How’s your Celebration Spirit?

This is the season of celebrations as kids graduate from school, kindergarten, college, university.  Summer also brings increased number of marriage celebrations through weddings.  What is your experience of celebration?  I am asking because over the past couple of centuries there has been insidious (sinister, deceptive, devious) theological rationale against celebration of any kind.  I would use just one paragraph to illustrate this.  A 19^th century author, George D.Watson writes in 1896 “the spirit that opens the gates of heaven longs for the coming of Jesus…and would gladly never have any physical pleasure but for the legitimate needs and recreations of the body.  In the language of the wise man “It eats for strength, and not for mere pleasure of appetite.”  Sounds very pious, very ascetic and austere.  For too many followers of Jesus the natural attire is sackcloth and ashes.  But is it right?

I am reflecting on this because celebrating the joy of everyday life is a spiritual discipline!  Paul when describing spiritual gifts in letter to Romans (12:10) highlights the gift of mutual celebration of life by words “love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.”  To “outdo” is to literally to “get ahead of another” for purpose of celebrating each other.  The “showing honor” term is an expression for celebrating a person with a party!  It was something common in those days, having meat and drink, sweets and laurel wreathe, just like when the prodigal returned home, the father threw a feast!  The Gospel is full of celebrations of life at the table, with food and fellowship, celebrating those who “play” important roles in our lives.  The glorious hope of Coming Christ is presented in terms of the wedding feast!

In invite you to return to the Biblical perspective of celebration as the life of joy in God’s presence even here and now, for the Kingdom of God is within us! (Luke 17:21)

Ancient Israel was commanded! To gather together three times a year to celebrate goodness of God!  The true celebration comes from inner joy.  And, notice the first aspect of the Spirit’s fruit of love is joy! (Galatians 5:22-23).  If you have the Joy of the Spirit – celebrate!  Do not hide the celebration, it would be quenching the Spirit of God!  There is no need to pretend to celebrate when the spirit is not in us.  But, when the Spirit produces Joy of the Lord – celebrate before the Lord!

Paul writes “rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE!” (Philippians 4:4)  We are to celebrate and rejoice in God even when we encounter difficulties.

Today as Adventurers are celebrating their achievements, celebrate with them!  It is a CORPORATE discipline, meaning one cannot practice celebration alone J  When joy is shared with people it is multiplied.  Our celebration of life is the Doxology – giving God the Glory.  Do not feel shy when the spirit bursts in celebration J

Fathers are NOT babysitters

As I am reading through the Bible with family during the evening worship time we are reminded the unlimited authority and power fathers appreciated in the “old days.”  Of course, mothers had their way of handling fathers (word “manipulating” here would be very politically incorrect J); and I am thinking of Sarah setting up Abraham with Hagar; Rebekah tricking Isaac to bless Jacob, Rachel giving Jacob an attitude, knowing that she was the favorite, and these are just a few samples.

Some call the Bible stories “chauvinistic,” giving too much “macho” power to men.  Many readers consider that women were relegated into background of those antique stories.  Surface reading may even bias contemporary Christian men not to take seriously their parental role, and our attitudes toward parenting betray it.  Let me illustrate with some examples.

I found an interesting article about “8 Stupid Things You Should Stop Saying to Dads” written this week, just before the Father’s Day.  The top on the list is “Dad must be babysitting today, huh?"  YOU CAN'T BABYSIT YOUR OWN KIDS!!! Fathers are not paid caretakers. People would never look at a mom with her kids and ask if she was babysitting. Yet when a dad is out with his kids, so many people automatically and without thinking about it call it babysitting. Even some dads refer to it that way because it's so accepted. Dads don't babysit. Ever.

Another wrong thing to say to a father is: "Oh look at you playing Mr. Mom today."  Fatherhood isn't a version of motherhood, and dads aren't playing the part of a mom. That implies parenting is some sort of women's work.  The number of stay-at-home dads has doubled in the last quarter-century, and even dads who work outside the home are focusing more on work/life balance because there's a renewed focus on shared parenting and being present. 

Or, people seeing dad out with kids would comment “Oh my. You're brave." Are moms "brave" for taking their kids on errands? Of course not. You expect that from moms. If you're not pinning a medal of honor on mom simply for being a parent and going grocery shopping, don't bother with one for dad either.

The list of our silly attitudes toward dads can go on.  Yet, when one considers the Bible, the Torah – fathers were very involved in parenting!  Deuteronomy 6:4-10 has been called the Magna Carta of the home which would guarantee the happiness and well being of the family in the purpose of God.  Teaching children God’s laws and statutes was father’s role and responsibility.  Psalm 103:13 states that it is father’s role to show compassion and pity on his children.  Parenting has always been a teamwork of mom and dad, together, in unity.

Make this father’s day a celebration of partnership-parenting, and not some exclusive, once a year emphasis on father as a parent-for-a-day. 

