Over the past several weeks, I’ve been inclined to focus on the practice of Lent. I’ve seen my Roman Catholic friends do this for years, but I never gave it much thought. Yet Lutherans, Anglicans, and other denominations inheriting the Reformation tradition also observe this part of the liturgical calendar. Most people who practice Lent sacrifice something from their daily life (usually a food item) from Ash Wednesday until Maundy Thursday.
I have been making my way through the book of Mark quite slowly. In fact, I have studied and re-studied the first chapter six or seven times over the last couple months. I must say, this last paragraph in chapter 1 is one that gets me more and more each time. Take a moment to read it and let the word of God penetrate your heart.
You may first be struck by the familiarity of the passage. It is a common scene in the Gospels; a sick man approaches Jesus, Jesus heals the man, and the man runs off rejoicing. This scene, however, contains some other insights for us. The main characters in this story should teach us something about ourselves. The leper teaches something about our humanity and natural tendencies, while Jesus teaches us about what we should be. First, the leper. The leper recognizes Jesus as someone who can heal. In the first chapter of Mark, prior to this story, there are three scenes in which Jesus heals many people and casts out demons and two references to Jesus’ growing fame as a healer and teacher with authority. So it is safe to assume that the leper knew Jesus could heal, evidenced by his “imploring.” Mark tells us that Jesus was “moved with pity” (more on that in a bit) and healed the man per his request. Mark then records that Jesus “sternly charged” the former leper to tell no one about the miracle. The leper disobeyed Jesus and went about and “began to talk freely” about what had taken place. I find that often I am no different. God has been moved with incredible compassion and pity towards me and my sinful state, to the point that He pursues me and saves me from that state. I had been exempt from worshiping God because of my condition (like the leper was) but Jesus cleansed me and made it possible for me (like he did for the leper). Yet, like the leper, I run away doing whatever I would like with this new-found freedom. Instead of obeying Jesus, I take the opportunity to often do the exact opposite of what He prescribed. The leper modeled for you and I, in great detail, what it is that we often do with the grace that God has shown us.
He is not the only one that teaches us something in this story. Jesus, is the main point of the Gospel of Mark and sits at the focal point of each story. This story is no different. We learn up front in this chapter that Jesus has incredible power and has the discretion to use it, but He also models for you and I a life lived subject to the Law and standards of God. In this story, He demonstrates the love of the Father in a way that should make us feel shame. Upon seeing the leper in his helpless condition, Jesus feels pity and compassion on the man. He uses His power to heal the man and then commands him to keep it a secret. Jesus is omniscient, though; He knew the man would not obey. He knew the man would run about telling the whole town. So why did He go ahead and heal the leper? The leper did not deserve the mercy, and he was merely going to squander Jesus’ kindness the first chance He got. So why did Jesus do it? Because grace is free. Mercy is free. The compassion of God is free. I have found myself in a number of situations where I had the opportunity to show the love of the Father to someone in need; I am sure you have too. However, before I helped them I paused to consider whether they actually deserved it. To my shame, I often choose not to show someone compassion because they do not “deserve” to be shown the compassion that I have been shown. How arrogant of me. Consider with me the excuses we come up with to rationalize our selfishness and pride. ”Oh, they are just going to spend the money drugs and booze, they are better off if I don’t give it to them.” Or, “They could find of job if they wanted; I mean even if it is flippin’ burgers. They’re just lazy.” Or, “I see them on the corner all the time, they are just scamming us.” Perhaps, “They probably deserve to be there; God must be punishing them.” Of all the people in the world who have a reason not to show kindness, is it not Jesus? He is the Creator of all; He is worthy of all praise, and He chose to show compassion on His enemies! Who am I to decided who is worthy of my compassion?
Take time today to consider this passage and how you can be less like the leper by showing gratitude to God for His compassion to you and more like Jesus by showing compassion to others that way that He did to you (without reservation).
On October 31, 1517 God set in motion the era that would become known as the Protestant Reformation. It began with Martin Luther posting his disagreements with the Roman Catholic Church on the church door in Wittenburg. This event would spark a renewed desire in the Word of God and the Gospel, something that had been lost for centuries. Today, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Anabaptists (Baptists) and nearly all Evangelicals can trace their history back to this divine revival. Once again, by the grace of God, there seems to be a revived interest and influence of this era today. Undoubtedly, I find myself in this bunch. So in honor of this Reformation Day, I would like to share why I am a Calvinist.
In John chapter 3 we a privy to a secret conversation that Nicodemus had with Jesus. During this conversation Jesus likened salvation to the wind. He said that just as the wind blows by without warning and without us knowing where it comes from, similarly, salvation comes as a gift from God and we cannot take credit for it. Though Scripture is true without the validation of human experience, I can confirm this reality. The truth is that all Christians can. Jesus said that this would be the testimony of all people who are to be born again. In essence what Jesus is told Nicodemus is that before you are ever saved from God’s wrath there is a Divine movement that begins the process. John follows up this story in John 3 with another in John 4 where these truths are portrayed in the life of an unsuspecting woman. The woman did not leave her house that day looking for salvation from God, she believed she had it in religion. Rather, Jesus, in divine pursuit of her, invaded her life with truth and removed the scales from her Samaritan eyes so that she could see. The wind of the Holy Spirit blew and she had no idea where it came from.
As you consider your conversion, can you not confirm this reality. As I look back through my life, I can see a wealth of evidence of God’s gracious pursuit after me despite my rejection of His Son. From the beginning, God placed me a home that surrounded me with the teaching of His Word and the presentation of His Gospel. I now see this as grace from God–grace that I took for granted. I lived with this blessing but never recognized its value. I professed faith in Jesus at a young age but refused to live a life consistent with the Gospel. Instead of being grateful for the family God gave me, I assumed I was safe. I never rebelled against my parents and their faith in any extreme sense; I merely lived a life unchanged by it. I feigned a life of submission to Christ by being baptized early on and then “surrendering” to the ministry as a teenager but never surrendered the throne of my heart to Jesus. However, looking like a Christian did not help me anymore than being a smart rabbi helped Nicodemus or worshiping on various hills helped the Samaritan woman. The Spirit had not moved and initiated the salvation in me; the winds of a born-again life had not blown.
I was not looking for salvation. I had no interest in being saved because my own heart deceived me into thinking that I was already. That did not stop God. In His heart He wanted me, and in His time He would get me. Without any initiative from me, the winds of salvation blew in February of 2003 and God removed the scales on my eyes showing me how wonderfully glorious Christ really is. I repented of my self-righteous “gospel” and believed in Christ’s sacrifice for me. For the first time, the Christian life was a joy to me; the law of Christ was not a burden, I was born-again and finally understood the Gospel. I no longer had to assume that I was safe. I knew that God’s wrath against me had been absorbed by Jesus and I was justified by His death and resurrection.
The testimony of Scripture is consistent; God had this ordained and predestined me to salvation before Creation. My conversion is proof that God desires glory through the salvation of self-righteous religious sinners. More proof and evidence is not needed. Why am I a Calvinist? Because God saved me. He did it. Not me. Not my choice. Not even my faith. It was God’s doing, only by grace.
Church life seems to be a complicated mixture of many issues. There is the biblical/theological, the worshipful, the devotional, the instructional, the personal, the interpersonal, the contemporary, the cultural, the cross-cultural, the politics (in-house), the financial, the counselling, the development of leadership, the infrastructure of programming, the discipleship, the discipline, the pre-marital, the marital, the building issues and on it goes.
This evening my family had the opportunity to spend time with my parents, siblings, and grandparents. Each of us kids have had our first child this last year. My youngest sister and her husband’s son is 10 months old; my son is one month old; and my middle sister’s is a week old.
It was really neat to spend that time together with them. I am sure that this picture will be one that is cherished for a long time. It is evidence of God’s grace. Just a year ago my grandfather suffered three major heart attacks in the course of two days. We were all gathered around his hospital bed and discussing the options with the doctor. But in His goodness, God chose to give my grandfather the privilege of meeting the great-grandson that will carry on his name.
By God’s grace, I will be able to tell my son about the man who is holding him in this picture. I will tell him that his great-grandpa was a unique man; he always wore cowboy boot (which is why I do) and a pearl snap western shirt. In his prime, he charmed my grandma with his unique personality that is a cross between John Wayne and Elvis. Above all that, late in his life, he never forgot that he was living because of the kindness of Jesus. He was also talking about how Jesus had good to him and how he really had a lot to thank Jesus for.
God’s grace has surely spanned the generations!
I can’t be certain that anyone will read this. I have been writing another blog for sometime now and the readership of it is rather poor. I can only expect that this one will be less. Still, the compelling nature of the blogoshere beacons me to type more. My hope in this blog is to publish items that are more personal than my other blog. The intention of The Hagiasmos Project is to provide the body of Christ (or the small portion that reads it) with posts that are directly related to theology, Bible studies, and sanctification. Over here, I would like to introduce document the personal nature of following Christ. I want to share certain aspects of my life where God’s grace is evident. The hope is similar; I pray that God uses what I am learning to teach and encourage you.
