JRMITCH85 Character, Decisions, Hope

Forgiveness: Following God’s Example

As long as people have existed, we have held others to a standard we ourselves often struggle to meet. We find ourselves prescribing a set of expectations for the world around us while, paradoxically, we frequently falter in our attempts to embody those ideals. This fascinating juxtaposition between our lofty standards and human imperfections raises profound questions about the nature of empathy, self-awareness, and the complex interplay between the standards we set for others and those we set for ourselves. This brings us to the passage where Peter approaches Jesus about the need to forgive, and Jesus opens up to the disciples and all of us the standard for forgiveness.

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 18:21–35.

Peter comes to Jesus questioning how far we must go in forgiving each other. Surely, there must be a limit; we all hope there is a limit for those who perpetually cross the line and transgress. Our thoughts mimic Peter in saying the limit must be a generous seven times, but Jesus replies with a response that scoffs at the thought we could put a limit on the ability to forgive, as he doesn’t just give an alternative number, but instead makes that number so much higher that it equates to an infinite retort. Our ability to forgive should have no bounds because Jesus had no limit to His ability to forgive. Even as the people closed in on Him to bring destruction to His body, Jesus did not stop seeking to bring them back to God. We must go above and beyond for Jesus’ sake and follow His example.

Jesus doesn’t stop the lesson on forgiveness with a number but instead shares a parable for us to fully comprehend how far we must go in forgiving. We are placed in the position of the deeply forgiven. Our debt, created by sin, was colossal, and only the sacrifice of Jesus could fill the chasm created by our indebtedness. However, as Jesus walks among us and looks down on us, we don’t act like forgiven people. Instead, we throw those indebted to us in prison, cast them aside, and treat them as unimportant. Our priorities are making things look right in our eyes rather than offering the same compassion given to us, and we fall short of the example Jesus provides in forgiveness. Jesus issues a warning if we continue to live like that.

Ultimately, we must confront our biases and preconceived notions as we comprehend what it means to live a forgiven life. Jesus calls out to us to bring hope to the hopeless and peace to the world while embracing our mission through the love of God. This mission is challenging for us to fully comprehend if we view the world through our modern lifestyle. So many worldviews have emerged, and it may make our heads spin if we attempt to engage without consulting God. God did not send us to Earth to rule over it or dominate society, but rather, we were given the mission to bring the message of God’s never-ending love and a proclamation of forgiveness from sin. Therefore, we need to engage with the competing worldviews from a position of being a forgiven people and sharing that message of forgiveness and peace with the world.

JRMITCH85 Character, Faith, Hope

The Christ Follower Test

Today, loyalty tests are intended to show if you are true to your convictions and beliefs. As a music fan, people will frequently determine your fandom if you listen to obscure demo tapes of your favorite bands or if you have a special edition album and saw them in concert before they were famous. The same type of test has taken root in politics, corporations, and even faith. As Christians, throughout history, we have subjected others and been subjected to many tests to determine if someone is a “true Christian.” However, each instance of implementing something like this has caused a split in the church. While Christians have varying beliefs on many issues, none of us stand in any position to declare absolute authority in doctrine; instead, to follow Christ, our oaths and words should be replaced with our love and care for one another and dedication to worship and prayer.

Following God is not about doing what others think; it requires us to set aside what everyone else might think and give it all to God in worship. Each step toward testing based on the proper doctrine needs to be measured against how Paul told us in Romans about how a Christian should treat others.

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 12:9–21.

To follow Christ requires us to set aside anything that is forced or imitating anything that doesn’t fulfill our true intention in coming to faith. How we live must glorify God, and we cannot act as people who just go through the motions to live such that we mimic what other Christians think we should do. The more we do this, the more we look like someone posing as a Christian rather than living in the way God requires. Paul opens this passage by telling us, “Let love be genuine.” True love cannot be faked; we cannot pose as someone who loves someone; instead, our hearts must be transformed to look more like Christ. Christ’s heart, when encountering evil, fought against it, not by destroying people, but by sacrificing His freedom to overcome evil. 

