Perseverance

 

This Camellia blossomed in the midst of some of the coldest weather of the years, and it did it well.  We can learn something from the Camellia.

 

The Christian Journey from Self-Absorption to Sacrificial Self-Giving

 It is the Lord’s expectation (and of course mine as God’s priest in this place) that we are all making the age-old Christian pilgrimage from self-absorption to self-giving.  By the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, we are learning to sacrificially give ourselves for the sake of others.  Sacrificially giving of our time, talent and spiritual gifts for the sake of others is at the heart of what it means to be Kingdom People.  This means that we are all challenged to grow in our discipleship, understand our callings, and pick our ministries.  This journey toward self-giving is a journey toward Christ-likeness, because it is Jesus who is the ultimate giver and who sacrificially gave His life for the sake of all of us. This is our vision, because it is God’s vision.

In the Image of Christ

 

I attended a conference at Trinity Seminary, Ambridge PA this past week.  It is always good to spend time at Trinity, albeit short, immersed in learning something more about the Kingdom of God.  The fellowship and rhythm of seminary worship is also very spiritually refreshing.

 The topic this year was Christian Anthropology. Anthropology is the study of humankind, just as theology is the study of God.  Christian Anthropology is combining the two by studying the relationship of humankind to our Creator. One of my favorite psalms, Psalm 139, was in my mind as we explored this topic this week:

 ¹³For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

 Much of our study centered on human dignity and the source of human dignity.  Secular culture and Christians alike champion this idea of human dignity, but we often end up in different places on how to live it out.  The reason is that Christians think more in terms of the sanctity of life, not just its dignity.  Life is sacred and it is God who decides how it is to be lived out.  It also means that it is God who assigns worth to all human life, and He does it equally, from the yet to be born, to the disabled, to the mentally challenged, to those experiencing the end of their earthly life.  We humans, therefore, do not get to decide who is less human or of less value.

  Christian Anthropology finds its roots in the fact that we are created in the image of God (Imago Dei). Gen 1:27-28 says, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.   And God blessed them…”   That image, however, is distorted and tarnished by The Fall (Gen. 3).  Jesus, however, comes as the New Adam to restore the Imago Dei and invites us to take on His likeness.  We are given His Holy Spirit who empowers and guides our life in doing so.

                                                                                                                                                Father Rob

Rod Dreher, "Live Not by Lies"

Rod Dreher, the author of Live Not by Lies, draws on the wisdom of Christian survivors of Soviet persecution to warn American Christians of an approaching danger.

For years, immigrants from the former Soviet bloc have been telling Rod Dreher that they see telltale signs of "soft" totalitarianism cropping up in America, something not unlike Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.  Identity politics is beginning to encroach on every aspect of life. Civil liberties are increasingly seen as a threat to "safety". Progressives marginalize conservative, traditional Christians, and other dissenters. Technology and consumerism hasten the possibility of a corporate surveillance state. And the pandemic, having put millions out of work, leaving our country particularly vulnerable to demagogic manipulation.  In Live Not by Lies, Dreher repeats the alarm sounded by these brave men and women who fought totalitarianism. 

Dreher explains how the totalitarianism facing us today is based less on overt violence and more on psychological manipulation.  He retells the stories of modern-day dissidents, the clergy, laity, martyrs, and confessors from the Soviet Union and other captive nations of Europe, who offer practical advice for how to identify and resist totalitarianism in our time. 

Live Not by Lies offers to American Christians a method for resistance:
  •  SEE:         Acknowledge the reality of the situation.
  •  JUDGE:   Assess reality in the light of what we as Christians know to be true.
  •  ACT:        Take action to protect truth.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn famously said that one of the biggest mistakes people make is to assume totalitarianism can't happen in their country.  Many American Christians are making that mistake today, sleepwalking through the erosion of our freedoms. 

A Faith that Makes a Difference

A relationship with our Lord that is growing, transformative, and makes a difference in our lives and the lives of people around us, does not happen without an intentional, holistic, and balanced spiritual life; therefore, each of us needs to commit to at least these three things in our pilgrimage with Christ:

• We need to commit to being in the Body each Lord’s Day, seeking the face of God and being present to help others do the same.
• Commit to growing in our knowledge and love of the Lord by being a part of at least one of the several spiritual growth gatherings we have weekly.
• Commit to serving others both inside and outside the church family by finding our ministry. 

The idea of this sort of intentional and holistic churchmanship is not new to us or any fellowship that is growing, thriving and honoring God in their lives.

    Father Rob

Progressive Protestantism- Has God Changed His Mind?

In North American Progressive (Liberal) Protestantism, salient questions are being asked about (1) Holy Scripture and (2) the person (divine nature) and work of Christ Jesus.  These two questions are central to Apostolic Christianity and to the historic Faith.  Progressive Protestantism has come up with new answers:

1)       Is Holy Scripture God’s divine revelation about Himself, about us and about His good and perfect will for all creation? 

