Monthly Archives: May 2014

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

Of all Jesus' stunning and somewhat counter-intuitive sayings this one surely ranks near the top. Jesus has taken on the supreme fear of all humanity, the fear of death, and His statements at first appear contradictory and perhaps even flippant. On reflection, however, they are perfectly in keeping with what God might say about the topic.

We need to remember the context. Jesus was good at making friends, a jovial and outgoing kind of person (quite a contrast to the way we normally think about Jesus). He had become quite close to two sisters and their brother, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. While in Jerusalem, He was told that Lazarus was seriously sick. Even though the journey from Jerusalem to Bethany, Lazarus' home, was only two miles, Jesus did not immediately go. In fact, He waited four days, and in that interim time Lazarus died.

One of several possibilities explains His delay. It's quite possible that upon hearing the symptoms, Jesus knew they were so serious that Lazarus would not survive. You do not have to be a physician to know that certain circumstances likely do not turn out well. Of course, it's also possible Jesus had a divine insight that Lazarus would die. Whatever the case, Jesus obviously was "setting up" a situation which would bring Him face to face, in the most public way possible, with death. And in the confrontation He would teach us all we really need to know about death.

So what do we learn?

1. Death is an enemy. God's first gift is life, and the Bible is a record of His effort to defeat death, the wages of sin. So when Jesus stood outside Lazarus's tomb, He didn't say "what are all you people crying about? He's only dead!" No, in fact, Jesus Himself wept, and I believe He did so because more than anyone Jesus knew what life could be and how horribly damaged it is by death.

We learn from Jesus that He cared deeply for people, and had certain ones He called friends in a special way. To think of their suffering in death evoked a deep sadness. "This is not the way we intended it." He wept for some of the same reasons we weep.

2. Even though death is a horrible reality, for the Christian it is a negligible experience. I'm speaking specifically here about the one who dies. The person approaching death certainly may experience tremendous pain and discomfort (though we are thankful for the wonderful ministry of hospice). However, Jesus' words have a certain absurdity to them unless they are true: "Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." I have to imagine that even a few moments after the final earthly breath, the person you love would say to you "Everything is all right. I am fine. We need never have feared this."

By the way, I put no stock in the grocery store check-out line books about surviving a terminal moment or period of time. Some such books claiming to chronicle after death experiences certainly appear to have more validity than others, but the ones claiming angelic guides or talking pets are just plain schmaltzy. A Christian does well to remember that when the Apostle Paul was caught up to the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2) he was too overwhelmed and humble to even attempt to describe the experience, much less put it in a 50-page pamphlet.

Our best guide to having the right attitude about death is not the description of heaven in Revelation, or extrapolating from Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, or trying to imagine what a "heavenly body" is (1 Cor. 15). Jesus' words in John 11 are our best guide, and He said death as you fear it, is not real. As a Christian, you will never die.

Do you believe this?

Grace,

Dr. Terry Ellis

May 25, 2014

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and slander and malice be put away from you." Ephesians 4:31

We can carry around a lot of heavy emotional and spiritual burdens, and Paul listed some of them in this verse. While a word study would be helpful let's summarize these four emotions/actions under the banner of "resentment."

I heard someone recently say that every slight, insult, or angry word aimed at us is like a stone. Most people take the stones and put them in a backpack, carrying them around day after day. The backpack gets heavier and heavier, and we don't realize the burden we're carrying. Sound accurate?

To show you the problem I have in this area, my first reaction on hearing this analogy was to think that I could hunt down the offender, throw all the rocks back at him or her, and walk away lighter. The Bible has a better way, and I obviously have some work to do.

We first must agree with Paul that we have resentments. Assuming that every resentment is permanently dealt with and put away is hazardous. They can linger for years and darken our days. They are like a forest fire. You can put out the flames, but the fire still smolders in the roots. I've heard that the fire can slowly burn for some distance and erupt in another place, sometimes after quite a while.

You can't fully put away something you've simply ignored. Ask God 's help in discerning the smoldering resentments in your life. This is a vital step in moving forward, free from the burden you've carried around for so long.

