Join us on the Wednesday nights in December for Advent midweek worship, at 7:30pm. Our worship will take place in the Calvary Chapel, an intimate and historic space that creates a wonderful atmosphere for these services. All are welcome.
This post originally appeared on Oct. 30th, 2013 as part of our Consecrated Stewards sermon series and congregational study. As we prepare ourselves to make pledges again this year, the topic is worth revisiting.
con·se·crate ‘känsiˌkrāt’ verb 1. make or declare something sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.
stew·ard ‘stü-ərd’ noun 1. a person whose job is to manage the property and/or possessions of another person
~by Pastor Mike Middaugh
Talking about money is probably the most challenging topic for Christian pastors. Because of past abuses we tend to be suspicious toward anyone who wants to talk about our money, especially if they are telling us to give it to them. In addition, the church does not have a great track-record. There are those who twist the scriptures in order to guilt people into giving, and sometimes they make false promises saying “if you give, God will return to you even more.”
But I think in many ways it is just in our human nature to have an aversion toward this topic.
In going to church, we may expect to hear about topics such as faithfulness, heaven and hell, caring for those around us, and even sexuality, but we may not really want to hear about money. Not only at church is this the case, but I am guessing many of us will talk with out friends about almost anything, but we rarely, if ever, open up about our personal, financial well-being. In fact, you may have never discussed your finances with anyone other than immediate family in your entire life, with the possible exception of a financial planner.
Why is this? In our culture, financial status is the #1 way we compare ourselves to those around us. We simply tend to equate our self worth with how much we have, either in our bank account, or in terms of the toys (car, home, vacations, etc.) we have. Our money and stuff provide a sense of security and stability in an uncertain world. We feel we have earned what we have and we take pride in it. We also are constantly justifying ourselves in comparison to those around us: we convince ourselves we have “done well” when we have more than someone else, and conversely, we convince ourselves we aren’t really rich when we come across those who have more.
For all of these reasons we are especially sensitive about discussing our finances. It can be a hard topic to discuss at church, and quite honestly it makes me feel uneasy as well – I don’t want to guilt people into giving, and I definitely don’t want to misrepresent scripture in any way. However, the Bible shows this topic is too important to ignore. Approximately 25% of Jesus’ words recorded in the Gospels have something to do with money.
So, I think our view of money and wealth is a huge part of our personal discipleship. As discussed above, money has the ability to control our lives and to become the only the thing for which we are living. When that happens, we become enslaved by our own desire to have “enough.” But the gospel seeks to set us free – first from sin – and then from the things that control us in this world – money being one of the biggest.
We will spend more time on this on Sunday, answering questions such as: “What is a tithe?” “How much giving is enough?” and “Is it ok to be rich?” But for now, you can check out this helpful post from The Gospel Coalition about tithers in America. It points out that most people who do tithe would say “I am better off because I give.” Whereas a non-tither looks at that and says “Oh, they give because they are better off.”
And I will finish with this thought – I think this whole discussion of stewardship and Consecrated Stewards could be boiled down to this one thing: if we truly believe that God is the creator of all we see, and all we have, and all we are, perhaps we should change the way we think about our stuff. Rather than asking “how much should I be giving away” we might ask “how much of God’s stuff do I need to keep?”
~by Pastor Mike
This post is part of a series on the miracles of Jesus. Each week I will look at one miracle performed by Jesus to explore its meaning and significance. I’ll be using several resources to help me out, including an excellent new book by Pastor Jared C. Wilson titled “The Wonder Working God,” published by Crossway.
Sometimes it is thought that God and the Devil are locked in some sort of cosmic battle, that evil is the opposite equal of good. However, if we are looking to scripture to help us better understand these forces, we will find a pretty clear contradiction to that line of thinking.
Satan makes his presence known very early on in the story of the Kingdom. We should note though, that he only makes his entrance after “God created the heavens and the earth,” and not before. Genesis 3 tells us that his scheming against God’s good creation is at first successful, but bis triumph did not last long. He is cursed, along with humankind and all creation.
The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.” (Gen. 3:14)
But there is also included, in this opening act, a promise along with the curse.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall crush your head and you shall bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:15)
This has been termed the “first gospel” by theologians throughout the ages. It is the first glimpse that this is not a fair fight, nor is it an equal exchange. God speaks. The serpent listens. No arguing, no bickering, simply it is so.
It should come as no surprise then that all of Jesus’ miracles are echos of this great promise. As I have suggested in previous weeks, Jesus comes to set straight all that has been bent. This week’s miracle comes from Mark chapter 9, when Jesus is approached by a man whose son is possessed by a demon.
The man describes his son’s ailments much like we might describe epilepsy. Apparently the boy would regularly convulse and foam at the mouth. But, before we decide that these people were primitive and had no understanding of modern medicine, we should study the rest of the details. The passage goes on to tell us that “when the spirit saw [Jesus], immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.” (Mark 9:20)
The boy’s father adds an additional detail that “it has often cast him into fire and water, to destroy him.” This does not sound like a medical misunderstanding. The people of Jesus day did not always equate sickness with demon possession, and they were not as superstitious as we might think.
If we give Mark some credit and take this story at face value, then a real-life demon possession seems to be what is described. When the man asks if Jesus can heal the boy, Jesus responds by saying “all things are possible for one who believes,” seemingly challenging this poor father’s faith. But to his tremendous credit, the man proceeds to speak one of the most honest and sincere explanations of faith found in all of scripture:
I believe; help my unbelief! (vs. 24)
An incredible response to the presence of God and something we would do well to take note of. This man, with a sick boy, deeply desires healing for his son. He knows he is at a loss if left to his own devices, and yet he does not lie or paint a picture rosier than reality. He recognizes his own doubts, admits his struggles, and knows what he doesn’t know: “help my unbelief.” Yet he is also able to say “I believe.”
So how does the God of all creation respond to this not-so-sure faith?
[Jesus said,] “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (vs. 25-27)
“He arose.” At the power of Jesus’ words the demonic spirit had no choice but to leave the boy. No arguing. No bickering. Simply it is so. The power of Satan, and the domain of death is being dismantled stone by stone.
This story gives us permission to doubt. It helps us to understand our weaknesses. The spiritual realm holds many unknowns, and we rational, thinking, logical people tend not to do well with that which is concealed. But if there is one thing this story also might show us, it is that we should doubt our doubts. This father had doubts, yet Jesus conquered. The crowds had doubts, yet Jesus conquered. Those at the foot of the cross had doubts, yet Jesus conquered. We may have many doubts…
Quoting from Jared C. Wilson once again:
“There is a well-worn rule of playwrighting that goes like this: if you introduce a gun in the first act, it must be fired in the last. And because God is an excellent storyteller, what has been suggested in the first act (Genesis 3:15) shows up in the last:”
And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years…. And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Rev. 20:2, 10)
~by Pastor Mike Middaugh
This post is part of a series on the miracles of Jesus. Each week I will look at one miracle performed by Jesus to explore its meaning and significance. I’ll be using several resources to help me out, including an excellent new book by Pastor Jared C. Wilson titled “The Wonder Working God,” published by Crossway.
Some of you might be able to “read” a defense. I’ll admit I cannot. While I love to watch football, root for my teams, and have a good grasp of the rules, when it comes to understanding play-calling and formations I have limited knowledge. I am aware that occasionally “nickels” and “dimes” get involved in defensive packages, and I can certainly see all the players on the field, but I am unable to truly see them in a way I know some others can.
However, one of the greatest practitioners in the sport today is New England Patriot Tom Brady. I am not saying he is my favorite quarterback, or that I root for him often (quite the opposite usually), but I do have great respect for his ability and understanding of the game. He has what they call “a football brain.” He can get up to the line and within a matter of seconds understand exactly what the defense is likely to do and where their weaknesses lie. Of course his skill is not purely mental, he can also put the ball when and where it needs to be to move the chains down-field.
When it comes to reading a defense and an intuitive understanding of the game, Brady can seefar more clearly than almost anybody else. And yet, there is another realm where he admits he is nearly blind.
Several years ago Tom Brady was interviewed by CBS’s Steve Kroft for 60 Minutes. In the course of the conversation Brady said “I have three Super Bowl rings and still I think there’s something greater out there for me.”
Kroft asked him, “What’s the answer?”
Brady responded: “I wish I knew. I wish I knew. I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I’m trying to find.”
In this interview Tom Brady is very honest and open. He acknowledges that while he has accomplished what most people only dream of, he still feels something more is out there. Something is still missing. Many people are so entangled in their lifelong pursuits of accomplishments or comfort that they never get to the point of asking this question, and yet, this great quarterback, at the pinnacle of his career, is self-aware enough to admit he can’t quite see or grasp the eternal longings of his heart.
When it comes to spiritual longing it seems like there is seeing and then there is really seeing.
There is vision that comes with intellect, with nature and with the physical realm. But then there is another type of seeing, a vision gathered with the spiritual sense, a part of us that is dead until raised by Christ himself. Emptiness cannot fill emptiness and the blind cannot heal themselves.
This is the truth revealed by Jesus when he heals a blind men in Bethsaida.
