You ought to be ashamed...

"Shaming" is a thing these days.

Many of us have seen the funny posts with picture after picture of a cat or dog with a sign declaring what "shameful" thing they have done, like the cat who sat and watched a mouse eat her food, or the dog who grabbed the last piece of chicken off the serving tray when nobody was watching.  We laugh at these because, honestly, a lot of them are hilarious.

Then there are the less funny ones, like parents who publicly shame their children as a form of punishment, or worse, who publicly shame their children for their own amusement.  Mom-shaming is also a thing.  According to UrbanDictionary.com, mom shaming is "criticizing or degrading a mother for her parenting choices because they differ from the choices the shamer would make." (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mom-shaming).  These are only a couple of examples.  There are many more out there.

Generally, especially as Christians, we look on these things as bad.  We should, because they are.  "Shaming" like that is degrading and malicious.  I could spend the rest of this post talking about the "hows and whys" of it, but that's not why I'm writing today.  Today, I am writing because of the ways we SHOULD be shaming.

"WHAT???"

Yes, you read that right.

Ephesians 5:11-12 says, "Don't participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.  For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret." (Emphasis mine.)

Shameful.  Even the mention of those sinful acts is considered to be full of shame.  According  to Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, shame is defined as "a painful emotion caused by a consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety." (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shame).  As Christians, we are directed to be "imitators of God" (Eph. 5:1), and to stay away from things like sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscene and foolish talking, crude joking, etc. (Eph. 5:3-5).  The culture we live in, though, thrives on these things, with no shame.  Christian, I would venture to say that at least a portion of this is because we no longer view or address them as shameful.

Now, I'm not saying that we should be "shaming" the sinner.  Not the way the world "shames" people.  Again, it is malicious and degrading and hateful.  We are called to love, not to hate.  To quote a catchphrase from my childhood, "Hate the sin, but love the sinner."

Instead, we need to be addressing the sin itself as shameful.  STOP LOOKING THE OTHER WAY!!!  When we laugh at the crude jokes, take advantage of someone financially, watch cruelty and violence without taking action (whether it's on TV, on social media, in person, or whatever), et cetera, we are condoning those things, giving them our seal of approval, which is the exact opposite of acknowledging or expressing their shame.  You know what else, Christian?  When you do that, you are telling people that God approves of those actions, which is a bold-faced LIE.  You think I'm being extreme in saying that?  Let's check scripture...

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us.  We plead on Christ's behalf: 'Be reconciled to God.'" - 2 Cor 5:20

Back to the dictionary.  Ambassador, according to Merriam-Webster, means "an official envoy especially: a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambassador)

As Christ's ambassadors, everything we do represents Him.  We even meet the "special and... temporary" part of the definition.  We are only on this earth for a short time, and have a very specific and special mission to make disciples.  Condoning shameful, sinful behavior hurts that mission.

Maybe you've thought briefly about this before.  Maybe you haven't.  Either way, now you're faced a decision to make... which path are you going to walk?  Are you going to look the other way, condoning sinful and shameful behavior?  Or are you going to take a stand for your mission?

Prepared to work!

Here we go, talking about works again...

Still reading in Ephesians, in chapter 4 today. One of the things I love about Scripture is that the Holy Spirit points out something new each time we read it. I've read through this passage more times than I can count, but I got something out of it today that I haven't before. In verses 11-12, I've always focused on the fact that we each have unique spiritual gifts, and each have our own individual focus. Today, though, the phrase "to prepare God's people for works of service" is what hit me like a ton of bricks.

This goes back to my post from Thursday, on Ephesians 2:10. We each have a job to do! Just like we each have our own unique set of spiritual gifts, and our own unique purpose, we also each have our own unique "works of service" that we are intended by God to do. That's part of WHY He gives us those spiritual gifts in the first place! Of course, ultimately, our purpose is to bring Him glory, but one of the ways we are to do this is by serving others. Those works that I mentioned a few days ago, that we are supposed to do after we are saved, include works of service. What that service work looks like depends on you. Pray about it. Ask God where He wants you to serve. That won't be enough, though, because here comes the hard part...

Once you know what that service is, you have to go do it. Some times it will come easily, out of joy, and it will be a pure act of love and not feel like work at all. Other times, though, it will be scary, and you will face opposition and persecution. That, my friend, is the devil, trying to stop you from serving. Remember the words of Jesus in John 15:18, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." Where do you think that hatred comes from? It comes from the evil one, who wants everyone else he can get to burn with him for the rest of eternity. Stay strong! Remember something else Jesus said: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12)

Saved for works

Many of us are familiar with the passage in Ephesians that says "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift - not from works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9) And it's so true. There is nothing we can *do* to earn salvation. Nothing we do could ever be enough to pay the death penalty for our sins.

Don't miss the next verse, though... "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do." (Eph 2:10) In other words, once we're saved, that's not the end of our time or mission here on earth. We still have work to do!

Remember that we aren't saved by our works. Rather, we work because of our salvation. Find that work that you are called to do. Do every bit of it for God's glory. "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31)

Birth Pains?

In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus is talking with His disciples about the end times...

"Jesus answered: 'Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming "I am the Christ," and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.'" (v. 4-8)

It struck me as interesting this morning that He would compare it to birth pains, so I pondered on it some. I'm not bringing any of this up to start a discussion on "end times doctrine" or anything like that. Regardless of which school of thought you ascribe to, there are points that we agree on: A) we live in a fallen world right now, full of sin, pain, & suffering. B) It's going to get worse (see above verses and the rest of Matthew 24 for example).