Pray for those in authority

My 14 year old Daniel is interested in politics!  Listening to his comments this week as we receive different flyers for the upcoming provincial elections was amazing, how NDP while promising to save money went all out to print a magazine size advertisement, and PC conserved paper and money by printing just small flyers.  Seeing a familiar face, one of our church members, Mars Marcellin, running for an office with the Liberal party in our riding district, may bias some votes for friendship sakeJ.  Political pundits have no certain predictions of the possible outcome, anything can happen, comes June 12.  How should we as Christians relate to this?  Should we care, get involved, or even vote?

I did not have time to watch candidates debate, but reviewing few comments online words “attack strategy” were frequently used.  Just last month Adventist news networks shared about the dialogue that happened in Germany between two branches of Adventist reform movement and the official leadership of our church.  The cause of split was political stand and involvement in Germany 100 years ago.  Our pioneers lived through political turmoil of the Civil War, and many other unrests. 

Adventist review had an article in 2008 entitled “How would Ellen White vote?” sharing interesting insights.  In the 1860 James White wrote: “The political excitement . . . will probably run as high as it has for many years, and we would warn our brethren not to be drawn into it. We are not prepared to prove from the Bible that it would be wrong for a believer in the third [angel’s] message to go in a manner becoming his profession, and cast his vote. We do not recommend this, neither do we oppose. If a brother chooses to vote, we cannot condemn him, and we want the same liberty if we do not.”  A few years later, in 1865 the General Conference voted that “the act of voting when exercised in behalf of justice, humanity and right, is in itself blameless, and may be at some times highly proper; but that the casting of any vote that shall strengthen the cause of such crimes as intemperance, insurrection, and slavery, we regard as highly criminal in the sight of Heaven. But we would deprecate any participation in the spirit of party strife.” Up to 1880 the advice was to stay away from the voting, voting was considered unholy alignment.  An opinion would be best expressed by this comment “If I enter the lists as a voter, I do in fact endorse this government as worthy of fellowship. If my name is entered upon the poll-book I then become a part of the body-politic, and must suffer with the body-politic in all its penalties.”

In many parts of the world Adventists hold highest political offices.  How should we reconcile this?  We look at righteous Daniel, God’s prophet who served in the political arena, and many others. Our pioneers took a stand that we must be involved in social life and make a difference in this world, by being involved in ‘issue’ politics as opposed to ‘party’ or ‘candidate politics.’  We do not stand under the banner of any political party, and pray for all government authorities to experience God’s will.  We have the ability to help shape society through their votes and political participation. It’s up to each of us to follow our consciences—and to pray for more than human wisdom in making our electoral choices.

Grace. Have you received it?

This past Wednesday night at the Prayer service I took time to share a few reflections on Grace in the Bible.  I am reading new book by Leonard Sweet The well-played life, and I resonate with concepts he is introducing.

Even though Christian reformation theologians emphasized grace and salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) yet the work ethic, the importance on work seems to continue be main emphasis.

A couple of weeks ago I asked a question during the Sabbath School discussion: “what is the difference between mercy and grace?”  Many know the answer – mercy is not getting what we deserved, and grace is getting what we don’t deserve.  Mercy is not being punished for that is the only thing we deserve, as wages of sin is death.  We all, righteous and rebels, are under mercy of God.  Even devil is still under mercy.  Grace is much more!  Reading Romans 5:17 I got struck with a thought that “Grace is God’s Gift of Righteousness.”  Or, to paraphrase, Grace is God’s given gift to us to live right, to do what is right, to function according to God’s design.  Grace empowers people who receive it to live right with God.  When we accept by faith God’s grace we invite the Holy Spirit power and God’s presence into our lives, to change us, to enable us to live in love!

So then, God’s Grace produces in us the work, the will and to do, as Apostle Paul writes to Philippians 2:13 “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

The classic verse on Grace comes from letter to Titus 2:11-14 “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ho gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”  Notice, the Grace of God teaches us how to live.  The Grace of God in us makes us zealous for good works.

Grace is not a license to do as we please.  Grace is God’s power producing in us the fruit of repentance and righteous living.  To be under God Grace is to be governed by God’s Law of Love, law of liberty, law of life.  Put first thing first – Grace, works will result.  Most Christians occupy their mind with thoughts about keeping ourselves “in line” instead of being “in love”.  Grace comes as a free gift when we enter by faith into loving relationship with God.  One who is “in love” with God is kept “in line” by His Grace!

Have you received God’s Amazing Grace?

Singles and the Family of God

As we continue with the focus on the family this year new facets are emerging in discussions among our people.  One of themes we do not talk much about is singles.  Often when we talk family we focus so much on the ideal traditional family, where father, mother and children are in one accord, that we mistreat other families, different families, single parent families, singles.

Singles are treated as a problem to be solved, a disease to be cured.  Often comments are made like “Don’t worry, your time will come,” “soon you’ll meet someone,” “it’s just around the corner for you.”  And if someone remains single the attitude of people often is “What’s wrong with you?”

Such is a wrong mind set, biblically speaking.  While traditional family has a significant role to play in developing society, populating the earth and transmitting values to the next generation, the marriage is often in competition with ministry for the Kingdom of God. Today I am planning to unpack more Jesus teaching on marriage in recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 19^th chapter, and also teachings of the Apostle Paul in the 1^st letter to Corinthians, 7^th chapter.  Christ and his apostle lifted high singleness, as an idea of total commitment to the kingdom service.

