God is Kind

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness(Psalms 86:15)

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The great impostor of kindness is manipulation--niceness with a hidden agenda. Real kindness never has an ulterior motive. Whenever a hidden agenda supports a kind act, the act itself ceases to be kind.

Most people’s response to a kind act is “What do you want from me?” It is almost beyond belief that someone would do something nice for us without wanting something in return. “There are no free lunches", we tell our children.

Often, when someone is kind, we seek to control the situation by paying back what was done--let ourselves off the hook, even the score so we won’t be indebted to the person.

Real kindness humbles us, and we don’t like that feeling. Until we are able to receive authentic kindness we will never know the heart of God!

“Acts of kindness” don’t necessarily come from the heart. Anyone can “act out” kindness, and many kind acts are just that, an act.

God is not who many of us were taught that he was. God is love, and love is kind; therefore, God is kind. God never uses manipulation--fear, guilt, threat of brutality--to get people to behave. If it is not kind, with no strings attached, then it is not God.

My Band of Brothers

I am loving this journey with God! It’s not always easy—every day having more hidden crud in the recesses of my heart dredged up and dealt with-- but there is nothing better than enjoying His presence and counsel every day. Killing off old habits and breaking free of destructive attitudes… learning to live loved and love others. Freedom rocks!

Spiritual formation rarely happens in large group settings--which makes me wonder why we insist on "doing church" the way we do--room full of people, one guy doing most of the talking. Uggh.

I am grateful to have a handful of brothers with whom I am sharing this journey. Whether we are sharing the silence and solitude of paddling down a river, or sharing a meal together, or hanging out at the ballpark--it is so life-giving to have a small group of trusted friends.

We get together regularly just to share life-- our struggles and joys, talking about books we're reading together, sharing the challenges of being husbands and dads. Everyone needs what a group like this can offer.

We are heading into the wild this weekend--paddling to the campsite, hiking, cooking over an open flame--can't wait. Counting the hours.

This is my walk with God--it's personal and unique. But at times I walk alongside others who are on their own journey, and those times are great! I love the way Father uses others to help get me where He wants me to be.

Backlash

Yesterday's post generated some "offline" feedback, which was to be expected. As a public speaker for nearly three decades I've always been amazed that people "hear" me say things I never said.

Case in point: In yesterday's post I did not say that "everyone goes to heaven." What I actually wrote was, "It is God's heaven, He can let in whomever He wants."

Does anyone really want to argue the other side of that and basically say someone else gets to tell God who He can and cannot accept, and God has to abide by their verdict?

Bottom line: God is God. You are not. I am not. It's His call to make, not yours or mine.

I also wanted to confront Christians with the fact that too often we don't love people until after they change, rather than loving them as a way of helping them to change; change the way they see God and relate to Him, change destructive behavior, etc.

I also wanted to re-emphasize my conviction that God loves everyone because God is love. He cannot not love because that is who He is.

One friend took issue that I wrote, "God has unlimited patience with everyone". I was simply quoting scripture:

"... I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe (which means they don't yet) on him and receive eternal life." (1 Tim 1:16, NIV)

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise (that there will be a Day of the Lord when he makes all things right), as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NIV)

And finally, one friend took exception with my implying that everyone was a child of God. He chapter-and-versed me:

"Yet to all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in his (Jesus') name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) His point was that only after one believes in Jesus do they become a child of God.

So I chapter-and-versed him right back: "Ephesians 2:2, 5:6, and Colossians 3:6 all refer to 'children of disobedience' or 'disobedient children'." All people are God's children, some are obedient and some are living in disobedience; unbelief or outright rebellion against God.

I get tired of the game of "Scriptural Gotcha"--a person could find a verse of scripture to back up and reinforce just about any theological point they wish to argue. That doesn't get us anywhere--like a dog chasing it's own tail.

The whole point of yesterday's post was "God is loving and patient; not only with those who believe, but especially to those who don't... in hopes that they one day will."
I stand by that.

In the comment section MaryMartha diagnosed the disease accurately: too many have the "older brother complex" from the Prodigal Son story in Luke 15. "Lo, these many years I have been serving you (God); I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a ...whatever... that I might make merry with my friends."

It is the attitude of religious performance and obligation, and it is deadly; for the one possessing such an attitude and for the "little brothers" they look down upon.

It's amazing to me that we so often are resistant to, and push back against, the simple truths that "God is love" and "God loves people", period.

Believers Only?

I asked a group of Christians how they would feel if they got to heaven and found Buddhists, Hindus, homosexuals and women who'd had abortions sitting around laughing with Jesus.

Silence.

I waited. I repeated the question.

"That would never happen because the Bible is clear that people like that won't be there."

"What if they were?", I pressed. "After all it's His heaven, He can let in whomever he wants. What if people whom you knew for a fact didn’t believe in Jesus made it to heaven just like you did? How would you feel?

