Self-righteous Hypocrisy — From the Bunker Day 23

Matthew 26:57-75 as told by me. 

Station 3 Jesus before the Sanhedrin

Station 4 Peter’s denial.

 When Jesus was arrested his disciples scattered, fearing for their own lives. Peter and John doubled back to see where the guards would take Jesus. Sure enough the high priest was involved. Both John and Peter were fearful and loyal, but Peter would not leave Jesus’ side. He would not succumb to what Jesus said that “before the cock crows you will deny me three times.”

Peter gathered along with others to watch the spectacle. It was obvious that the temple guards were bribing witnesses. They were claiming that Jesus had blasphemed God. “I’ve seen that witness before,” Peter thought.  The man he referred to was saying that Jesus threatened to destroy the temple and build it up in three days. Most of the crowd erupted in threats and curses aimed to humiliate Jesus. One of the guards took the opportunity and struck Jesus along the back of his legs. Jesus hit the ground with his knees. 

“I know you,” the woman by the fire said to Peter. “You are one of the Galileans.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Peter spat. He technically didn’t deny Jesus. He pushed the thought aside and strained to hear what was going on in the courtyard.

The high priest, Caiaphas, had enough of this traveling preacher. No matter what he did or said to him, he stood there silent. Caiaphas tried to trick him by asking, “tell us, are you the Christ?” Everyone fell silent waiting to hear what the young Rabbi would say.

“You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven,” Jesus said.

That did it!  Caiaphas’ face turned red, and he tore his robe (a sign of holy rage). They all yelled for justice and then it started. “He deserves death!”

“You! You’re one of his followers! I can tell by your accent.” Someone grabbed Peter’s cloak.

“You are crazy, leave me alone! I don’t know the man!” Peter swore. It was the third person to trouble him. All he wanted to do was make sure Jesus was alright. “Get out of my way.” In the distance two things happened. First a rooster crowed. Secondly, Jesus caught Peter’s eye. The weight was too great and Peter ran away. He found a quiet remote place and wept bitterly.

Who do you identify with in the story? I know that I don’t want to be associated with the high priest. His self-righteous condemnation of our Lord would never cross my lips. But I have judged others harshly, taken the high ground and puffed my own chest with a certain amount of self-righteous indignation. All the while knowing that God was on my side. 

I’m definitely not Peter, unless you count the time I was standing with some people and a class mate called me out for being a Christian. Just because I ignored him and walked away without saying anything doesn’t mean I denied Jesus? Does it?

The truth, is that we all fall prey to self-righteous hypocrisy at some point and deniers of Jesus at others. We are weak and sinful people, and you know what we deserve? That’s right, but it’s not what we are going to get. 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 

During this week remember that as believers we are all on trial. The world is watching to see if we will stumble and fall.  Remember Jesus’ words,

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 10:32,33.

If you would, go to my Facebook page and post only one Word — Standing. I’m standing firm for Jesus. Will you stand with me? I’m just saying…

From the Bunker Day 24

The Garden of suffering — from the bunker day 22

It is the Monday before Easter and the first and second stations of the cross begin with the Garden of Gethsemane and Judas’ betrayal. Jesus knew that both were going to happen, but that doesn’t diminish the pain. In the garden Jesus cried out to the Father to remove the impending crucifixion, but not just that, but to also remove the weight of sin that he would bear for mankind. He was an obedient son, and deferred to the wisdom of his Father. Even if his death were for the good of his creation, the knowledge that his Father would turn his back would feel like a great betrayal. It must have been terrifying (in his humanness) to comprehend something that had never occurred before in eternity. He would be alone.

Then there were footsteps and voices. Men carrying torches and clubs. It was time, and his followers were sadly asleep, not even able to stay awake with him for an hour. Jesus woke them, pointing to the angry crowd. Rubbing the fog of sleep from his eyes Thaddeus thought “it’s too dark. They won’t be able to recognize them.” But Jesus stood his ground against them.

Out of the shadows a man stepped, squinting his eyes for recognition. “It is Jesus,” he thought. Grabbing the shoulders of his once loved master, Judas kissed him on the cheek. Everything went crazy! Swords swung, lips swore, accusations filled the air. Jesus bent down and replaced the poor servants ear.

“So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” John 18:18. Without another word the disciples fled and the scriptures were fulfilled. “You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them.” Psalm 88:8.

Hours before they had reclined around a table eating and laughing, until Jesus talked began about blood and covenant. Those moments were sober, though they understood little of what he said. But finally the mood lifted as they left singing a familiar hymn.

In these first two stations we remember that the way to the cross, the Via Delarosa (The way of suffering) is a lonely road filled with betrayal, disappointment, and a troubled heart. We are blessed to live on this side of the cross and empty tomb. What we need to remember, is to never let slip from our minds the anticipation of agony that Jesus felt. Stop for a minute. Take a moment to consider this. We often jump from the garden to the cross, but in between, each step Jesus took was filled with anguish. The betrayal of Judas and Peter. The blind jealousy of the religious establishment. The political wrangling over responsibility. The question of truth as the embodiment of it stood before them. The crowds’ chant of death. The spit and whips, the torn flesh and drops of blood all raced through the mind of Jesus as he left the garden.

Anticipation can be as terrifying as the actual event. The brutality would come, but his anguish would have made the average man, no the most courageous man, run from what lay ahead. Again, what did Jesus say? “So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Have you ever been betrayed by an enemy, a friend, a spouse? Has a parent ignored you, hurt you, or allowed you to be hurt? Maybe you know someone who has gone through this kind of betrayal. Though we will never know the answer to why people would act in such ways, this we can know. Jesus understands. Jesus has experienced it, one hundred fold. Jesus has walked in your shoes and more. If you want the freedom and peace that comes through knowing  Jesus, lay your burdens at his feet and follow him. Confess to him your pain and allow the Spirit to wash over you. He can and will bring healing to your soul. 

For those of us who are followers, let’s not pretend we understand betrayal if we have never experienced it. At the same time we can come along and listen, pray, and be the rock others can lean on. In this moment, however, let us stop and worship our Savior who did not consider his love for us too light a thing that he would not take the first steps that led him to the cross. I’m just saying…

From the Bunker — Day 22

Those were the days — From the bunker Day 22

“I was late for Sunday school because the service ran over.” Oh, those were the days. Remember all the excuses we had for being late or not showing up to church. Now we can stay home and worship, or not, and nobody knows. Nobody except the Lord. These are the days that actually test the reality of our commitment to worship, and it doesn’t have anything to do with whether you watch our service or someone else’s. It’s easy to let the morning go by and then the afternoon, and when evening rolls around, well it’s time for bed. 

When worship is an obligation performed because people will notice your presence or absence, then when no one is there it is that much easier not to worship at all. Did you worship today? I’m reminded of Psalms 133:1 (ESV) “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” This is a psalm of ascent. It was sung as people made their way to the temple. For Israel their worship of Yahweh formed the core of their unity. To see worship solely as an individual endeavor would have been unheard of. They, together, were the people of God and together their worship was a sweet aroma to the Lord.

Because of the indwelling Holy Spirit Christians have a unity that is beyond anything ever experienced before. We are linked together.  Paul says, “We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,” Ephesians 4:15,16. We are joined at the hip, and there is nothing like it.

I have been receiving emails from many of you and one of the comments common to them all is “I can’t wait until we can be together again.” “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.”

This is Easter week and I hope you will take a moment to worship with me each day. I am going to focus my bunker articles around the stations of the cross, so that we will be reminded again why we gather to worship a good and living God. I’m just saying….

From the bunker Day 22

What Day is it? From the Bunker Day 21

Rolling over I slapped the alarm clock knocking it to the ground. I missed the off button so it kept playing that awful tune, but now I had to get out of bed to turn it off. The bed tempted me to return but Porthos had gotten up, and with his typical large yawn and broad bank of white teeth I knew he needed to go out. I stepped on the edge of an extension cord at the same time hitting my knee on the corner of the table. An explicative fought it’s way through my lips but failed to escape, ending in a clenched jaw and growl. I limped to the door and Porthos ran off barking at an unknown intruder.

Walking past the kitchen I stopped, turned and went to the refrigerator and opened the door.

I couldn’t remember what I wanted. Cereal, I opened the pantry and shook the box. Barely enough for a small bowl, so I took a handful and put it back. Now what? What day was it? Did it matter? I couldn’t go anywhere. I looked over to Porthos’ bowl; it was empty. Mechanically I filled it and his water dish. He was standing at the back door so I let him in, a routine that would occur at least ten more times during the day. What day is it?

That’s how the day began and by its end I had missed an appointment, forgotten to pick up water conditioner salt, and had to put out a late edition of “from the bunker.” Each day looked alike and drifted seamlessly, one to another. It reminds me of,

2 Peter 3:8 — “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Time is a created construct and God is not bound by it. I can’t imagine days slipping by, but then they wouldn’t because there wouldn’t be any days 😱! We are not eternal like God. He has existed without cause, without beginning or end. He sees it all in one sweeping moment (but even that isn’t a sufficient description since it implies movement and movement implies time to which God is not constrained). If I blow my mind again Rebecca will have to write the blog.

I think that is why God created us to work with purpose. We need schedules and deadlines, and reasons for getting up in the morning. Proverbs 12:24 tell us, “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” The diligent will rule his home, his work, and himself. But when you are given a stay at home order you have to transform your purpose. Those of you who have to still go to work, thank you for keeping everything running. Your long hours are greatly appreciated, I am sure you would love some down time. 

To those who are not working, repurpose yourselves. Find what needs to be fixed around the house. Find out from your neighbors if they need help. If you need help ask, you will be doing others a favor, giving them something fruitful to do.

Today I got up, mowed the lawn, went and got the salt, asked some teens to carry the salt to the basement (Porthos asked them to retrieve his frisbee from the roof), answered texts and emails and sat down to write the blog. You know what? Today is Saturday April 4. I’m just saying…

From the bunker Day 21

Cats, and I’m not talking musical — From the bunker Day 20

Cats, you either like them or you don’t. I think the reason people don’t like them is because they can be overly independent. Unlike dogs, who admire you with the most loyal and adorable eyes, cats not only ignore you they look at you threateningly. Even if they come up and rub up against you you can’t trust them. As soon as you reach out to pet them they will turn around and bite you. Their behavior flies in the face of “don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” Their motto is “feed me or I will rip your eyes out.” I think deep down cat owners are terrified of what their “pet” will do to them. My son wakes up to a cat around his neck. Any other reason to wake up with something around your neck would be cause for alarm, such as a snake, a rope, or your wife’s hands. Yet, a cat is, “oh isn’t that cute.” I’m telling you, don’t trust those eyes that can be adorable one moment and demonic the next. We have very few cats around our house because my dog Porthos stands watch. He will bark and chase them all day. I have watched a small 5 pound lump of fur cower my 75 pound golden doodle, or rather golden baby. 

There are no instances of cats in the Bible. I would have thought that there would be, especially at the Exodus. Bestet was a goddess who represented justice, fertility and power. Cats were also known to protect the Pharaoh against serpents, which they failed miserably when Moses staff turned into a serpent. Of course the image of the cat was in the later dynasties. Earlier on the lion was the image. One source said the change gave the goddess less power. Whoever wrote that don’t know cats.

The scripture says, 1 Peter 5:8 — “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” I don’t have to watch the nature channel to see how lions behave, I watch the cats next door. Can you imagine having one of those little things a hundred times bigger running around your neighborhood (I just shuddered).

You would definitely need to have a sober mind. What does it mean for us to be sober in regard to the devil? 

1.     Sometimes he is cuddly. The Bible says that the devil masquerades as an angel of light. He comes at us with thoughts and behaviors that are pleasing yet are against the word of God. An example would be a coworker who flirts with you, makes you feel good about yourself, or respects you, when at home you don’t get those feelings. It feels good so why not indulge. It will take you down a road of destruction. Be sober minded.

2.     The devil is also an accuser. He stands before God reminding Him of everything we have done wrong. We hear that voice of accusation and forget that in Christ we are forgiven, God has redeemed us, adopted us, and brought us into his family. When we listen to the evil one’s voice we get depressed, lose hope, and if we are not careful fall away from the faith saying, “I’m just not good enough.”