Some people brought to [Jesus] a blind man and begged him to touch him….and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?'” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. (Mark 8:22-25)
Why did Jesus not heal him completely the first time? Why was a second laying on of his hands necessary? Certainly it wasn’t for lack of power.
This two-part healing miracle illustrates the spiritual reality that sometimes we can see but not see. As Isaiah proclaimed to God’s people years before: “You hear and don’t understand, you see and yet do not perceive” (Isaiah 6:9) It is quite possible to know something without ever taking it to heart. So it is with Jesus, there are are those who know many things about him and yet have chosen not to follow. There may even be some who try to follow without really knowing him at all, but to see clearly we have to allow him to give us sight.
As the man left Jesus that day, he was commanded “not to enter the village” – an extension of Jesus’ common refrain to tell no one about his work.
Jesus refused to be known as some magician or anyone’s trained miracle monkey, he came for a greater purpose. This command to the man healed with blindness also sets up a wonderful transition to the next, even more well-known passage which is Peter’s confession. It begins with Jesus asking his disciples “who do you say that I am am?”
Can you see me?
Do you know me?
Who do you say that I am?
I can hear the choir singing Pam Mark Hall’s refrain: You are the Lord. You are the Christ. You are the Holy Messiah…
~by Pastor Mike Middaugh
This post is part of a series on the miracles of Jesus. Each week I will look at one miracle performed by Jesus to explore its meaning and significance. I’ll be using several resources to help me out, including an excellent new book by Pastor Jared C. Wilson titled “The Wonder Working God,” published by Crossway.
For a number of years I have spent time off and on contemplating the word blessed. The words “bless,” “blessed,” and “blessings” are sprinkled throughout scripture from beginning to end. But what does they really mean?
It seems like the term blessing as used today has been largely stripped of its Biblical roots. It gets thrown around for any old reason like being “blessed” with green lights on the way to work or this Indonesian restaurant that has been so “blessed” to be open for 12 years that they will be serving an anniversary buffet on Friday.
In the South the word has taken a whole different meaning when twisted into the seemingly innocuous “Bless your heart” as in “you know, it’s amazing that even though she had that baby seven months after they got married, bless her hear, it weighed 10 pounds!”
Salvaging this word from all of the damage done by modern parlance is a difficult task, but one that is worthwhile. Far more than just some good life event or happy circumstance, this word has deep and weighty Biblical significance. God’s blessings are not trivial and they cannot be thrown around.
I think Jesus’ miracles help us get a glimpse into the realm of true blessedness. As I have written in previous weeks these miracles seem to be singular moments when our broken nature is returned to normal, as if a portal has been opened for a little bit of heaven to seep in and soothe the ails of our world. We saw this last week as Jesus healed the leaper and we will see it again today as Jesus heals a paralytic.
In Mark 2:1-12 there is a story of a paralyzed man whose friends bring him to see Jesus. You may remember this episode as the one where his friends lower the man through the roof in order to reach the Lord. Jesus immediately says to the man “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus pronouncement is scandalous in a variety of ways. First, Jesus calls him “son.” Declaring to an outsider that he is now a member of the family is at once strange but also incredibly revealing. Second, Jesus forgiveness of sins is a big problem for the religious leaders of the day. Only god can forgive sins, so what does Jesus think he is doing? And third, Jesus forgiveness of sins is a big problem for us in our day. Were this man to be brought by his friends into a crowd today, everyone would immediately acknowledge his need to be healed, but very few would believe he needed anything deeper. We no longer see sin as the fundamental problem of human existence.
But Jesus will not be distracted or detracted from what he sets out to do. Not by them and not by us. If Jesus really came to put everything in its place he must start with the fundamental creation order. He must put us in our place. He does this by showing us what we really need, and of course ultimately, that is forgiveness. So Jesus forgives the man his sins and it is the greatest gift he could ever receive: eternal pardon. The rest is gravy.
But we must acknowledge that the gravy is pretty good. Jesus next says “Take your mat and walk” And it is here that I believe we begin to understand the true meaning of being blessed. The first gift Jesus gave that day was the gift of himself, and his presence brings restoration. For the man in the story that restoration came in two specific ways, first in his forgiveness and then in the healing of his legs.
To understand true blessing we must keep this pattern straight. The first true blessing of our lives is Jesus presence. Here is now “God with us,” Emmanuel, the one who came to put all things in their place. From him and the forgiveness he brings about flow many other blessings as well. They are the natural result of God coming into contact with a broken world. Healing, peace, dignity and plenty will all be the outcome of this great work. We get glimpses of them now.
And as the words of the songs we will soon begin singing tell us, there will be nothing left untouched by his presence in the world.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.