Vicarious Learning

Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write and exhort you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.

Jude 3

I am a believer in the importance of “leading by example”. Leadership authors Kouzes and Posner suggest that one of the greatest truths of leadership is “You either lead by example or you don’t lead at all”. However, not all examples are positive. I believe it is important to learn “what not to do” as well as “what to do”. Jude is a short letter in the New Testament. If you’re reading through the New Testament, it’s easy to skim Jude as you press toward the final book. But, Jude is packed with examples of “what not to do”. The letter opens with an admonition to contend for the faith. One way to contend is to pay attention to those who have not finished well.

How many examples are required to make a point? Jude is divided into a mere 25 verses. Yet, in those 25 verses, there is an impressive list of bad choices. Consider the A, B, C’s of disobedience: Angels who abandoned their home, Balaam’s greed and Cain’s murder. Then, move on to Sodom and Gomorrah, the rebellion of Korah and the unbelief of those who came out of Egypt.

So, what is the point? It’s really straightforward. If I am going to contend for my faith in God, I need to learn from these examples. Most of the time, I am looking for good examples to follow. However, Jude provides a great reminder of vicarious learning. I can learn from the mistakes of others. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy reading the ancient stories found in the Old Testament. Even my greatest heroes teach me lessons through their victories and their mistakes.

Proving the Will of God

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

There are so many deep messages packed into this passionate plea from Paul the Apostle. He points us all toward faithful obedience to the will of God. It’s not always easy to determine the will of God. But, the prerequisites are easy to understand. I need to present myself to God as a sacrifice. That requires me to acknowledge that His will is more important than mine. It’s helpful to remember that Jesus taught us to pray for God’s will to be done in our daily lives. Also, Paul teaches us to resist being shaped by the world around us. Rather, we need to crave a different kind of change. God can help transform me from the inside out. The transformation of God’s presence and power affects decision-making. God’s presence in my life has affected my life in a significant way.

Yesterday, I made a difficult decision to step aside from full time pastoral ministry at Heritage Fellowship Church. This has been a prayerful decision for Lynn, Nick and me.  All along the way, we have been sensitive to the guidance found in Romans 12:1-2. I love my church family at Heritage Fellowship and it is not a decision that was precipitated by a problem or a crisis at the church. It has been a privilege to serve as senior pastor for nearly 10 years. We leave with immense gratitude for the love and care provided by our church family. The decision to leave Heritage is a decision to “prove” what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. I am grateful for God’s direction in our lives and I look forward to the opportunities that He has given us to continue to serve. As I teach, write and invest in developing others, I will do so having been blessed by my experiences at Heritage. Also, Lynn, Nick and I are very happy to continue to reside in Knoxville as we serve the Lord.

21st Century Idolatry?

1 John 5:21

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

John is known as the “beloved” disciple of Jesus. It’s not surprising that “love” is a primary theme in the letter that bears his name. John teaches that “God is love” and “we love God because He first loved us.” Throughout this short epistle, John connects “love” with “life”. If I love, then I will live in a way that demonstrates my devotion to God. My relationship with God and my relationships with others will be a consistent reflection of God’s love. After painting a pretty clear picture of what that kind of life looks like, John wraps up the letter with a terse admonishment:  “keep yourselves from idols.” It’s important to connect the dots from the 1^st Century to the 21^st Century. Otherwise I will think I’m in good shape because I don’t have a carved up image of a god sitting on my hearth. I don’t think idolatry is less a problem today than it was then. Although it’s nothing to brag about, I think our culture is very creative when it comes to manufacturing idols. Timothy Keller reminds,

Because we can set up idols in our hearts (Ezekiel 14: 3– 7), we recognize that “making an image” of something is not necessarily a physical process but is certainly a spiritual and psychological one. It means imagining and trusting anything to deliver the control, security, significance, satisfaction, and beauty that only the real God can give.

So, how do I connect John’s message about God’s love and my need to reject idolatry? I have to realize that there is no substitute for God’s love. God’s love is unique. For example, only God’s love has the capacity to cast out my deepest fears and insecurities (1 John 4:18). I need to be willing to examine my life. What is my first response when I am afraid?  When I feel my security, significance or satisfaction is threatened, where do I turn? I have learned that it is during those times I am particularly vulnerable to idolatry. It’s so easy to turn to someone or something and seek peace or affirmation that only God can give. John’s final words to his spiritual “children” are powerful. Don’t look for a substitute for God. There is not one.