Typically, a test differentiates us from others, isolating the person who passes from those who fail. However, because of sin in our lives, we have all failed and fallen short of the level necessary to pass the test. Therefore, the Christ follower doesn’t strive to disqualify people from God’s Kingdom but instead necessitates all disciples to bring others into the love of God. Paul reminds us that even those who oppose us must be welcomed in, and we show God’s love more by acting as a contrast to how they treat us. Thus, any tests for following Christ aren’t for us to administer to others; instead, they measure us against the standard to which we hold ourselves. 

Ultimately, the test we must pass is treating one another so that we communicate the Gospel regardless of the person. Is someone hurting? Then, we must grant them comfort. Is there injustice in our world? Our mission is to bring justice and peace. No matter the circumstances where people find themselves, a follower of Christ always brings HOPE to the table and peace to the world, and in all things, they strive for unity and share the love of God. Are you a faithful follower of Christ? Good, then do as Christ instructs you, not for my sake or the sake of others, but for the spread and sharing of the Gospel with the world.

JRMITCH85 Character, Faith, Hope

Free From Judgment

As we approach Independence Day in the United States, we hear the word “FREEDOM” in the songs we sing, written on clothing and bumper stickers, but as we look at freedom, God reminds us that we are called to proclaim that our true freedom doesn’t come from the Declaration of Independence or The Constitution of the United States of America. Jesus grants us freedom that was purchased with the sacrifice of His life alone. With this freedom, we need to thank our Lord for seeing our need and loving us enough to break the bonds that sin had on our lives and live in a way that proclaims God’s freedom to the world.

Jesus, in the Gospel of Matthew, during the Sermon on the Mount, reminds us that as we proclaim freedom from sin, we also understand that Christ has freed us from judgment. God’s judgment on our sin would mean certain death, but Jesus interposed His life for ours. We should wake up every day singing about our freedom in Christ. Many of our songs and prayers ask Jesus to break us free from illness, financial hardship, or some other oppressive force. The following passage reminds us that as followers of Christ, we are called to remind people that Jesus frees us and not to become an oppressive force from which people need relief.

The following is Matthew’s recording of Christ’s words.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 7:1–5.

When we read the words Jesus spoke to the crowd, there has been a misappropriation of judgment in the faith community. Judgment has a place in God’s Kingdom, but it is not intended for the followers to use as a tool against one another. Judgment is God’s prerogative to determine between that which is good and that which is evil. Good leads us to a greater relationship with God and others, which connects us to the Almighty. As we grow in our relationship with God, we allow God to communicate the areas of our life that need to be cleaned up. However, Jesus speaks to the crowds because judgment was too often used as a weapon against others. The Pharisees judged Jesus for His deeds. Similarly, they judged people as sinners and derogatorily acted toward them, and looked down on them and their associates. As Christians, we too often take a similar tactic, using judgment to boost our ego and ensure we hold onto a higher status over and against others. Jesus warns us against judgment because we will never fully understand another’s situation, and thus judgment shuts down our attempt at connecting with others.

The person that judges places themselves in the judgment seat that belongs to God alone. Jesus was sent to us to bring us peace, and that peace unites people under Christ. The character of Jesus would make Him the only person that could hold up to the standard of judging established in the Gospel. Therefore, only Jesus can judge the world, but time and time again, Jesus uses this judgment to bring peace into people’s lives. Therefore, we need to follow Jesus and help proclaim freedom into the lives of the people in our community as found in the Gospel. When we judge, our focus isn’t on how we can better follow Christ, but rather we focus on others’ shortcomings. This will also be a result of pushing people away as they would not want to live among us, partially due to not wanting to be an object of our scorn, but also that they don’t want to be around someone with such negativity.  Jesus unites people and invites people to come to the mercy seat. In front of Jesus, we are equals, but judging tries to place ourselves above others.

