Who Shall Serve?

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave... (Matt 20:25-27)

We are preparing to elect the next president of the United States. As Christians, what kind of president do we want?

I watched part of the Republican Presidential Debate last night. Only part because I slept through most of it. Not because it was boring, I was tired. There are many good candidates; lots of good ideas and dreams; but, there are some pretty bad ideas, as well. History should remind us that some of those promises will not be fulfilled. They can promise all they want; but, we have a checks and balance system in our government. Just because someone who is running for president promises you something doesn't mean that it's going to happen. We need to ask ourselves, given that we have three branches to our government, not to mention a binding constitution, how realistic these promises really are. Which candidate can actually work with others best for the good of all people?

To tell you the truth, the egos of some of the Republican as well as the Democrat candidates put me off. Do we really want a narcissist as our next president? There has been at least one really good candidate who has stayed in the top of the polls; always near center stage during the debates. But, I don't hear much about him. He seems to get asked less questions during the debates and he gets a whole lot less press coverage. His name is not even usually mentioned as a front-runner by the press. The candidates in front of him and even behind him are mentioned quite often. I cannot help but wonder: what is up with that? I'm thinking it may be because he appears too gentle. He is not a bully. He actually appears, do I dare say it, "humble."

Humility in the Kingdom of God is a virtue. Narcissism is not. Pushing people around is not. Slander is not. Lying is not. Minimizing the harm done to others is not. Idolatry is not. I personally pray that God would call a humble man to this position. One who will serve, not according to his personal ambitions; but, for the sake of the country; even of the world. None are perfect. No one is. But, there are a few candidates who might fit this bill better than others. May God reveal the true natures and ideologies of all of these men and women so that voters might discern for the good of all people.

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Be Still and Listen!

If one gives answer before hearing,
    it is folly and shame. Prov 18:13 NRSV

It has been many years since I was trained as a small group facilitator. A major component of facilitating is listening; another is directing the conversation in a way that is helpful.

I was attempting to watch the news last night and found myself flipping through news channels quite regularly. I was getting a bit frustrated with the way the news people were constantly interrupting the people they were interviewing to get responses more in line with their or their station's personal agendas. During one particular interview, the news person was interviewing three people. Everyone was talking at once. It was not helpful not to be able to hear what anyone had to say.

At one of the presidential debates this fall, there was also much interrupting and trying to talk over each other. The people facilitating the debate just added to the problem. They had no control over the candidates mostly because the facilitators appeared to have their own agendas. They would also interrupt and try to talk over the candidates who were trying to talk over each other. They had no ability to mediate or moderate. I could not figure out why they hadn't figured out that they just needed to shut off the mics of the offending candidates until it was their turn to speak. That is what is done with online schools when children start interrupting too much. Our candidates and news people, of course, are not children. But, it would be nice if some of them would learn to be quiet and listen and if they cannot control themselves, shut off their mics for their own sakes and ours until it is their turn to speak. One mic turned off on someone rudely interrupting another would probably be the last mic that needed to be turned off.

If we really care about others enough to want to hear what someone is saying; if we really care about figuring out a solution to any problems; then we ought to be quiet and listen to various points of view. It is not helpful to talk over others or belittle their opinions (that would be bullying which we also try to teach our children not to do). We can learn a lot by being still for a few moments and listen to voices other than our own.

There are so many opinions in the way that we could or should go. Who can know the way?

If you care about what direction the Lord would have you go; then, be quiet and listen. Be still and hear what the Lord has in store for you. He will show you "The Way."

God's Peace - Pr. J

Politicians: Do not take the name of the Lord our God in vain! Do not bear false witness in His name!

Sunrise at the altar of Old Sheldon Church, Beaufort, SC
May the Son of Righteousness shine upon the candidates
as well as all people.

My child, if sinners entice you,
    do not consent.

Proverbs 1:10 NRSV

I spent last evening watching the GOP candidates debating. There was indeed some debating going on. But, there were also a lot of attempts to entice candidates to act and speak rashly against one another. Questions were posed in attempts to get the candidates to speak negatively about one another and to fight amongst themselves rather than actually letting the voters know exactly where they stood on various issues. A few of the candidates managed to not get pulled into the breaking of the commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." They managed to deflect the enticement to sin even while speaking truthfully from their hearts and minds. It seems at least some of them are wise enough to know that they don't need to give fuel to anyone from an opposing party for later debates.

Now, many of the candidates sound as though they are attempting to appeal to a Christian base. However, I did not recognize the Christianity in some of what was said last night. Just because someone says they are a Christian doesn't make it so. I've seen more than one local politician decide it's time to start showing up for worship just prior to elections. Please, don't use the name of Jesus to get elected. Do not consent to sin by taking the Lord's name in vain.

Thanks be to God for those candidates who have managed to not get pulled into breaking the second or eighth commandments and who are not confusing their own (the world's) brand of morality with Christianity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Timothy 3 Elders Shine!

1 Timothy 3 NIV
No, not everyone within a congregation should be on the slate of elections as an overseer (council member, elder, etc.) of the congregation or denomination. It is not always easy to find potential willing candidates for some of these positions of leadership; but, that does not mean that we should not be discerning in whom we choose to lead and serve our communities of faith. They must be faithful to God, willing to set aside their personal desires and ambitions in this world. Jesus comes first, always!

St. Paul outlines some basic guidelines for Timothy to use in his position as a leader of the church at Ephesus. They must be faithful to their spouse, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, not given to drunkenness, not violent but, gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.

It is necessary for our servant leaders to be able to conduct their personal lives in a way that the light of Christ and not deeds of darkness is seen by others. We are not; after all, a social club. We are the Body of Christ. Let your light so shine!

God's Peace - Pr. J