Jeremiah 6 - Who Gives Peace: The LORD or Mary Jane?

What a strange chapter! Every so many verses it is written, "This is what the LORD says."

The LORD is once again warning the people that their sins are bringing trouble upon themselves. "For disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction." (Jer 6:1b NIV) "Prepare for battle!" (vs 4)

Once again, "This is what the LORD says."

"To whom can I speak and give warning?
    Who will listen to me?
Their ears are closed
    so they cannot hear.
The word of the Lord is offensive to them; 
   they find no pleasure in it." (Jer 6:10)

No one will listen. They would rather accept the message of "Peace, when there is no peace," (vs 14) so that they can keep doing as they are doing. They would rather hear things like, don't worry about it; it is good for you; it won't hurt you; God loves you no matter what you do. And.... indeed He does. But, He does not always love what His children do; especially, when they do not listen to Him for their own welfare, for their sake, and for the sake of all of His children.

It is as if we think if it feels good at the time, we should do it. I have been warning people about a danger, about something that does damage, for some time. But, it appears that no one (or very few) listens.

And... that is the danger of marijuana use. Why, it's so good for us, that in many areas of the country and world it has become a legal medication! What a lie that has been propagated throughout this world. If were really being used as a medication it should be farmed and distributed through real pharmacies. I have no doubt that it can be used to alleviate the suffering of those who have chronic pain. But, what I am seeing is that people are using the legal status as an excuse to abuse the drug and use it for their recreational purposes.

There are a few side effects that come with use of this drug that not everyone is aware of and if they are, they choose to ignore them. They choose to not hear.

• Feelings of detachment
• Motor coordination problems
• Hormone secretion dysfunction
• Increased heart rate
• Bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Cancer
• Infertility
• Dependence
• Depression
• Impaired cognitive ability and memory
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Paranoia
• Altered perceptions
• Mania
• Psychosis
• Early onset of schizophrenia and schizophrenic like symptoms

 And... if you are an addict, don't forget all the wonderful side effects that occur when you don't have your substance (false god) of choice.

So, if you are thinking "what does this have to do with the reading this morning," it is this: in our reading Jeremiah warns the people that they will suffer because they have turned away from God to worship false gods. Marijuana is a false god. It lulls people into a false sense of peace, at least while they are using. Everything is good! But, it is not. Do not say, "Peace, peace when there is no peace." (vs 14)

Peace, real peace, everlasting peace comes from only one place. We receive peace when we accept Jesus as our peace.  "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Col 1:19) Living in relationship with God, our Father; God, the Son; and God the Holy Spirit is the only place that we can have peace. Drugs will not do what God can do.

Is your life a mess? Thinking the world is turning against you? That just might be one of the side-effects of marijuana use - paranoia. Turn to the LORD! Flee for safety to the One who can and will protect you. Get rid of your false gods! Get rid of your pot! Disaster is looming! Who will listen?

And... may the peace of the LORD be with you always - Pr. J

P.S. Formerly a Substance Abuse Director at a Youth Correctional Facility.
 

Psalm 115 - Tear Down Those False Gods!

It's been one of those weeks, no months. I was up at 2 a.m. this morning. Tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't, so here I am, thinking and writing.

Anyone remember the name Carrie Nation? She was the hatchet lady from the temperance movement in the 1900's. She went around destroying saloons with a hatchet. Carrie believed that these "false god's" were destroying the country.

Even though she is an intriguing character from America's history, I'm not advocating following Carrie Nation's lead. In all reality she probably was mentally ill. She never attacked people, but she was really luck no one got hurt or even killed.

Anyone remember what Moses did to that golden calf, that Aaron had created for the people, when Moses came down from the mountain after receiving the ten commandments from God?  Yes, he destroyed it. There were a few prophets and kings who did a bit of destruction to the false idols that people built. They believed God's word that these things were leading them away from the good things, the good life, that God wanted them to receive.

My point this morning is that maybe we should consider how it is our false gods are destroying this country. I woke up this morning thinking of all the damage that alcohol, drugs, and gambling have done in the lives of people I care about.  There are other false gods, such as gold and silver, social status, fame, self, etc.. Just about anything in this world, even if it is a good thing, can become a false god, when it begins to be the center of our lives.  Temperance actually means moderation, not abstinance. But, if something cannot be enjoyed in moderation, than abstinance would be a real good idea. Making things our gods is a bad idea and will lead to destruction rather than living an abundant life.  You'd be surprised how pleasant real life, lived in and with Christ, actually is.

I see so much misery around me. When I am called for emergency pastoral care, other than for the sick and dying, it normally has something to do with one of these three false gods: drugs, alcohol, or gambling.  There are times when I am asked to help someone financially because of unemployment or sickness or just a case of stuff happened beyond their control and they need emergency aid. That is one of the things the church (and Christians) on earth does. But,  most of the time the problems are related to one of these three: alcohol, drugs, gambling.

Every now and then, someone will mention how blessed my life seems to be. They can't seem to figure out why that would be. I am not rich, by any stretch of the imagination. I'll tell you my secret, because it is no secret, as the songs goes, what God can do.

I try my utmost to stay away from the false gods that lead to destruction. Sure, I am tempted. But, I stay away. I stay away because I want life. I like the life that God gives me in His presence.

I remember Carrie Nation. She was a zealot, for sure. But, sometimes, as I watch the pain and suffering caused by these false gods, I cannot help but smile as I think of her dedication (maybe mis-directed) to remove the false gods from our lives.

It's up to us, not Carrie Nation, not even Moses, to remove the false gods from our own lives. I say this out of love, not judgment: Tear them down! For your own sake, tear them down! Worship and give praise to the one true God, the only God, who can give you life and life abundant, here in this world and the Kingdom to come.

God's Peace - Pr. J

There Is Only One God

Genesis 32

Golden calves - something I have preached about extensively.  How often I have  preached about false gods; yet, it seems sometimes like it falls on deaf ears.  Just recently delivered from slavery by God and the people are busy creating their own - another god.  Moses is up on the mountain.  They can't see him.  They want a god they can see.  So in Moses' absence with the help of Aaron, the people build themselves a false god.  Had they looked to Moses as their god?  Had they been worshipping their leader Moses all along?  Moses is not their god.  He is only an instrument God uses to save the decendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. 

Interesting verse I hadn't noticed before:  The LORD tells Moses, "Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation." (vs. 10, NRSV) Does Moses say "Yes! God is going to destroy those who do not know him and make ME a great nation!"  No, he doesn't.  Moses reminds God of his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.  Moses does not succumb to the temptation to put himself before the people.  Moses will not make of himself, his own false god.  He is a servant.  He is not a god.

I'm thinking about how often people will attend a congregation or special services because they are enamored by the pastor.  Sometimes when a new pastor comes, their ministry is sabotaged by the people comparing him/her to the last pastor.  Or maybe they just leave the church because this new pastor is not quite as charismatic or friendly or charming as the last.  Remember, what a poor speaker Moses was?  Why did the people follow him out of Egypt anyway?  Was it because of the miracles they saw or was it a mob effect that caused them to travel out into the dessert?  Then once Moses was out of their site, they were looking to make themselves a god they could worship.  Really, deep down, had these Israelites been worshipping Moses all along?  Did they really ever have a clue who God really was?

The fact remains is that we are not so unlike those Israelites.  We need to be careful that the shepherd whom God has appointed to care for the flock has not been exalted to the point of being a false god.  We need to be careful that we haven't lifted ourselves up to the point of being our own gods.    There is only one God and we are not Him!

Note:  Sorry - just can't cover everything in this brief blog.  Last chapter - Moses received the 10 commandements on the tablet.  This chapter he broke them in anger.