusual things if I remember correctly; but at the time using that sort of formality or discipline struck me as a bit much. These are my children! Flesh of my flesh and blood of my blood. I don't recall him offering an explanation either, but perhaps he saw something in my children or in my parenting I did not see. Perhaps he saw a lack of respect. Today I ruminate upon this suggestion I once considered outrageous because it has remained with me for something like thirty years. Of all the things he must have said to me in those sessions, the thing that stuck with me was teaching --not forcing, not demanding, but teaching my children to answer me with Yes, Ma'am and No, Ma'am. And I'm not sure that was a crazy idea at all.

Right now, today, I am in two very separate situations --or, at least, I thought they were separate until just a few minutes ago. I am bearing witness to a ministry that is struggling to grow. Numbers go up. Numbers go down. Numbers aren't proof of maturity, however, and growth is not the same as strength. It is always the same few people taking part, leading the charge, reaching for something better, longing for fruit. No one else appears motivated to do anything. 

In the other situation, an individual with whom I am acquainted is rather incensed at the hard lessons he is learning right now. His means of privilege have been cut off. He is receiving only what he needs and nothing more. He is expected to treat his resources with respect and in so doing, demonstrate he is grateful for them. Elsewise, he will receive only what the powers that be determine and nothing more.

In both cases, individuals were welcomed into their current situations --adopted, if you will --with open arms, made to feel "special" and "included." In both cases, the recipients were taught by well-meaning benefactors that the sun rises and sets on them, that it is all about them, that Jesus loves them and they are now free to live their best life ever --providing, of course, they submit their lives to Him. The problem stems from the fact that those around them, their well-meaning benefactors were not teaching them what it means to submit their lives, to surrender their calendars and their finances, to give up the holding out of their hands in anticipation of blessing and die to the things they want and, even, the things think they need. The words may have been spoken, the example may have been set, but nothing was required of the recipients. Except to receive. No one was teaching them how to suffer well. No one was willing to get out of God's way, require these seekers to do the hard task of gratitude, and demand anything of them but to accept that they were accepted. 

The Hebrew Scriptures are chock-full of records describing how God blessed those who blessed Him and cursed those who cursed Him. He didn't go around handing out free hot dogs or unlimited days off to draw people to Himself. And, contrary to current belief, neither did Jesus. Even He went away when it became evident people were seeking His hand rather than the face of Father God. Freebies are great, and we're told to be generous givers but God taught His people law first. He taught them who He was (is), what He is due, how He is to be worshiped, how He is to be approached. The Law came before grace SO THAT they were already aware of their condition, they could see God as sovereign and receive His grace with awe. They were open vessels, purged of their self-centered mindset.

God is not "bruh" or "my homeboy in heaven." He is not to be tested, trifled with, or mocked. He is sovereign over all we receive and is worthy of our utmost gratitude. He demands us to be holy through Christ Jesus, yes, but also by the surrendering of our hearts daily. Respect, obedience, humility, gratitude are important mandatory tools in our Christian walk toolbox. And if those things are not part of discipleship --be it in our homes, our churches, our community relationships, our marriages --if we're trying to win hearts with freebies and privileges, if we are adopting anyone and everyone without testing their hearts, we are putting the cart before the horse. Worse than that, we are leaving ourselves and those we are trying to help open to deception and failure. We're called to make disciples, to speak the truth in love for the purpose of strengthening the body, not meeting our numbers or giving ourselves flowers.

Adoption is never without obligation. The adopted child must submit to obeying the parents. The adopted Christian must worship God in a manner that requires dying to self. Yes, Ma'am, there are benefits! Yes, Sir, God is good!    

Enough!

When our furry friend, Luci, entered our lives, she was FULL of energy! She was the largest dog I'd ever owned, and we were in over our heads. In desperation, we sought the help of a trainer. I confess, more time was spent training me --teaching me how to speak to Luci firmly, establishing routine, making sure I employed ways to help her burn some of that energy in constructive ways. One command Luci and I developed was "Enough!" This word was used for behaviors which were permitted, behaviors we didn't necessarily wish to stop altogether, but we did want her to cease at that moment. Barking at the door, for example. We wanted her to alert us to activity, but once we were headed to the door, we wanted her to stop. Enough! Over the years, we've grown complacent in our training; I in my practice and enforcement, and Luci in her obedience. "Enough!" is one of those commands that, for whatever reason, Luci continues to obey.

I was listening to our church elder preach the other day. He was telling us that he received correction with regard to his prayer life. You don't pray enough. I say he received it but, like many of us, not at first; briefly, he confessed, he attempted to defend himself. That is, until he heard it in his heart: You and Me are sitting together and having a conversation. You're talking to Me about what you wanna talk about --bring My word with you when you do it --and I tell you what I want.  And it may sound strange or over simplified, but that's what prayer is. It could be a running conversation we have throughout the day. Jesus, I'm nervous about this appointment. Jesus, thank you for providing me with this job. It could be a time or place set aside; a candle burning or hymns playing. It could be a coffee and a comfortable seat in a hospital lobby. It could be prayer meeting in the middle of the week, or with your children as you run them to karate. It can be praise before the morning sun or lament at the end of the day. Prayer can be accompanied by fasting or poured out over the pages of your Bible. Wherever you might speak, wherever you might breathe, you can pray. And there is absolutely no shortage of things for which to pray! Save my mother. Heal my uncle. Change my heart. Stop the violence. Feed the hungry. Comfort the grieving. Change my heart. Repair their marriage. Supply the money. Protect the Christians. Change my heart. Disarm the dictators. Give her direction. Change my heart. God never says, "Enough!" He never turns away the supplications and outpourings of the hearts of His people. In fact, He says, You don't pray enough. We don't pray about everything. We don't pray without ceasing. We don't pray enough. 

It was 4 AM when I let Luci into the backyard. She immediately cornered the neighbor's cat behind our burning bush. Luci, come! I demanded into the darkness. No response. I stepped back inside and closed the door, resigned to wait it out until they'd had enough. Of course, I could always pray. I don't pray enough.