Church Devotion: Facebook Fights - 2 Corinthians 10:5

Today’s readings can be found at these links:

Judges 9:50-57 and 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

2 Corinthians 10:5     We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I love Facebook, but there are some days that I wished it just didn't exist. I read somewhere that if you want a fight, just go on Facebook and write something. Within minutes, someone will take umbrage, oppose what you say, and begin an argument. Hey, I’ve done that before myself, and no doubt I’ll do it again sometime in the near future.

Perhaps the powers that be should redefine Facebook as a contact sport, where people compete against each other philosophically, religiously, and socially. I’m just glad that every now and then, someone posts a picture of a cat or a baby or a beautiful landscape. In the midst of all online squabbling humanity, it’s great to find that peace and humor, happiness and thoughtfulness abound as well.

It kind of makes me glad that Paul wasn't born in the 20^th century. His Facebook posts would have people reeling in their computer chairs and foaming at their mobile devices. He was'’t one to pull his punches or leave things alone. Whenever the bold Apostle thought that Christ’s authority, ministry, and mission were being challenged, he hit some theological home runs which diminished the opposition. If he were around today, he might spend a lot of his time in front of a computer screen, steeling himself for the next attack on the scriptures, and delving into arguments where even angels would fear to tread.

Anyway, the point of this devotional is two-fold: firstly, we all have our own viewpoints and will defend them to the hilt when provoked (even on Facebook); and secondly, isn't it great that 21 centuries later we're still talking about Christ on the web and around the world?

Questions for personal reflection

What are the strongest beliefs that I have as a Christian? How do I express those beliefs to other people? Am I too bold or too benign?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, Your Spirit lives among us and we are grateful to be called by You as followers and disciples, servants and siblings. Make us more aware of who we should be in Your eyes and how we should positively relate that calling to the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of my early abstracts called “Last Time.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3553/3359197112_0e947b29bb_b.jpg

Daily devotions: Recognizing The Spirit - 1 John 4:6

1 John 4:6        We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

John the Beloved Apostle was writing some exclusive and rebellious statements way back in the First Century. It’s no wonder that he was exiled to the island of Patmos away from the mainland. He was a dangerous rebel and his influence shaped the Church in ways that we seem to have forgotten.

Over the years, I’ve heard many Christians and preachers quote John’s words of “God is Love” and “Love one another” as if that’s all he had to write and say. Nothing could be further from the truth. If anyone seriously wants to know what kind of message John preached, they have to read all of his letters, his version of the Gospel, and the Book of Revelation. Very soon the reader will realize that John is not expressing universal tolerance or boundless love. More often as not, John’s message is about the absolute veracity of Christ as the Son of God, the Defeater of the Devil, and the Judge of all who live.

Sadly, I’ve noticed that the next generation of Christians wants to buy into the false one world, one love, and one humanity philosophy through mutual respect and co-existence. If that was ever meant to be the Gospel truth, then John would never have been exiled or even written about false teaching and false prophets, anti-Christs and persecution. He could have easily capitulated and lived a life of peace; but John actually walked with Christ and was known to be His Beloved Disciple. He had stayed with Jesus all the way through the crucifixion, even when the others had run away. He kept faith with Christ for decades and could have lived an easy life, but he knew what the Gospel Truth was and he understood how important it was to pass on that absolute truth to the next generation of Christians.

That same message and mission needs to be reclaimed, proclaimed, and exclaimed in the Church today. There is no wiggle room because we are exclusively meant to be People of the Way. If the next generation of Christians actually wants to save the planet, then they have to be courageous enough to confront the falsehoods of the world, rather than trying to tear apart the Church. It will take a rejection of universalism and a realization of the spiritual predicament that the world is in. It will take a lot of guts and less good intentions to boldly state and live what John so clearly stated about the true Church: “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”

The question that has to be asked is this: Does the next generation of Christians have what it takes?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know that real Christianity is not about wishful thinking, pie in the sky pluralism, or unfocused universalism. Your Way is hard and Your Cross is heavy. Remind us of the sacrifices of the past and guide us on the right path to Your Kingdom. Keep us from trivializing the Truth and protect us from following false delusions. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is called “Redeemer Rabbi” which is a drawing of a Stone Statue of Christ’s face. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5813805303_784c8ccd1d_b.jpg

New Year Devotions: Fulfilling Our Calling - Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1             As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 

As per our usual custom, our family went to the movies on Christmas Day. We’ve done this for several years because we enjoy the atmosphere at the picture house, as well as the blockbuster of a movie that we choose to see.

