Just Yeast - Mark 8:15

Mark 8:15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (NIV)

            For most people who bake bread, yeast is absolutely essential. Yeast enables the dough to be more flexible for shaping, to help the bread rise in the oven, and to add some texture and flavor to the whole loaf. Without the yeast, most loaves would be flat and a bit bland. With the yeast, however, thousands of different breads can be baked to make them look attractive in the shops, stores, and bakeries where we buy them.

            Yeast breaks down the sugars in the other mixed ingredients and releases carbon dioxide which allows the bread to rise. Most of the flavor in bread is determined by the crust that the yeast helps to create. As it permeates throughout the combined ingredients, every part of the bread is affected by the yeast. In fact, the quality of the bread is mainly developed by the yeast’s pervasive presence.

            When Christ’s warned His disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod, He was cautioning them about the false words and ways His opponents would use to influence and corrupt their spirits. His closest followers were not immune from the wiles and ways of deceitful people; in fact, because His disciples were deeply religious, they were more susceptible to being manipulated by those who were deemed to be powerful, authoritative, and in control. Jesus gave His disciples this grave warning because He was concerned that His own people would be led astray. This is why He also referred to the Pharisees as vipers and called Herod a fox. Their message could poison the hearts and minds of the people and their cunning charms could even contaminate the most faithful of servants.

            The importance of this lesson still remains with us today. Faithful people are not flawless, nor are they protected from the lies of leaders and the deliberate deception of despicable demagogues. We only have to look back to the 1940s to see how outrage and nationalism corrupted the hearts and minds of millions of people, most of whom were good church-going Christians. They yielded to the yeast of jingoism, allowing it to destroy decency, causing them to descend into depravity, furthering disunity, and promoting idolatry. With this in mind, Christ’s teaching about the yeast is very clear: if we embrace liars, we become the lie; if we excuse falsehood, we become just as false.

Point to ponder

Who or what currently influences me most? What would Jesus honestly say about this influence?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You gladly call us to be Your servants but You also ask us to be aware of other things that can distract us from You and divert us from the truth. Keep us mindful of our weaknesses and protect us from those who would brazenly corrupt us with lies, deceptions, and devious ways. In Your Holy Name, we fervently pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you have some questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Celtic Pop.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Celtic Pop.

Peace devotional - Seeking Solutions

No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. – Isaiah 60:18

            No matter who we are, where we are from, or whatever we do, we all want peace in our neighborhoods, communities, country, and world. As a species, we have been fortunate to survive eons of anger, conflict, and violence. As a planetary people, we have been tainted with the sins of inhumanity, cruelty, and hostility. Sometimes we wake up and wonder where it will all end. Sometimes we see no solution to the violence; sometimes we feel there is no answer to all of the conflicts across the world.

            And yet, we worship Christ as the Prince of Peace, so we basically believe that all of this hostility will end. We put our faith in God who is holy, just, and good, so there will be a passing away of all of these tragedies and conflicts. We ardently hope and look forward to a day as foretold by the prophet Isaiah, when God’s salvation will surround and protect us, when we will find the gate that leads to an everlasting time of peace, praise, joy, and love.

            At the end of the Bible, in the Book of Revelation, we can read these beautiful words which echo those spoken by Isaiah:

‘And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for those former things will have passed away.”’

-          Revelation 21:3-4.

So let us not give up hope, but instead may we keep praying for peace and that violence will come to an end. Let us seek justice in our communities and show true love to one another. In doing so, we will discover God’s peaceable Kingdom on Earth and Christ’s grace in our daily lives.

Questions for personal reflection

Where can I spread peace and love in my life? How can I support those who seek justice in my community?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, the challenges that we face today have always been a sorrowful part of the human condition. Long ago, You spoke words of peace and love, justice and mercy in order to help us build a better world, a brighter future, and a basic foundation for Your Kingdom on Earth. Help us at this crucial time to seeks Your ways and apply Your words in our lives, wherever we go, whatever we do, and whomsoever we meet. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the Scottish pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called ‘Prince of Peace.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Prince.