Again, silence.

After I told them about another group to whom I had posed the same question, and that group's consensus was "Angry. Cheated.", this group began to open up a little.

What surfaced was a sentiment among "the faithful" that it would be unfair of God to allow others in who had not "played by the rules" by which they themselves had kept for years.

(reminded me of this story that Jesus told. Matthew 20:1-16)

Many people in Christianity feel they have been called to safeguard heaven from people whose actions don’t deserve it, and deep down want people to pay for their shortcomings. After all, "it’s only fair."

"Houston, we have a problem."

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(An excerpt from The Shack by William P. Young", p. 192)

Papa (God): "Honey, you asked me what Jesus accomplished on the cross; so now listen to me carefully; through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world."

Mack: "The whole world? You mean those who believe in you, right?"

Papa: "The whole world, Mack. All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two-way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship but it is the nature of love to open the way."

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God is love. God loves everyone. God has unlimited patience with everyone, believers and unbelievers. His patience is an expression of His love.

He is loving and patient with all His children, even the one's who don't yet believe in Him.

He is hoping to win their heart. How do you know that someone who doesn't believe in God today will do so three months from now?

He is not loving and patient only to those who believe, but especially to those who don't... in hopes that they one day will.

Heaven's Trinkets

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

...they fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:10-11)

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I often hear the comment made to people who have gone through a trying time or season of suffering (or spent decades with a cranky spouse), "You're going to get an extra jewel in your crown for that."

It comes from the idea that we will receive crowns in heaven, and the more difficulties we've endured or the more good deeds one has done, the more be-jeweled your crown will be.

I think sometimes it turns into an unspoken competition. A silent attitude of "I want my hard work to have paid off."

Some folks feel "It wouldn't be fair if others get the same as me; I deserve better for all the hard work I've done. It wouldn't be right if those who haven't done as much as I have were to get the same as me."

Love doesn't keep score. This attitude of performance and reward is a foreign concept for people of grace.

Heaven's rewards--Jewels in our crowns and crowns for our heads. The crowns are not for us, and not for "bragging rights", as many suppose. We will turn around and cast those very crowns at the feet of the King in an act of worship. The crowns we receive are not for us; they are for Him.

The jewel-encrusted crown for which many have labored are mere trinkets. The icons of our greatest efforts are like the dime-store mardi gras beads for which we clamored as children.

Our crowns are heaven's trinkets--of little value compared to the riches and glory of The King. They are like pennies given to children to toss into the fountain. The value is not in the object being thrown, but seeing the joy, enthusiasm and expectancy on the faces of the children doing the throwing. The real treasure is simply being with the King Himself.

Q & A: Rick Warren

Mega-church pastor, Rick Warren, found himself in a hotbed of controversy when he accepted President Obama's invitation to pray at the inauguration in January.

Several gay and liberal activists decried the choice because Warren opposes same-sex marriage, even though the California mega-church pastor's recent activism has been focused more on poverty reduction and HIV/AIDS around the world.

Since the inauguration, Warren has declined to do interviews with the media, but he spoke with Christianity Today's Sarah Pulliam on April 8 about the backlash from that invitation, Easter, California's Proposition 8, politics and how the economy is affecting his church's global outreach.

I found it to be an interesting read, especially the part where he said he apologized to gay community leaders.

Here's Your Sign...

I overheard the following conversation in the hallway of a local high school today:

Guy !: "The baseball game this afternoon has been canceled."

Guy 2: "Really!? Why?"

Guy 1: "It's raining."

Guy 2: "Outside?"

I so badly wanted to interject, but I just bit my tongue.

God is Patient

“I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life” (1 Tim. 1:16).

IF: God is love.

AND: Love is patient.

THEN: God is patient.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not willing that anyone should perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

God is patient, long-suffering, “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness.” (Psalms 86:15)

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The word ‘patience’ has within it an implied opposite extreme. We think patience must have wrath, anger and un-restraint at the other end in order to exist. Patience is “instead of” or “opposed to” something much worse.

We wrongly think that patience is holding back anger that is begging to be released. That’s not it.

You can’t learn patience—you either have it or you don’t. When you love, you have it; and when you don’t love you don’t have it.

Patience comes through understanding and understanding comes through love. When you love someone you understand their heart, and when you understand their heart you have patience.

Love sees everything in a person’s heart. It doesn’t even begin to lose patience, because it understands completely why a person does what they do.

Many people believe God is waiting for them to get their act together; that he has washed his hands of them until they straighten up and stop making mistakes—this is their interpretation of God’s patience with them.

For many people, “God is being patient with me” means "He is so disgusted with me that he can’t stand it, but he is holding back from giving me what I deserve."

God is patient with you because he understands you fully and completely. His eyes see past the sin and straight into your heart. He understands exactly why you do what you do.

His patience with you is not a case of God holding back his boiling anger; rather it is simply God knowing you so well that He doesn't even begin to lose patience.

