Tag: Serving

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The man who defied God.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“So the people of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses and Aaron. And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died.” Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Pharaoh had withstood the devastation of multiple disasters over a period of six and a half months. The first plague began in late September and the last plague occurred around April. The 9 plagues would have substantially undermined Egypt’s economic productivity and fiscal base, strained social networks, increased poverty and displacement, and weakened political and religious legitimacy—together producing significant short-term disruption and potential long-term instability. All of this not because of Pharaoh’s political or economic aspirations. It was pure pride, believing he was a god that did not need to submit to THE God. His will would defy God’s will – so he thought.

How many leaders throughout history tried to defy God but lost? King Saul (Israel), Nebuchadnezzar II (Babylon), Roman emperors (Nero, Julian), Henry VIII (England), Louis XVI (France), Tsar Nicholas II (Russia), Kaiser Wilhelm II (Germany), Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Iran), Saddam Hussein (Iraq), and Muammar Gaddafi (Libya). Every one of these men believed they could rise above all their opponents- including God! Amenhotep II, as the Pharaoh, responsible for the destruction of his own country and the deaths of every Egyptian first born, appears to be far and beyond the scope of other world leaders. His personal punishment vs. systemic consequences were enormous.

What has been on my mind for several years now, is what people do with power? What happens when a person or a group understands that they have a sway, a control over other humans? The phrase, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, by John Acton, penned in 1887,” stated the obvious truth. It not only corrupts, it becomes self consuming. I think about so many movements throughout history, that have seen a successful grab for power. But instead of spending that control, that magnanimous influence to help others, lifting them out societal struggles, they end up spending that capital on promoting and protecting themselves. All that effort towards aiding the disparity in the disenfranchised, or solving some of society’s worst problems, it became nothing more than stockpiling that power to pursue even more!

One of the powerful truths out of the gospels, is that Jesus knew that power had been given to him, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). John tells us what Jesus did with it! “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him” (John 13:3-5). All power, all authority… and Jesus picks up a towel to serve!

God will not share His glory, but He will share His power to serve His purposes! And God’s purpose is the reclaiming, restoring and redeeming human dignity and destiny. Pharaoh defied God because he wanted and believed he had rights to authority and power over God. Through 9 devastating warnings, God gave him a chance to relent, and he would not. What do we do with whatever power we may have over others? Do we yield it or try to wield it? Do we consume it for ourselves or turn and serve others?

Prayer

​Dad,
Seeing the power patterns and dynamics in the Bible, it helps me see areas in my own life where I struggle with trying to wield what little power I have or yield it to you by serving others. Also, seeing how leaders use or abuse power, I have observed power cycles in our churches, but also in other areas in our culture. Places like politics, business, education, health care and safety. I see similar missteps that are like those in the Bible. I am so thankful that You are God and I and others are NOT!

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Freedom flaunters ruined communion.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized! When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul is really hard on the churches in the bougie metropolis of Corinth. There was a lot of money, influence and notoriety in the coastal port of the region. And, there was a tremendous success of the gospel penetrating a progressive, multicultural city, where money and power could get you anything you wanted. All of this, of course, is if one had money! But, as it goes with money, if you’ve got it – it changes how one thinks, lives and behaves towards others.

Paul is so frustrated with the Corinthians believers that he writes a biting, snarky comment about their behavior because it in no way reflects the phrase, “love one another.” He writes, “there must be divisions!” Paul taps into the utter disaster of what happens when believers are willing to raise their “freedoms,” above doing what is right. In this case it would mean a raucous, drunken party which immediately causes schisms, division and bad behaviors. Paul recognized the effects of these alcohol fueled parties along with the sin of gluttony. It was exactly opposite of the purpose of communion! Flaunting freedoms and treating others poorly Paul writes, is so evil that it reaches the level of being heresy. “Hairesis” primarily refers to a group or faction that arises from a division or choice, with a negative connotation of causing division or promoting false teachings.

Paul, with tongue-in-cheek, says, oh – this is a great way to get God’s attention – for those who would grab God’s approval by what Christ said would happen in a “divine economy of permission,” such divisions will arise (Matthew 18:7, 24:10, 12). The recognition is not good! God sees us because of our arrogance of liberties instead of our humility in love. Our freedoms in Christ are for doing good, not indulging to press the edge of our sin (Galatians 5:13, 1 Corinthians 6:12). Certainly the “freedom” to party at an alcohol fueled gathering, would not include stuffing our faces with food, and putting ourselves above others.

These “love feasts” were supposed to be common meals, a communion focused on sharing, serving one another and remembering what Jesus had done for us. These excessive “celebrations” became so problematic, that early church leadership had to shut them down, forbidding these kinds of gatherings. This seriously affected the way the church did communion for years to come. The love feasts being banned meant that the bishop would then need to administrate and personally administer communion, changing the experience into a highly controlled sacrament instead of family gathering of stories, laughter and prayer. It became a religious experience for and of individuals, even though they would participate together in a church building. The early church was able to stamp out the abuses of the freedom flaunters but the results were a much different communal experience within the church, the body of Christ.

As I have written about this before, we have reduced a beautiful gathering of family enjoying a meal, similar to what Jesus did with his disciples, to a thimble-cup and cracker. Of course this made it possible to serve communion to hundreds or thousands of people, but it lacks the intimacy of being with close friends and family. We are still able to “remember,” just as Christ commanded, but we do so far more individually, rather than communally. Being in a room with a hundred, or a thousand people is not the same as having a long, leisurely meal discussing the way Jesus’ love has revolutionized our lives.

Prayer

​Dad,
I certainly understand that we can still make communion memorable and effective by sharing our modern communion elements in a church service together. And, I understand how flaunting our freedoms at any gathering can be problematic. But I still long for the intimacy and deep connections that happen around a meal, in this case a very special sacred meal of conscience and consecration. This is just one of those experiences I just wish we hadn’t streamlined for convenience and control. I am happy to think about the future, amazing communion meal in heaven where I am positive it won’t be served in a thimble with a tiny cracker.