Proper 21
Devotional
Pause Before The Pulpit
Personal Reflections For Pastors On The Lectionary Readings
Mark 9:38-50
In last week's devotional on the Gospel Lesson, I wrote about the danger of being competitive and caught up in power struggles. As I indicated, those can take many different forms. In this text, we have Jesus' disciples coming to him with an almost childish concern: Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us. As silly as their concern might seem, it is a concern being replayed in one Christian church after another. One thing I have never been able to understand is why some pastors, churches, and denominations imply that they are the only true church. Both major and minor church bodies have done this down through the years, and some still continue to.
The Bible makes it clear that there is only one true church -- the church of Jesus Christ (and I'm not referring to the Mormons!). This is the church universal; consisting of believers in Christ from various Christian denominations around the globe. Why are we at odds with each other when we are about the same mission; proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to a spiritually lost world? Granted, I'm fully aware that there are both major and minor differences in doctrines and practice, but if the gospel is at the heart of what we profess and the main purpose of our ministry, then I believe Jesus would say to all of us: Do not stop [them]; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.
What many pastors and churches are doing is putting each other down to try make themselves look better. So maybe you think your doctrine is better than someone else's; good for you! You should, or how else can you keep teaching and preaching it with confidence? But the truth is, any church with a set of doctrines that is Christ centered, believes in the Trinity, holds to Christ's words that he is the only way to the Father, and sees the primary purpose of the church as carrying out Christ's Great Commission, is on the right track. They are for Christ and not against him. So how can any of us presume to be so much smarter than Christ, and be against them when he isn't?
What this separatist mentality and isolation is doing, is confusing young and immature believers and creating a stumbling block for unbelievers. Time and again I have tried to share the gospel with skeptics who raise this one question over and over again: "Why can't Christians get along?" Good point! Why can't we? Either it's Jesus' fault for instituting a shabby organization such as the Christian church, or else it the church's fault for doing such a shabby job of running this pure and holy body which he instituted. I hope you will humbly agree with me that it is, without a doubt, the latter of the two. In part, due to differing interpretations of scripture and deep convictions, and in large part due to arrogance and pride, we have continued this same attitude of the disciples where we tried to stop [them], because [they were] not following us.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, I'm not proposing one big Christian church, for that would be ridiculous. I'm urging us to follow Christ's advice. Let's quit bad-mouthing one another and back-stabbing each other. Let's pray for, and with, one another now and then. Let's do a better job of educating our children on our differences and similarities and let them decide where they want to go to church. Intimidating them with unbiblical fear and consequences if they leave the fellowship of our church is only keeping the conscientious ones; it drives the others away, not only from the church but from God.
Much of the Christian church has become a stumbling block, for it has lost its saltiness, and you know what Christ recommends for those who are a stumbling block. Let us not take this lightly, but do something about it. Change can, and must, begin with us.
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Please forgive my petty grievances with other Christians, pastors, and churches. Help me to see the church through your eyes as one body, under one head; and not in competition, but serving one commission. Thank you for my fellow Christians in other churches. I ask your blessings on them today. Amen.
James 5:13-20
The final text from James sheds light on a key element in successful and effective church ministries. This applies not only to pastors, but church members as well. All the various components in this text add up to one main, overarching point: "Care for one another. Let's see what a caring church looks like."
First, it cares for those who are suffering. How? By encouraging them to pray, and praying with them. Bring in those who are cheerful, and have them sing songs of praise for, and with, those who are suffering. The elderly love this! For those who are suffering with a serious illness, bring in the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.
To effectively care for others in this way takes several things. It takes an awareness of needs. Do you know who is suffering? How long, on the average, does someone in your parish suffer until you know about it? Is it minutes, hours, days, weeks? How long until the rest of the church family knows?
A caring church is not only aware, but also quick to respond with compassion. This caring compassion involves prayer, encouragement, and, if it seems appropriate, anointing with oil.
This care requires some things that are seriously lacking in today's culture; selflessness, time, and good health. If we want to do this well, we will think less of ourselves and more of others. If, while caring for others, we are constantly thinking about all the things we should be doing or want to do, it will show in our attitude, and lack of concern and attention. To be an effective caregiver, we will want to make time for those who are suffering. We can't be holding their hand and looking at the clock at the same time (unless we're checking their pulse!).
Caring people also take good care of themselves. This not only applies to the obvious, of taking good care of ourselves physically (for the sick cannot care for the sick), but also taking care of ourselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Are we in a good state of mind? Are we thinking rightly about those who need our care? If we are too tired, for example, we will probably be less patient with those we are caring for than if we are well rested.
How are we doing emotionally? I find that people who are drained emotionally from stress in their lives, such as marriage problems, are hindered in their ability to care for others; no matter how much time they have available. As much as possible, we will want to be emotionally strong and healthy to care for those who are suffering, or we will crash emotionally. Depression has become a major problem for pastors, especially those whose emotional "tank" is running on empty much of the time. The way to fill that "tank" is in solving issues that are causing undue stress and spending time with healthy people.
And how are you doing spiritually? A major aspect to caring for those who are suffering is spiritual care. When it comes to this, we cannot give what we do not possess. James urged that the confession of sin be associated with prayer and anointing with oil. However, if we are living in sin and operating in a spiritual vacuum, we lose our nerve to confront sin and our prayers are hindered. On the other hand: The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. That is exciting, for if we are in a right relationship with God, he is going to use us in powerful ways to accomplish his eternal purposes!
The main purpose in caregiving is not to make people laugh or feel good, but to bring them to the truth. Notice what James wrote about this: You should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. That, my friends, is what spiritual care-giving is all about, and should be the primary goal of every pastor and congregation.
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
It is a tremendous privilege to serve you by caring for the needs of those who are suffering. Grant me good health, in every possible way, so you can accomplish your purposes through me. Help me to know how to encourage my congregation to be a caring church, so we might effectively accomplish the mission you have given us. Thank you. Amen.
In last week's devotional on the Gospel Lesson, I wrote about the danger of being competitive and caught up in power struggles. As I indicated, those can take many different forms. In this text, we have Jesus' disciples coming to him with an almost childish concern: Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us. As silly as their concern might seem, it is a concern being replayed in one Christian church after another. One thing I have never been able to understand is why some pastors, churches, and denominations imply that they are the only true church. Both major and minor church bodies have done this down through the years, and some still continue to.
The Bible makes it clear that there is only one true church -- the church of Jesus Christ (and I'm not referring to the Mormons!). This is the church universal; consisting of believers in Christ from various Christian denominations around the globe. Why are we at odds with each other when we are about the same mission; proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to a spiritually lost world? Granted, I'm fully aware that there are both major and minor differences in doctrines and practice, but if the gospel is at the heart of what we profess and the main purpose of our ministry, then I believe Jesus would say to all of us: Do not stop [them]; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.
What many pastors and churches are doing is putting each other down to try make themselves look better. So maybe you think your doctrine is better than someone else's; good for you! You should, or how else can you keep teaching and preaching it with confidence? But the truth is, any church with a set of doctrines that is Christ centered, believes in the Trinity, holds to Christ's words that he is the only way to the Father, and sees the primary purpose of the church as carrying out Christ's Great Commission, is on the right track. They are for Christ and not against him. So how can any of us presume to be so much smarter than Christ, and be against them when he isn't?
