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Author Archives: Pastor Chas

More Than I Can Handle

31 Jan

“God will never place more on you than you can handle.”  Have you ever heard this phrase?  Have you ever said something like this?  It is common; in fact, it is so common we accept it as truth. Somewhere inside it makes us feel confident that our circumstances are not going to overcome us.  We make the statement, grit our teeth, and then press forward.  Let’s look at two things about this statement.

First, sometimes it is not God that has placed us in our situation; it is our own bad decisions. There comes the point when we have to accept responsibilities for our actions.  We must confess them and ask God to forgive us.  Examples of this are found repeatedly in the book of Judges when the nation of Israel turns their back on God, makes terrible decisions, and then cries out for help.  Their decisions placed them in the situation, and only God could restore things.

Second, there are times when God allows things to happen to us so that we would learn to trust in him more.  They are exercises of faith, much like Job experienced.  He was a man that lost everything material in his life, but the expereince strengthened his faith and displayed that faith for everyone to see.  Simply put, there are times when God will allow things to happen that are more than you can bear.  The good news is, he will walk with you through it all.

No matter which of these two categories you are experiencing right now.  God has the solution for what you are facing.  If you are overwhelmed by your own bad decisions, confess your sins, and he is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9).  These steps may not alleviate some of the consequences of your decisions, but it will restore a relationship that grants you His strength to face them. 

Maybe you are going through something that is beyond your control.  It came out of nowhere, and you are left feeling helpless and overwhelmed.  In times like these, we trust in the Lord and His strength.  It may be more than you can handle, but it is not more than God can handle.  We must turn to him; “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

Things will be more than you can handle sometimes, but remember God is with you and loves you. He is your strength, and he does not expect you to be able to do things on your own.

 
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Posted by on January 31, 2019 in Just a Thought

 

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A Million Other Places

28 Jan

The moment was here.  People were entering the auditorium filled with a mixture of emotions.  Each one had come for a different reason, but all arrived with heavy hearts.  As I stood at the back of the room, waiting for the service to start, a person came to me. The words they shared made the wheels of my mind engage and slowly turn.  “I’m sure there are a million other places you would rather be right now.”

I understood what they meant.  The situation was heartbreaking.  As a pastor, these are the rare, quite possibly, once in a lifetime situations that you dare not even imagine . . . but there I was.  They were acknowledging the physical, emotional, and spiritual stress of the situation, and in some way, their comment was meant to be a statement of comfort – “I’m praying for you.”  At that moment, I coveted that prayer and the prayers of others.  Since the moment I knew the event was coming, I had been in a state of fasting and prayer.  I needed God to work; I needed him to walk me through that service.

Where Am I?

There are moments in our lives that we find ourselves in a place that is less than desirable.  They are not necessarily times of great turmoil, but we long to be elsewhere.  Maybe it is a period of suffering, a period of sorrow, or a point where our theology is being put to the test.  That day, it seemed like these three periods were colliding.

We must acknowledge that evil exists in this world, and because of this evil, there is suffering. People do horrendous things, and we enter into situations that inflame our sinful nature.  Sometimes the events that fan the flames of our fleshy tendencies are small, and in hindsight are inconsequential.  Jesus told his disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33)  Can you imagine what was going through the disciples’ minds? They had no idea of the suffering and persecution they would face.  At that point, they did not know the sorrow and disappointment that would come on the day of Christ’s crucifixion.

The truth is, when we read through Scripture, we understand that we live in a fallen world that stands opposed to God.  The accounts of Abel, Job, Daniel, Noah, Joseph, Paul, Peter, and Stephen affirm that suffering is real.  This list is but a small representation of the people of God suffering in a world condemned by sin.  This world is the world in which we live.

Where is God?

The psalmist writes in Psalm 139:7-11 that there is no place we can escape the presence of God. Jeremiah 23:23-24 reads, “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?  Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” God is present.  However, he is not just present; God is active.  God is not a being that stands idly by, observing his creation.  He is actively involved and intimately acquainted with every aspect of our lives.