Daily Devotional - Reconciliation, Not Retaliation

Isaiah 59:9      So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. (NIV)

            We all woke up with heavy hearts this morning when news of the sniper killings from Dallas-Fort Worth became apparent. For the past two weeks, a darkness has overshadowed our land and violence is plaguing our people. The tragic deaths of both civilians and police officers is appalling and wicked. We seem to have reached another depth of human despair; we appear to have hit a confusing time of fear and insecurity.

            We can do better than this, but it will take a great deal of effort and energy. We can overcome these deep shadows and find a brightness which will embrace and empower our children. We have to fight against our fears and avoid retaliation. Our response to the injustice must be a search for truth. Our solution to the violence must be found in reconciliation.

            We are different, but those differences need not divide or destroy us. We have common goals and similar dreams for our children. We want our towns and cities, communities and neighborhoods to be places of peace, prosperity, and purpose. We want our schools to be filled with students who seek knowledge to build a better future, a brighter hope, and a peace-loving world.

            As Christian people, we follow a Savior who was both killed by the police authorities and the prejudicial mob. His words on the Cross emphasized the importance of reconciliation: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” If we are ever going to get out of this stagnant pit of evil and violence, then it begins with seeking forgiveness over fear, sincerely addressing racism and prejudice, as well as pursuing reconciliation instead of retaliation.

            May God have mercy on our people and nation.

Questions for personal reflection

How can I be a channel of peace and reconciliation in my home and community? How can my church actively seek and promote the same?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we really don’t know what to pray for at this painful time. We hail You as the Prince of peace and Healer of the world. In the midst of our broken hopes and shattered dreams, show us the path toward reconciliation and love. In Your Holy Name, we plaintively pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s devotion, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s past drawings called “Face to Face.” It artistically represents the need for real and intimate dialogue between all races. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Face to Face.

Online Devotion: The Contender - Colossians 2:1

Colossians 2:1            I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. (NIV)

            Paul contended for the young churches under his care. He knew that the faith of those new Christians was delicate and that they could be led astray by flattering words and false gospels. He fought for them in many ways and eventually sacrificed his life for the Gospel. He was a remarkable fighter for the faith; he was a strident contender for Christ.

            Sometimes I wonder how Paul would have fared with today’s Church. We seem to have wandered so far away from the Gospel Truth that I think he would stridently confront our mistakes and try to redirect our paths. Unfortunately, he would probably come across as being intolerant, out-of-touch, and imbecilic to most post-moderns. His statements would be ignored and his opinions would be cast aside, just as his written words are somewhat treated today.

            I wish that God would raise up another Paul among us, instead of the ‘Guy Smiley’ preachers that abound in our mega churches. People say that they are thirsting for real, authentic Christianity, but that involves changing a lot of what we have become. If another contender does arise, then she or he will shake the foundations of our cozy beliefs and make us honestly reconsider our ways. It won’t be easy, but then again, the symbol of our faith is a sacred Cross and not a comfy sofa.

Questions for personal reflection

What do I honestly think of Paul and his teachings? Why?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You chose Paul to contend for Your Church on Earth. Help us to understand why You selected him and what his writings truly teach us about You. Help us to re-evaluate our faith and renew our commitment to You alone. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him an email about today’s message, send it to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s drawings called “Christ is King.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: King.

Podcast version

Grace devotion: No Limits - Mark 3:35

Mark 3:35       “Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

            As church people, we are meant to be brothers and sisters in Christ. Our identity is defined through Him and, by our faithful works in the world for Him, people should be able to see that we are united. The trouble is this: the world sees a fragmented church which is constantly in turmoil and being broken by inner conflicts. Instead of being the vehicle of Christ’s peace, healing, and grace, His Church has become a symbol of religious strife, constant battling, and sadly, self-righteousness.

This is a complete shame because the world needs Christ more than ever. His words and ways, His life and love could repair a lot of the damage and destruction that is experienced all over this planet. Poverty and ignorance, illness and despair could be effectively diminished if Christ’s people could totally unite and fight the real foes of humanity. Tragically, Church people have got into the habit of creating doctrinal divisions and are rent asunder by definitions of what is sacred. I include myself in this tragedy because I have often compounded some of these issues, conflicts, and separations.

