Civil Religion

The U.S. constitution banned the creation of a civil religion. It forbade using religion as a criterion for public service. Freedom of religion would result in the virtue of the tolerance of individual beliefs. The unspoken assumption was that people have beliefs and that those beliefs would prompt people to work for the common good and protect the innocent. Every person would agree that self-serving greed was unhealthy for the individual and the community.

It seems the constitution set up a pretty good system. Justice, public service, and community safety all function fairly well without demanding belief in a particular religion. Maybe the system has worked too well. Today, people are more likely to expect support from the State than from God. It appears we have a civil religion after all. People believe the State will provide food, shelter, healing, and hope. When the State falls short of their expectations, some people become bitter and hopeless.

The Bible tells us that God is a jealous God. No one and no thing will be allowed to have the honor, respect, and focus that God deserves. Rule #1 says, "You shall have no other gods before Me."

As Christians we are are not immune to the trials and tribulations of this economic crisis. The difference should come in our response to it. If we expect the State to take care of us, we are putting our faith in the wrong place. The Bible tells us that "your heavenly Father knows you need these things."

How should we respond to the uncertainty of these days? "Seek first the kingdom of God and God's righeousness, and all these things will be added." Hard to do? Indeed! Unless you trust in God more than anything else. We need to be praying, reading the Bible, worshiping, and witnessing. We need to do these things: alone, with our families, and with other believers. Our lives may go through changes but God alone is our Source.

Who's In Charge Here?

"My life is out of control!"
Can you say "AMEN!"?

Whether it's the price of milk, or the cost of a prescrition, or the shortage of buyers for a house, the economy is prompting many people to cry out. "My life is out of control!"

The feelings behind that cry may be despair, or anger, or annoyance, or helplessness. Those feelings often lead us to panicked decisions that don't really help, and may make things worse.

Is it true? Are our lives really out of control in this economic squeeze? Actually, YES. the Bible reminds us that "our times are in God's hands." Proverbs tells us, "Man proposes, God disposes." When we feel like we have no control over a situation, it helps to know that Someone is in control. God is the God the past, and the God of the present, and the God of the future.

God has some very specific promises that apply to our out-of-control lives. "I will never leave you." "My grace is sufficient for you." "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your understanding. In everything you do acknowledge God and God will direct your paths."

It is normal to feel panic in the storm -- but it is faith-filled to grab onto the Rock! Our lives are not in our control; but they are in God's control. Jesus said, "In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world."

Finding Joy

I've been thinking about "joy" lately. What is it? Where does it come from? How can you keep it?

The dictionary defines joy as: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; 2. a state of happiness or felicity; 3. a source or cause of delight (Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, 4/22/09). Some synonyms are "delight," "gaiety," and "bliss."

When I checked my Chain Reference Bible I found a page of scriptures about joy. There is earthly joy and spiritual joy. There is the promise of joy and the restoration of joy.

Advertisers tell us that the right car or shoe or toothpaste will bring us joy. The Bible tells us that it is God's presence that brings fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Jesus told his disciples that he spoke these things to them "that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11). This joy is more than an emotion. It is a deep sense of satisfaction and contentment that leads to gladness of heart. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).

Joy doesn't depend on circumstances. Paul and Silas rejoiced in the middle of the night ina Philippian prison (Acts 16:25). Peter expected believers to rejoice in the middle of persecution and suffering (1 Peter 4:13). Jesus endured the cross "for the joy that was set before him" (Hebrews 12:2).

No matter our circumstances, no matter our possessions, no matter our difficulties, we can have joy by looking to Jesus, our source of joy. God's presence brings joy, God's word brings joy, God's Spirit brings joy. As the song says, "This joy that I have: the world didn't give it to me. The world didn't give it and the world can't take it away!"

I picked up a Bible today from my shelf that I've had for over forty years. It used to have a paperback cover. Now it is bound in red double-knit fabric with cardboard inserts. The last few pages are barely held in by yellowing scotch tape. The spine came loose from the cover years back. The first ten pages don't fasten to anything. The inside has yellow highlighter, black underlining, Flair pen, and pencil notes. This Living Bible (copyright 1971) is the story of my early faith. The verses I marked, the notes I made, as well as the pages without a mark, all tell of my struggles and growth as a Christian.

The freshness of this paraphrase in the 1970's was similar to the clear breeze that The Message brings for people today. I remember drinking in every page as if Jesus wrote it personally to me. This was NOT my mother's Bible! And my faith was uniquely and delightfully my own as well. -- Which was a good thing since I lived 700 miles from home and there was no unlimited long distance on those phones!

I don't use that particular Bible anymore. I keep it as a memento of the early days. It's a good thing my faith did not depend on that book. It is too fragile to hold up to the demands of my life these days. Preaching, teaching, praying, studying... those flimsy pages could never keep up. My faith is not in the printed word, but in the Living Word that the printed word reveals. The Word of God is living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword, separating our thoughts and motives (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God was in the beginning with God (John 1:1). The Word of God became flesh and lived right here among us (John 1:14). That truth is too good to keep on a shelf!

A new year of joy

The year 2009 hasn't started off very well for many people. Jobs, houses, relationships, children, health -- each seems to be under attack by forces beyond our control. Where do we find joy when the outlook seems so gloomy?

Imagine living in exile thousands of miles from home. A reprieve comes from the central government that you can go back--all expenses paid! There's just one catch. When you arrive you learn that the old hometown has been laid waste by marauders and bandits. There is nothing left to show you ever lived there. Even worse, the helpers you brought with you are so discouraged they want to give up the project completely.

This is the situation that Nehemiah faced when he arrived in Jerusalem from Babylon about 400 years before Christ. Rather than listen to the "doom and gloom" around him, Nehemiah made a decision to move forward. He encouraged his helpers with the words: "The joy of the Lord is my strength!" He chose to find strength in the unchanging Almighty God, not the changeable situation around him.

That can be our encouragement today as well: The joy of the Lord is my strength!