Until I was a young adult, I had never heard the word "lectionary." I discovered that a lectionary is a book or listing of scripture readings appointed for worship. Many communions follow a lectionary to assure a balance of reading and preaching themes throughout the church year. In contrast, I was reared in and ministered in the Pentecostal tradition which emphasized being led by the Spirit, affirmed spontaneity and welcomed "freedom from forms and lifeless routines."
After nearly seven decades of living, worshiping and serving in the church, I have concluded that the human instinct to the comfort and security of rhythms and routines creeps into church life. We routinely sit where we usually sit, stand at what has become an acceptable time and fulfill the congregation’s expectations during public worship. The template for worship activity varies from one congregation to another, but is rather predictable within each group. People simply love the comfort of predictability.
Personally, I wonder if our being "led by the Spirit" tradition overlooks some of the values of lectionary discipline. An argument can be presented for preparation for significant celebrations within all communions. For instance, Passover was observed following a carefully dictated template initiated in Egypt and handed down and observed by Jesus. Passover was observed in hope and experienced during the first Holy Week, the week when Jesus offered himself as the Passover Lamb.
The disciples asked, "Where do you want us to prepare for Passover?" (Luke 22:9) Clearly, the Twelve were familiar with how the Passover would be observed. The preparations would take time and required ingredients. Passovers could not be observed haphazardly.
Most of the Christian world observes Lent, a time of preparation for the events leading up to Holy Week and culminating in Resurrection Sunday. Smudges of ash in the form of a cross were on the foreheads of fellow Christians. On Ash Wednesday they made a public statement about their commitment as Christians to spiritual preparation for the weeks ahead. To be sure, some may have been simply going through the motions, but I was inwardly asking, "What would happen if I went to Bible study tonight with the same mark?"
Isaiah announced that a plan was in place and preparations were being made for the One who would offer the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53)
I argue, if Jesus’ sacrifice was promised and planned, and if the Passover was observed in anticipation for centuries, what could possibly be wrong with setting aside time to prepare for a more authentic spiritual observance of the Passover’s fulfillment, Jesus’ death and Resurrection? Is a season of preparation an empty routine devoid of value? Are we wise in discarding a season of thoughtful spiritual preparation to observe the greatest single event in history, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?
Maybe a smudge of ashes on our foreheads would have the right effect on proud people of the Spirit. Perhaps a discipline of reviewing the events leading up to and including Holy Week would slow us down and add solemnity to our Resurrection Day observances. Are we too proud to humble ourselves with a bid of ashes smudged to our forehead? Is it possible that "Spirit-filled pastors" would struggle less with building a special service, complete with obligatory religious bells and whistles? Following a season of serious spiritual preparation, would we dare to truly trust the "leading of the Spirit" to communicate the world-changing reality, "Christ is Risen?"
Grace is an important and frequent Bible theme. The simple, most frequently used definition of grace is "unmerited or unearned favor," which serves us adequately for our present purpose. Most frequently grace is considered in personal dimensions, and thanks for the grace of God is expressed for the favor of God on an individual. We appropriately sing, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see." While we sing the ancient tune in congregations, the focus is personal.
During recent readings of the New Testament Epistles and several books of American history I was challenged about the scope of God’s grace being experienced corporately, internationally and through many generations. For instance, when the first generation church was in the throes of her first wave of persecution, Luke records, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all (emphasis mine, Acts 4:32-33). Peter and John had performed the first public miracle after Pentecost and their lives were in jeopardy. The church prayed fervently and grace was experienced corporately.
The Apostle Paul often extended introductory grace greetings to the churches. To the Romans he wrote, "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:7). To the Corinthians he bid farewell with, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen." (1 Corinthians 16:23-24). The whole church is blessed, graced, no one excepted.
Throughout history God’s grace has been manifested, and His grace remains and is active today, if we will reflect and remember the Sovereign’s interventions. The grace of God was expressed internationally when God intervened and brought Egypt’s reign of terror to an end. A small sample of the details surrounding the grace of God’s actions include the salvation of Moses from Pharaoh’s death order. Moses’ encounter with the Almighty at the burning bush is a grace experience much broader than the personal impact on Moses. Daniel’s story and the gracious activity of God in the judges reinforce the truth that grace is broader, more far-reaching and more frequent than personal experience.
In the 1960's the "military-industrial complex" was at a full throttle. President Eisenhower warned the nation in a farewell address that the "Cold War" required huge expenditures of the nation’s budget to make weapons that, if used, could potentially unleash world-ending devastation and contaminate the environment so that human life would not be sustained. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pounded the desk with a shoe while debating at the United Nations. The "nuclear clock" was at 11:58 P.M. and many world leaders were in despair and convinced that peace was impossible. Evangelists leveraged the "doom’s day" or "nuclear clock" to warn of the Lord’s coming.