3.     The devil also uses the philosophies of this world to lead us astray. If we are not careful we can be swept away by every wind of doctrine. “Love wins” is one of those heresies that has swept the church. It sounds good and reasonable. God is love and He wins, right? Underneath the title is the false doctrine of hell. “If God is love, then he won’t send people to hell.” But the premise is wrong. God doesn’t send anyone to hell. He merely opens the door to what we choose in this life. If we don’t choose Jesus in this life then we don’t get him in the life to come. Be careful and diligent in your study of the Word so you will not be led astray.

4.     Then finally for today, “I can do it in my own.” Individualism, the great American ideal, isn’t Biblical. It sounds good, “everyone taking care of themselves.” We railed at a politician who said, “it takes a village.” Lions and cats like to separate individuals from the herd. Usually they separate the weak. Weak or not, prey by themselves are easier kill. Community is the biblical model. We are a family, a body, a community, and we are better together.

Today, be sober minded. Don’t let your thoughts take you places your Heavenly Father has said not to go. He loves and cares for us and has given us a family to encourage and build one another up. Think of someone you should call and encourage them. I’m just saying.

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From the Bunker Day 20

When Silence is Golden from the bunker day 19

What do you say when you are at loss for words? It reminded me of Revelation 8:1 — “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” I wonder what happened in that half hour? Maybe the whole earth was reminded,

“ Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD your God”  Deuteronomy 27:9

It is a wonderful moment when we come to know Jesus as our savior. In that moment we understand that the Lord is our God and we should — Psalms 62:5 “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” There are other moments as well; like the ones we are in right now where we might cry out to God, “ Psalms 83:1 “O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!”

It is tough to wait on the Lord, but when we do we learn, Ecclesiastes 3:7 there is a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence.” It is in that silence we learn our place before an almighty God.

There is this passage from Ecclesiastes that would good for us to remember, Ecclesiastes 5:2  Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

For whatever reason there is half an hour of silence in Revelation 8:1, no one will dare speak out of place. No Ill willed words. No passive aggressive quips. No exclamatory phrases. Not one word of excuse or anything self – congratulatory. If there are any word to escape the observers lips, it will be praise. In The presence of Jesus the heart can only stand 30 minutes of silence before it breaks forth and spills out in worship. I’m just ………shhhh.

From the Bunker day 19

Filling the pews isn’t what it used to be From the Bunker Day 18

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned in a sermon that one of my fears would be to find the church pews empty on a Sunday morning. Not so much that we don’t have “church” in a building, but that Christians would forsake assembling and fall away from the faith. Covid-19 has shown that it doesn’t take much to change the landscape, of not only America, but the world. Yet, this past Sunday, Virus be darned, our pews were filled, but not like you think (see picture).

Our Administrator orchestrated the rebellion and surprised us pastors with a full sanctuary. It was not only funny it was encouraging that our body went to the trouble to support our staff in this way. The reality, however, is that our “pews”, not the ones in the church on road 4, but the ones sitting around the kitchen table, in the living room, snuggled in bed were overflowing. 

Not only was our service full, but we had 9 of out of 11 Adult Bible Fellowships meeting via zoom. The connection and encouragement during this time has been more than special, it has been extraordinary. Evaluate and adapt. As a living organism the church is not limited to a physical space. That’s an Old Testament concept. Remember when Jesus was talking to the woman at the well, she said,

(ESV) 19 “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4

True worshippers are not dependent on a specific place. First what Jesus isn’t saying. He isn’t saying that church (or rather the body collected) is optional. We are called to corporate worship. What he is saying is that we can come together anywhere, whether a building, a home, or somewhere secret. The key is that we come together with a pure heart to worship in the Spirit The true and living God. That is what God is seeking, people who worship in Spirit and truth.

As much as I love to see the church pews full on a Sunday morning, I am more exceedingly overjoyed that you, my brothers and sisters, are joining together, with believers all over the world, to worship the Lord each Sunday morning in Spirit and Truth. We are learning a valuable lesson on what body life is in this new world. I am just glad I am doing it with you. I’m just saying…

From the bunker Day 18