The Snare Bringer

You brought us into the snare . . . 

 - From Psalm 66

In my reflections this year, I feel I have spent a lot of time on the snares that the world sets for us. 

I have condemned people in our lives, that ensnare us and then lure us to act wrongly. The world wants to mock us, to marginalize us, and to keep us down.

But then right here in this Psalm, it says that God Himself brings us into the snares. The entire passage reads as if God Himself sets the snare. 

We do know that God tests us . . . not for sport, but so that we can grow. And God was willing to put Himself through trials many times more difficult than what we face, by sending His Son to the cross. There must be something good in it, if Christ had to endure suffering. 

I find comfort in the fact that God brings us into snares. And if He is the creator of the snares; if He is working in the lives of evil people that seek us harm; then, I am going to have to be okay with that, too. I cannot claim to be more wise than an eternal being.

So, I don't read this and say, as unbelievers would: "What's that supposed to mean? Is God gaming us?"

No - - - it makes me feel good that He is even active in the bad times. It's all for some good, final purpose. 

Our God reigns.

What God Thinks of Us

While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance . . . 

 - From Acts 17

History's refrain is particularly strong in our times:

"Why would a loving God . . . ?"

The phrase bespeaks a disdainful attitude toward the Almighty. I find, threaded within those words, an actual belief that there is a God.

Like a parent saying to a child: "Why would you do that?" The parent does not ask the question as a proof that his or her child does not exist. In fact, the statement is soaked with evidence that the parent believes, all too well, that the child is a real, physical being. 

Why would God look the other way? Why would He permit evil in the universe? 

What's He thinking?

When a person asks this question, do not think of it as the opening volley of a debate about the existence of God. Rather, view it as a debate about the behavior of God. 

But even then . . . it is more wise not to engage. A person asking this question is at a very private and personal point in their search.

We spend too much time fretting about what people think of God, than of what God thinks about people. And even when we contemplate His thoughts about us, it is always tilted negatively towards people that are not us. Because, you know, I'm okay. You're the one that needs correcting.

God sees us as ignorant. I would say that the majority of our ignorance is that which we cannot help. God's probably not concerned about that. In fact, He probably thrills at watching our growth, as a species, into spiritual enlightenment . . . a journey that goes back thousands of years. 

The ignorance that Paul spoke about, in this sermon, was willful ignorance: thinking there might be a God, but putting ourselves in a position of being smarter than He. 

That's ignorant. It's dumb. 

If there is any chance, in your thinking, that perhaps there is a God, or any kind of superior being . . .shouldn't our smart response to be what we can learn from Him? Shouldn't it not be, to outsmart the Almighty?

Who do you think you are, anyway? Embrace the Creator, seek Him out, learn from Him. 

Shame

...let me never be put to shame...

 - From Psalm 31

The Psalmist is in anguish. Throughout the passage, he fears for his life. He asks God to protect him.

But what is the very first concern of a person in such danger?

That he never be put to shame.

Shame: something that someone else puts you to. 

We all want to be accepted by out community . . . by some community . . . by any community.

We want not to be put to shame. We want the community neither to shun us, nor to marginalize us.

And in our politics, marketing, and almost every kind of social construct, we get this. It's not so much getting good things to people, as it is shaming people that are in your way, so that they get out of your way. For we do not like being put to shame.

But at the same time, we want to be comfortable, and in some way, "happy." We are constantly at war with ourselves: one side wants to be distinct, independent, and to be noticed. The other side wants no trouble; wants to get along, and fit in, quietly.

This dichotomy may be at the root of the human experience. Self versus community. When the self is too ascendant (i.e. as in dictatorship) we have trouble. But when the community is too ascendant (perhaps, as in our times) we have another kind of trouble. Skilled politicians and marketers know how to appeal to both sides, and to keep them in conflict, so that power may be reserved to those currently wielding it.

At the foremost, though, for our times, society as a whole seems to be in lock-step, and in united focus, against the idea of "shame." They are trying to outlaw it. They would legislate a society where it is illegal to shame someone else, for any reason. 

But what is their sole tactic for fighting shame? Well, they shame those that disagree, of course.

 . . . Which brings us full circle, to the thing that the Psalmist seemed to fear, even more than physical harm or death: shame itself. 