Second, you must acknowledge your part in the resentment. This sounds offensive at first, but unless the situation is extreme we have a role in most of our resentments. Sometimes our role may be simply holding onto it for years instead of letting God help us walk freely. You've pronounced the verdict and are unwilling to review the judgment.

A simple illustration may help you see how this one-sided condemnation occurs. Suppose that to have a real resentment, the involvement of both the parties must add up to 10. Let's say Bob has offended me, and the offense is clear. On reflection, I have to admit that I had a role in the problem. So Bob's part in the offense amounts to a 7. My part amounts to a 3. Now let's watch what happens.

I wake up the next day, and I get my resentment thinking going. As I self-righteously review the events I decide that Bob's role was more like an 8. Mine was only a 2. In succeeding days I keep stewing on it, and talking to anyone who agrees with me that Bob is a jerk. Pretty soon his part is a 9. Mine is 1. Before too long, and a practicing "resenter" can get there pretty quickly, my verdict is "I was standing there minding my own business, and Bob came along and did this thing to me!" I have absolved myself, and completely condemned Bob.

You don't think this happens? Be honest. The word resentment comes from two words , re which means again, and sentir which means to feel. A resentment is an offense you feel again and again, and each time you feel it, the truth can get a little bit more distorted.

The way to be free of the resentment is to honestly accept your part, even though it may have been minor. A legalist has a hard time getting close to a God of grace. To get past the resentment you will need grace. Seeing your part is vital.

The final step must be handled carefully. In prayer ask for God's direction and help. Forgiving the offender is necessary. The New Testament teaching on this is abundant, and there is no shortcut. You need to forgive. This may mean acknowledging to the offender your part, and apologizing without any expectation of their response. You are the one trying to relieve the burden you have been carrying. You can't expect them to respond by forgiving you, though that often happens.

You will also find that praying for the offender will help you find relief. Pray for God to bless them. At first you may not mean it. Pray anyway. Soon the resentment will cool, and forgiveness will follow. And on a purely practical level, if you really want to mess with your enemies, forgive them.

Putting away anything is a process, and that is especially true of resentments. It won't happen overnight, but it needs to happen in your life. You will walk lighter.

Grace,

Dr. Terry Ellis

May 18, 2014

"And we … are being changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Are you a better Christian today than you were a year ago?

Spiritual progress is the idea Paul touched on in this verse. In this section of the letter, he compared the law and the Spirit, noting that the former kills but the latter gives life (v. 6). This basic Spirit-orientation opens up a glorious future in which a person who lives by the Spirit can become more and more like God. This growth is expected. So are you a better Christian now than a year ago?

This question makes people very nervous, because they're certain the answer is no. Those who answer yes risk sounding hopelessly proud and, in fact, may be. I know a great many folks who enjoy ranking themselves, and since they are the judge they usually come out on top.

So what can we say about genuine spiritual growth that would be helpful? Let's look at the question in broad strokes, from the teaching of Jesus Himself.

The first quality of a growing soul is a focus on Jesus. Whatever may be said of Jesus, whatever you believe about Jesus right now, let this much be clear: He is the central matter because He made Himself the central matter. He invited us to follow Him, not to embrace a series of principles or propositions. He is the starting and ending point, truly the Alpha and Omega.

He said "if you have seen me you have seen the Father" (John 14:9). However staggering it may be, the statement is clear. You want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus.

[I want to insert here one particular implication of Jesus words, and it concerns a common misconception about God. Many people stumble in their faith because of evil in the world that touches them directly or indirectly. Why did God allow (fill in the blank)? I reject the idea that God sends bad things into our lives, simply because at no point in Jesus' ministry did He inflict pain, disease, or death upon a single human being. He did not use the threat of pain to coerce faith.]

Now back to the focus on Jesus. I have a distilling vision in my theology as I move through the years. Simply put: give me Jesus. He said He is the way, the truth, the life. He said that He would give me abundant life. I believe any disturbance in my soul, any dark thoughts, or impure actions can be traced to a lack of focus on Jesus. I choose to live in the answer He claims to be. Give me Jesus.