            I often hear preachers preaching messages about getting back to the basics, but what they really urge is a conforming to past doctrinal truths and rigid religious rules. I understand that structure is important, however I am more inclined to think that you can’t theologically systematize and narrowly limit God’s grace, goodness, and love.  If God’s love is everlasting and His grace is infinite, then how can there be boundaries? If there is a limit to God’s love, then doesn't that also mean that God cannot love the unlovable, which may further mean that He is limited, finite, and impeded by a boundary that He cannot cross?

            Boundaries remind us that we are finite, mortal, frail, limited, and human. Jesus invites us to cross the limitations that are set upon us by aligning and uniting our lives to Him. He becomes our way of rising above our boundaries in order to be restored, reconnected, and reunited to the boundless grace and love that belongs to God. Through Christ, the unlovable are loved, the unreachable are reached, and the sinful saved. And when we faithfully do His work in the world beyond church world, we are further blessed to become not just brothers and sisters in Christ, but also brothers and sisters of Christ. In other words, we are adopted by Him into the everlasting heart, life, and love of God.

Questions for personal reflection

Where can I work for Christ and do God’s will today? How can I encourage others in church and my community to do the same?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we seek to truly serve You and yearn to please You. Today, and throughout this week, You will give us opportunities to share Your love and grace with other people. Help us to do all that we can to do God’s will among our families and friends, our neighbors and community. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s drawing is John’s latest Nativity picture called “Outsiders.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Outsiders.

Church Growth devotion - A Fearless Faith - Matthew 27:66

Matthew 27:66           So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

            Christianity is a fearless faith. No matter what constraints are placed upon it by government regulations or social pressure, Christianity cannot be contained in a one-size fits all t-shirt. It is as multi-faceted as a diamond and as varied as the different colors of a tapestry. It refuses to conform to the world and constantly challenges humanity. It is a risky business for all who embrace Christian beliefs, because it frequently challenges the believer, as well as those outside the faith.

            When I read the Holy Week stories, I constantly see the futility of humanity trying to put an end to Jesus, as well as the attempted destruction of His message. In today’s passage (Matthew 27:57-66), for instance, the religious and military authorities try to control the situation by sealing the tomb and posting guards. They are attempting to effectively seal off the burial area to stop Christ’s followers from stealing the body, and falsely proclaiming that He rose from the dead. The authorities take every precaution to keep Jesus buried and His followers restrained. But it doesn't work – within a short time, the tomb will burst open and Christ will rise from the dead.

            That’s what Christianity does and is still meant to do. In lands throughout the world, regimes and despots constantly try to eliminate the Church and Christians. In the short term, they have some success, but in the long term, Christianity prevails. Tyrants and dictators come and go, but Christ rises up again and again and again – and will do so until the very end of Time.

            When people write off the church as being irrelevant, unnecessary, and on its deathbed, I remind myself that I've heard it all before – in the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties, and the new millennium. In every case, the church has reformed, rebounded, and been restored. The naysayers and prophets of doom have come and gone, utterly forgotten, while the name of Christ continues to be lifted up, worshiped, and adored. Society may try to seal up the message and diminish Christ’s claims; governments may attempt to gag the Gospel and silence the followers of Christ, but eventually revival occurs, faith resurrects, and the Kingdom of God through Christ re-enters the mainstream even stronger than before. All it takes is time – and Time, as well as History, belong to the Eternal Christ.

            So today, if you’re feeling down about your church, denomination, or faith then know this: when it comes to Death, we’re in the Resurrection business!

Questions for personal reflection

What makes me worry about my church and faith? How can I change my worries into prayers?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You turned the world upside down by defeating death and establishing Your Church across the world. For centuries, different leaders and civilizations have tried to destroy Your church and diminish Your influence. They have constantly failed and Your Church is now bigger and more widespread across the Earth than it ever has been. Thank You for continuing to enrich the world with Your presence, ministry, and mission. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully and thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s attached image is one of John’s latest winter drawings called ‘Winter Tree.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Tree.

Church devotion: Relevant Elephant - 2 Kings 16:14

2 Kings 16:14            The bronze altar that stood before the LORD, Ahaz had brought from the front of the temple--from between the new altar and the temple of the LORD--and put it on the north side of the new altar.

            King Ahaz was a wicked ruler of ancient Judah. The Bible states that he didn't do what was right in the eyes of God. He set up pagan shrines and sacrificed his first born son into the fires of the idol Molech. He sought political help from the Assyrians instead of God, and he changed the furnishings inside Solomon’s Temple by replacing them with Assyrian décor. He was a man of his time who was greatly influenced by his peers. He didn't keep to the traditional ways and ended up becoming a vassal king in the Assyrian Empire. He changed the religious and political culture of his nation through policies of appeasement and syncretism. By the end of his reign, Judah was greatly diminished and the people of God were deeply confused, as well as divided.

            What King Ahaz thought would bring about success, power, and esteem to his sovereignty only weakened him further. He thought that he would be lauded by the powerful Assyrians for adopting their ways; instead he was reduced to being a servant of their empire and paid taxes and tribute for protection. What seemed like a good idea at the beginning of his reign ended up ruining him. By paying more attention to what the nations around him possessed, instead of focusing on the blessings God could give him, Ahaz lost everything that a king desires – pride, prestige, and power. In Biblical terms, he was a foolish ruler who gave everything away and ended up with nothing.

            I see mainstream Christianity heading down the same path. People want the Church to be more like the world and emphasize the need to be relevant religiously, culturally, and politically. Even though we have followed this cultural shift towards relevance for almost 25 years, church numbers in the Western hemisphere are declining. The elephant in the room about the church’s yearning for relevance in order to grow, instead of pursuing reverence of God, is that it gets us nowhere. The Ahaz-ism of our churches has turned out to be a detrimental road to indifference, ineffectiveness, and irrelevance. If we don’t make some sort of a U-turn in order to get back to God, then the decline will reach unfixable depths which will require an influx of a new generation of missionaries from South America, Africa, and even Asia to re-ignite the Faith in the West.

Questions for personal reflection

Why are church people less connected to God now, than they were 25-40 years ago? How can those connections be remade?

Prayer:           Lord Jesus, the simple truth is that we have wandered from the pathway that leads us to God. We've allowed ourselves to be deceived by the world and distracted by our own pursuits. Help us all to turn our lives around so that we may re-connect our spirits to You, in both a strong and devoted way. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to make a comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s wildlife drawings called ‘African Sunset’. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Elephant.

End Times devotion: A 2000 Year War - Revelation 12:17

Revelation 12:17         Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring--those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

            There’s a 2000-year-old war going on this planet which most people do not know about. It started when Christ came into the world to shake things up and give humanity one last opportunity to get right with God. When is happened historically, it appeared to be a minor event, but universally, it is a cataclysmic point where Heaven confronts Humanity in order to establish God’s Kingdom and let everyone know of His uncompromising sovereignty.

            The war exists between good and evil, faith and fantasy, orthodoxy and heresy. The Truth of God in the person of Christ is embattled with the temptation of sin, manifested by Satan. This constant struggle over the souls of men, women, and children has continued for almost 2000 years. In this war, we must take sides. Humanity has been given a crucial choice; if we fail to choose Christ, then we lose everything.

            The conflict is not dualism where both sides are equal in power, influence, and strength. The devil is fighting a losing battle - all that he wants to do is to take down as many confused, bitter, and unbelieving souls as he can in order to spoil God’s plan of salvation. The purpose of the Church is to be a shield against Satan’s displeasure. However, as we enter into what chess players call the ‘End Game,’ the devil’s works within the Church become more outrageous, more unorthodox, and more unrepentant. Sadly, good people are losing their hold on Christ’s testimony; church people are wavering in the apparent victory of wickedness over the world.

            The Book of Revelation was given to the Church in order to help Christians recoil from their folly and recover their faith. The trouble is this: so many people never read it, or instead reject it, or casually treat it as biblical science fiction which will never come to pass. That’s exactly what the devil wants; that’s exactly his intention. The more that people are actually ignorant of the Word of God and the testimony of Christ, which is plainly revealed in Revelation, the more lost souls the devil can take to be doomed along with him. In warfare, this is called a scorched earth campaign; biblically speaking, this is an Armageddon of the damned.

            I make no apology for the severity of today’s message. I’ve tried to be conciliatory, positive, and nice for years, but it’s made no difference. People do what they want to do, and believe what they want to believe. Ultimately, all of our choices will have eternal consequences. Heaven is not meant for those who refuse to repent; or as CS Lewis once wrote, “There is no one in Hell who did not choose to be there.”

If we let go of the testimony of Jesus, then know this: we let go of everything that is eternal.

Question for personal reflection

Have I honestly read the Book of Revelation? Do I understand the consequences of its message for me?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, faith is a serious commitment because it constantly challenges who we are and what we do. The world is caught up in its own wickedness and the Church is constantly being challenged from within and without, about what is true, faithful, and Christian. Keep us from letting go of Your testimony, and help us to endure the turbulence that is coming. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please contact him by email at Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest religious drawings called “Passion Flower.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Passion Flower.

Today's devotion: Crowd Pleasers - 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Today’s readings are: 1 Samuel 9:21-27 and 1 Thessalonians 2:1-9

1 Thessalonians 2:4   On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 

I must confess it – I really like Paul’s writing, especially when he is candid about the Christian faith. He reminds his readers that Christians are not meant to be crowd-pleasers or popularity-seekers. We have been given the Gospel because this is the last and best opportunity that humankind has in order to be saved. If we diminish the message because it will either fall upon deaf ears or we will be ‘not liked, then so be it. The Church was not established by Christ to be like the world; it is meant to disturb the people on this planet.

This is why, in despotic nations who are ruled by tyrants, Christianity is oppressed. Evil people like their easy evil ways; when the Church confronts them with the Truth, tyrants and dictators will eventually fall. Christianity is not a cozy religion, it’s a radical faith.

I must also confess that this is why I dislike Christians attacking the Church for being outdated, unhip, and irrelevant. They should do more reading of Church history, for they will soon discover that the Church is anything but outdated, unhip, and irrelevant. Post-modern people may like to delude themselves about how ineffective the Church is, but post-modern people only see what they want to see and are largely very narrow-minded, self-centered, and hopelessly insecure.

As Paul states, the purpose of our faith is to please God, not other people. If our hearts are full of ourselves, then we will have no room for God, which would be a total shame, for God created our hearts to be filled with His love, so that we could enjoy Him forever.

Questions for personal reflection

What have I done with the Gospel that God has given me? What have I still to do with it?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, Your Life is the Gospel, so we are thankful for learning of, knowing, and loving You. Our lives would be totally different without Your presence and influence. Our hope and salvation, as well as our happiness and restoration all depend upon You alone. Thank You, Jesus, for being our Savior and for giving us Your Gospel. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN. If you would like to make a comment or ask a question of today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is a new stained glass design that I have created called “Celtic Flame.” It depicts the Holy Spirit descending to Earth on Pentecost. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/12061475774_a3b2ebd4f0_b.jpg

Church devotions: Facebook Blues - Colossians 3:8

Today’s readings are : 1 Samuel 7:10-17 and Colossians 3:1-11

Colossians 3:8                        But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

I love Facebook and I hate Facebook – how does this occur?

I love Facebook because it keeps me updated with most of my family and friends. I love to read of their experiences, their feelings, and see photographs of events or vacations. I love it when they post great quotes or funny cartoons. I love having trivial, humorous, and even some deep conversations with people from all over the world. These things make Facebook a pleasurable experience.

I hate Facebook because I sometimes get embroiled in arguments about politics, religion, and current events, even with people that I don’t know. I hate Facebook when people post horrible pictures or sleazy photographs that don’t need to be seen. I hate Facebook when folks that I love use bad language or curse and think it is okay to do that. I hate Facebook when people use images, quotes, or links that promote ill feelings, divisiveness, or outright rudeness.

So I have this love/hate relationship with Facebook, but I have the same feelings about most communicative digital experiences these days – whether I’m using browsers and search engines, web articles or blog posts, or even e-mails and texts.

Christians should be very discerning people. I think if Paul was writing today’s chosen verse he would have emphasized to all of us to think twice about what we write or post from our laptops, computers, or mobile devices. We, of all people, should apply different standards and make sure that our contributions to Facebook conversations and posts, etc., do not include anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.

If we do so, then we should also be aware that we are choosing to act sinfully and are, in fact, letting Christ down completely.