What Would Christ Say?

Lord, do not hold this sin against them.

 - Stephen, in Acts Chapter 7

Do we realize how big this is? When Stephen, a mere mortal, actually asks God to forgive his tormentors, even as he is being pelted by rocks, to the point of death.

Or even, think about death by stoning. We all know what that is; and in today's culture of TMI, we've all seen videos of live stonings (no doubt, most of us have), which are still practiced regularly in many nations. We're probably drawn to it . . . we've got to see what it looks like. And then we feel pity for the person being stoned. Or is it sincere pity for them, or horror in terms of, "Oh my gosh, I don't want that happening to me!"

In the realm of swift death, stoning takes the longest.

In the realm of slow death, it is relatively quick.

In the realm of painful death . . . it's not near the top, but it's bad enough. I think there's a primordial fear at having things thrown at us, by other people. Just holler "Heads up!" in a crowd . . . or "duck!" We don't want to be hit by flying objects.

Stephen is being killed by a lynch mob. Death by stoning leaves you with very little to go with, if you wanted to charge someone in the crowd with murder. Which person threw the rock that ended the life? And what if there were dozens of people throwing rocks? What if the crowd included respected, influential community leaders?

When Jesus said "Father forgive them," He understood exactly what He was saying. He knew what fate awaited them for their great crime.

But everybody since Christ, that is being persecuted and shouts out "Father forgive them!" . . . Are they sincerely concerned about their tormentors? Or do they just want to look good? Are they simply following Christ, pleased to share His mantle of humility and grace? 

It's all good . . . . whatever your reason, it's always good to follow Christ.

Faith and Knowledge

If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

 - From John 14

I think that there is a connection between faith and knowledge. If you ask Jesus to do anything, in His name, He will ask the Father and the Father will grant it.

Not to be irreverent, but, like a genie.

But the difference between Jesus and a genie, is that, in order for Jesus to grant your wish, you have to ask in His Name. 

And how do you anything in someone's name, without knowing the person fully? You have to know Christ. You have to understand Him.

Your knowledge in him must yield total confidence that He can do what you ask. And that's knowledge.

Knowledge requires study. 

Children believe a lot of things . . . their imaginations are so rich, that they can believe some things so profoundly that, in their pretend times, it all becomes real. Or perhaps their dream world is made more vibrant, through their ardent belief that it's true.

Faith and knowledge are like that, too. Like Christopher Robin, and Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes. These kids actually experienced what is found in the literature. Imagination is a powerful thing.

Faith, belief, knowledge, confidence, etc. 

And your knowledge of Christ must be such that you have the wisdom to back away from things that He would not grant you. What sense is it, for Him to extend the life of an aged loved one that has become mortally sick? Beyond death, the believer has so much more to experience. Christ is not going to prevent His children from something far better, unless there is a really good reason. And only He is going to understand that, not you.

If Christ has not been granting our wishes, then we need to get to know Him better. Because a name is just words. Asking for things in Jesus' name really means: seek His will.

Chosen

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 

 - From 1 Peter 2

Whoops.

This is treacherous language for our times. Maybe, for any age.

Peter has just singled out the Church as being "chosen."

He told them they are a "race."

And that they're "royalty."

And a "priesthood."

And "holy."

And a "nation." 

Let's break this down.

Chosen - People do not respond well to anybody suggesting that they have been singled out, by . . . Almighty God. "Who made you the judge over me?"

Race - Don't go there. Don't be stating that your race is in any way special. And yet, in this case, the race is a community of races.

Royalty - As in, 1%.

Priesthood - See "chosen."

Holy - I don't think so.

Nation - Did you see that? They just claimed to have loyalties other than to their own country!!!

Do you think that this, right here, is the real reason people hate the Church? And when you figure in the idea that so many members of the church are "uneducated," "deplorable," "bigoted," etc. Well, it just gets you into deeper water.

But what is the point of all of it? Let Peter say it:

"...in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

So yes, Peter has said some lofty things about Believers. He also has given them an immense responsibility. 

If you want people to do great things, you have to make them believe they can do great things. Everybody needs encouragement, and if, in our times, anybody ever needed encouragement, it is the Church in 2017.

No worries. Christians really do not believe that they are that great. Forget any bluster you think you see. They actually are plagued by self-doubts and a sense of being insufficient. They really are a great target for people that love to taunt others.