This primary focus on Jesus enables further milestones of spiritual growth, one of which is exercising the freedom not to judge other people or situations. We are expressly and repeatedly forbidden from judging because judging absolutely nullifies grace in our lives. Many people are involved in a kind of endless wrestling with life. People, situations, institutions, traffic (!) are an endless source of irritation and we often feel compelled to tell others about our complaints.

This old world has a great deal wrong with it, no doubt. And so do I. At some point I have to simply accept this broken world as it is. My wrestling with it, worrying and complaining about it is simply useless. And to my great disappointment, people seem to grow tired of my biting commentary on the unfairness of life around me!

I heard something recently on a favorite tv show of mine that sums up my point (modified slightly). "If you meet one jackass in the morning, you've met one jackass. If you meet jackasses all day long, you're the jackass." The problem you can deal with is the one you look at in the mirror.

Grace enables us to live a much easier life. The world was broken before I got here and will be broken long after I'm gone. The only thing I can change are my actions and attitudes about life and its problems. People can be mean, the roads remain unfixed, and Congress can be Congress and I can still try to think like Christ and help someone every day.

Degree by degree. The degrees are infinite, not like graduating from one grade to the next at the end of every year. Frankly, we're not good at recognizing spiritual growth, and that's why most people feel they're not growing. So be done with trying to measure yourself. Yes, the title of this article is an unfair question. Just follow Jesus and learn to live by the rhythms of His grace. You'll be fine.

Grace,

Dr. Terry Ellis

May 11, 2014

"This is why I left you on Crete" Titus 1:5

Titus was not happy. Though he was a long-time and able assistant, Paul had given him the task of serving as pastor to the Christians on Crete. It was a tough assignment.

Even Paul acknowledged the long and sordid tradition of the Cretans. He quoted the proverb common in that day, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." Then he added, "This testimony is true." (see Titus 1:12-13). That saying is from Epimenides, a Cretan poet. In fact, the ancients created a word "to Cretanize" that meant to be a liar.

This is where Titus was assigned. What a reward!! "Thanks a lot, Paul!" It was a genuinely tough place to be a Christian and to be a minister.

Have you ever lived in Crete? Not literally, of course, but in terms of being in a very tough place to be a Christian? Maybe where you are today is hard on your faith. You are not finding much encouragement or much appreciation. Maybe your environment is hostile to faith, or indifferent, or hypocritical. Maybe it's simply the case that being a Christian where you are is not easy. Titus would understand.

And so would Paul. For this reason he wrote to Titus in the first chapter, "This is why I left you on Crete" (Titus 1:5). A tough place to be a Christian is often a good place for a Christian to be. You may not feel appreciated, but you never have to doubt your assignment. God needs a strong witness right where you are today.

Where is your Crete? Over the years I have observed a lot of "Cretes." Your Crete may be the place where you work. Co-workers may not be hostile to your faith, in fact some of the folks giving you trouble Monday-Friday may be sitting in church on Sunday! Their gossipy habits, cutting remarks, and bad attitudes are a drain on your spirit.. Remember, some Christians are not nice yet. You simply stay faithful.

Your Crete may be your family. Why is it that the people closest to us sometimes bring out the worst in us? Your task in this situation is probably not to be like John the Baptist, "You brood of vipers!!!" Your task is probably just to develop patience and resist the urge to try to change other people. Just be faithful.

Being faithful in your tough assignment probably does not mean converting the masses. Attempting to change another person doesn't work, and only hurts you. God is the Changer, and even He won't change anyone without their cooperation. You simply need to be Christ. Be the salt and light by living honorably, serving others, blessing even when you are cursed. Resist the urge to try and measure your impact. Only God knows that.

Of course, it's hard. Most of the time it is. You take a great stride in your faith when you realize that the Christian life consists mainly of a long and trusting obedience. Be faithful where you are. God notices, and God honors. And trust me, God will use your faithfulness to bring His grace into someone's life.

By the way, Titus apparently refused to give into disappointment and refused also to regard any man as hopeless. He labored faithfully, and the Christian church survives to this day on Crete, due in part to his long obedience to being faithful where God put him.

Grace,

Dr. Terry Ellis

May 4, 2014