Freedom from sin to live in the love of Christ is the message we are called to share with the world. The law was established by God to guide us toward the truth. However, people viewed the law as a shackle preventing them from accessing the Almighty, but Jesus freed us from the judgment in the law, to live as free to live in God’s love. Jesus looked at how people would sit in judgment with one another and saw how ridiculous people looked judging one another because all of us were mired in sin. Thus Jesus presented this obviously hyperbolic analogy that when we stand in judgment with anyone else, we blind ourselves to our own faults. Our faults alone are enough to keep us out of the Kingdom, and we need a loving God to grant us hope, making peace between us and God. Thus when we judge, we set aside freedom to live antithetically to the Gospel because we proclaim that Jesus’ sacrifice isn’t enough.

The Gospel calls out to us to lighten the load of people by calling them to come to Christ. The judgment adds to the burdens of the world and instead creates division and broken relationships. The Pharisees embodied the way of judgment and created a situation where people not only felt as if they couldn’t live up to the standards but also that they were devoid of hope. Jesus frees us from the burden and grants the world peace that only the Gospel could.

JRMITCH85 Character, Faith

United

Our world is defined by division. We have opponents at every turn, and we amplify our differences in ideology, culture, and politics by creating and growing echo chambers that do not engage in conversation but rather strike a wedge between us. The church is not immune to this divisiveness; it has never been immune to this, as Paul addressed the many conflicts that arose in the church in Corinth. Corinth dealt with their new faith by quarreling within themselves, as documented in their letters back and forth with Paul.

In the two letters Paul exchanges with the church, we see the evolution of how a church’s issues lead to division.  The triune God is diverse as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the church is a reflection as it is also diverse in its background, makeup, and point of view. God’s unity in diversity calls for the church to unite in its differences. However, Paul’s admonishment and closing words to Corinth remind the church that it is called to be like God and united in the face of its diversity. Paul closes his last known letter to the church with the following refrain.

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 13:11–14.

The call toward unity includes restoration, comfort, agreement, and peace. These four parts connect us to ensure that when we speak and engage with people, we treat them with dignity and respect, not because they earned it but because God created them. With everything in our power, we must strive for peace with all those in our faith community. Even in our disagreements, the church should be a place where God’s people exemplify living together as one people, sharing God’s love with each other, and exemplifying God’s love to the rest of the world.

Paul next instructs the church to greet one another with a holy kiss. We have too often just cast this aside as a cultural norm and something we don’t do in our modern world. However, the holy kiss reminds us, as Christians and church members share an intimacy that mimics the Trinity’s closeness. Therefore, when there is disunity among church members, it is a brokenness that mimics the brokenness that happens when a marriage fails. There is inevitable collateral damage to those around the dispute, causing irreparable damage sometimes. The church must understand its call by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to unite in holiness and set aside the petty differences we often use to wedge between us. 

We are broken people and require Christ’s love to support us through some desperate times. This love should be broadcast from the church to the people in the congregation and around the congregation. The song “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love” must ring true inside and outside our church family. The love that unites the Trinity also unites the church. In the diversity of the church, there is a fellowship that comes as a gift from the Holy Spirit, a presence that clings us together in peace, and a knowledge that there is grace when we fail.

Thus, as a church, we must remember to lay aside our differences in opinion and instead cling to what draws us together, which is our Triune God. God models connection and unity, while three are also connected as one. Thus the church should be united in proclaiming God’s love and peace in the world so that the church may be a sanctuary from the division that plagues our society. Just as the divisions arose in Corinth, Paul reminded the church that unity leads to holiness and shows the world what God’s love looks and acts like.

JRMITCH85 Character, Faith, Hope

Following Jesus

“Are you in, or are you out?” The famous question from reality television often gets asked of people in the church. From the church’s beginning, there have been questions and debates about which people belong in our worship services and fellowship. The debates have ravaged the church about the requirements for the Kingdom of God, ultimately leading to splits among followers. However, when we look at the life of Jesus, we can see that he converses and spends time with people that many would claim are on the outside. This encounter made the religious elites uncomfortable and created a rift, ultimately leading to the conspiracy to kill Jesus. 

