Monthly Archives: February 2012

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

Self-fulfillment? Or self-denial? Which characterizes you? No self-respecting Christian would claim the former, for we all know we are supposed to deny self. The scripture this week, however, alerts us to a potentially lethal spiritual problem. Our self-fulfillment desire may be so deeply ingrained that we are not even aware of it. Thus any pretense to self-denial is simply another rationalization, only this one is in religious garb.

I came of age in the 1970’s, and have since been able to reflect on the tremendous shifts in spirituality during that tumultuous period. Daniel Yankelovich, a social scientist probably best known today for the polls he conducted for the New York Times (now for CBS), noted that during the 1970’s the self-fulfillment ethic overtook the self-denial ethic. Previous generations knew well how to delay gratification and work for a common good whether in a nation or even in a marriage. These earlier generations were well-suited for meeting the demands of world wars or a depression.

In the 70s, however, we began listening more to our “felt needs” and emotions. The effect has been huge, and you can see it most any Sunday at a church service. If I were to read, and read well, a sermon from one of the leading preachers of the first half of the 20^th century, a modern congregation would either revolt because of its length (35 minutes!!) or walk out of the sanctuary puzzled over what they heard. Everyone in ministry is trying to engage an increasingly uninterested audience who is clamoring for something that interests or excites or entertains them. And all we have to offer is a gospel with self-denial at its core.

Forget the huge cultural shifts. Think about the implications of the self-fulfillment doctrine on personal spirituality. I’m not talking about the gross and overt sins we all see and publicly loathe. I’m talking about the more subtle sins that we can gloss over because we produce a modicum of good works in other areas. Otherwise good church people can be involved in activities so plainly wrong, yet if you were to suggest to them the wrongness they would look at you in wonder, denial, and likely anger.

Prophets like Jeremiah are unsparing in their warnings about deep seated spiritual corruption that touches us all. My heart is deceitful. I truly do not understand some of the actions I engage in or thoughts I entertain.

Lent calls on us to honestly confront the things in our personalities that do not need to be there. We must further look deeply into ourselves, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and seek out the alienation from God lying at the root of these sins.

This task is enormously difficult, and precisely the reason we need a season of Lent, not just a day or a weekend retreat. Even Paul at the full flourish of his theological insight wrote in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” Perhaps he had just read Jeremiah, and had become acutely aware of the spiritual narcissism plaguing us all.

So can you trust your heart? Consider carefully your answer in light of the prophet’s message. Have you become so accustomed to some patterns of action and thought that you do not even realize their harm? Can you honestly confront certain areas of your life that render you spiritually vulnerable?

As you move through this day and week admit that you are at the mercy of some very deep spiritual currents and some of them are dangerous undertows. Be certain also, however, that Christ is always trustworthy. He will never ask you to confess, deny, and turn away from anything that is not in your long-term best interest. Beware of the subtle and deceitful traps of self-fulfillment. Embrace Christ and find the life you’ve always wanted.

Grace,

Dr. Terry Ellis

February 26, 2012

“Search me, O God, and know my heart.” Psalm 139:23

Early morning racquetball was a staple of my daily routine for the six years I was in Houma, La. Every day, 6-8 of us would gather, play the game, review news of the day, and generally celebrate the grandeur of the y-chromosome. Occasionally the topics would veer into theology, and as that area of the country was well-represented by Catholics these conversations proved to be a time of mutual enlightenment and occasional ribbing.

One such occasion was at the beginning of Lent. A close friend of mine, a deacon in the church I served, was asked by a Catholic friend, nicknamed “Mouse,” why we did not observe Lent in the Baptist church. Mouse had already made the point that Lent was a necessary time to observe a holy life in a special way. Don’t we need that also in the Baptist church? My deacon friend replied we believe if there is something you need to turn from then you should not wait for a particular season of the year or only observe the abstinence for a few weeks. Mouse thought about it for a moment, snorted, and said, “yeah, right.”

Now my Baptist friend made a good point, of course. If sin is sin then it is sin no matter what the calendar says. We should not wait until Lent to repent! As soon as we discover the presence of something that dishonors God then we should turn from it, change the habit or develop the needed spiritual discipline. The Baptist point of view was fairly represented.

On the other hand, Mouse had a good point, his suspicions of Baptist perseverance notwithstanding. He realized the value of a special time of year to reflect on ways in which we can honor God more deeply. Committing to a new expression of holiness by summoning the necessary discipline to turn from a particular sin may well develop into a lifestyle. The repentance need not be temporary.

David points the way in his Psalms to the appropriate observance of Lent. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts, And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (139:23-24) These verses represent the prayer of any Christian at the beginning of Lent or whenever we sense something in us that does not honor God.

Psalms 51 and 32 are also revealing. Psalm 51 was written after Nathan confronted David with his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. His sin gnawed at him, and he pleaded for mercy. Psalm 32 reads like a post-forgiveness experience as David celebrated God’s forgiveness of his terrible spiritual burden.

Mouse did not quote these verses, but they reflect his views. The hour was early, after all. He did wonder about whether or not we Baptists could commit to such a straight and narrow path. I wonder also. But without a starting point, without a call to repentance, annually, semi-annually, weekly or daily I doubt we will make much progress.

We are created with a need for both place and rhythm. Sacred places evoke the best in us, so we will always have the need for buildings. The man who claims to be able to “worship just as well on the lake as in a church” is simply making an excuse.

Likewise, we need rhythm. One day out of seven is different from all the others. It’s in our genes. For that reason, I am all for an annual rhythm of repentance in the same way I favor an annual rhythm of Advent, for example.

So repentance does not need to wait for a season, but a season does serve to focus our reflection and prayers. Let us bow, and let us kneel (posture is especially important in prayers of contrition) and say to God, “Search me, and know my heart.”

Grace,

Dr. Terry Ellis

February 20, 2012

“Our citizenship is in heaven.” Philippians 3:20

“I have learned to be content wherever I am.” Philippians 4:11

Coming back from a trip to Colorado one time, I overheard two men on the plane discussing their own return to home and work. They spoke with long sighs. Neither wanted to return home and to the routine of daily life.

I am sure these men had good families and looked forward to seeing them. I would imagine they both had jobs that provided some measure of security, and careers they had both worked for. So why the sad tone? Was the place they could go to for only a week so much better than the place they lived for fifty weeks a year? This attitude is not unusual.

When I moved to Murray, Kentucky I went to a local grocery one evening. At the checkout line I greeted the young woman behind the cash register and asked if she was a student at the university (Murray State). She said she was, and asked me what I did. I told her I was a minister and new to town. I added that I was so glad to be here and that Murray was truly such a nice place. With a great deal of disdain she replied, “Here? I can’t wait to get out of this place!” Sensing that she was probably not with the local Chamber of Commerce or Welcome Wagon, I asked “Where do you want to go?” “Any place has got to be better than here. Maybe Houston.” She had obviously never driven in Houston.

Now she is probably typical of someone born and raised in a town, and dreamily thinking of far-off adventures in gleaming alabaster cities like Houston (!). She was also typical of the kind of person who likely will never find satisfaction where she is. And if she ever gets to Houston, it will not matter.

Is this you? As you read this week’s GraceWaves you might be in the same office or cubicle that you normally inhabit 8-10 hours a day. What are you feeling? Irritation at the humming fluorescent light fixture maintenance was supposed to fix three months ago? Does your inbox look like an episode of hoarders? Is that coworker still blowing her nose like a Canadian Goose?

At one time you were pleased to have your job, or whatever routine you presently find yourself in. But over time the irritations overtook the benedictions. Now you join the mournful chorus of people who find happiness only in the places where they are not. They romanticize the past, glorify the future, and completely ignore any potential blessing of the present. Thoreau said, “The man who is often thinking that it is better to be somewhere else than where he is excommunicates himself.”

Christians could be most vulnerable to this self-excommunication. After all, we are strangers in a strange land, and feel the friction of being in a place that does not quite fit. Who could blame us for gazing heavenward, wanting to shuffle off this mortal coil, and ascend on high? Yet the Christians in the New Testament never betrayed such a longing for heaven that they excommunicated themselves from their earthly home.

Paul held these two ideas in a creative tension. He kept one eye on heaven as our ultimate, long-sought destination, but he also had a real fondness for his present circumstances, writing “I have learned to be content in whatever state I am in.”

Now you may have a tough time at work or home. Your boss may be a Donald Trump wanna-be. At home your roof may be leaking and your ac smells like it has bad breath. But I don’t care how rotten your circumstances might be, you still have it much better than Paul, who was in a Roman prison when he wrote about being content.

You will always find what you are looking for in life. If you want reassurance that the world is a mess then watch all the political ads and trust in the Mayan calendar. But if you want to find some peace and blessing then you need to start looking close to home. God never leaves you without assurance that though you are citizens of heaven, you are also expected to build houses, plant gardens, and make a good home here. God created you for joy, the second fruit of the Spirit. You can find it wherever you are.

I believe God has given me the ability to have the best of both worlds. I know where my spiritual center is. I know also that each place to which He has called me is special in its people and geography. I learned early on that if you are always wishing to be somewhere else then you certainly will miss the joy God has for you where you are.

Lincoln said that people are going to be about as happy as they make up their minds to be. Part of that happiness certainly involves making the decision to be happy here. So have a good week at work, at home, or wherever you are.

Grace,

Dr. Terry Ellis

February 13, 2012

“But Jesus did not trust Himself to them . . . for He Himself knew what was in man.” John 2:24-25

These words come after Jesus’ first visit to Jerusalem for the Passover. After performing some signs (John’s word for miracles) some people believed in Jesus, but apparently their faith was based solely on the signs and not on the person. In return for this shallow faith, Jesus literally did not have faith (this is the Greek word behind the translation “trust”) in them. In other words, Jesus knew people could be shallow and fickle. He was not surprised when they acted according to their nature.

But He never gave up on anyone. Though He knew “what was in man” He never stopped working to bring out the best in man. He told the parable of a father’s love for a prodigal son. He accepted Peter after his denials. He called Paul to be an apostle even after he persecuted the church. Jesus went to a cross because in addition to knowing how bad our fallen nature could be, He also knew how sublime our redeemed nature could be. He died to make that possible, and lives to bring it to the surface of our lives. Repeatedly.

You also “know what is in man.” Think about it. You have been around many people who have not conducted themselves honorably. They have disappointed you. They have not returned your love. In fact, they may have returned curses for your love! Here is the point: you cannot be surprised when people act according to their lower instincts. We all do it regularly. It is in our nature at times to be irritable, dishonest, arrogant, etc. What is your response?

The passage above teaches us that while Jesus was never surprised by what we are capable of, He was also never disillusioned by people, and that is your goal. You must not trust everyone. Even Jesus did not do that! However, you are expected to love everyone, and you can do that through the power of Christ in you. Disillusionment leads to despair, and that is not a Christian quality.

As in all matters, your response to challenging and difficult people is far more important than changing the challenging and difficult person. Your mission is not to change anyone, but simply be an agent of God’s grace.

The Paradoxical Commandments were originally written by Kent Keith and several versions circulate today. They outline very nicely your response when dealing with difficult people:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Don't be disillusioned! The residue of our fallen human nature can make for very prickly relationships. But the nature of grace means that faith, hope, and love always abide, and the greatest of these is love.

Grace,

Dr. Terry Ellis

February 5, 2012