If it is Scripture, like God Himself, is timeless, immutable and authoritative.  If not, then Scripture can be trumped by modern reason, human desire, individual experience, and cultural mores. The latter is the answer that theologically progressive Protestantism offers to our society in the effort to be relevant to our post-Christian Western Civilization.  In this way, liberal Christianity can be the chaplain to a progressively secular culture and bless the shift toward neo-paganism which is what, more-and-more, defines our society today.  It is ironic that our post-Christian society generally does not seek a blessing from either God or the Church, and both are increasingly marginalized and considered obstacles to progressivism. 

2)       Is Jesus indeed God who has come down to dwell among us to fix what we are incapable of fixing ourselves, which is our corrupt and fallen human nature and our resulting estrangement (fall) away from God? 

This has been the Gospel claim of orthodox Christians from the Apostles on.  Jesus is not just one way to the Father, He is “The Way.”  Jesus the Messiah is God’s unique act of redemption in history on behalf of all humankind.  If this is not so, then the spiritual struggle of humanity to deal with sin will unsuccessfully continue, and falling short of the glory of God is the only result.  The Old Testament Scripture recounts the folly of seeking on our own strength our redemption and healing of our sinful nature. 

 Again, it is ironic that the modern, post-Christian culture generally is not asking for a savior or seeking reconciliation with God.  To seek union and conformity with something larger that oneself is to deny the autonomy of the individual and the ability for each of us to create our own heaven, hope and future.  

Has God changed His mind about His plan for our salvation, or is the Church in the process of changing her mind?  The stakes are high because our hope and eternal future rest in the balance.

Father Rob

Quote from John Stott on the Ideal Church

 marks of the ideal Church - love, suffering, holiness, sound doctrine, genuineness, evangelism and humility." -- John Stott

Racism

 

The 1960's were a watershed time for me, not to mention for this country.  It gave us a vision and a path forward for healing our systemic and personal racism that had afflicted us, and indeed all humankind.  Dr. King said, and I humbly quote this great man: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!"  

We proceeded to live into this dream over this last half-century.  The 1960's led to the outlawing of systemic racism in businesses and education, and branded racism in all its forms as inappropriate to this country's founding ideals.  Although we can look into the human heart and see brokenness, corruption and evil of all kinds, and we always will until Christ comes again, nonetheless, racism became known as un-American, for which we can say, thanks be to God.  

Americans of all races sought to live this ideal.  The greatest and freest society this planet has ever seen welcomed millions of African Americans and other minorities into its burgeoning middle class, even to the extent that Whites are no longer the highest category of wage-earners, Asians are.  Working seamlessly in industry alongside all races was the norm.  Looking to the content of one’s character, not the color of one’s skin, was how we decided who would be our friend.  And, finally in 2009, we elected our first black president, something most could celebrate whether they agreed with Obama’s governing philosophy or not.   

But something else happened in the 1960’s, which was Lyndon Johnson’s “War of Poverty.”  Like the Civil Rights Movement of the same decade, it was an ideal worth striving for.  Like FDR’s “New Deal,” it set up safety-net programs that assure that the poorest in our country have necessities of food, clothing, shelter and medical care.  It has made a real and lasting difference, particularly for no-whites, but it failed to move the poverty line below the chronic 13% (or so) that it has historically been over the last half century.[1] We did not win the war on poverty, and while we were trying to create a classless society, we inadvertently created a new class- the entitlement class. It contributed to the destruction of the family unit with the government providing for families rather than fathers. 

 [1]        Census Bureau -   https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/09/poverty-rates-for-blacks-and-hispanics-reached-historic-lows-in-2019.html

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Emotions and Feelings as a Basis for Our Identity

Perhaps we all struggle with our self-identity, but some more so than others for sure. I am speaking of that identity internally held that forms the basis for understanding who we are, whose we are, and where we fit in.  How we understand ourselves has a bearing on how we relate to the people around us and to the God who created us.  

Our identity, therefore, needs to be based on something more concrete, factual, and trustworthy than our internal emotions.  Even though we are in the midst of a culture that tells us, "If it feels go do it," we need more than feelings and emotions to bring us to our full potential and God-given destiny?  

As a pastoral counselor, I have seen first-hand how feelings and emotions are too fickle for a person to use as the sole basis for understanding who they really are and what course of action they should take to move forward in life.  A person struggling with depression, for instance, may believe they are hopelessly unable to cope with the challenges of daily living when the truth is that they have the resources to do just that, even though chemical imbalances or circumstances have deceived them into thinking otherwise.  A person having experienced the trauma of rejection and broken relationships identifies himself or herself as one unworthy or incapable of any kind of healthy relationship when, of course, it is not true. 