Instead of “good vs. bad” dichotomy between marriage and singleness, the picture is presented as “good and better.”  The family language as referring to the Kingdom of God is significant.  New believers are considered spiritual children, and spiritual parenting is not connected necessarily to physical parenting.  Christian disciples are spiritual children.  Spiritual parenting permits singles to influence and invest in developing children for God’s family. 

In the context of the Christian church, all are to be involved in doing family together, being a family for each other.  This world puts pressure on “sexy” and “sexless” to enter into relationships for sake of physical satisfaction and accomplishment.  Biblical paradigm invites one to consider God’s calling and giftedness as determining factor of identity.

Often family duties, where the spouse is not supportive or committed to God’s Kingdom, or where children are not spiritually mature, take the best and the most energy and efforts, leaving nothing left for the kingdom sake.  Some may say “family is my full time ministry.”   Which is true, we are responsible for our offspring, and relatives, and they must be our first disciples. Yet, if we are truly ministering to our family, then our family members will become our partners in the ministry for the Kingdom of God, and not be consumers of material benefits only.

I am not downplaying the role of the family in our church.  I am inviting to upgrade the role of singles in our congregation to the Biblical status of worth, respect, trust, and recognition as God’s calling too.

The Covenant between Church and its Elders

This week I had to address some matters of church order, and the passage from the Desire of Ages, p.550 was guiding my mind: “In matters of conscience the soul must be left untrammeled [unlimited, unconfined]. No one is to control another's mind, to judge for another, or to prescribe his duty. God gives to every soul freedom to think, and to follow his own convictions. "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." No one has a right to merge his own individuality in that of another. In all matters where principle is involved, "let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Romans 14:12, 5. In Christ's kingdom there is no lordly oppression, no compulsion of manner. The angels of heaven do not come to the earth to rule, and to exact homage, but as messengers of mercy, to co-operate with men in uplifting humanity.”  This is the guiding principle toward informing, but not dictating, persuading, but not forcing as we relate to others.

It is expected from elders of the church to govern, nurture, supervise the life and ministry of the church.  The manner in which it is accomplished matters.  It is “how” we do lead that makes most difference. 

As I prepare for the ordination service of our new elder Kirmane Allen I reflect on the words for affirmation from the Scripture, I invite you to recommit yourself together reading Romans 12: 1-13

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.  

⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and each part, all the members, have their own unique function ⁵ so we, all of us, are one body in Christ, and individually we all belong to each other, members of one another,  ⁶ We have different gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:

if you preach, prophesy God’s Message in accordance to our faith, nothing else

if you help, just help, don’t take over;  if you teach – do the teaching;

if you give encouragement and guidance, don’t get bossy, simply exhort

if you are called to give aid to people in need, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond, liberally; if you are put in charge, do not manipulate, but lead diligently and with care; if you are called to show mercy to disadvantaged, do it cheerfully, do not let yourself get irritated or depressed, keep a smile on your face.  Let our love be sincere, without hypocrisy, don’t fake it. Turn away and avoid what is evil. Cling to what is good.

 ¹⁰ Let us be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;  ¹¹ not lagging in diligence and enthusiasm, be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  ¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in suffering, constant in prayer;  ¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, supporting one another, be inventive in hospitality, welcoming all.

Toughest Job in the world - Our mothers do it free!

On April 14 someone posted a video on YouTube “World’s Toughest Job.”  They created a fake hob and posted an ad in newspapers, then conducted real interviews.  The title for the job was “Director of operations.”  The list of qualifications was exhaustive; and sounded exhausting. “If you had a life, we’d ask you to sort of give that life up,” the interviewer told applicants. “No vacations. In fact, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years – on holidays, the workload is going to go up and we demand that.”

Furthermore, the interviewer demanded that all this be accomplished “with a happy disposition.”

The job offered no breaks, and little time for sleeping or eating. Unlimited hours.  Oh, and no pay.  All without compensation beyond “the meaningful connections that you make, and the feeling you get from really helping your associate.” Candidates described the job as “twisted,” “all-encompassing,” and “inhumane.”  Some wondered if it was even legal J.

This prank highlighted the fact that women are asked to sacrifice their needs, desires – and occasional shreds of their sanity – while juggling household finances, the physical strains of child-rearing 24 hours a day, and other demands of managing a family life.  It collected over 18 million likes in a month!

Today I want to invite you to read Chapters 40 and 42 in the Adventist Home, on the misconceptions of the mother’s work and about mother’s health.  It would do a lot of good to be reminded on the care that we must provide for our mothers.

Here I just provide a few lines: “The strength of the mother should be tenderly cherished. Instead of spending her precious strength in exhausting labor, her care and burdens should be lessened…It is for her own interest, and that of her family, to save herself all unnecessary taxation and to use every means at her command to preserve life, health, and the energies which God has given her; for she will need the vigor of all her faculties for her great work” (p.251).

Think of opportunities to bless our women, mothers of all ages this weekend, and relieve them of the toughest job of managing all operations, and give them a day of repose, rest, renewal and recreation.  You will be doing God’s service.