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It has been a week of sickness at my house.  Our little girl has RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) – a potentially dangerous infection of her respiratory system.  My wife and I both have colds – the annoying kind that just wears one out without much external symptoms.  If our house was a ship – we would be flying a yellow flag and anchored outside the harbor.

There is no treatment for RSV or the common cold.  They are both virus related.  The only thing that can be done is treat things symptomatically.  Breathing treatments, Tylonol, and nasal suction for the baby – and Advil Cold and Flu for the adults.  Our baby is doing fine – and responding well to things.  Her parents on the other hand…

All this leads me to reflect upon Jesus’ conversation with the wise teacher of the Law.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”…But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. -John 3:5,21

Unlike my virus – which is now firmly and comfortably at home in my nasal passages – there are things in our lives that cannot be treated symptomatically – however hard we try.  There are support groups for every kind of addiction. Government programs for childhood obesity.  Self-help books to give us a better and brighter self-image.  And in the end – while all these things can be helpful – none of them really accomplish a thing.  We can treat the alcoholism, we can stop looking at dirty pictures on the net – but unless the underlying sin is brought to bay – nothing lasting will be brought about.  Self-help books, support groups, or just plain willpower will not change nor heal what is beyond help -  our very souls.

In his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus was adamant about the impossibility of seeing the Kingdom of God without first treating the underlying problem – our inherent  sinfulness.  To further compound the problem – the only way that disobedience can be taken care of is to throw out everything and start again.  The old nature won’t work – and cannot be patched  – that is  Christ’s message.  Unless we are born again by the Spirit of God – not wiped clean but MADE clean – then we will never see the Kingdom of God – in this lifetime nor the next.

Only then – when the old has been destroyed and the new in place – then can we do the things that will bring us out of darkness.  Only with the imperishable seed of Christ can we  see our problems for what they are – sinfulness   Only with the Spirit can we overcome these problems – not for our own health – but for the greater glory of God.

Where are you today?  Have you struggled constantly with actions and attitudes – but never seem to get peace?  Do you replace one addiction with another, or go from program to program seeking happiness.  Quit trying to treat it symptomatically – it cannot be done.  Seek instead the love and forgiveness of Jesus.

Off to take another Advil…

A California mayor just found out something that future politicians will take for granted – any profession of a faith in Christ will bring down the wrath of Muslim and anti-religious groups.

According to Fox News – Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris stated at a private meeting that he is “growing a Christian community.” The event in question was made at a gathering of Christian ministers – a meeting which he paid for himself. This same mayor is sponsoring a ballot proposal that would bring unrestricted prayer back into schools.

CAIR – Council on American-Islamic Relations – has asked for a formal investigation into the matter. They like neither the statement that the mayor made at the meeting, nor the fact that the prayer ballot does not restrict the mention of Jesus Christ. I have no doubt that if the ballot mentioned Islamic prayers – CAIR would not have a problem.

The growing fact is that American politicians are under increasing pressure to hide their Christian faith. How many times at Christmas do we hear about towns forced to take down Christmas symbols – all to avoid costly lawsuits – even though the vast majority of the town is Christian. We hear about politicians who profess a personal faith – but go overboard not to be a Christian witness in their votes. Now a mayor is taking heat because he would like to see a “Christian community” as a result of his time in public office.

Christians in this country need to continue to elect Christians to office. We need to support them – prayerfully, financially, and personally – as they seek to serve Christ through public office. We must let our Christian brothers and sister know that the last thing we want from them – and the worst thing they can do in service of the Kingdom – is to keep their faith quiet.

Article Six of the Constitution expressly forbids the government from asking religious tests of candidates. But for some reason, churches have applied the same restrictions on candidates for public office who are also members of their faith community.

Article Six states in part, “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”(US Constitution) The Framers wisely understood that the government had no place in determining the orthodoxy or spiritual soundness of any candidate running for office – or those duly elected by the people.

The need for an effective faith in the lives of those seeking political office, though, was never far from the minds of the Founding Fathers. James Madison writes:

Religion [is] the basis and Foundation of Government. (1785) Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe. (1785) We have staked the whole future of the American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future…upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God. (Summit Ministries)

There are countless other references to the how James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and others felt about the need of a moral, religious public servant. Yet, how do we rectify this deep felt religious requirement and Article Six of the Constitution?

The answer seems clear – while it is not the role of the government to determine faith and orthodoxy, it IS the role of the local church to do so. Since the majority of the Founding Fathers were either Anglican or Presbyterian (Religious Affiliation of the Founding Fathers), Article 25 of the Westminster Confession of Faith is relevant:

Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth, by His own presence and Spirit, according to His promise, make them effectual thereunto. (Confession of Faith)

It is the role of the church to gather and instruct the faithful in the life and discipline suitable for the following of Christ. In the church, the elders have been given a specific role: “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9) It follows, then, that anyone seeking to public service – considered a high calling by John Calvin – should be examined by the local church in terms of faith, religious practice, and spiritual maturity. In other words – it is the role of the local church to administer a “religious test” – making sure that those who are elected are first representatives of Christ and then secondly representatives of those who put them in office.

According to a Pew Foundation study, close to 80% of all members of the House and Senate consider themselves Christian. (The Religious Makeup of Congress) Yet, we continually see these Christians vote for abortion and other issues that are clearly in contradiction to the Gospel of Christ.

It is time for churches to make sure that those who claim to be followers of Christ are actually carrying that out in their votes and actions in public office. The Roman Catholic Church has been in the forefront of holding her members accountable – Top Catholic Cardinal Says ‘No Way’. BreakPoint Ministries just awarded Tony Hall their prestigious Wilberforce Award for his commitment to Christ while in public office. But more must be done. Are churches asking candidates in their pews questions of faith and service? Are churches praying for people in public office and meeting with them regularly if they are members. Are communities of faith holding their members who are elected officials accountable for their actions? Will churches go the final step of removing from their rolls politicians who are acting against the Kingdom of God – and who show no signs of changing or repenting?

The Founding Fathers never expected the government to examine the inner spirit and faith of elected representatives. It is about time that the church started doing so.

But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent for the Sprit of His Son into our hearts, crying “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, than an heir through God. –Galatians 4:4-7

Last week, my older brother and his wife had a child. She was 110 pounds, and 56 inches. Mother and daughter are doing well. A process that has lasted for years finally resulted in the adoption of their youngest child at age 13. Congratulations!

Scripture uses this wonderful act of taking on the care of a child that is not our own as a way to describe our relationship with God. Before Jesus came into our hearts, we may have walked among people of grace, we might have attended their churches, and we might even have shared last names. But only that glorious adoption achieved by the grace of Christ allows us to be truly a part of the community – as if we had always belonged. Notice in the Scripture “And because you ARE sons” – there is no distinction as to how we came to be God’s children – we simply are. My brother does not have an adopted child, he has a daughter. She is my niece – as much so as my other nieces and nephews. And we are God’s children – no matter how long and circuitous the route.

Additionally, the whole adoption process allows us to see that no act of ours can get us into the kingdom of God. My niece (no modifier, remember!) could have banged on my brother’s door all of her life. Her entrance into his family depended not so much on her, but on the actions of others – her future mom and dad, the courts, laws, etc. If they had not wanted her – no amount of actions on her part would have been successful. In the same way, we are now members of the Kingdom of God, not by our own actions, but by the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. He WANTED us to be a part of the family of God, and sacrificed Himself in order to achieve that goal. The Holy Spirit is SENT so that we may cry out “Father!” – in the intimate and reverent way that the name implies. We must always remember that it was God who wanted us – and was willing to sacrifice His “real” Son so that we too may become heirs to His family.

I am so proud of my niece, and proud of her dad and mom for staying the course through years of hurdles and setbacks. Glory be to God.

Graphic: Paulo Correa

Real. Comfortable. Church. That was the billboard that overlooked the highway cutting through Knoxville for quite a while. The picture of a couch behind these words made the meaning clear – we want you to be as relaxed as possible while worshipping the King of kings.

A culture of informality has swept over this nation. Casual Fridays are now the norm in many areas – I still hesitate to sign over my hard earned check to a bank teller that is dressed down. At a local eatery that I frequent, I routinely see men and women dressed in what must be pajamas coming in to get breakfast. Customer service agents call me by my first name without asking permission. It seems that at times we are working very hard to break down the structures of civilization – all in the name of being comfortable.

This informality has spilled over into our churches. Dress for church was a special thing – our Sunday best. A tie at the least, a tie AND jacket would be preferred. Women were also tastefully and modestly dressed. The overall goal of Sunday clothes was not to show off what we have – but to put on the best garments for the formal worship of our Creator. Jackets and ties now are often the exception in our houses of worship. The standard attire for Sunday mornings is now polo shirts and pants (or shorts) for the men and comfortable (and often very revealing) dress for the women. Pastors have left their robes in the closet, and now preach in jeans and golf shirts.

Back to the billboard. In order to be theologically correct, they should have tagged on this warning: “Choose Two.” A Real Church cannot be comfortable – as the Word of God rightly preached often convicts to the very soul. A Comfortable Church is not real – as it will never address the issues that face faith and life in a biblical and fruitful way. As for being Real Comfortable – staying at home on the couch is where we would find that.

What we need is a true revival in our churches. A revival of spirit – so we may correctly and faithfully follow the Holy Spirit in all that we do. We need a revival of purpose – so that we may carry out Christ’s command. We need a revival in community – for only together can we hold each other accountable. And a revival of attitude – for we are saved by grace by none other than the King of kings and Lord of lords. In that, and not in our pursuit of the informal, may we find our comfort.