What this separatist mentality and isolation is doing, is confusing young and immature believers and creating a stumbling block for unbelievers. Time and again I have tried to share the gospel with skeptics who raise this one question over and over again: "Why can't Christians get along?" Good point! Why can't we? Either it's Jesus' fault for instituting a shabby organization such as the Christian church, or else it the church's fault for doing such a shabby job of running this pure and holy body which he instituted. I hope you will humbly agree with me that it is, without a doubt, the latter of the two. In part, due to differing interpretations of scripture and deep convictions, and in large part due to arrogance and pride, we have continued this same attitude of the disciples where we tried to stop [them], because [they were] not following us.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, I'm not proposing one big Christian church, for that would be ridiculous. I'm urging us to follow Christ's advice. Let's quit bad-mouthing one another and back-stabbing each other. Let's pray for, and with, one another now and then. Let's do a better job of educating our children on our differences and similarities and let them decide where they want to go to church. Intimidating them with unbiblical fear and consequences if they leave the fellowship of our church is only keeping the conscientious ones; it drives the others away, not only from the church but from God.
Much of the Christian church has become a stumbling block, for it has lost its saltiness, and you know what Christ recommends for those who are a stumbling block. Let us not take this lightly, but do something about it. Change can, and must, begin with us.
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Please forgive my petty grievances with other Christians, pastors, and churches. Help me to see the church through your eyes as one body, under one head; and not in competition, but serving one commission. Thank you for my fellow Christians in other churches. I ask your blessings on them today. Amen.
James 5:13-20
The final text from James sheds light on a key element in successful and effective church ministries. This applies not only to pastors, but church members as well. All the various components in this text add up to one main, overarching point: "Care for one another. Let's see what a caring church looks like."
First, it cares for those who are suffering. How? By encouraging them to pray, and praying with them. Bring in those who are cheerful, and have them sing songs of praise for, and with, those who are suffering. The elderly love this! For those who are suffering with a serious illness, bring in the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.
To effectively care for others in this way takes several things. It takes an awareness of needs. Do you know who is suffering? How long, on the average, does someone in your parish suffer until you know about it? Is it minutes, hours, days, weeks? How long until the rest of the church family knows?
A caring church is not only aware, but also quick to respond with compassion. This caring compassion involves prayer, encouragement, and, if it seems appropriate, anointing with oil.
This care requires some things that are seriously lacking in today's culture; selflessness, time, and good health. If we want to do this well, we will think less of ourselves and more of others. If, while caring for others, we are constantly thinking about all the things we should be doing or want to do, it will show in our attitude, and lack of concern and attention. To be an effective caregiver, we will want to make time for those who are suffering. We can't be holding their hand and looking at the clock at the same time (unless we're checking their pulse!).
Caring people also take good care of themselves. This not only applies to the obvious, of taking good care of ourselves physically (for the sick cannot care for the sick), but also taking care of ourselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Are we in a good state of mind? Are we thinking rightly about those who need our care? If we are too tired, for example, we will probably be less patient with those we are caring for than if we are well rested.
How are we doing emotionally? I find that people who are drained emotionally from stress in their lives, such as marriage problems, are hindered in their ability to care for others; no matter how much time they have available. As much as possible, we will want to be emotionally strong and healthy to care for those who are suffering, or we will crash emotionally. Depression has become a major problem for pastors, especially those whose emotional "tank" is running on empty much of the time. The way to fill that "tank" is in solving issues that are causing undue stress and spending time with healthy people.
And how are you doing spiritually? A major aspect to caring for those who are suffering is spiritual care. When it comes to this, we cannot give what we do not possess. James urged that the confession of sin be associated with prayer and anointing with oil. However, if we are living in sin and operating in a spiritual vacuum, we lose our nerve to confront sin and our prayers are hindered. On the other hand: The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. That is exciting, for if we are in a right relationship with God, he is going to use us in powerful ways to accomplish his eternal purposes!
The main purpose in caregiving is not to make people laugh or feel good, but to bring them to the truth. Notice what James wrote about this: You should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. That, my friends, is what spiritual care-giving is all about, and should be the primary goal of every pastor and congregation.
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
It is a tremendous privilege to serve you by caring for the needs of those who are suffering. Grant me good health, in every possible way, so you can accomplish your purposes through me. Help me to know how to encourage my congregation to be a caring church, so we might effectively accomplish the mission you have given us. Thank you. Amen.