So much the more reason, for a servant-leader like Peter, to build them up. 

A final point - - - The Church may be everything Peter stated. But also, the Church is an organization that anybody can join.

Anybody.

Traps

Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me.

 - From Psalm 31

How modern preachers sugar-coat the Gospel. They treat people like babies. They don't want to "scare" people away. They say "Seekers wouldn't understand." 

What human doesn't understand exactly what this psalm is referencing?

People are bad! And there are a lot of them. You, and I, and everybody around us, is a potential problem for us. Even the good ones have their moments. 

The verse above suggests that we will be used, and harmed, by people we trust. When you lay a trap for a wild creature, you have to get them to trust you. You do not enter into a net, or trap, without believing it would be okay to do so. And usually, you can't even tell there's a net anywhere.

The psalmist talks about being trapped in a net, that had been secretly set for him. FOR him. The trap was customized, to ensnare the specific person that it trapped. They need to get to know you. They need to understand your patterns, your likes, and dislikes.

That's bad.

The promise of Scripture, and the Good News, is all about getting out of these bad situations that we fall into, all the time.

The Real Gospel understands that there are bad things in the world, and bad people, and that bad people do bad things; and that we are not smart enough to know where to turn next. 

But God offers protection. He can get us out of those traps. 

The traps that had been set by people we trust.

Who Killed Stephen?

Then they dragged him out of the city ...

 - From Acts 7

Who were these people that dragged Stephen out of the city? The same ones that then began to stone him? The ones that, when Stephen began to preach the gospel - - - which, simply, is sharing what he has witnessed with his own eyes, and ears - - - plugged their ears and cursed him?

We could spend some time discussing the sick, childish behavior of Stephen's persecutors.

But for now, let's consider who they were.

Well, they were led on by their leaders. But who were their leaders? Yes, the Scribes and Pharisees, of course. And yes, the Romans. So, the religious leaders and the government wanted to silence Stephen. The wealthy? Yes. 

And of course there are exceptions to all of the above.

But where are the Scribes, the government, and the wealthy (I should have added "the learned" as well), in this narrative? Notice that, when the crowds begin to act erratically, and violently, the "leaders" always seem to disappear from center stage. The person(s) actually inciting crowd violence are invisible handlers at the scene. They are probably financed, and encouraged, by the nominal leaders. But we certainly do NOT see the Scribes, the Pharisees, the wealthy, and the learned, denouncing the crowds. They do not try to rein them in. They are silent. 

There's a lot of psychology there. When people are silent in time of social unrest, perhaps it is because they all fear (we all fear) coming under the power of a random and angry mob. 

"Whew! I'm glad they're not coming after me! I'll just lay low." So that, if you can influence a crowd against someone else, you have the assurance that, at least for now, they're not coming after you. 

A lot of psychology, indeed.

I heard a preacher, just yesterday, explain that the Scribes and Pharisees, and the Romans; the very people that killed Christ and persecuted His followers; were the "political Conservatives" of their day.

Huh?

Thanks, preacher. Our society really needs influential people dividing us even more.

Could it be that the persecutors were actually what they actually were? Not a political group. Not a philosophical group. But rather, a group with power that feared a changing order. Could it be that it was the government, and the clergy (people with fancy titles and colorful robes) that loved their influence and have a lot to lose if a movement started by uneducated people, takes root?

The bad guy is never us. It's always The Other.

Who killed Stephen? Who wanted him silenced . . . to a violent degree?

Who wants the Church silenced today? Who looks the other way when crowds get violent?

Huh?

Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

 - From John 10

Jesus used veiled language all the time. It was partly to develop the deeper understand of eternal things, in the minds of His disciples. But it was simply because His words and concepts, though simple once you get them, were too lofty for them to access.

And of course the learned people of His time; the wealthy, the educated, the "leaders," with their penchant for clarity, focus, "details" and "just the facts"; the way they relied on respectable arguments like those of scientists and best-selling authors - - - they never got Jesus' point. They thought they did, because they relied on the surface meaning of the words. But figures of speech, parables, allegories, etc.. . . you have to "get" the nuance. You have to see past the surface meaning. You have to have a sense of irony and even of satire. You can't think too seriously. You can't be over-analytical. You can't be so self-absorbed. You have to want to learn, and you have to want to learn from people that are not from your social class.

