Hebrews 12:1-3 - Keep Your Eyes Fixed on the Goal

Just about every year we have at
least one (sometimes more) who affirms
their faith and faithfully enters the race.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
Have you ever tried to walk a puppy on a leash? They tend to want to go in many directions. Puppies and little children can get distracted very easily. Children of God must discipline themselves if they are going to run the race marked out for us. It is very easy to be distracted if we don't keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (vs 2).

It is almost time for our group of young people to affirm their baptisms with the Rite of Confirmation. They have not finished any race. They have simply been in spring training so that they can be prepared for the race. Sadly, we will not see many of them again, except for possibly at Christmas. Many will lose site of the goal. All that training and no race! Those who choose to actually run the race seem to be few in number. Some will return, but not all. There will be too many distractions and attractions in the world for them to ever see the cross of Christ clearly, again. But, thanks be to God for those who will continue on to reach the goal.

Lose site of the goal and you will fall out of the race... May God help us to always remember the joy that comes with finishing in His Kingdom; in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 14:27-31 You Will Fall Away

Mark 14:27-31 NIV
“You will all fall away.”

On the night in which he was betrayed, he predicted that all of his followers would fall away. Peter did not believe it. Yet, they did. Judas betrayed him. The rest stayed hidden in the background so as not to end up on trial and crucified like Jesus. Peter flat out denied knowing him.

How many times do we hide in the background? Afraid to speak the truth because someone might not want to hear the truth and ridicule you or ignore you or maybe just unfriend you? Maybe, they might start ugly rumors about you and your faith. They might even call you something like "fanatical Christian!"

One of the rites of the church that I do not appreciate fully is confirmation. It makes me most uncomfortable knowing that these young people (teens) affirm their faiths, and promise to, with the help of God, to serve Him in the church and in the world. I warn them, that they will fall away and that they should really work on avoiding that. I ask them to please not make the commitments asked of them at their affirmations (confirmations) if they already intend not to keep them. I ask them to, please, not attempt to lie to God. Yet, they insist (most of them) that they will not fall away. They are convinced (or try to convince me) that the commitments they will make will not fall by the wayside.  In almost all cases they do fall away immediately following the rite of confirmation. Most fall away at least for a time, till they have children of their own and desire to have them baptized and confirmed. Some will return, long enough, for their children to be baptized and affirm those baptisms. 
The disciples returned, too. But, they stayed. They did not show up for a rite here and there. They stayed and committed their whole lives to following in Jesus' footsteps. May God help all who have been baptized in Christ Jesus to continue to live with and in Him and if we have turned our backs on Him, help us to return.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 4 - Temptation Will Come

Following Jesus baptism, he is tempted. After the temptations, which he resists; he goes out to preach and heal.

I have noticed that there seems to be, for many people who are baptized as older youth or adults or those who affirm their baptisms, a similar order to these things. I warn everyone who comes to me expressing their desire to be baptized or affirm their faith that they need to be aware that following in the footsteps of Jesus is not something that should be taken lightly. I also warn them that once they are baptized or affirm their baptisms, they will most probably see an increase in temptations. Faith affirming activities do not please the devil. Or, maybe they do. Maybe, he delights in the opportunity to try our faith through temptations.

I no longer can keep track of the teenagers and adults that I have known, who once they were baptized or affirmed their baptisms, who have never again gathered with God's people to worship. Well, maybe some have come back for a wedding or funeral....

Take it seriously, even as Jesus was tempted, we will be tempted. Following in the footsteps is not something for the fainthearted. You will need strength, courage and above all the faith with which you have affirmed publicly. It makes me real edgy to hear the affirmations of young people who are profess their faith only as a practice of ritual and have no real sense of what they are about to step in to. I care about these children and fear that they do not really understand what they are promising God. If they are not actually armed with the faith in Christ that they publicly profess they are going to have a rougher time than any of them expect..

It is wise when we affirm our faith and share the good news to be prepared to cling to the one who was able to resist temptation so that we might make it through those troubling times (which the devil will indeed tempt you with) with our faith still intact.

God's peace - Pr. J

P.S. The Sacraments and rites of the church are more than empty rituals; more than stepping stones on life's way. Playing with them, without any understanding of them is as dangerous as a baby playing with fire. There is a purpose to each of them for the growth and the edification of the Church and for you. If you're not sure about them, see me or better yet; come to Worship and/or Bible Study and get the bigger picture.