This year, we chose “The King’s Speech,” which is definitely not a blockbuster but it may win more than a few Oscars. It’s about the story of King George VI of Britain who suffered from a terrible stammer. Each time he was called upon to make a public speech, his stuttering took over and ruined his presentations. When his older brother abdicated the British throne, George was thrust into the forefront of the British Empire and had to make many broadcasts. When war came to Britain in 1939, King George had to rally the nation. Without the determination of his Australian Speech therapist, the new king would never have been able to do this and the encouragement that the British public needed in the darkest days of war would never have been accomplished.

The movie is fantastic and I heartily recommend it to everyone. There is some cussing involved but it’s used to express the utter frustration that the king experiences with his stammer.

King George fulfilled his calling to which he was appointed. He never chose to do this, but when called upon to lead his people, he put duty first and set aside his own preferences. He was one of the most beloved rulers that Britain has ever known and his own daughter Elizabeth epitomizes all that was best in him, as well as her devoted mother.

We are all given a calling in this life. We may not be called to be kings and queens of the nations, but are we expected to live our lives as heirs to God’s Eternal Kingdom. This means that as Christians our lives are meant to be significantly different from those around us. Our faithful calling is Christ’s vehicle to a fallen world and a faithless culture. If we set aside Christ’s desire for us in His work, then all that we accomplish in this life are our own preferences instead of the purposes that God has in store for us.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are all different and individual. Our backgrounds, cultures and influences over our lives are as varied as we are. Yet with all of our differences, You call us to that one sameness in You. Help us to cast aside our preferences and to carry with us Your purposes each day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest winter scenes. It’s of the famous Glade Creek Grist Mill in Babcock State park, West Virginia. You can view a larger version of this drawing here: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5279354020_7a844bb3b2_b.jpg

(John’s images are available as signed, matted & numbered prints. If you would like one ($20 each, plus shipping) just send John an email.

Daily Devotions: Children of Light

In the midst of a dark and fearful world, Christ's message is a light of hope for all of us. As Christians, we are called to be children of Christ's Light in our community.

Podcast version here

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Recent events have displayed a lot of darkness and fear in the world, but it’s not any different from Paul’s time. The technology may be far more advanced, but the same anxiety that pervaded much of the ancient world is still with us today. No matter how far we travel or how much progress we make as a species, we are still fragile and frail, fearful and finite.

I see a society where a lot of people are struggling with who they are and what their purpose is in life. Some of them are broken by injustice; others are wrestling with relationships; and still others are fighting illnesses. All of us depend upon each other at times. We are not islands of isolation; we are all connected as human creatures who struggle with life’s problems.

This is where I believe that the Christian message, above all other faiths and spiritual traditions, has the most hope for people who are helpless and hopeless. Jesus Christ has come into our dark world to show us the light that leads to God. We are no longer left scrambling in the darkness trying to get through each day. He stands beside us, bidding us to follow Him, and asking us to trust Him. We are not alone on a planet that is swirling through space. We are placed on earth because God has a purpose for our lives and through Jesus we can effectively change the world that we live in.

Paul’s calls us to be “children of the light.” In his world, total darkness at nighttime was very common. People didn’t have electric switches, lights or power to use at night time. Lamps and candles were precious possessions and were not to be used frivolously. They were kept for emergencies and treated as essential items. When the Gospel was first being preached, people knew exactly what Paul was talking about when he called his people “children of the light.” Christians lit up the world with their love of one another, their compassion for the community, and their courage in the face of death. They had nothing to fear because the darkness could not overshadow them.

Let’s continue that ministry of Christ in our own lives and our own wee world. Let us all seek to be “children of light” to all that we meet today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You truly are the Light of the world and we feel privileged to be Your servants. Empower us this day with hearts of love and compassion, so that we may reflect and express Your influence over our lives. May we become children of Your light to those around us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Feedback Question: How can we be children of light to our communities?

John Stuart is the Scottish pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee