Memorial Day – Time for Remembering Ultimate Sacrifices

A protest song in the late ‘60s called “War” asked and then answered: “War – what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” As idealistic as that sentiment sounds, war seems inevitable. It’s been a tragic fact of the human condition throughout history. Sometimes wars have been waged for conquest; sometimes in defense of a city, region or nation; and sometimes to advance deeply cherished values and principles.

 

We all – at least most of us – wish wars would cease forever. But we also wish money grew on trees. Despite its tragic toll in terms of both lives lost and disabling injuries, history informs us that wars sometimes accomplish good.

 

The United States can cite three prime examples. In the American Revolutionary War, 25,000 lives were lost. But it resulted in the colonies gaining independence from England. The American Civil War tragically cost the lives of more than 620,000 people, but slavery in the U.S. was abolished. And World War II, in which more than U.S. 405,000 service members died, stopped Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, responsible for the extermination of six million Jews.

 

Through the centuries debates have raged over the causes and possible remedies for war, but even the Bible’s Old Testament tells of times when God commanded the Israelites to go to war against hostile, pagan peoples and nations.

 

We’re about to observe another Memorial Day, an occasion not for arguing over what constitutes a “just war” or whether war is ever justified. It’s a time for honoring and remembering the many who died in the wars listed above, along with World War I, the Vietnam and Korean wars, combat in the Middle East, and other conflicts. A significant portion of American history has been written in blood.

 

Pondering His imminent crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Christ was referring primarily to the great love He had for His followers, not only at that time but also through the centuries since. These words, however, can be used to describe to anyone who sacrifices his or her life on behalf of others.

 

It’s often called “the ultimate sacrifice” for a reason. Concerning Jesus, the old hymn says, “He gave His life, what more could He give? Oh, how He loves you. Oh, how He loves me. Oh, how He loves you and me.” Thinking about those who lost their lives in the American Revolution, Civil War and the world wars, we might wonder how many of them would have used the word ‘love’ as they anticipated the dangers of combat. But most entered those wars trusting they were taking part in a noble cause and believed their own lives were worth the risk.

 

My father served on several major battles during World War II. He survived them but carried the scars – physical and emotional – from the battlefield for the rest of his life. Perhaps you’re among the countless people today who did lose loved ones and friends during one of the 20^th and 21^st century wars, making Memorial Day an especially poignant remembrance.

 

Regardless of one’s feelings toward war, it’s good that we have an annual Memorial Day observance. Many of the freedoms and opportunities we’ve enjoyed were made possible through the heroic sacrifices of so many. They deserve our heartfelt appreciation.

 

From a spiritual standpoint, for followers of Jesus every day should serve as a day of memorial. He asked us to do so. Speaking to His disciples in what we know as “the last supper” during the celebration of Passover, He first took a cup of wine and then the unleavened bread: “And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me’” (Luke 22:19).

 

In the first of his three brief letters in the Bible, the apostle John pointed to this incredible expression of love: “By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers…. And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 3:16, 4:10).

 

On Memorial Day we will remember the many who died so that we could experience and enjoy freedom from tyranny. In remembering Jesus’ sacrifice we honor the One of whom we can boldly declare, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery [to sin]” (Galatians 5:1). 

When It Comes to Faith, Kids Have the Right Idea

You have to admire the simplistic, yet profound faith of children. For instance, mommy and daddy are having a night out so they hire a babysitter. As they’re leaving, they tell toddler Jackie, “We’ll be back in a little while.” The young one might curl a lip or pout a bit, but she takes them at their word, confident they indeed will return before long.

 

Or mom has to do something in the back yard and says, “I’ll be right back.” Little Timmy barely looks up from the toys he’s playing with, knowing she in fact will be right back – as she always is. That’s usually the case, except sadly when it’s not. Then childlike faith is put to the test.

 

I remember being about 9 or 10 when my mother left my sister and me at home while she went to buy some groceries. She wouldn’t be long, she told us, so we didn’t give it a second thought. However, it began snowing and as the minutes ticked away, I started feeling anxious. Late afternoon was fading into evening. When would she be back? What if something had happened to her, maybe sliding on the slick roads? What relief I felt when I saw the headlights of our car and Mom pulled into the driveway.

 

In the gospels Jesus commended childlike faith. In an account recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke – so it must have been significant – people were bringing their babies and little children to Him for Him to bless. Jesus’ impulsive disciples, thinking there must be more important matters to address, told the people not to bother the Lord with them. He was bothered, but with the disciples, not the kids:

“When Jesus saw this, He became indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it’…” (Mark 10:13-16). 

 

Jesus was making a couple of important statements here. First, in those days children were regarded as second-class citizens until they were old enough to begin shouldering some of the family’s workload. But even more significant was His declaration that “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Ponder this for a moment.

 

To act in faith, whether to dive into a parent’s arms at the pool or wait for them to return home, a child doesn’t need to fully understand every detail. Having implicit trust in mom or dad, the youngster does as he or she is told, based on the parent’s assurance.

 

We have a situation like that today concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Nearly 2,000 years ago He assured His disciples that He would return. He just didn’t say when. Since then, followers of Jesus have eagerly anticipated His second coming. ‘It could be any day now,’ we think. And one day it will. It just hasn’t happened yet. But that doesn’t negate the promise that Christ is coming back.

 

Just days before His arrest, trial and crucifixion, He comforted His befuddled disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3).

 

As we look at what’s going on in the world today – wrong has become right, down is now up, left is right – many of us are thinking, “It’s got to be soon. The world seems spiraling out of control. Surely the Lord’s going to say, ‘Time out!’ and return to set things right.” But folks surely have believed that for centuries. When tempted to get impatient, even frustrated, it’s time to exercise the faith of a child.

 

Jesus understood we’d all like the specifics about His second coming. Rather than offering a definitive answer, He said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father…. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come…. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him” (Matthew 24:42-44).

 

Through the centuries religious “experts” have attempted to calculate exactly when Christ would return, only to wind up with the proverbial egg on their faces. Trying to figure the day and the hour, the how’s and what’s and when’s, is an exercise in futility and foolishness.

 

What matters, as Jesus said, is to be ready for whenever He does return. Will we be actively engaged in those pursuits God has called us to so we can say we’ve finished well? His second coming could be tomorrow, next week, next year, 20 or 50 years from now. Or longer. 

With childlike faith we should be looking for Christ’s return, whenever that will be. We have His promise that He will. In the meantime, as He admonished, “It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing [what he was instructed to do] when he returns” (Matthew 24:46). 

Faith – Private Opinion or Public Confession?

“Two things we shouldn’t talk about – politics and religion.” We’ve heard this for years and it seems to hold true, at least for politics. At one time we could have calm, reasonable discourse about political differences, but it seems interactions have devolved into throwing out labels, angry accusations and epithets. But what about religion?

 

In a future post I plan to revisit the whole “separation of church and state” thing, but is it true that for matters of faith we’re to keep our lips zipped shut and not share what we believe with others? As someone I heard recently ask, should our faith be confined to private opinion or a matter of public confession?

 

On one hand, I’d agree that we shouldn’t impose our spiritual convictions on others. In our free society we’re entitled to believe what we believe without getting into heated arguments about it. However, for followers of Jesus Christ, failure to share the “good news” in appropriate ways isn’t an option. If Jesus is the only way to God, as He declared in John 14:6, people need to know that.

 

The key word here, as I understand it, is ‘appropriate.’ I don’t think the “heaven or hell – turn or burn” approach to evangelism is an effective strategy for today. Some may disagree but healthy dialogue at a suitable time and place seems to be a better choice, as the Bible affirms.

 

We could cite many examples, because ultimately the Scriptures – both Old and New Testaments – seek to point people to a genuine, growing relationship with God. In one of his letters to believers in many regions, the apostle Peter admonished,

“But in your hearts set apart Christ Jesus as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15-16).

 

There’s a lot to unpack in those two verses, but several key points stand out. We’re to “always be prepared” to share with others what we believe. It could be on an airplane, in a coffee shop, at work during a break or at lunch, or even in church with a spiritual seeker who has questions about God. 

 

However, not everywhere is a fitting place and time for talking about Christ. Years ago I was crossing a street, returning to work from lunch, when in the middle of the crosswalk a guy asked me, “Brother, are you saved?” Standing in a busy street definitely isn’t an appropriate place for a faith conversation. But I suspect that fellow went on his way, convinced he had ‘witnessed’ to someone.

 

We’re also to “give an answer to everyone asks” why we believe as we do. That suggests that something we’ve said or done has raised some questions among people who aren’t yet followers of Jesus. Another translation expresses it, “give a defense.” This also would presume another person has taken the initiative, perhaps taking the offensive stance of challenging our biblical convictions.

 

Many people – including former atheists like C.S. Lewis and journalist Lee Strobel – came to saving faith in Christ through reasoned study and discussion, but people aren’t likely to be argued into the kingdom of God by the use of harsh words and disrespectful discourse. This is why the passage says we’re to speak “with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience.”

 

Looking at the example of Jesus during His public ministry, the only people He became angry with were the religious leaders, men whose knowledge of the Scriptures at that time should have made them more receptive to what the Lord had to say. For everyone else He communicated compassion, sensitivity, and a willingness to meet people where they were – not where He thought they should be.

 

Another passage that addresses the manner in which we should publicly confess our faith is Colossians 4:5-6. Writing to believers in ancient Colossae, the apostle Paul said we’re to, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

 

Again, there’s a lot of ‘meat’ in this brief passage, but it conveys a few foundational principles about how to express what we believe in private through public interactions. We’re to use wisdom, which God promises to provide if we ask Him (James 1:5). Rather than trying to manipulate a conversation into a spiritual exchange – as admittedly I’ve been guilty of at times – we’re to seek insight into whether a person is ready to hear or even interested in what we believe about Christ.

 

This is where “making the most of every opportunity” comes in. Sometimes simply saying, “I’m praying for you” or asking, “How can I pray for you?” is enough to plant a seed for a later conversation. Or we might share a small portion of our testimony, telling how God worked in a specific circumstance and how that affected our faith in Him.

 

“Seasoned with salt” can be understood in several ways. Like adding salt to a meal to make it more flavorful, spiritual ‘salt’ can make a conversation more palatable. Salt also can melt ice, so in talking with someone about Jesus, we might see God use it to thaw cold hearts toward Him. Salt also serves as a preservative, so it can help in leaving a lasting impression on someone God wants us to speak to.

 

Finally, we need to seek discernment from the Lord on how to answer people who ask questions. A brief reply might be all they’re looking for – we don’t want to dump the whole truckload for someone just wanting a small sample. Other times a deeper conversation might be what’s desired. 

We’re to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), and as such we should strive to be sensitive, winsome, and not overbearing. If God’s working in someone’s life, He’ll accomplish what He intends to do. He doesn’t need us to force the issue. 

Can’t Save the Past or Grasp the Future – Now’s All We Have

Alistair Begg is one of my favorite radio preachers. His winsome Scottish brogue remains with him despite many years of living in the U.S.A. But what appeals to me most is his ability to convey biblical truth in common, everyday ways that make you want to respond, ‘Oh yeah. I get it!’

 

On a recent program he posed an intriguing scenario. Every morning you have $86,400 deposited in your bank account. You can use the money in any way you wish. But at the end of the day, whatever remains is wiped out. Until the next morning, when another $86,400 is deposited in your account with the same stipulation. Whatever’s left at day’s end is removed. Then the cycle resumes the next morning, for your entire lifetime. You can’t save any of it for the future. You have to use it each day when you receive it.

 

Our first reaction is probably something like, ‘Wow! I’ll take it.’ Or for some of us, ‘That’s more money than I earn in a full year! Sign me up!’

 

Of course, pastor Begg was using that only as an illustration. He explained: Each day we’re entrusted with 86,400. But it’s not dollars, it’s seconds – the number we have in every 24-hour day. In a sense, we get a daily deposit of 86,400 seconds into our time account to use as we see fit. We can’t carry over any from yesterday and can’t borrow from the future or save any of it for later use.

 

A common response is, “Well, there’s always tomorrow.” And that’s not necessarily bad. Many times, if we can’t complete a project or a task, it can be carried over to another day. Sometimes – as I’ve learned about writing – it’s actually better to set something aside, let it “percolate” for a while, even a day or more, and return to it later.

 

Then there are people so driven that they’re perpetually burning both ends of the proverbial candle, oblivious to the reality that eventually they’ll reach the middle with no candle left. But I think what Begg was getting at wasn’t resolving to fill every waking moment with activity and energy expenditure. Rather, it’s about recognizing each new day is a gift from God and we’d be wise to spend – actually, invest – the seconds, minutes and hours at our disposal in worthwhile pursuits. Especially if they can contribute to the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

 

In Ephesians 5:15-16, the apostle Paul speaks about this directly: “Pay careful attending, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil.” Reading in The Amplified Bible, we find a helpful elaboration: “making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.”

 

This doesn’t mean time itself is inherently evil. But perhaps in this age more than ever, it’s so easy to get distracted or sidetracked from things we desire to do or know we should be doing. Not necessarily bad things, but not the best things. As the Latin adage states, “Tempus fugit” – time flies.

 

Careless use – even misuse, or abuse – of time can result in missing out on a number of things. These could include valued interactions with family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues at work; getting started on a project that’s been put off for too long; pausing to appreciate and explore some of God’s creation; reading an inspiring book; speaking a friendly, encouraging word to an absolute stranger; and spending much-needed moments with the Lord, reading the Scriptures and praying.

 

Rather than engaging in frenetic, non-stop activity, “redeeming the time” concerns the wise use of the minutes and hours at our disposal. This could even involve a timely nap, because we all function better when we’re rested. But it also includes keeping our spiritual antennae up, seeking to be sensitive to God’s “divine appointments.”

 

As Colossians 4:5-6 admonishes us to, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity. Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” I’m as bad as anyone at keeping my head and eyes down, focused on whatever I’m doing, failing to recognize opportunities to be a blessing for others.

 

The Scriptures teach we’re to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), making ourselves available to the Lord to be used as He directs, not only to nonbelievers who need to hear about Him but also to those who are already members of His eternal family. 

 

For instance, in Galatians 6:9-10 the apostle Paul offers this encouragement: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.”

So, how are you doing in utilizing your 86,400 today? What are your plans for using the rest of it? Lord willing, you’ll receive another 86,400 tomorrow. But how you use your allotment this day could make a great difference in the opportunities you’ll have the next. We don’t want our epitaph to be, “There’s lots I woulda, shoulda, and coulda done.” 

Celebrating the Steps, Not Sweating the Falls

One of the joys and benefits of grandparenting is experiencing again what it’s like to raise little children. Without the time commitment, loss of sleep, or ever-increasing expenses. As many a grandpa or grandma has said, “We spoil ‘em, then we send ‘em home.”

 

Grandparenting also provides the opportunity to again witness major milestones – such as a little one learning to eat actual food (and tossing it on the floor), discovering babytalk, and taking the first steps of a lifetime of walking and running. 

 

After discovering that crawling isn’t meant for distances, the little one learns to pull up on a chair or momma’s knee. Then comes the magic moment: the first step. After a tentative, tiny stride, the first-time stroll comes to a sudden end when young Jimmy or Ginny falls back onto his or her bottom. One small step for toddler, one giant step toward the future.

 

How do the parents – and grandparents – react? With glee. Sure, the child didn’t walk across the living room or den, but it was a promising start. Everyone applauds. “Good job!” No one says, or even thinks, ‘What’s the matter with you? People aren’t going to carry you around forever, you know.’ We celebrate this little victory, those first steps, knowing many more will follow. 

 

Too soon this youngster will grow, walk out the door, step into the car, and eventually embark on a new life of his or her own. Time passes so quickly. So, we revel in the initial tiny steps and don’t worry about the inevitable falls that must follow. It’s all part of the process, the plan. Enjoy them while we can.

 

We find a similar scenario when participating in someone’s spiritual journey. Making a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and even getting baptized aren’t the destination. They’re just the first step, one of many in a lifelong walk with the Lord. In terms of spiritual maturity, there’s no shortcut, no accelerated growth plan.

 

There’s a temptation to put new believers on a pedestal – especially entertainers, well-known athletes, prominent business and professional people. But success in some vocation doesn’t make a person a seasoned theologian or expert on the Bible. Regardless of status, we all must go through an arduous adventure of growing, stumbling and maturing in our faith. 

 

I recall a well-known professional athlete who made a bold statement of faith years ago, declaring he had been “born again.” Less than a year later, however, news accounts said he was struggling with substance abuse. It wasn’t until years afterward that the athlete reaffirmed his commitment to Christ, engaged in spiritual growth programs, and later became leader of a fruitful ministry. His story isn’t uncommon.

 

When Jesus gave His followers their final instructions prior to His ascension to heaven, He said we’re to “make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). He didn’t command them – or us – to focus on making converts. One must be a convert before becoming a true disciple, but Jesus’ clear and specific commission was to develop followers, learners, people who become spiritual reproducers.

 

Similar to the initial stages of a toddler’s walk, one’s walk with Christ is unsteady at best. Many of us know this from experience. Falls are inevitable, along with bumps and bruises. This is why parenting is important, both in physical and spiritual terms. Writing to believers in ancient Thessalonica, the apostle Paul declared: 

“…we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us…. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8,11-12).

 

The apostle Peter, again from experience, understood about what it was like to be a spiritual babe. In one of his letters he wrote, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2-3).

 

Like human infants, spiritual babies need to grow up. Sometimes it requires parental discipline to move the process along. For instance, Paul chided believers in Corinth, “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready” (1 Corinthians 3:2).     

 

The writer of the book of Hebrews also recognized the periodic need for a swift kick of correction to the readers’ spiritual pants: “…though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14).   

 

Walking with Christ can be like taking one step forward and two steps back at times, but the Lord is abundantly patient. He’s always been that way, as we discover many times in reading the Old Testament. We find an excellent reminder in the book of Nehemiah, concerning the headstrong Israelites:

“For many years You were patient with them. By Your Spirit You admonished them through Your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so You handed them over to the neighboring peoples. But in Your great mercy You did not put an end to them or abandon them, for You are a gracious and merciful God” (Nehemiah 9:30-31).

So, if you’re going through a rough patch spiritually right now, or someone you’re discipling is, take heart: “…for the Lord your God goes before you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8, Hebrews 13:5). 

Labels: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

What would we do without labels? On clothes they tell us the size of the shirt, blouse, pants, dress or coat. They also tell us what material the clothing is made of, and whether to wash or dry clean it.

 

Labels on food products can tell us what each item is, what its ingredients are, how to prepare it for meals, its nutritional value and how many calories it contains. We have labels for many other things as well, ranging from cars and electronics to mattresses and bathmats. 

 

But we don’t stop there with labeling. We find labels for people equally useful. We label by vocation – doctor, lawyer, CPA, architect. They must be smart, and wealthy, right? There are tradespeople too, folks like carpenters, electricians, plumbers, roofers. Society doesn’t label them with as high esteem, but if you have a leaky roof, who’d you rather come right away – a lawyer or a roofer?

 

The thing about labels, we find them handy for evaluating and judging people. We label by gender, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs (or none), education, political preference, sports team allegiance, even the places where they shop and organizations they belong to. You see someone with tattoos or piercings? Why take the time and effort to get to know someone when you can label them?

 

Hey, if I’m pointing a finger that means three others are pointing back at me. I’ve been guilty of people-labeling more times than I’d like to admit. The problem is, if we do go to the bother of really getting to know someone, often we discover our labels are entirely wrong.

 

Imagine a can of food in your pantry that’s somehow lost its label. How can you know what’s in it? Most of the time the only way is to open it up and find out whether it’s a can of corn, green beans, or pie filling. 

 

Apply that principle to our often-faulty habit of labeling people we’re not acquainted with or barely know. We can judge solely by what we see on the outside – or we can try to engage with them so we can truly determine who they are and what they’re like.

 

We find an excellent example in the Bible’s Old Testament. King Saul of Israel had proved himself unworthy of leading God’s chosen people, so the Lord instructed the prophet Samuel to locate Saul’s successor. The Lord’s choice was one of the sons of a man named Jesse, so the prophet went to his home to give the sons a once-over.

 

We’re told in 1 Samuel 16 that Samuel started with the oldest, Eliab, and thought, “Surely the Lord’s exalted stands here before the Lord” (1 Samuel 16:6). But God told him, “Nope, not him.” The prophet checked out each of the seven sons Jesse had brought to him, but not one of them was God’s choice despite their passing the eye test. 

 

The reason was simple: “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Kind of like having to open an unlabeled can to find out what kind of food is inside, God was saying He doesn’t choose His servants based on how they look outwardly.

 

Finally, Jesse’s youngest son, David, a lowly shepherd boy – not a highly esteemed vocation back then – was brought to Samuel. Speaking through the prophet, God’s choice was clear: “Rise and anoint him; he is the one” (1 Samuel 16:12). David went on to have an oft-tumultuous 40-year reign over Israel, even writing many of the beloved Psalms in his spare time.

 

We find many other examples in the Scriptures that warn us against labeling – judging people based on their outward appearances. People who were lame, blind, mute, deaf, suffering from various diseases, despised Samaritans, women of ill repute, and many others. Foremost was Jesus Christ, whom the Jewish rulers and religious leaders dismissed as a troublemaker and deceiver. We know He was anything but that.

 

One time Jesus had been teaching in the temple. The leaders stirred up the crowd, getting many to shout in opposition. Undeterred, He responded, “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment” (John 7:24).

 

We’d be wise to take this to heart. We live in a time of labeling gone amok. Liberals shouting at conservatives, conservatives arguing with liberals, none of them making an effort to engage in calm, reasonable discourse. People from different generations speaking in derogatory terms toward each other. Even within the Church, members of different congregations and different denominations exchanging accusations. Most of the time, based on the labels assigned to them.

 

Just as we can’t look at a building and know what’s inside without actually going into it, the Scriptures warn we’re in danger of serious error by relying on labels to assess who people really are. Society tells us to save time by giving folks labels and then judging based on stereotypes. However, especially for those of us who claim to follow Christ, we don’t have that option.

 

As the apostle Paul asserts in 2 Corinthians 5:16, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.” Through the power of Christ, we can avoid the trap of labeling and judging people solely on how they seem on the outside. Instead, we can choose to withhold judgment until we’ve made the effort to get to know them for who they truly are.

Seeing, Understanding the Truth Through the Right ‘Lenses’

Have you ever tried to explain something to another person, something that seemed so obvious to you but the only response you received was, “I don’t get it”? 

Maybe it’s a genre of music you’re fond of and can’t understand why other people don’t love it as you do. Or some exotic type of food that makes you salivate every time you think of it, while other people tell you, “No way I’m going to try eating that!” Or your political persuasion – you try to explain your point of view to someone on the opposite side of the spectrum and the best you get is a glazed look.

 

It can be hard to comprehend why folks don’t share our enthusiasm, but it shouldn’t be surprising. Imagine you receive a book as a gift. But it’s written in a foreign language, and you can’t read a word of it. The person who gave you the book thinks it’s a treasure, but for you it makes no sense at all. Unless you take the time to learn the language. Then one day it’s like your eyes are opened for the first time; you understand why the friend thought it was so special.

 

There’s a parallel to this in the realm of faith. Over the years I’ve gone through several evangelism training programs. Perhaps you have, too. During the sessions, the approaches and explanations presented make perfect sense. But when trying to use them in a spiritual discussion with a nonbeliever, they don’t always work as well. The biblical truths we’re so eager to share seem like jibberish to the other person. Why? 

 

We could suggest a variety of explanations, but one primary reason is that apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in them, it’s like trying to describe the color purple to someone who’s been blind since birth. The Bible says as much: “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

One-time atheist turned defender of the faith, C.S. Lewis, affirmed this in one of his best-known quotes: "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." Coming to faith in Christ truly is eye-opening.

Depending on what “expert” is talking, we’re told the United States is in a post-Christian or post-modern era. These have similar meanings – the Judeo-Christian foundation our society once had has eroded, and there’s considerable doubt it can be restored. But that doesn’t mean we should shy away from telling others about Jesus Christ, what He has done, and what He’s doing in our lives. 

 

Members of the non-believing world around us are more than eager to speak about their skepticism. Why should we be prohibited from expressing what we believe? An adage warns us never to argue about politics and religion, and often that’s good advice. We’re not going to win people to Christ through a heated argument. But as a wise preacher has observed, “Once you have seen the truth, you can’t unsee the truth.”

 

Last year I had cataract surgery. However, unlike most patients – including my wife – who have the procedure and no longer need eyeglasses for distance purposes, my procedure left me near-sighted. I still require eyeglasses for driving, watching a movie or attending a sporting event. 

 

People who are far-sighted have no problem seeing things at a distance clearly, but to read things up close they need corrective lenses or “readers.” Even though something is right in front of them, like a book or a food label. Far-sighted or near, being able to see properly is a matter of having the right lenses.

 

When God brings someone into our lives who doesn’t know Him and seems resistant to even a casual discussion about Him, our recourse isn’t to persuade harder or argue louder. The apostle Paul wrote about this in his second letter to the church in ancient Corinth:

“…by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God…. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of the darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:2-6).

 

Whenever anyone comes to know Christ as Savior and Lord, it’s a miraculous work of God. Including ourselves. Because as the passage says, the “god of this age” (Satan) had blinded our minds so we couldn’t see the truth. As was the case for zealous, Christian-persecuting Saul before he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and became Paul, a key leader of the early Church.

 

Think of it this way: Someone who is blind physically can’t start seeing simply by deciding, ‘I’m tired of being blind.’ In some way the blindness must be removed. Sadly, there are many who don’t even realize how desperately they need Christ. Only by God’s grace and mercy can they receive new spiritual “lenses” to see and receive the truth that seems so clear for those of us who believe.

 

May we pray diligently for the Lord to open their hearts, eyes and minds. And also pray along with Paul, “…that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make know the mystery of the gospel…. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19-20).