We learn in Scripture that Christ upholds everything (Heb 1:3, Col 1:17).   The idea that he upholds all things is accompanied by the truth that he directs all things (Eph 1:11).  It is only by the power of God that the grass grows (Ps. 104:14) and there is no chance or coincidence – “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” (Prov 16:33)  God is intimately involved in everything that takes place on earth.  There is nothing that escapes his vision, and there is nothing that occurs out of his control.  

We have fancy words for this in theology.  We tend to talk about God’s sovereignty and his providence.  The first attribute means he is the ultimate authority and over all things; the second addresses his intimate involvement in all things. We trust in these two ideas because we also uphold that God is good and righteous in all that he does.

What About Where I Am?

It is easy to teach concepts, but our circumstances often challenge the truths we hold.  This situation is where I found myself that day. Were there a million other places I would have rather been?  Yes.  I long for a day there is no more suffering and death is no more.  I want evil to be vanquished once and for all.  My desire is for the New Heaven and New Earth – encompassed by the glory of God, unhindered by the presence of sin – but that is not today.

Today I will face suffering and sorrow, pain and agony.  The reality of a sinful world will challenge the longing of my heart.  The theological truths I hold will be forced into action by the presence of evil and deception of sin.  So where do I want to be? 

As the gears of my mind and heart continued to turn over the statement made, I realized I desired to be where God wanted me to be.  There was a reason I was in that place, at that time.  This reason did not remove the pain, and it did not lessen the suffering. The physical reality of the situation did not change because of the spiritual truth of the situation. However, when we embrace the spiritual truth of the circumstance, there is hope in our physical conditions.

What is that hope?  It is the hope of a loving Father bringing all things toward his good and perfect purpose through the Gospel.  It is this hope (an expectation of certainty) that enables me to trust him.  It is this hope that lets me see a purpose in every circumstance of life.  At times, there are a million other places I would rather be, but being where God desires is a desire that deafens all others.    

 
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Posted by on January 28, 2019 in Practical Theology

 

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Am I A Pharisee?

24 Jan

Sometimes the first step in becoming a Pharisee is to label someone else a Pharisee.  Throughout the Gospels, the Pharisees looked down on others while they exalted their own “faithfulness” and devotion.  When the looked at other people, all they saw was sin.  When they looked at themselves, all they saw was faithfulness to the law.  They spent time obeying rules and patting themselves on the back for things they accomplished.  The label of Pharisee, though it was a particular Jewish sect, reflects an attitude. So when we label someone a Pharisee we are often looking at an attitude we believe they possess.  It is easy to label someone else a Pharisee, but when we do, we often become one ourselves.

Luke 6:2-11 is one encounter that Jesus had with the Pharisees.  It was the Sabbath, and Jesus entered into the synagogue to teach.  On this occasion, there was a man with a withered hand, and the Pharisees wanted to see if Jesus would heal him.  In their minds, curing this man was breaking the Sabbath, and this transgression would allow them to accuse Jesus.  In verse 7, Scripture says “they watched him. . .”  Did you catch that word?  They were watching for Jesus to do something wrong.

How many of us scoff at the attitude of the Pharisees when we read this account?  We look condemningly on them and their stance.  But wait just a minute . . . Let’s reflect on our own position.  We become Pharisees when we adopt their same attitude toward anyone; this includes those we label as Pharisees.  We begin watching for things others do wrong and forget to remove the plank in our own eye.  Did you realize we can have a Pharisaical attitude toward Pharisees? No matter how much we justify our attitude toward them, it is wrong.

I understand there are people and churches in this world that do things the wrong way.  Honestly, every church has flaws, but we cannot become like the Pharisees in our attitude toward these people and churches.  We must extend grace and mercy to them.  We must not puff ourselves up, pat ourselves on the back because we are not like them, or point the finger at what they are doing or not doing.  When we find ourselves tearing apart another person because of sin, even the sinful attitude of a Pharisee, we become a Pharisee.

So, what do we do when there is a legitimate problem or something severely lacking in a person or ministry?  We need to work to be part of the solution.  We talk to the person or group instead of talking about them.  We spend our time serving in the area we are most critical about.  We must offer ourselves, without pointing fingers, to be a part of the remedy.  You ask, “But who wants to work with all those Pharisees and hypocrites?”  With that question, hopefully, you realize you have become a Pharisee.  We all are to some extent, but are we willing to admit it?

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2019 in Just a Thought

 

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Me, My Bible, and the Holy Spirit

22 Jan

I was across the room, watching everyone recover from the holiday meal.  The people were perched around the room, enjoying visiting with others they had not seen in a while.  In an attempt to make conversation, I heard one of them talking about their Sunday school lesson and asked the person what they used to help them study the Bible.  The answer still rings in my ears, “I don’t use anything, all I need is the Holy Spirit.” I share this statement with you because it is not wrong, but it is also not entirely right.

The Holy Spirit enables us to understand the truths conveyed in Scripture.  Apart from him, we cannot ascertain anything spiritual.  Christ affirmed God-given understanding when he acknowledged Peter’s statement that Jesus is the Messiah (Matthew 16:17) and the role of the Holy Spirit as taught in John 14:26.

Yes, the Holy Spirit is crucial in our understanding of Scripture, but the statement made by this person neglects how the Holy Spirit often works.

The Spirit’s Gift to Mankind

We need to step back for a minute and look at God’s design of the community.  Genesis 2:18 tells us “It is not good for man to be alone.” However, to apply this strictly to the marriage context does not do it justice in the scheme of creation. Humanity was not designed to be alone. Adam and Eve were the starting point for population and community . . . We are designed to operate in a community.

This truth continues to resound in the New Testament as the church is established and needed for the fostering of faith.  The concept behind Hebrews 10:25 is believers need to meet together to help each other in the faith.  As Christians, we were designed to need iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17).  It is clear – one way the need for community exhibits itself is in the design of the church.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians telling them of gifts given to the faith community, the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherd-teachers (Eph 4:11).  Each of these gifts is for the equipping of the body.  No matter how you understand each of these roles, this is the point:  God gifted us with each other to help nurture our faith and spiritual growth.

Neglecting the Gift of Community

The statement given above ignores the design of God.  In essence, it says it is okay to be alone – in our study.  Yes, the Holy Spirit can teach the Word of God and help us understand its contents, but the Holy Spirit has also given us a community in which to foster that knowledge.

Let’s look at the position of a Sunday school teacher that would assert they need no help to guide their study.  Aside from ignorance, this might merely be a statement of arrogance.  After all, the teacher assumes that the students need to hear what the teacher has studied.  In other words, the lesson is essential for people to understand. However, if we genuinely believe that people only need their Bible and the Holy Spirit, then the teacher is irrelevant and not need.  Do you understand the hypocrisy and arrogance?  The teacher becomes a source that others need to hear, but the teacher needs to hear from no one else.

The same understanding applies to a pastor claiming they need no help in understanding the Bible because the Holy Spirit directs them.  I firmly believe the Holy Spirit leads people in learning and preaching.  However, if that is all that is needed, then there is no need for him to share a sermon.  Instead, he needs to tell the people to go home and read the Bible for themselves, asking the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Paul told Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)  We must learn to handle God’s Word properly, and that ability comes from the saints that have gone before us and those with us.  Our church and the community of believers are a gift from the Holy Spirit that we should not avoid or neglect.

Embracing the Gift of One Another

There have been many men of God that have touched my life and taught me more than I can record. Men like Earl Taylor and Jim Mays have encouraged and corrected me outside of the seminary structure.  Why did I listen to them?  Both of these men amassed years of experience and wisdom that I would be foolish to ignore.  In the seminary structure, there were men of God that knew Scripture and its intricate parts in a way that I long to experience.  These men knew more than me.

The Holy Spirit gifted them in different areas, and when they operated in these areas, they were a gift, used by the Holy Spirit in my life.  On my shelves sit works penned by men as they struggled to understand Scripture and how it applied to the Christian life.  They knew more than me, they studied more than I have, and they faithfully served the Kingdom of God.  Just as I would be foolish to ignore the wisdom and knowledge that have been passed on to me through mentors, it would be just as unreasonable to ignore the works of such fellow believers who are no longer with us.

No, you do not need more than your Bible and the Holy Spirit.  However, do not neglect the gift of the saints that the Holy Spirit desires to use in your pursuit of Christian growth and biblical study.  Read what others have written.  Use the plumb line of Scripture to evaluate their work. Learn from those who know more than you. Treasure the words of those who are wiser than you.

Barnabas helped Paul. Aquilla and Pricilla corrected Apollos. Paul taught Timothy, Titus, and many others.  As believers, even in eternity, we do not become omniscient.  Therefore, we still need teachers now, those living and those gone on to be with their Savior.  Let their works help you understand the Bible.

 

 
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Posted by on January 22, 2019 in Church Life

 

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When The Unimaginable Becomes Heartbreaking Reality

18 Jan

Deafening news echoed through the streets of our community and the hallways of our schools. A typical day turned into a memory seared into our minds and hearts.

I awoke to the sound of my phone Thursday morning unaware that the looming experience would change the course of life for so many.  There was no information about what had occurred at the address and no way to prepare my mind and heart for the experiences that would follow.

As I went through the day, the image of a precious little girl lying on the ground and the sounds of a broken mother haunted my memory.  The tears and questions from siblings trying to find understanding seemed inescapable.  As a pastor, these are the moments when words fail.  Just as many struggled with questions, I found myself in the same battle to find resolve – to find answers.

I wish I had answers that could immediately take away the pain and mend the broken hearts, but I do not. For those in our community, struggling with the events of the day, I want to offer the truths that I am holding onto this very moment.

Suffering is Real

I long for the day when sin and death are no more, but that is not today.  I look forward to a time when there are no more tears and pain, but that is not today.  Today, the pain is real, the suffering is real, and death has dealt a blow to our lives, leaving us wanting.  We want the suffering to end, and we want the pain to be relieved.

For some, the only option they see is ending their life.  In the trap of despair, darkness and the world entice us with mirages of hope. In our attempt to soothe the pain we throw ourselves into these fabrications of false hope only to find ourselves in more pain and sorrow.  The thoughts of hopelessness begin to increase and become louder than the truths of our God, our Creator.

As we search for answers, it is easy to become mislead by the false hope of having the answers. What could we have done?  Was there something we missed?  Was it my fault?  Why did this happen?  We think that having the answers to these questions will offer the resolve we need, only to find that we are suffocated by the waterfall of questions that come after them.

Suffering is real.  It is a part of life that we cannot escape this side of heaven.  As Believers, it is not a matter of whether we will face suffering, because we will. Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33).  This idea sounds pessimistic and hopeless, but it is not.  How do we know?  Because even though the pain is real, the hope of Christ offers something far greater.

God is Greater

In that same verse, Jesus told his disciples to fear not because he has overcome the world.  As we hear the questions, echo in our minds, and as the tears flow in mourning, we must hold on to the truth that in Christ, there is hope no matter the pain in our lives.

God is great enough to handle my questions.  He is not shaken by my questions of doubt.  He is not insulted by my struggles to trust that he is good.  He is great enough to understand that my mind is battling to convince my heart of the truths of Scripture.  He is loving enough to know the count of every tear that falls and hold the pieces of a broken heart in his hands.

God is greater than today. This immediate moment or the memory that is burned into our minds does not limit God’s ability to see me through the circumstances.  He is eternal; he sees the grand scheme of life when I am blinded by the pain of the present.

God is good.  There is no darkness in him, though it seems like the darkness of this world clouds his glory.  I do not understand, but I can trust who he is and how he is at work. He loves us and those that are suffering.  His heart breaks with ours, and he sheds tears over our pain and suffering.

Yes, suffering is real, but my God is greater.  As a pastor, these are the truths that I hold onto in times like these.

 
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Posted by on January 18, 2019 in Uncategorized

 
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