I try embrace the guidance of the well-known axiom, “if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.” It is typically a good standard to live by if you want to live peaceably with others, and make a positive impact on the world. It was in this truth that I wrestled while you waited for another update from me. How could I post something positive and constructive when most of what I wrote was quite the opposite?

For several months, I’ve been bombarded with ideas and comments that caused my philosophical and theological skin to crawl. Much like the distracting discomfort felt after someone mentions lice, or following a surprise encounter with a giant spider, I found myself distracted, unnerved, and, I must confess, angry at the level of the emotional terrorism, deception, and shoddy reasoning I continued to encounter. I was slightly fixated, and very frustrated.

I produced very little writing that was fit to share, though I am sure my efforts were personally cathartic. By God’s grace, I was able to preach and teach without the same concerns, but my creative writing suffered greatly. I know many people say you should blog about what makes you passionate, but there are some passions that are best to keep between yourself and God.

Throughout this season, I continued to reflect on King David’s heart, as he navigated his way through difficult seasons by opening his heart to God, and expressing himself openly in that relationship. I was especially drawn to the words of Psalm 63, “When I remember you on my bed, I meditate on you in the night watches. Because you have been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind you, your right hand upholds me.” (Ps. 63:6-8).

It is all too easy to throw our anger and frustration out in the world. We may even feel quite justified in our actions, but such actions can often become accelerent on an already raging fire, wounding others in the process. Often, the best place to pour out those deep emotions is to the One who knows and understands them even before we speak, and who is able to heal us as he leads us to share such healing with others.

I still get frustrated, even a little angry. Some of the issues will be there for a while, but I am surrendering those struggles into the hands of the God who orders my steps, declares the end from the beginning, and calls me friend. The invitation to take this step greets me every day, every moment, and it is there for you as well. Together, as we place our focus on Christ, chaos will lose its grip, and we will experience more of the abundant life Jesus gives.

What can you surrender today, that will make room for more of God’s peace in your life?

The post Christ Over Chaos appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

Prior to his crucifixion, Jesus went to the temple in Jerusalem. There he found, not only worshippers, but people exploiting the spiritual needs of many who were there by using that experience to make a high profit. The faithful were not permitted to pay the temple tax in the common currency of the day. Instead, they were required to exchange it for the currency of the temple. It was at the point of this exchange that people would be gouged with an unfair exchange rate.

Seeing this travesty, Jesus turned over their tables and declared, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” It is one of the few times we see Jesus angry, and there is no mistaking his concern. Clearly, the money changers missed the point of worship and were exchanging the gift of God for the trappings of profit.

In our journey of faith, we too can miss the point. We may not be hurting others for our profit, but we can lose sight of the real gift of being the Church of Jesus Christ. We can replace an intimate walk with the Savior and with the world, for ritual and routine. We can replace the “house of prayer for all nations” with the “house of getting my needs met,” sacrificing the call for our comfort.

We are meant to be the church for the sake of the world and to the glory of God. Prayer and ministry for our community, region, and the nations of the world is at the heart of our identity. Called to lift Jesus high we need to come in low, as John the Baptist did saying, “I must decrease that he might increase.”

The good news is that when we embrace our true calling as the body of Christ we find the blessing of God. Like the child who learns to appreciate and value the gift more than the packaging, we discover that the valuable gift of God is found beyond the trappings of religion. In our faithful embrace of God’s vision for his church, we find the joy of a personal relationship with Jesus, the beauty of community, and the power of a dynamic relationship with the world.

Let’s not settle for the box and paper, but search deeper for the real gift of God. Let’s be the house of prayer for all nations and see the world transformed by the love and power of Jesus Christ!

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“The idea that the service to God should have only to do with a Church altar, singing, reading, sacrifice, and the like is without a doubt but the worst trick of the devil. How could the devil have led us more effectively astray than by the narrow conception that service to God takes place only in Church and by works done therein… the whole world could abound with services to the Lord… not only in churches but also in the home, kitchen, workshop, field.” – Martin Luther

The separation of the sacred from the secular, while often born of good motives, can lead to some significant confusion when we attempt to live out our faith. Certainly, there is an understanding throughout Scripture and Church tradition that some people. things and actions are holy, set apart for God and the purposes of God. It is equally clear that some of our human desires and cultural norms are at odds with God’s design. However, our lives are not neatly compartmentalized. We live in the place where the sacred and the secular meet.