Jesus' disciples' first response to his teachings were usually clueless. If He posted to them on social media, they would want to respond with "Huh?" or just "?". You might even see Judas with the occasional "???".

It is no shame if you articulate a point, and people don't get it. If you're trying to be delicate, and make a point in a way that is not straightforward, but that sort of hints at the point, in a way that, on the surface, no one can disagree with.

For instance - - - you might post something like: "We all need to become better listeners." The obvious correct response is "I agree." This statement should receive a hundred "likes." But often, instead you will get something like "I don't have to listen to bigots and haters." or "Who are you to judge?" or maybe the requisite humor: "What did you say?"

When people didn't get Jesus, He did not go into hyper-drive trying to explain Himself to them. He let it go, and moved on. 

So make your point on-line and in person. The deeper it is, the less they will get it . . . the more likely they are to get offended by it. But ignore their ignorant, spiteful responses. 

You have done well. 

Table

You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me . . . 

 - From the 23rd Psalm

In the Old Testament, you frequently come across references to spreading a table out, to eat.

Dinners were very prominent in the Old Testament. In the Middle East, still today, the idea of sitting down to eat, is a very important cultural element. 

When it was time to celebrate, when families came together, when major work had been completed . . . and when difficult negotiations needed to be made, they would sit down to eat.

Contemporary satire about how horrible dinners notwithstanding, for most people, the happiest and most agreeable of times, are when we gather together to eat.

I used to think this passage in the most famous Psalm, was about gorging ourselves, while our enemies sat outside, probably cold, and maybe at a lower elevation; looking up at us, with envy and guilt for how they mistreated us. But I'm inclined to look at it differently now. 

Not only does God guide us safely through troubled times; He goes with us when we must traverse right down the middle of enemy territory. But He does more than that.

With our enemies nearby, perhaps with the weapons out, God Himself prepares a table for us, and them. He Himself invites them to sit down and fellowship with us. 

You see, God wants reconciliation. He actually wants His children to get along. Doesn't it bring you joy to have your family over for dinner, and to have all of them sitting across the table from you? Isn't it sweeter still, when they had been at odds with one another?

The 23rd Psalm isn't just about peace for the writer, or the reader. It shares a message of peace for everybody. 

Invite your enemy over for dinner.

Ummm . . . Better Read a Little Further There

...they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.

 - From the Second Chapter of Acts

Scoffers and mockers in our time, love to throw this verse in the face of "evangelical" and "conservative" Christians. The online version of this scripture is usually accompanied by such accouterments as "lol" and its many variants. 

It is indeed, a wonderful concept. It is of course a great challenge to believers. And guess what? We are all familiar with it. We know that we fall short in this area. We test our own depth of faith. We challenge each other. It happens in a rather private type of format. We do not parade around the ways in which we grow, fall, and grow again, spiritually. So to the unchurched that love to point this out to us: Thank you for caring, and for pushing us to higher levels. But we struggle enough with passages like this, without your help.

But at the same time, scoffers, typically, cherry pick one or two verses that can cause the most embarrassment (note how their objective is to embarrass - - - how wonderfully mature of them). But there are other concepts contained within, that they always fail to mention:

* Signs and wonders were everywhere
* They stayed together, and shared everything
* They stayed in church
* Even the unbelievers were drawn to them
* Their growth was meteoric

Now, these other features are usually not mentioned. But each item needs the others to flourish. It's okay to sell all you have, and give to the poor. But you also need to be in church, and in prayer, almost constantly. You need to adopt a communal lifestyle. And if you don't see signs and wonders, i.e. miracles happening all the time, then the parallel to modern Christians is very weak indeed.

Let me suggest this to those that love to point this verse out to Christians:

Show, don't tell. If you want to shame Christians, don't talk about our Bible . . . DO it yourself. YOU sell your possessions and share with those that have needs. This will do way more than just talking and pointing a finger. Not only does this challenge Christians in a gentle way, but it does so in an EFFECTIVE way. YOU would be starting a grassfire of charitable goodness. 

And since your hearts would be in the right place, you would find yourself no longer interested in shaming Christians. And that is a step forward for all of us.