The following passage in the Gospel of Matthew shows us how Jesus ultimately called the outsiders and sinners to come and sit at His side.

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 9:9–13.

Jesus passes by one of these undesirables, a tax collector who has taken part in a profession that has taken advantage of his people and would be seen as a traitor to the religious elite, a tax collector. Jesus doesn’t pass by him and hurl insults or pass by and ignore him, but rather Jesus simply asks him to join him as he passes. This action was something that someone of Jesus’ stature would never have done, and thus a surprise to Matthew. Matthew was likelier to hear sermons about how he was a vile sinner than to be invited to join the party. Additionally, they created a particular subclass by pulling out the tax collector from the rest of the sinners with whom Jesus was spending time. When the church casts people out because of their prejudices, they create a subclass of people who thus behave more like the religious elite than Jesus. 

The Pharisees looked at the scene before them and began to ridicule Jesus and the disciples. They didn’t openly address Jesus but spoke loudly enough for Jesus to hear. This passive-aggressive judgment of the disciples and Jesus points out to everyone around that they disapprove of the people with whom Jesus chose to surround Him. When we surround ourselves with sinners, and the subclasses of sinners out in the world, the religious among us will scorn and ridicule our decisions. Sometimes this will be quiet and behind our backs; other times, the words won’t be directed at us but will be loud enough for us to hear; while still, other times, we may face the ridicule head-on. When facing scorn for the people we share a table with, comfort yourself that Jesus faced the same, and God calls us to the outcast, and to share the love of Jesus with sinners, even the sinners that get called out specifically. So that when asked why we hang out with sinners, we can answer, “I do because I’m following Jesus’ lead.”

Much of Jesus’ ministry was spent sharing the good news with the undesirables of society. Often the people around Jesus and the situation pointed out how this behavior was highly irregular and bucked many of the traditional norms. However, in every circumstance, Jesus reminded them that the Gospel was not just for the religious elites, but rather the Good News of forgiveness and redemption is for sinners and those that fall short of the Glory of God. Jesus did not participate in the revelry and sin, but He spent time and opened up the mystery of the mercy of God to people that the Pharisees and Sadducees had previously shut out. In following Jesus, we must walk with, eat with, and share life with the sinners, the religious shut out of the church. God desires us to do the work of the Gospel rather than ensure that we look the part. If we sacrifice time with people to show ourselves holy, we aren’t fulfilling the call of God to show mercy to the world. Follow Jesus’ lead and embody God’s mercy to the sinners and outcasts from the church. 

To follow the lead of Christ, the church must fulfill its role as a healer of the sick, mender of the broken, and sanctuary for the lost. As we fulfill the role given by Jesus, we seek out the brokenhearted, the government official, the immigrant, the lawbreaker, the hurting, the homeless, and all those the church is called to bring the hope of salvation. We cast aside all thoughts about how we look to the outside and embrace the mission of Jesus to show mercy and not mere sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice. Instead, let us sacrifice our perfect image for the love of God for all people. By doing this act, we truly follow the example Jesus set out for us.

JRMITCH85 Character, Decisions, Faith, Hope

The Promise

A promise represents the sacred bond that we have in our various relationships. Broken promises are tantamount to broken relationships and deteriorate our connection. The Scriptures look at promises in various forms, such as oaths and covenants, made between leaders and their community and between leaders and other leaders. These serve to maintain order in society and build trust between partners. 

Oaths, covenants, and vows connect us. They are used in contracts, and they ensure that we keep our word. However, Jesus promises us, and because of the trust built up with His disciples and, by proxy, us, we are assured that the promise of the Holy Spirit is not just idle talk but a living presence of God that watches over us individually and corporately as the Church. Jesus addresses the disciples about the change that is coming and how they need to prepare in John chapter 14.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 14:15–21.