Another example is the modern-day trend toward trans-genderism based solely on the feeling that one is of another sex.  Gender dysphoria is not new, of course, but many these days are further led to seek a trans-sexual identity by our gender-affirming culture and some well-meaning phycology practitioners, all because of what one is feeling.  What seems prudent before any sort of life-changing action, such as hormone treatment or gender reassignment surgery, is to seek other sources for decision-making than just one's feelings and emotions.  This is doubly true among children whose emotions, life experiences, and identity are just forming.  

The obvious answer is therapeutic exploration of other factors than feelings in establishing a healthy identity.  Maybe such clinical exploration is taking place in most cases; one would hope so.  If the person were my child, relative, or friend, I would surely insist upon it.  

Homily- Funeral Service for Bob James, December 8, 2023

Needless to say, I am honored to preside at Bob’s memorial service today.  Bob was a pretty special guy.  He was a good and gentle man, a good friend to me, and I was privileged to be his pastor and priest for these recent years. 

 Sue, Terri, Mike, Kathy, all the family, my heart goes out to you.  I know your grief over your now being separated from Bob.  I will miss his him, as we all will, until we are all reunited around God’s throne in heaven. 

 Bob and Sue both have been my heroes in the growing old department. They have done it right.  I have fond memories of Bob that I will cherish.  One of my favorites is Wednesday fellowship suppers here at Holy Trinity.  Bob always enjoyed them.  He enjoyed the food and being with his friends.  Many of you will remember this… On Wednesday nights, before he did anything else, he would go to the dessert table and pick out desserts for Sue and himself.  Making a choice was not a problem for Bob; if more than one looked good, he would just take two.  He would then lead the way through the buffet line, which seemed right to us in that Bob and Sue were the eldest, the matriarch and patriarchs of the parish. 

 I admired Bob for his solid spirituality and a care for people.  Sitting with the family at Posey’s Funeral Home earlier this week, Kathy shared with me that her Dad regularly, almost nightly, called to ask she was and how her family were doing.  Mike as a trucker knew of his father’s concern for his safety and wellbeing.  The family has shared with me about their father’s devotion to his evening prayers in which he would pray for all these things. 

Bob was a man who lived well the life God gave him; so, in the midst of our sadness at his absence, we have much to celebrate: 

•         We celebrate Bob’s 93 years among us. 
•         We celebrate God who gave Bob to us for these 93 years.
•         And we celebrate the rest of Bob’s story, which is his inheritance as a child of God of eternal life with his Father in heaven.

To be in union with Him forever is the reason God created Bob in the first place. Bob was created out of love, to be the object of God’s love, with the divine ability to Love God in return.  As for loving God in return, Bob surely did that. 

 Bob was not perfect; none of us are?  But Bob was a person who called on God to help him push back the evils of this world.  For us all, sin, rebellion, neglecting of God- all these things get in the way of a redeeming and salvific relationship with our heavenly Father.  In our fallen human condition, we find that we are powerless to overcome our propensity for such things, but God in Christ He does for us that we cannot do for ourselves. This is what Jesus is all about.  Bob had this kind of saving relationship with Christ and is therefore tsken his place at the great banquet feast of the Lamb, to borrow from that powerful biblical imagery.

 A few minutes ago, during the family’s procession into the church, I recited pieces of Scripture, one was part of Jesus’ conversation with Martha, the sister of Jesus’ friend Lazarus. who had died, and Martha was in deep grief, and frankly, in deep puzzlement, about it all.  This story is recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 11: Let me read it to you:    “23 Jesus said to Martha, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection; I am life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes [that, is trust] in me shall never die. Jesus goes on to ask Martha a question, “Do you believe this, Martha?”  She answers, “Yes, Lord, I believe.”  This was Bob’s answer to Jesus also.  I pray that this is the answer, or will be the answer, that all of us here today will give to God.

 This reveals a bedrock fact about our God: He did not create Bob to just live three-score and ten years, as Psalm 90 puts it, and then simply return to the dust from which he came, as Genesis 3 puts it.  It is likely that a number of us here today believe that because it is what our materialistic culture teaches us.  Bob answered Jesus’ question to Martha with his own yes, and therefore the curse of Genesis 3 for him is broken.  The curse of Genesis 3 is, of course, the death and eternal separation from God.  For Bob, death no longer has the last word in his life, Jesus does.  Bob’s life is characterized, at least in the time I have known him, by his pursuit of this salvific, curse-breaking, love-relationship with God.  In return, God has pursued him, forgiven him, redeemed him, and now, gathered Bob to Himself. 

 Finally let me say, Bob’s relationship with his Lord is reflected in his relationships with all of us.  I have seen it in his kindness, generosity, servanthood, hospitality, and sacrificial giving to his family and to all of us.  So, we have much to celebrate today. 

Let’s pray:

 Almighty God, creator and sustainer of us all, our hearts of full of thankfulness for Bob but be close to us as we deal with our separation from him, albeit for only for a little while.  Continue to cover this family with the richness of your grace bestowing on them your joy and peace that surpasses understanding.  We pray this in the holy name of our Lord and redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen