pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: opinion


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Our Simple, Normal Response

Reading: 1st Kings 18:16-39

1st Kings 18:21 – “How long will you hobble back and forth between two opinions?”

Continuing the story today, as Ahab and Elijah meet, Ahab asks, “Is that you, the one who troubles Israel?” This is the question of a man trying to blame the consequences of his sins on another. Elijah says as much. It is Ahab and family who have deserted God for Baal. A showdown is set up to occur on Mount Carmel. It will be a battle between God and the pagan gods Baal and Asherah. Once gathered with all the people of Israel, Elijah asks them, “How long will you hobble back and forth between two opinions?” What great words choices: hobble and opinions. What a picture they paint!

This is a question that we could be asked frequently. It happens when we silence the voice of the Holy Spirit instead of challenging sinful behavior – in self or in others. It happens when we are less than we are created and called to be in order to attain material gain or some other earthly treasure. It happens when we gossip or tell a white lie or… instead of holding true to our faith. These are but a few of the ways that we hobble back and forth between God and the world.

In the showdown the pagan prophets go first. No matter what they do, no matter how extreme they get, their gods don’t answer. They’re not real. Elijah begins by rebuilding the altar that Ahab has destroyed – one stone for each tribe of Israel. Once all is readied, Elijah has water added to soak the sacrifice, wood, and altar. After lifting a simple prayer centered on changing hearts, the fire of God falls, consuming everything – even the water. In response to this awesome display of power, the people exclaim, “The Lord is the real God!” Oh, if this would just be our simple, normal, 24/7 response. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, how we tend to hobble back and forth. We’re filled up on Sunday morning, readied to take on the world for you. But how soon that fire can be doused, cooled, tamed when left unattended. Lord, day by day draw us to you through moments of prayer, study, reflection, and praise. Lead us to be filled again and again, over and over. Equip us to choose faith and to stand with you in each moment of decision each day. Amen.


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Spirit Touch

Reading: Mark 6: 14-29

Verse 20: “Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a holy and righteous man”.

Photo credit: Sharon McCutcheon

Herod Antipas became king after his father died. Herod “the great” was the ruler when Jesus was born, the one who had all the baby boys killed in a fear-driven attempt to remove potential competition. His son, Herod Antipas is not so violent, not so decisive. Today’s passage begins with this Herod hearing about Jesus. As he was with John the Baptist, he is intrigued with Jesus. And as rumors begin to fly about Jesus, Herod wonders if John the Baptist has returned to haunt him.

The bulk of the passage recounts the beheading of John. Herod had John arrested for speaking out against his marriage to Herodias. This greatly angered her. Given the choice, she would have killed John immediately. But Herod “feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a holy and righteous man”. Herod sensed something in John. In the same way he sensed something about Jesus that night that Jesus was on trial. There too he failed to stand for what he knew was right. There too he allowed the crowd and the opinions of others to lead him to make a decision that he knew was wrong.

When we are intrigued by Jesus instead of sure of our faith, we too can easily be led astray. When we become more concerned with the things of this world than with God’s ways, we too can be drawn away from the things of God. We can be just like Herod. Yet in these moments the Holy Spirit whispers to us, nudges us in the right way, in the holy way. Unlike Herod, we have an ally, a guide, a friend. When put to the test may we open our hearts and minds to the direction of the Holy Spirit, bringing glory to God. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, when the voices of the world howl loudly, when the pressure of peers pushes in, help me to hear the quiet whisper, to feel the gentle nudge. Day by day may there be more of you and less of me. Amen.


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Good Advise

Reading: 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13

Verse 11: Aim for perfection… be of one mind… live in peace.

Paul writes to the church in Corinth to urge unity and cooperation and love in the church.  The church there is struggling with doing these things.  At times all churches, being filled with human beings with human egos and desires, can have some varied opinions and thoughts.  In Corinth, this has apparently gone beyond the typical disagreement over the carpet color.  Factions have been created and sides have been drawn up.  This can be an occurrence in today’s churches as well.

Paul’s words would have maybe drawn the same reactions​ today as I imagine they did back then.  First it was: who us?  We are getting along fine!  Then it was: get along with who?  Love who?  You’ve got to be kidding.  Paul clearly just did not understand how wrong “they” were.  Sometimes, and especially in the midst of conflict, it can be hard to give any ground or to begin to see the other side’s perspective.  But Paul is looking past the conflict to the bigger picture.  The church was not modeling the love of Christ to one another or to the people outside the church.  Worship as the one body of Christ was no longer occurring.  Times were tough.

Into this Paul writes, “aim for perfection”.  He does not mean for their opinion or argument to be perfect – he is calling them to be like Jesus Christ.  He was perfect in His love.  Paul is calling them to be like Christ.  He goes on to call them to “be of one mind”.  Take on the mind of Christ.  Love and see as Jesus loved and saw the world.  Lastly, also in verse 11, Paul calls on the church in Corinth to “live in peace”.  As Jesus was leaving this earth, He said to the disciples, “Peace be with you”.  In the midst of all they would face, Jesus offered them His peace – the peace that passes understanding.  This is the peace Paul is calling the church to live into.

Paul’s advice is good in conflict as well as in day to day life.  This day, may we each “aim for perfection… be of one mind… live in peace”.b