Christian Devotions: Difficult Times - 2 Timothy 3:1-2

2 Timothy 3:1-2          ‘But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy…’ (NIV)

            At the end of May in 1934, a group of Lutheran, Reformed, and United church pastors in the town of Barmen, Germany, gathered together to write a declaration against the prevailing ecclesiastical and political culture that was eroding the Christian Church and the German nation. They bravely spoke out against an increase in fascism which was the outcome of years of decadence and economic disparity. The Church, which should have been neutral in order to confront any form of evil, had sold its soul to the emerging Nazi party. The frenzy of nationalism that Hitler successfully manipulated and stoked, penetrated and influenced the congregations of Germany. A disastrous syncretism took place where the Evangelical Church became the sycophantic mouthpiece of an evil which would tragically bring about a Second World War. The pastors in Barmen totally understood what was going on in their country, so they prophetically spoke out against their own church, in a brave effort to make their people understand that Fascism and Faith were not compatible in any shape or form.

            Their courageous declaration cost many of them their pastoral positions and lives. Some were hounded out of their towns; others were arrested by the Gestapo; some were imprisoned, tortured, and eventually executed. Despite this persecution, they continued to speak out against the Church allying itself to Nazism. At the end of the war, those who survived were recognized for their persistence in presenting the truth, and for upholding the faith in a difficult and devastating time for German Christians.

            Since then, different denominations throughout the world have adopted the Barmen Declaration into their approved list of historic Confessional creeds. They have done this to honor those Christian pastors and people who stood against fascism. The Declaration is also respected as a living document to remind Christians everywhere that aligning our faith with an unfettered nationalism can have disastrous consequences for the church, for the nation, and possibly even the entire world. In difficult times, the Church has to make difficult choices, but all of those decisions need to be based upon the character, teaching, and ministry of Jesus Christ, otherwise, as a people and religious institution we can be easily led astray by charming demagogues and charismatic dictators.

           

Questions for personal reflection

How is my faith affected by current circumstances? In difficult times, where do I find God’s truth?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we pray for the gift of discernment to enable us to see these times for what they are and to make the right choices in our lives. Thank You for the courage of those Christians in the past and present, who have maintained their allegiance to You, in order to keep us true to our faith in You. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly 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 image is taken from the PCUSA’s Book of Confessions. It is a church banner commemorating the Barmen Declaration. The Nazi Swastika is crossed out and the Christian Cross is rising above the flames of persecution. It is symbolic of rising against tyranny, as well as overcoming unjust persecution and war. If you would like to see more of the PCUSA’s confessional banners, please visit this link: PCUSA Banners.

Church devotion: A Simpler Path - Acts 2:46

Acts 2:46         Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

            I envy the First Christians. Their faith seemed very simple and straightforward. They worshipped and studied each day, and made time to frequently share meals and break bread together. They weren’t encumbered with almost two thousand years of ecclesiastical history, denominational divisions, or cultural conflicts. They just simply, purely, and innocently practiced their faith in cheerful, faithful, and joyful ways.

            Where did we go wrong? What moved us off the simpler path to Christ? Christians today are fiercer than ever and fighting battles that are not important. Whenever I read something belligerently written by some Christian group, whether they be conservatives or progressives, which berates the other side, I feel badly inside. In the past, I’ve created and contributed to these self-righteous invectives, but I’ve now reached a point where I ask myself this: what does it prove? How does it help Christ’s Kingdom? What do people outside of the Church think of us?

            I’d like to get back to those simpler days of sharing the Gospel and breaking bread together. I’d like things between all Christians to change, so I know that it has to begin with me. I may not get it right all of the time; I hope I don’t wander from the simpler path, but I know that the Church – whether local, national, or even international – can’t go on beating itself with its own stick. The world is broken and we need to be healers sent from Christ, but we can only do that if we honestly heal ourselves of our self-sustained prejudice, arrogance, and ignorance.

Questions for reflection

What is the role of the Church in the world? How does it present that role in my local community?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we are all sinners saved by Your grace, but sometimes we forget that we are essentially unworthy and unholy. Redirect our lives and re-position us on a simpler path of faith. Cleanse us of ecclesiastical arrogance and cultural conflict. Teach us Your Way, so that we can faithfully present Your Truth and live Your Life. 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 make comments or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

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

Church devotion: God is for Us - Romans 8:31

Romans 8:31  What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

            John Calvin, the Father of the Presbyterian Church, used to finish his lectures with the above verse. In the midst of the Reformation, which brought about a hundred years of war all over Europe, John Calvin encouraged Reformed pastors to remain resolute and focused. He knew that for Protestantism to survive, the clerical leaders had to be faithful and courageous. Many of them would be hunted down, imprisoned, and even killed. Calvin used this verse to inspire them with the knowledge that God was on their side.

            Five hundred years later, we appear to be at the beginning of a new Reformation in the life of the Presbyterian Church. Throughout ‘mainline’ Christianity, a lot of huge changes are taking place. At the moment, no one knows what shape we will take or where we will be in the next decade. A lot of guessing and envisioning is going on, which in turn is creating a great deal of anxiety among pastors and members alike.

            No matter how it ends, the smartest thing is to be faithful and endure. John Calvin recognized this five hundred years ago, just as Paul did when he wrote the original verse to the persecuted Roman Christians almost two thousand years ago. Both Paul and Calvin did not know what the outcome of Christianity’s troubles would look like, but they both believed that God was in control, shaping Christian history and reforming the Church, just as He had intended. If God could do that centuries ago, then surely He is still doing the same today? After all, if God is for us, then who can be against us?

Questions for personal reflection

What makes me anxious about today’s Church? Where do I see God at work in today’s Church?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, the Church is Your Everlasting Bride. During these troubled times for Your Church on Earth, remind us of Your Love for Her. Help us to see what You are doing through the Church and allow us to fervently join You in that holy work. In Your Sacred Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing for his Psalms art project. It’s based on a verse from Psalm 137. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/9426814170_b4797dbe53_b.jpg

A Disappointing Day

Last Saturday, the PCUSA Presbytery of East Tennessee, at Farragut Presbyterian Church, voted 81-66 in favor of ordaining gay people, in an active relationship, to eldership and ministry.

Although I value the democratic process, I must confess that the decision was disappointing to me.

Over the years, several issues have smothered mainline churches with what I call ‘theological kudzu.’ This issue of gay ordination is just another layer. The world has influenced the Church so much in recent decades ( abortion, stem cell research, and gay ordination) that it is no longer distinguishable – what we used to call ‘holy’ – from the world.

IMHO, I believe that if this trend continues, mainline churches will make themselves insignificant, both to the world that they crave, and to Christ’s True Kingdom.

O Lord, Your Church is broken,
And I am wounded, too.
I come to You for guidance
To show me what to do.
The world has been unceasing
To make the Church the same;
Yet we were made for praising,
And worshipping Your Name.

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

Time for a New Advent?

A great discussion is taking place over at the Presbyterian Bloggers site concerning the meaning and colors of the candles in an Advent wreath. During the discussion, I offered the suggestion that we change the colors and re-code to reflect current issues in the world. Here's a rendering of what I came up with:-



The 1st Advent candle is red, representing World AIDS Day and the church's penitence for mistreating HIV/AIDS sufferers in the past.

The 2nd Advent candle is purple, symbolizing Christ's royalty and the centuries of church tradition.

The 3rd candle is pink, representing peace and cancer awareness.

The 4th candle is blue, reminding us of those who find no joy in Christmas because of loss, grief, and depression.

The 5th white candle signifies that Christ is born among us - the Christ who embraced lepers; the Head of the Church; the Healer of the Nations; and the Compassionate Shepherd of us all.

Tony Blair Coming to teach Americans about Faith

Tony Blair Coming to Teach Americans about Faith

Tony Blair is to teach students at Yale University in the US when he leads a seminar on faith and globalization.

The former prime minister has been appointed as a fellow at Yale and will begin teaching next year.

The prestigious Connecticut university said the work was related to Mr. Blair's Faith Foundation which will be launched later this year.

Read the rest of the story here…

Daily Devotions: The Road to Africa

My youngest daughter Lauren has just set up her own blog at www.theroadtoafrica.blogspot.com
She is planning to go on a special mission trip this summer to Tanzania in Africa. She’ll spend thirteen weeks working with children who have been orphaned through the AIDS epidemic that has swept through that region. It will be hard work and physically demanding. It will cost a lot of money, but Lauren believes that God is asking her to go, so she doesn’t want to disappoint or disobey Him.
Podcast version here

As a parent, I am both concerned and proud. It’s a major task and one that will almost certainly change her life. As a pastor, I am pleased that she is listening to God and I pray that He will both guide and protect her.

Psalm 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him.

Her willingness to do missionary work like this reminds me that Christ’s Church reaches all over the world. People in other places, nations, and continents have come to know the Lord and, as the psalmist wrote so long ago, “all the families of the earth bow down before Him.” I would love to be with Lauren as she worships with the Tanzanian people. I would love to experience their joy for the Lord in the midst of such trying and hard circumstances. I think if I did, it would also change my life forever. But this is Lauren’s calling, not mine.

One day in eternity, we are going to gather in heaven and we will see countless numbers of people of different races and cultures cheerfully and joyfully worshipping the Lord. I don’t know what I’ll feel at that point, but I expect that my heart will be bursting with a joy that can only be experienced in heaven. I guess John Newton best summed up the feeling:

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, Than when we’d first begun!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, all around the world billions of people are praying to You today. They are expressing their concerns and joys, their hopes and fears, their dreams and problems. It is amazing to think that You hear each one and You love them all individually. Help us this day to meet and greet people everywhere as children of God and servants of Your Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.