The open bookend of the promise begins with a connection between love and obedience. Jesus preempts the promise by imploring the followers of God to remain obedient to God’s law. This reminder is that any promise, oath, covenant, or contract is made among multiple participants and that there is a responsibility to carry out the contract by all parties. We might be tempted to skip to the part where Jesus promises us Holy Spirit, but Jesus reminds us that we can’t passively receive, but God requires our participation. Love and obedience don’t come easy for us, but if we look at what we receive, it seems very little in comparison. When we look at any relationships that don’t have a promise or oath connecting them, we can see love and trust; therefore, how much more love, trust, and honor can we give our Heavenly Father? 

While the covenant begins with our trust, the bulk of the promise details God’s part in caring for us. Just as Jesus walked with the disciples, gave them teachings, and cared for them by providing them with a better way to live, even when Jesus no longer walks with them, there is a promise of another helper in the presence of the Holy Spirit. The promise that those who trust in God will receive the Holy Spirit and not be left alone speaks to us poignantly today as a loneliness epidemic has arisen. 

Even in a world that has more opportunities to connect than any previous generation, people spend less time connecting with one another. The trend started with the advent of social media and got increasingly worse as we became people that increasingly moved our lives online. Even the biggest outdoor advocates also ensure that they have a dynamic online presence. However, the online presence ensures we see only in part, not the whole, of a person. Therefore, people are often broken into pieces and oversimplified to the point that they lose humanity and become only a topic or issue. We think we are connecting, but in reality, we ensure that fewer people get access to our true selves. We disconnect from reality and exchange for a false reality.

God calls us back from disconnection through the promise. This promise has nothing to do with introverts or extroverts because we all need connection. The Holy Spirit provides a connection to the Almighty God while at the same time connecting each of Jesus’ followers to each other. This promise provides opportunity and access to the cure for loneliness, a deep connection to one another. Jesus welcomes the whole person, inviting us into a relationship with God and the church. 

The promise also extends to cure us of sin, which causes the disease of loneliness and brokenness. Ultimately, our sin broke our connection to God, which created the need for Jesus to save us. Therefore, Jesus reminds us that through His resurrection, our sin no longer keeps us away from a relationship with God; therefore, we cannot allow our sin to prevent us from connecting with one another. How many relationships have left our lives because of unresolved conflicts where we have not sought reconciliation? Jesus came to die for those irreconcilable differences. Thus, we cannot harbor bitterness and anger for each other because God has called us to do something more. For bitterness leads to suffering and loneliness, but God’s promise leads to connection and joy.

Jesus closes the bookend of the promise by reminding us that God’s love is available to everyone. We are called to obedience and to love God, but that obedience and love are met with an abundance of love that comes to us through a connection with the Almighty God that is embedded with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit dwells with us, we must remain at peace with all people and strive for connection and reconciliation with people, just as Jesus brought us to hope through His death and resurrection.

JRMITCH85 Character, Decisions, Faith, Hope

Becoming Building Blocks

The church can be a mighty fortress, or it can be a crumbling ruin. Too often in the current climate, we think that the church’s physical structure must be paramount and luxurious for the world to come and see the beauty and purpose of God. However, God builds the church with the people of God. All of it depends on the people that make up the structure. Upon the people of the church, a building is built to shine for the people of the community. People will look upon the church community and determine whether this collection of people will give life or take energy from its neighbors. Christ intends for the church to be a lighthouse, and we must allow God to build us into that mighty fortress. However, if we take our direction and power from anything outside of God, we become a ruinous shack that breaks down and pulls our community down with us. 

As we look at Peter’s instructions to the church, we find guidance on how we can be made into the fortress of God as a church and church members.

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 2:1–11.

Everything begins with purification. The Kingdom of God has no room for deceit, hypocrisy, envy, or slander. These items introduce cracks into the bricks that prevent the building from establishing a solid connection with one another and the community. We cannot accept a little bit to promote growth or to achieve a better result. This negotiation introduces impurities, leading to broken trust and hurt within our communities. As Peter states that we must be a church that “longs for the pure spiritual milk.”  Pure scripture reading without all the filler our society brings into the Word of God. Both conservative and liberal readings of Scripture, used to bring an agenda forward, have no place in the community of God. Still, instead, we must get back to the core of becoming pure and focusing on loving God and our neighbor. With our focus on God’s purpose for the church, we allow ourselves to eliminate the impurities and build up the Kingdom of God.