We are called to be in the world, but not of the world. I grew up on this truth, but mostly I remember the teachings being about how not to be of the world. I know there are several scriptures that call us not to be conformed to the world and to lay aside the works of the flesh. We are called to live distinctive lives, yet we live them in the context of the world around us. We are invited into a relationship with an extraordinary God as we live our faith in the ordinary parts of life.

As Martin Luther points out in the quote above, it is a great deception to think that the only important work of the kingdom takes place in churches and church activities. As temples of the Holy Spirit, we bring the indwelling presence of God with us wherever we go. We make even the most common work holy, for we offer it as a gift to the Lord.

When the Apostle Paul wrote the Colossian church, he encouraged them in this way saying, “Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord.” (3:23) Now, I recognize that these words come in a portion of the letter offering direction for Christian households and that this was specifically a charge to slaves, reminding them to offer their service not to their masters, but as unto the Lord. However, the principle certainly has a broader application. As servants of Christ, everything we do is in service to him and to the honor and glory of his name.

So, it is not just what I do on Sunday morning that matters, nor is it only the parts of my life I typically consider Christian. Everything, every facet of who I am, every activity I am engaged in, and every relationship I am a part of is a sacred offering to God. This means faith is immensely practical. The way I do my job, how I treat my family, and how I care for others matters to God. The stewardship of my body, my resources and the world matters to God. Everything I do, matters to God, therefore, it matters what I do.

When we understand that, for the Christian, all of life is sacred, then how we live life becomes an expression of faith. It is not enough to think of God only when engaged in religious activity. In fact, that should be the celebration of the holiness in the rest of our life.

As we enter this Labor Day weekend, we do more than celebrate people who work, we celebrate the opportunity our work gives us to serve. Here we have a time to reflect on how we serve Christ in all that we do.

An anonymous author said it best in these simple words, “work becomes worship when done for the Lord.” May this knowledge change the way we view our worship and the way we understand our work, for in everything, we are involved in the very work of God.

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I frequently receive this question or some variation of it. People want to know what to do to strengthen their faith walk, to help them through difficult times and give them the power to live victorious lives. It is a good question when our desire is to know God’s will and plan for lives and when we intend to act on that knowledge, but it can be deceiving when we are looking for a shortcut to deep faith.

Stay up late most any night to watch a little television in the wee hours of the morning and you will discover a myriad of infomercials selling shortcuts. There are secrets to losing weight, looking younger, and building muscle. Buy the right item and your housework will be a breeze, broken items will look like new and your car will run forever. Some of these products may be effective, but the deeper philosophy all of them share is that there is a hidden, almost magical way, to accomplish goals that simply require effort to achieve.

Bring this philosophy into the Christian life and you find many people who are looking for that same magical step that will lead them to a deep and powerful walk with God. Ultimately, it is a search for a shortcut around putting in the effort to grow in faith.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians says this, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (3:13b-14) It turns out there is a secret, but it is not a shortcut. Rather, Paul makes it clear that growing in the Christian life is the result of intentionally avoiding distractions and pressing on toward the goal of Christ.

He uses athletic terms to drive the point home. A serious, competitive runner sets her mind on the goal. Previous successes and failures are set aside so she can attend to the task at hand. Then, with great focus, she devotes herself to the goal. With her senses, skills and strength committed to the task, she gives her all to win the prize.

So, what is the secret to successful living? It is not surprising, nor is it a shortcut. The secret is to commit your ways, your very self to the Lord, and allow him to direct your paths. Avoid distractions and press on, focused on the goal of Christ, and give your all to the task at hand. There is no shortcut, just the the strength of focus and the power of doing that “one thing.”

Let us continue to run the race, eyes on Christ as we commit to doing that one thing, and let us encourage one another so that we may all finish well.

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