Questions for personal reflection

Are my Facebook posts worthy of Christ? If I was sending a digital message to Jesus, how would I word it differently?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we are all too human at times, and yet You command us to lead better lives. Forgive us when we fail to loyally witness to You in all of our communications, especially those that are seen by many people. Help us to infuse Christian standards in all that we seek to express or communicate. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send an email to John at traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest winter drawings called “Snowfall at Glades Creek.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3788/12057224316_5fae2dedbd_b.jpg

The Relevant Elephant in the Church

The Relevant Elephant in the Church

I've been a pastor for almost thirty years and, throughout those three decades, I've constantly heard the repeated complaint that ‘the Church needs to be more relevant.’ I've watched ministers and congregations run around in circles trying to make the music more upbeat, the message more positive, and the mission of the church more slick. I've seen optimistically idealistic seminarians come into charges brimming with new ideas and insights, only to burn themselves out within four or five years. I’ve seen the Church constantly change its teaching, doctrine, and beliefs to accommodate the current culture, only to discover that as soon as we get settled on one issue, the culture has moved on to another place. People want faith to be fashionable, as well as attractive. Appearances are everything and so the relevant elephant in church grows into a monstrous mammoth that crushes real Christianity.

‘The Church needs to be more relevant,’ but to whom? The culture? Civilization? Society? The Church was never established for those temporal and finite things. Cultures constantly change; civilizations rise and fall; society enslaves us to what’s popular at the moment. If the Church needs to be more relevant, it needs to be more relevant to God’s Kingdom. If we are human creatures living under the grace of God, then the Church is not called to be relevant to us (that’s self-idolization); the Church needs to be called into existence and relevance by God. Since God is eternal and all human things are temporal, then the only relevancy that is required of the Church is how we are in fact relevantly connected to God.

Now the culture junkies won’t ever understand this – they've substituted God for what’s good. They've glorified the world and its ways, instead of worshipping God and His ways. But you know what, the culture junkies already have their reward: they seek to be liked and they get it. They’ll also come and go – eventually culture junkies become irrelevant and outdated to their own society in their own time, but God’s mission, God’s Kingdom, and even God’s Church goes on and on and on and on.

So, next time you or I hear someone complain about the Church needing to be relevant, let’s agree with them at first by saying, “Yes, it does.” And then we should clearly add this thought: “The Church needs to be constantly relevant to Christ and God’s Kingdom, but not to the ever-changing world or its temporary culture. We belong to Him who is eternal, and not to that which is currently fashionable.”

Church Devotion: Problems with Paul - 1 Corinthians 5:3

1 Corinthians 5:3       Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.

            The apostle Paul didn't pull any of his punches, nor did he mince his words. He spoke directly and firmly, as well as candidly and clearly, which must have made him an awesome preacher in his day. Even now, when we all read his uncompromising words in 1 Corinthians 5, we flinch at his tone. In a sexually liberated society, we all have trouble dealing with his unyielding judgment.

            Does this mean that Paul was wrong to write about sexual immorality? Are his words meant for an ancient time and therefore have no place in our present cultured Christianity? Do we find him offensive because his words reek of archaic authoritarianism and joyless judgmentalism, or are we pushing back because there’s a strong element of truth to his point?

            Traditional Christians are constantly being ridiculed and attacked for trying to maintain nineteenth century standards in a twenty-first century world. They are being pressured to capitulate, so that the whole Church can present itself to the current culture as being worthy of popular ideals. During the last part of the twentieth century, the Church went to war with itself over sexuality and marriage issues. The first two decades of this new century seem doomed to be wrecked with the same conflicts.

            In my darkest moments, I cannot see an end to this cultural civil war and as the Church rips itself apart, the world begins to fall apart. Our ministries become stagnant and our missions are harder to maintain. People become devoted to personal causes instead of the person of Christ. Jesus becomes just another religious teacher instead of the Redeemer Savior of the world.

            And then I remind myself that the Church is the Bride of Christ, so He will not let it be diminished or blemished, anguished or finished. He continues His ministry and mission both in the Church and across the world. His promises are still being fulfilled and His words still bring people to God. His work never ends and His Kingdom will last forever. All we have to do is to continue to follow Him faithfully, even though we are all sinners and imperfect. His Way, His Truth, and His Life will always endure…and in the end, that is all that is important.

Questions for personal reflection

What is Christ doing in my community today? Is the Church there with Him?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we are all struggling as Christians in a world that is constantly changing. We continually clash with one another and go to war over words, works, and ways. Forgive us and help us to be restored to one another so that we can effectively help to heal this broken world. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send John an email to traqair@aol.com. He may not answer all emails quickly, but he does read every one of them.

Today’s image is my latest Bible card drawing. It’s taken from Psalm 113v3.

Devotions - Epic Fail - Ecclesiastes 7:18

Ecclesiastes 7:18a       The man who fears God will avoid all extremes. 

I am appalled, but not surprised, at the riots in Britain. It’s shocking to see so much destruction and violence, but I believe this has been festering for a number of years.

The Church has failed an entire generation. We’ve allowed people to follow strange and selfish paths which lead to emptiness, anxiety, and aggression. I saw this happening in Scotland prior to me leaving in 1995. Christian beliefs were beginning to wane and humanism was on the rise. The Church was largely discarded as an anachronism. Traditional beliefs were ridiculed and much of the Calvinist Reformed Theology was mocked. In England, the Church gave in to cultural pressure, so that anyone could live as they liked and believe what they wanted. Eventually, the whole structure of the new society was shaped to disregard the Church and to entirely diminish Christianity.

They succeeded. And now anarchy and atheism have become so entrenched in this new generation that there are no longer any spiritual, ethical, or moral boundaries. Civilization in Europe, which has been held together by Christianity since the 7^th century AD, is beginning to crumble. Those who ignored the warning signs are reaping what was sown. All that the Church can do is stand by the sidelines and watch society destroy itself. Greed and pride, selfishness and brazeness have overtaken the souls of the people. Foolishness and ignorance, poverty and violence are on the increase. Instead of progressing into the 21^st century, Britain and other European nations are stepping back into the Dark Ages. The law of the jungle and the survival of the fittest has taken over from the love of Jesus and the strength of faith.

My heart bleeds for Britain, but I need to work over here. The signs of the same things are occurring and I am anxious about the younger generation. They are like sheep without a Shepherd and I worry that their society is going to be hardest upon those among them who keep their Christian convictions alive. Persecution seems so far away and is only an extreme possibility; but sometimes I wonder if it’s only a matter of years before committed Christians over here are going to be harassed, harangued, and hunted down as we once were during the Dark Ages.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are seeing the bitter fruits of faithlessness emerge violently and satanically in other places around the world. Your Church has been culpable in planting the seeds of discontent, unhappiness, and meaningless in the hearts, mind, and souls of this 21^st century generation. We have neglected the true message of the Gospel and have allowed it to be replaced by a mythical morality, futile theology, and insipid ideology. Forgive us for being distracted, dishonorable, and disloyal to You. Help us to recover and restore our people through repentance, revival, and redemption. In Your Holy Name, we plead and pray. Amen.

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

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest Chess series prints. It’s called “Knight takes Rook” and is a pop art image of the game. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6186/6024701992_405a71c6de_b.jpg

Devotions: Church Mistakes - Revelation 2:1-7

Revelation 2:5            Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 

Even churches can make mistakes and, as the Reformers used to say, “Councils err.”

Revelation Chapters 2 & 3 contain seven indictments against well established churches in the New Testament age. With one exception, each of them had fallen off their original spiritual path by allowing their community and culture to overtake their business and beliefs. Instead of following Christ’s pattern for ministry and mission, they followed their own plans and went their own way. Christ cautions them about this and warns them of the consequences of their decisions and actions. He even calls them to repent of their ways; otherwise His Light and Spirit would be taken from them.

Those prophetic warnings of along ago could so easily have been written today. Christians everywhere are in danger of succumbing to their society. The old word for this process is ‘syncretism.’ Of all the community sins mentioned in the Bible, the act of syncretism, of God’s people submitting to cultural pressures, was the most damning to whichever generation succumbed.

As post-moderns and 21^st century Christians, we are not shielded from this sinful process. In fact, in recent years our churches have turned away from what is acceptable to God towards what is acceptable to the world. It only remains to be seen whether or not Christ will take away his Light and Spirit from those churches which wander away from Him and do not repent. It may be the case, as it was for several of the churches mentioned in Revelation, that a generation of believers was lost before repentance, revival, and restoration were experienced.