Once purified, the church readies itself to approach Jesus. Jesus is the cornerstone that the church builds upon and grows. For the blocks of the church to become useful, they must first approach the building process as followers of Jesus, making ourselves emulate how Jesus lived and ready ourselves for the same type of refinement that following Jesus brings. This continual refining process ensures that cracks do not form and that the building may guide the community to Jesus.  Occasionally, the blocks may begin to think they are foundational and that the other blocks should look more like themselves. Nobody comes before Jesus, the church must remember that we need to look at everything we do, and if anything is not pointing to the love of Christ, then it must be tossed into the refining fire. Fissures and breaks will form and taint the entire building if we neglect this task. The blocks must constantly guide people to becoming more like Jesus.

As we engage with the work of the Kingdom of God, guiding people to Jesus, we understand that we have been picked to do this work by God. Like any good builder, God looked through the materials and ensured that the proper materials were selected among many. We can make excuses about not participating or sharing the Gospel. Still, Peter reminds us that God selected us to carry out this task and that no one should think of themselves as “not up to the task” because God does not make mistakes when selecting the building materials for the church. God wants us to bring light to the world, and as God’s selected block to build the church, we must ensure that we keep the block sturdy and ready for God’s tasks and purposes. 

Peter concludes this section by reminding us that God calls us to remain focused on the task and glorify God in all circumstances. People may look at the church and its building, but God needs the heart of the people of God to remain focused on doing good and sharing the goodness of God, for God chooses to build the church with the building blocks that were hand selected for the task of building the church of God. This task is for you and me to become holy, share God’s message, and guide the world to the light as God’s chosen people. Let us remind ourselves daily that a disciple’s task is building the church for the glory of God. Let us make ourselves into a robust structure free from defects and bring light into the darkness.

JRMITCH85 Character, Decisions, Faith, Hope

Where Is Our Trust?

Looking at the current discourse environment, a constant vacillating force is guiding us about how we should live in the world. A danger exists that we get swept up in anger and frustration, and our actions and words create havoc and distress. Ultimately, as we look at the teachings from Scripture, we would not be swayed to give into bitterness and violent behavior. Our hearts would remain focused on striving after peace, even if our lives are not peaceful. Our behavior must align with righteousness, goodness, and grace to remain focused on living in peace. In turbulent times we are most prone to slipping off this ideal, but if we place our trust in Christ Jesus and the results of His suffering, we have an anchor leading us to a transformed understanding and living. 

Peter reminds us where our minds should be focused during these times in 1 Peter 2:19-25.

19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 2:19–25.

We are surrounded by injustice. Some of the injustices we encounter have existed as long as there have been humans, while others are brand new; however, all originate with sin, a separation from God’s ideal. It is far too familiar for Christians to claim injustice when it might be confused with inconvenience. Still, we must carefully approach this allegation, understanding that God calls us to be aware of the various areas in our world where justice is denied to the poor and powerless. When we focus only on how injustice affects us personally, we participate further in the chaotic nature of injustice. God seeks to root out the negative ways that injustice affects those genuinely powerless. Trusting in God allows God to transform our thinking to fight against the actual oppression of sin in our world.

As our minds are transformed to seeking justice and peace, God will guide our hearts toward living in righteousness. Many of our misplaced accusations of injustice come from the consequences of ungodly living. This is not injustice, nor is the suffering we experience building character. During these periods, we need to seek repentance. Our hearts must focus on doing good, and anything that pulls us away from God’s goodness must be cast aside. Doing this guides us back to righteousness, which allows our eyes to see God’s holiness and helps lead us. When we find ourselves in an unenviable position because of the sin in our hearts, we might cry out, asking for salvation from our predicament. Jesus Christ did come to save us from our sins and established peace and justice, which had previously been absent.