God is patient with you because you are “fully known” by Him. God knows you better than you know yourself and his focus is always on your heart. That is the part of you that he is in love with. Within your heart lies the truth about who you really are.

He’s not even tempted to ever take his hands off of you regardless of what you’ve done in your life.

He never calculates in his mind what you deserve for your failures in life.

He never tallies up your mistakes in an effort to build a case against you.

He is not even the slightest bit irritated when you repeat the same mistake over and over again. God understands and he is patient.

Love will never stop or leave you half-way through. Love’s resolve to stay forever is what gives it patience.

The reason many people don’t have patience in their marriage is because they haven’t decided once and for all that they will never leave.

God has decided whole-heartedly that he will be with you for all eternity. He’s not thinking of leaving or sneaking out early. He is in for the long haul. He has a clear vision of the finish line. And because of that he possesses patience.

God has patience with you because he knows the end of your story, and he is pleased with it. It’s a happy ending.

(excerpts from The God's Honest Truth by Darin Hufford)

False Advertisement?

I found an advertisement on my front door knob yesterday morning for a "Christian pest control" company.

I know what they meant--the folks who run the business are Christians, but what popped into my head was, "they only kill Christian termites, they let the agnostic and Jewish termites run wild." Who knew that termites could be Christian or non-Christian?

Does it really matter if the folks treating my home for termites have a little fish on their van or not? Not really. I'm more concerned that they operate honestly, provide high-quality service and charge a fair price.

I know some atheists businessmen who would meet all of those criteria. Unfortunately, I know of some "Christian" businesses who have a reputation to the contrary.

So I'm not a big fan of the fish as an advertising gimmick, especially when it turns out to be false advertising. Which has got me thinking, "What does my life 'advertise' to those who are watching?"

Lord, help me never to be guilty of false advertising. Help me to live honestly and authentically, to always be who you created me to be. Amen.

Yes, but...

As I have taught on the love of God the past few weeks it is amazing how many people are resistant to that simple message.

The internal struggle to accept God's love and mercy often gets expressed as "Yes, but..."

"Yes, God is love, but you have to emphasize His holiness, too. He is a God of justice and He is the Judge."

"Yes, God loves people, but 'He is angry with the sinner day and night'."

"Yes, God loves me, but when I sin I must confess it or I will die in an unforgiven state."

It is interesting that many people see the need to qualify God's love, or "balance" it with perceived 'negative' or punitive aspects of his personality.

We don't do this is our relationships with other people, so why do we feel the need to do it with God?

Can you imagine if every time you told your child, "I love you" you also added, "but don't forget that if you break my rules I will never forgive you until you apologize."?

Or perhaps you add an addendum to a simple statement of love to your spouse; "I love you, and I've written you a love letter... but if you don't read it every day I will burn with anger toward you."

Or tell your newborn daughter, "I love you. But when you grow up if you ever doubt my love for you I will soak you in gasoline and set you on fire."

We would never say or do those things!... with anybody, let alone the people we love. And yet many religious folks think that's exactly how God treats people who doubt, fail to read their bibles, or disobey His commandments.

A friend recently said, "We should never put a period where God puts a comma; and we should never put a comma where God puts a period."

God is love. Period. God loves you. Period. Those statements don't need to be qualified, or 'balanced' with a negative statement--especially statements that just are not true. We often believe lies about who God really is.

Sometimes Christians are advised to retain the "good news" of God's love and mercy until someone is thoroughly convinced of the "bad news" that they are wretched sinners headed for hell. That's not necessary.

People don't need to fear God before they can love God. Fear gets in the way of knowing just how much we are loved. The (good) news of His love is enough--enough to draw us... enough to keep us close... enough to transform us.

God is love. God loves you. Yes! No buts about it.

"With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us— who was raised to life for us!— is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and God's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing— nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable— absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:31-39, The Message)

Independent Choices

True love never forces.

Why does God allow bad things to happen? Does it seem cruel to you that God does not stop bad things from happening if he has the power to do so?

God is love. Love is kind. Love is never cruel. In the popular book The Shack, Papa (God) makes the following statement to Mac about this very subject:

"Nobody knows what horrors I have saved the world from 'cuz people can't see what never happened. All evil flows from independence, and independence is your choice. If I were to simply revoke all the choices of independence, the world as you know it would cease to exist and love would have no meaning.

This world is not a playground where I keep all my children free from evil. Evil is the chaos of this age that you brought to me, but it will not have the final say. Now it touches everyone that I love, those who follow me and those who don't.

If I take away the consequences of people's choices, I destroy the possibility of love. Love that is forced is no love at all. Every choice matters. You demand your independence, but then complain that I actually love you enough to give it to you."

God did not create evil, as some accuse Him of doing. Any evil you encounter in the world can be traced back to someone's selfish choice.

Parental Warning