Into the doom’s day environment, grace was extended. A Roman Catholic, President John Kennedy, one for whom God-fearing Evangelicals would not vote, made a speech at American University calling for our Cold War antagonists to sit down and reason together. Hot words and threats were set aside and a non-proliferation treaty was hammered out, a true expression of grace. Fifty years have passed. One may comfortably argue that God’s grace was delivered by a man who had been disqualified by good, well-intentioned people. Grace is too broad to be confined in the narrow limits of human understanding. Maybe Peter’s Spirit-given insight is applicable here, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." – 2 Peter 3:9
September 11, 2010 angry terrorists made a statement of hate which forever changed the way every person in the world lives today. On that day the Attorney General of the United States was John Ashcroft, a member of the Assemblies of God. I believe Dr. Ashcroft was a gift of grace God appointed to his post for that season in our nation’s history. The complexities of his Senate confirmation hearings, the first-of-its-kind attack, and the mood of our nation all required a special person to serve alongside the President and Congress. The emphasis is not on a man, but on the grace of God extended to a nation and to the world.
One last observation, since "9-11" one of the songs sung during Major League Baseball games, seventh-inning stretches, is America the Beautiful. I note that in each of the four verses a simple prayer is inserted, "America! America! God shed his grace on thee." We are as undeserving of God’s grace as any other nation who has rebelled against God. But, if we keep pleading, keep interceding, keep singing the much-needed appeal for grace, He may hear us and heal our nation.
Come, let us sing a verse together today!
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Generosity is a foundational value found in followers of Jesus. Because generosity is a core value demonstrated and taught by Jesus his disciples ought to embrace and practice liberality consistently.
Jesus’ teaching was blunt and forceful. He taught, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38) The parable of the man victimized by thieves and ignored by the religious establishment reprimanded those who withheld their gifts of comfort and help. The generous Samaritan was placed in opposition to the "I-don’t-care-stinginess" of those who took comfort in their orthodox legalism while disconnecting behavior from the nature of God who is full of compassion.
Following World War Two, George Marshall was invited to make a speech before scholars at Harvard University. On June 5, 1947, Mr. Marshall laid out a plan of national generosity which became commonly known as "The Marshall Plan." America’s World War Two enemies were restored to economic stability and foes became friends in one generation. Missionary societies and benevolent ministries based in the United States have unselfishly poured billions of dollars into the less fortunate and impoverished around the world. And God has blessed our nation because of that liberality.
In 1992 we were privileged under God to establish Vailsburg Assembly of God. Within the first six months we convened a missions convention and began teaching the infant church how to give generously. We recently learned that the congregation will give more than $100,000 in support of missions around the world in 2014. It is obvious that because of generosity God’s blessing causes the church to thrive in every measurable way.
The parable of the last judgment in Matthew 25 is one of His last before the crucifixion. People who appeared at the judgment were separated right and left and sent them away as one separating sheep and goats based on how they invested or failed to invest in others. A careful re-reading of the story always sobers me. How we treat people is important to Jesus and ought to be of highest priority to anyone claiming to follow Him.
I am troubled when I hear those who are sincerely following Jesus carelessly and without compassion rail against those who benefit from generosity. I am troubled because –
I can find no occasion when Jesus berated a person for being poor, ill or in need of help. Rather, Jesus used each occasion to demonstrate forgiveness, compassion and His willingness to improve the lot of those who were helpless to improve their lot in life.
No one has anything of any value which did not originate in the heart of a compassionate and forgiving God. Grace is "unmerited, undeserved blessing."
The excuse to refuse help because someone is "using the system" is a worthy risk, especially if one takes seriously Jesus’ assurance, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers." For someone to "use the system" because of laziness or other sinful choices may reduce that person to the "least of these," but, the promise of "inheritance, the kingdom!"
Each of the actions Jesus affirmed in His explanation of the judgment is a personal, people-touching action. Caring for people may be organized but is not at its best when it is institutionalized. In a hurry-up, growth and promotion oriented world, caring for others is usually inconvenient.
Generous compassion has been a hallmark of Jesus’ disciples through the ages. Love is always a giving action. Missions cannot be reduced to a budget number, but an expression of generosity, liberality and deep compassion flowing from deep within the heart of an individual and a congregation.
Pastors serve their congregations well when they create many opportunities to hear of needs and then lead the congregation in an appropriate response. The church that formed me in my youth did that and many of us have given our entire adult lives in God-called service as a result. The legacy of the church is known on several continents! The church thrives and will soon celebrate her 75th anniversary of giving, serving, expressing the heart of Jesus to a world stumbling under the weight known to "the least of these my brothers."
"Stingy Christian" is an oxymoron, a world-class contradiction. Jesus taught his disciples in the shadow of the Last Supper, Gethsemane and the cross, How you treat people, your generosity in meeting human need, is a serious consideration at the judgment.