God is the primary actor in bringing peace and justice through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Our minds and eyes will stray; however, Jesus brings us back after He pursues our hearts endlessly. This pursuit of our salvation comes because Jesus seeks to restore us and restore peace and justice in the world. Therefore, at times, life is going to be difficult and seem unfair, but during these moments, we must focus on the sacrifice of Jesus and trust that God is carrying us through the most challenging junctures. While Jesus calls us to pursue justice and righteousness, we also understand that none of this is possible without the sacrifice of the Holy Son.

If we trust that Jesus came to do what He said, then our hearts will be moved to honor God with all of our heart, mind, strength, and soul. We don’t wallow in our circumstances; instead, we look for opportunities to help others and bring justice to those trapped in chaotic cycles. In all things, we work to maintain or restore the righteousness in our living, which is the best and most wholesome act of worship. This worship is not because we need to act for God, but God acts because the all-powerful Creator of the universe loves us and acts on our behalf. Therefore, we should trust in Jesus because He already showed Himself trustworthy.

JRMITCH85 Character, Decisions

When In Doubt, Do Good

With the internet’s emergence and social media’s advent, innumerable voices claim absolute truth. Even among Christian sources, there is a lack of unity of thought and several competing voices. While the internet amplifies the differences, they are not new. Splits in the Christian church date back to Acts 15, where disputes among differing factions caused not a minor issue regarding circumcision. With so many competing voices, it can be hard to know which voices we should listen to and which lead us to the truth. Jesus was repeatedly challenged regarding how to follow the Sabbath properly, and his response should guide us whenever we have doubts about what is right to do when we are uncertain of the truth. Matthew 12 shows us an example of how Jesus handled the opposition.

9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 12:9–14.

As Jesus verbally danced with the Pharisees regarding what was lawful during the Sabbath, Jesus directed us to question the source of their truth. The scriptures direct us to observe the Sabbath and keep it set apart, but the Pharisees added to it, as laid out in the Talmud and other commentary-esque literature. They placed restrictions on some tasks because they might lead to transgression, but not a transgression. However, there was also the ability to allow a Rabbi to state that some actions were necessary, which is what Jesus references about the allowing of saving a sheep. When we look to our source of truth in the scriptures, we must refrain from mixing up interpretation or commentary with the plain language of the text. Many of us come from differing traditions that interpret Scripture differently, but we must hold to the source of truth as Scripture and that our traditions are lesser than the truth found in Scripture.

Traditions lead to disputes because we come from different backgrounds and want to think the best of our interpretations. Too often, we lean into the thoughts originating in our background, but looking at scripture honestly will open our eyes to differing interpretations of the exact text. The Pharisees could only see their traditional observation of the Sabbath as truth; anything outside of that observation was worthy of death. Therefore, they get flustered and angered when Jesus pokes a hole in their understanding through their tradition of exception. If we get frustrated that someone doesn’t view Scripture the way we do, we must look back to the Scriptures as a whole and strive for peace with God and others. Jesus directs us to the purpose of the Sabbath, not the practice. We must understand why God created the Sabbath, and it was certainly not to hold people in suffering but to create space for worship. How better to worship God than to liberate someone from a life of pain and suffering?

The Gospel liberates the world’s people from their separation from God, bringing peace between God and humanity. Therefore, our interactions with people in the name of the Gospel should bring peace and unity, not division and strife. Jesus brought healing to the man at the synagogue, bringing about a wholeness previously withheld because of the day of the week. He gave the afflicted life, which was authorized by the purpose of the Sabbath. Even though this conflicted with the Pharisees, Jesus reminded them that the Sabbath could not be oppressive but liberating to worship. Most of the time, we won’t come to a consensus about how we understand all the Scriptures. Still, as long as what we are doing is giving life and guiding people toward freedom in Christ, then we represent the Gospel, and our differences are inconsequential.

