Green Pastures and Still Waters
- Details
I imagine that title grabbed your attention. Of course I am not saying that I hate people, I am going to address why we as people hate other people. I’m using “we” as a plural pronoun for human beings in general, not “we” as a church. Now that we have that out of the way…why do we hate people? There are a number of reasons. First, because some people are cruel. People hated Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin because of the atrocities they committed against other human beings. I’m not suggesting it is right to hate them but it is understandable given their choices. Second, we hate people that are different than we are. I’m not saying we should, but it happens. This is one reason “race wars” are so common. We get so myopic as humans that we think people who are not like us are “just wrong.” The third reason we hate people is the most troubling one to me. I would call it “goody two shoes” hatred. The phrase comes from a children’s book published in 1765. It’s a story about a little girl named Goody who was impoverished, received new shoes and ran around showing them to everyone. I guess nobody appreciated her blessings like she did. I haven’t read the book but apparently the saying evolved to describe the hatred that develops over for others not only for good “fortune” but for goodness, hence…”goody-two shoes.” I don’t know if Cain and Abel had shoes or not but that is when this problem started. 1 John 3:12 reveals the real problem between the brothers, “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.” And there is the problem. Sometimes good people are hated because their goodness is a reminder of God. When we don’t want God we don’t want goodness and vice versa. This was the problem the Pharisees had with Jesus. In our text for Sunday (Matthew 12), we’ll see that the leaders of false religion started plotting how they might destroy Jesus. It really makes you wonder what was going on in their hearts. But the rest of the Scripture makes it pretty clear, it wasn’t goodness they wanted. When we are hated for being kind, doing good and seeking right ways it will be helpful to remember our Savior and the Prophets before Him. If we ever sense any hatred developing in our hearts, we better get rid of it quick…it has no place in the heart of the one who is an apprentice of Jesus.
- Details
There are big days for virtually every sport and interest. Bike-riders have Le Tour De France, College Basketball has March Madness, Hockey and Baseball have their “big events”, the NFL season ends with the Super Bowl. People are interested in the “big days” that have paid little attention to any of those sports the rest of the year. Easter is like that. Church attendance swells on Easter Sunday as people make worship a part of their Holiday weekend. Sometimes it is merely tradition that brings them out. Sometimes there is a genuine interest. Sometimes people are coming to honor a family obligation but they don’t really want to be there. There are a lot of different reasons behind attendance to the “big day” and pastors have been known to be sarcastic about those who have been dubbed “C&E Attendees”, (they only attend at Christmas and Easter). Maybe there is something deeper going on here. Easter observance is more than a cultural fad, folks have been doing this longer than any of us have been alive. Easter celebrations are never commanded in the NT and may even have roots in pagan traditions. After all, we worship the Resurrected Lord every week right?! I wonder if there is a Conspiracy here, a Divine Conspiracy. I wonder if on this weekend with bunnies and chocolate and eggs and new dresses and fancy hats; if behind it all God is still calling out to people. I wonder if the merciful, seeking, initiative taking Creator is quietly speaking to the hearts of people and reminding them again and again of His loving provision. Spring is speaking to us of resurrection, of new life, of new starts and new opportunities. Those of us who endured this last Michigan winter are delighted to have the snow melted, the birds singing and the smell of fresh earth. What if all these things are the pictures God has given to wake us up? Will we miss them or see that He is speaking in a plethora of ways? So, we’re going to have a “big day” here on Sunday (Lord willing 
) and talk about why the resurrection matters. I am praying that even the recreational user of religion will come, be blessed, get a taste of the Lord and see that He is good. I am praying they’ll come back and follow Jesus all the way to heaven and that all of us will live in resurrection power! Let’s have a “big DAY!”