The challenging questions for us today are these: Have our Councils erred? Are we in need of church-wide repentance? What signs will indicate that Christ has removed His lampstand from our people?

Prayer:                                 Lord Jesus, help us to review our recent decisions and truly ask whether we are contending for the world or Your Kingdom? Grant us wisdom and keep us on Your path. 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 or ask him any questions, please send an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing called “Fall Retreat.” It features a rustic cabin in the heart of the Smokies during the Fall season. You can view a larger version of the drawing at the following link:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/6014988935_76c01bd78d_b.jpg

Advent Conspiracy - An Advent Devotion - Jeremiah 31 v 12

Jeremiah 31:12          They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD--the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more.

My wife Evelyn and I are not giving each other gifts for Christmas this year. We’d rather go out for coffees together, have lunch a couple of times, and maybe go to the movies rather than spending money on something that we don’t need or will hardly ever use. We’ve also decided to use our ‘giftless’ money to help some people in developing countries by sponsoring their businesses.

We do this through KIVA, a wonderful organization that seeks to help people around the world by giving them grants and loans to sustain their farms, stores, and businesses. Thus far, we’ve managed to help about 20 people in Africa, Asia, as well as both central and South America. It’s a gift that keeps on giving and I highly recommend it to everyone who reads this (you can find more information about KIVA on their website at http://www.kiva.org.

As I was watching CNN this morning, I saw a segment about the new Advent Conspiracy movement that is spreading throughout the Christian world. I went to the website a couple of days ago via a Scottish blogger. The purpose of this movement is to draw people’s attention to the fact that we spend about 450 billion dollars each year which 45 times the amount it would cost to give everybody in the world clean drinking water. Half of the people who die in developing countries every year are killed by drinking contaminated water.

The Advent Conspiracy group is trying to encourage Christians to review what they spend at Christmas. Instead of fretting and stressing out over Christmas presents, they want us to emphasize a real Christmas presence in our lives. If we cut down on our frivolous spending and became more intentional with our charitable giving, we could do a lot to solve the world’s problems. The old prophecy of Jeremiah would be fulfilled for the world could become a well-watered garden with people who sorrow no more.

You can watch the Advent Conspiracy’s thought provoking video at the following YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU. You can also see it on their website at www.adventconspiracy.org.

Believe me, once you watch it, Christmas will never be the same again…in fact, it will become a lot better!

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, keep us from being overwhelmed by stress and fatigue this Christmas. Help us to focus upon a real Christian presence in the world, instead of worrying about Christmas presents. In Your Holy Name, we pray for change. 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.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Everlasting Words Acts 6 v 10

Acts 6: 10        But they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Some people believe that we are living in a post-Christian world where Christ’s ways and words are losing their effectiveness in society and throughout the globe. In places like Britain and all over Europe, secularism is increasing and churches are emptying. People believe more in themselves and get what they want out of life, rather than taking guidance from God or experiencing Christ’s grace.

One thing that I have noticed is that when people become more secular they also become more selfish. The law of the jungle and survival of the fittest take the place of God’s laws and faith in Christ. Greed overrides need; vanity replaces charity; and the love of money overtakes love of God.

Some churches cave in and surrender to secularism and become community centers with small chapels. Some Christians give up on God and follow the maddening crowd. Others become spiritually paralyzed and don’t know what to believe in or do.

Those churches and Christians who remain are the ones who seek God’s wisdom and look to the Holy Spirit to inspire and lead them. They do not stand still nor do they stop growing faithfully and spiritually. They know that Christ’s words are everlasting and no matter how hard the secularists try to kill off Christ, they will not succeed. Christ’s mission and ministries have faced this all before, and once again the Church will reform, revive and be resurrected. The world, society, and the devil may attempt to inflict wounds upon the Church, but they cannot prevail against God’s wisdom, Christ’s ways, or the works of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, the world may try to ignore You, but it cannot eradicate Your Presence. Society may seek to diminish Your disciples, but it cannot halt Your mission. The devil may even try to cause havoc throughout the Church, but Your ministry will always prevail. Thank You for Your power and we give glory to Your Everlasting Name. 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.