When we strive to find out how to understand what God wants us to hold as truth, there is far too much noise generated by the many opinions and traditions in the world. The Scriptures guide us to God’s purpose for us, which is to bring peace to the chaos all around, and instead of shouting about our differences, God calls us to unity in the Gospel. The Gospel brings life and not disunity and separation. Therefore, the Gospel will always lead us toward doing good and helping alleviate suffering and pain. Even if our actions may cause others to see us as doing something wrong, if we bring good to our community, it will always outweigh the need to follow a legalistic tradition.

JRMITCH85 Character, Decisions, Faith, Hope

Open Doors To Mercy

From time to time, we all find ourselves in places and with people that make us uneasy and feel like we are out of place. As Jesus ministered to the people, He encountered many who felt this way, and those that did have social belonging, Jesus challenged. In John 3, Jesus encounters Nicodemus, a Pharisee who had full standing within the community, and Jesus makes him question his previous understandings and put Nicodemus unease. Therefore, someone that had always belonged suddenly had to question their belonging.

How many of us have walked into a room and questioned whether we belonged in that place? We might feel as if the people all know each other, or they all dress differently than us, or we might not have the qualifications to be present in this group. Churches and other organizations must muster feelings of belonging to help retain people. However, the belonging must be authentic, just as Jesus shows to people throughout the Gospels.

The transition to John 4 shows Jesus traveling into Samaria, where the observant Jews would not want to speak with any locals because history has dictated the separation of these two related peoples. We allow history and propaganda to be a rationale for separating and breaking down the idea that we or others belong. If we hold tight to Jesus, we belong; if we hold tight to Jesus, we will recognize that others also belong, no matter their background. 

Jesus opens belonging to a Samaritan woman and all of us as He speaks to her at Jacob’s well. Jesus opens the door to mercy to this woman and shares freedom from our sin and everlasting life.

So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him. 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” 39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” 43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. 

John 4:5-42 (ESV)

Many of us come from backgrounds that don’t fit perfectly into the image of an ideal Christian. There are things we have said or done that, in the eyes of God, would preclude us from joining the Kingdom of God. We are sinners and do not deserve any of the blessings of God. Our sin should prevent us from the glory of God, and standing next to Jesus in even our best behavior, we would look as if we do not belong, and thus because of our sin, we deserve death. Due to our sin, we identify with the woman in Samaria. Her sin and her nationality would have kept her away from Jesus. She did not belong, and we do not belong.

In Jesus’ exhausted state, He offers the woman mercy and grace. He approaches the woman and speaks with her in His first act of mercy. She was astonished and shocked because for years, she had been treated as subhuman due to the place she was born and then her sinful lifestyle, but Jesus addressed her humanity. The woman did not know how to respond, but Jesus reveals His divinity to her regardless of societal position. Similarly, Jesus showed us grace and mercy by coming to save us while we were still caught in the trappings of sin. The woman doesn’t immediately understand Jesus’ requests or statements, but Jesus doesn’t retract the benefit due to her misunderstanding. He offers her mercy and invites her into the Kingdom. Mercy opens the door to the Kingdom of God to us.

Just as the door to the Kingdom of God was opened to us through the mercy of Jesus, we need to be merciful with the people that surround us, even those that have harmed us in the past. We are not called to be gatekeepers but rather to help people find their way to the mercy seat of God. Jesus reminds the disciples that they have a task even in their lack of understanding. They are called to bring people before God, sharing with the world the Gospel message. A harvest is waiting, even though they did not plant the crops. God calls His people to answer the message by sharing merciful Grace with everyone, even those that have rejected them. We are both the harvest and the harvesters, and God desires to use us to spread the Gospel to all. Mercy is the invitation, and we must be willing to share mercy indiscriminately.

Jesus providing a merciful offering of grace to the people of Samaria led to a transformation in the community. People that were once shut off from access to God in Jerusalem find freedom and favor in Jesus as they receive life everlasting. We were once shut off from life with God because of sin. However, Jesus’ death and resurrection opened access to the Gospel and transformed life in God’s Kingdom. Those who have received mercy must now share that same mercy with those around us, even if it doesn’t seem like they belong. Through Christ, we now belong and have access to a new life in the Holy Spirit.