According to Jesus, though, it's like birth pains. My first child's birth is the only one I truly experienced, as the rest ended up as c-sections. (I am NOT opening up a birth debate right now! This is only mentioned for comparison points with the given example of "birth pains." Regardless of whether the birth is surgical, natural, or anywhere in between, it is still a precious thing!) The "beginning of birth pains" is no joke! Your body is squeezing down on the baby, and it's not a pleasant time for either of you. It keeps getting more intense, too, as you go into transition and finally push the baby out. There is nothing in the world quite like it, and the end result, cradling that precious new life in your arms, is also beyond comparison.

Considering that, reading Christ's description of the end times as "the beginning of birth pains" is on one hand unsettling, because that tells me that things will definitely be getting worse in this world before we see true improvement. There will be ebb and flow, and we will have little pockets of relief and short-lived improvement, but overall it will continue to get worse. On the other hand, when we are finally done with the pushing and the squeezing and everything else that is to come, we will be released, only our release will not be into the sinful, pain-filled world that our babies are born into. No, it will be into the glorious presence of God Himself. "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'" (Revelation 21:3-4)

Created for His Glory

A book I was reading a while back posed the question, "Why is it that when people pursue fulfillment in money and things, fulfillment is elusive?"  My response was "Because it's not true fulfillment for us.  We were made in the image of God, so it stands to reason that HE is where we are designed to find our fulfillment!"

Genesis 1:27 (NIV) says "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."  This doesn't mean that we have the same facial features, the same hair color, et cetera, but rather that we have an eternal soul.  There is more to it than that, but at this point it's something intangible, something that will be revealed when we are finally in Heaven with Him.  "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (I Corinthians 13:12, NIV)  Bottom line: God made us.  "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalm 139:13-14, NIV)  When He created us, it was more than just our physical bodies.  He gave us souls, emotion, drive and purpose.  His purpose.  "For in him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28a, NIV)

That is how we are created in His image!  We have been created for His purpose, for His glory!  Without Him in our daily life, we are empty.  We try to fill that emptiness with things around us that look pleasing, but it's like trying to fill a strainer with water.  The strainer was not designed to hold water, just like we were not designed to be fulfilled by worldly pursuits.

Dear Preteen Who Keeps Stealing My Hairbrush...

Oh, my child.  My sweet, sweet daughter whom I love.  Why do you continually insist on stealing my hairbrush?

Is it because you don't have one of your own?  No, that's not it... between you and your two sisters, you possess at LEAST five hairbrushes.  Five, not three, because we have extras for traveling and that odd day that one has been misplaced.

Is it because mine is somehow better than yours?  No, that's not it either... two of the aforementioned brushes are identical to mine.

Is it because you mistook mine for yours, since they are the same style of brush?  No, still not it... to get my brush, you have to cross the house and intentionally enter my bathroom to collect my hairbrush from that basket that is its home.

This morning, I had to tame my mane with your father's comb because not only have you apparently lost all five of your hairbrushes, you have now also lost mine in the abyss that you and your sisters call your bedroom.

Time to clean your room, Ladies!

The Name of the LORD...

Following a series of very long days, I wanted little more than to just stay in bed this morning.  When I opened my Bible, I was looking for some motivation and encouragement.  I was led to Proverbs 18:10, which says "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."  How can we be kept safe by just a name?  How can just a name be compared to a strong tower, something that shelters and protects?

In Hebrew culture, your name was more than just what people called you.  Your name defined you.  It explained you.  It was the very essence of your being.  We have an example of that in the book of Ruth. In Ruth 1:18, we hear from Ruth's mother-in-law: "'Don't call me Naomi,' she told them.  'Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.'"  "Naomi" means pleasant, and "Mara" means bitter.  Because she had changed, her name changed as well.  (If you aren't familiar with the story, I encourage you to read the book of Ruth.  It's a quick read, and one of my and my daughters' favorites!)

The name of the LORD is no different.  He is Righteous.  He is Holy.  He is Everlasting.  He is King of kings.  

We are taught early on in our faith not to misuse His name.  It is even demanded in the Ten Commandments!  "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (Exodus 20:7)  But do we really understand that fully?  Especially in our culture where your name is little more than just what people call you.  

When we accept Christ, we take on His name.  "Christian" actually means "little Christ."  We have the fish emblems on our cars.  We share all the Scripture posts we see on Facebook.  But do we really take on His name?  Are we really living out the essence, the definition of Jesus Christ?  Do the people around us see the fruit of the Holy Spirit (check out Galatians 5:16-26 for this one), or are we still clinging to our sinful nature?

Misusing the name of the LORD is so much more than using it as a curse or saying it carelessly.  We don't even have to let it cross our lips to misuse it.  We misuse the name of our LORD when we live in a way that misrepresents Him.  When we say or do something that harms another.  When we fail to love those around us.  When we fail to share the gospel message with those around us who are lost and doomed to an eternity in hell.

If I stepped on your toes with this one, don't feel singled out.  I'm just as guilty of misusing the precious name of my LORD as anyone else.  It is my earnest prayer that He will help me be a better representative of who He is, and that He will do the same for you.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31

In other words, live life in His name.