Ironic Evidence

James 5:1-6 in The Moffatt Translation of the Bible

Come now you rich men, 

weep and shriek over your impending miseries!

You have been storing up treasure in the very last days;

Your wealth lies rotting and your clothes are moth-eaten; 

your gold and silver lie rusted over,

and their rust will be evidence against you,

 it will devour your flesh like fire.

See, the wages of which you have defrauded 

the workmen who mowed your fields call out, 

and the cries of the harvesters 

have reached the ears of The Lord of Hosts, 

You have reveled on the earth and plunged into dissipation,

You have fattened yourselves as for the Day of slaughter, 

You have condemned, 

you have murdered the righteous unresisting.

When I read this the first time, the first half of the passage about the moth-eaten clothing and the rusted gold and silver being "evidence" against the rich man jumped out at me.  The tangibility of the evidence!  It is not something only God can see or judge.  It is right there for all to see.  This moth-eaten and rusted evidence got in this condition through lack of use.  While others suffered, the rich were piling up stuff they couldn't even use.

And now, on a second look I see more.  The rich had amassed their wealth on the backs of people who so needed an income they didn't even protest the low wages.  

Not only can God see the initial tangible evidence, He has heard the cries of the defrauded poor.  Here is His take on the rich in this passage:  You are partying and having a great time, or so you think.  In actuality you are fattening yourselves up to be slaughtered.

Oh the irony!

How Not To Lose Hope As A Christian in A Minority Culture (Part 7)

This is a seven part series that was originally given as one meditation for a vespers service at Central Christian Church in Grand Rapids Michigan.  In my opinion, people who are living their lives with the Bible as their authority are in a minority in our country.

I took a FB test recently that told me I was a pessimist.  While I have never been a sugar plums and puppies kind of person, I have been a half full girl, not a half empty one.

I have so changed since 9-11.  Since I do not believe our country will be improving any time in the near future, am I doomed to be a pessimist?  NO!  I can pray for an attitude adjustment and I can tell myself the TRUTH, the way that I always have when times have gotten tough in my life.

Truth Seven:   I do not know where our current history in the USA will lead. 

Yes, it sure does feel like a slippery slope of badness to me.  But

feelings are not facts.  I remember reading "The Christians Secret of a Happy Life" years ago by Hannah Whitall Smith.  She talks about feelings being the caboose of the train.  Facts, Faith, then Feelings....in that order.  How I feel about any given circumstance really has little weight in the grand scheme of things; a train can run without a caboose.

I end this pep talk to myself with this scripture from Deut. 29:29:

"The secret things belong to the Lord but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children."

Dear God, Help me to put the revealed truth I know into practice and leave the secret things to you.

How Not To Lose Hope As A Christian in A Minority Culture (Part 6)

This is a seven part series that was originally given as one meditation for a vespers service at Central Christian Church in Grand Rapids Michigan.  In my opinion, people who are living their lives with the Bible as their authority are in a minority in our country.

I took a FB test recently that told me I was a pessimist.  While I have never been a sugar plums and puppies kind of person, I have been a half full girl, not a half empty one.

I have so changed since 9-11.  Since I do not believe our country will be improving any time in the near future, am I doomed to be a pessimist?  NO!  I can pray for an attitude adjustment and I can tell myself the TRUTH, the way that I always have when times have gotten tough in my life.

Truth Six:  I need to think about the energy I am leaking while railing against the degradation of our culture. 

I am wasting energy moaning and groaning when this energy could be used to keep my salt flavorful and my light shiny.  Maybe I should make a list of the things I could be doing instead of venting my frustrations.  After all, "We're not in Kansas any more, Toto!"

It will be next to impossible for me to stop grumbling and live out the call of God on my life faithfully alone.  It will help to have a church home where I can pray and encourage and be encouraged by others.  

How Not To Lose Hope as a Christian in a Minority Culture (Part 5)

This is a seven part series that was originally given as one meditation for a vespers service at Central Christian Church in Grand Rapids Michigan.  In my opinion, people who are living their lives with the Bible as their authority are in a minority in our country.

I took a FB test recently that told me I was a pessimist.  While I have never been a sugar plums and puppies kind of person, I have been a half full girl, not a half empty one.

I have so changed since 9-11.  Since I do not believe our country will be improving any time in the near future, am I doomed to be a pessimist?  NO!  I can pray for an attitude adjustment and I can tell myself the TRUTH, the way that I always have when times have gotten tough in my life.

Truth Five:  I need to remember that the Bible says I am a stranger, pilgrim, and alien on this earth.

Up until maybe the last generation or two in the United States people were familiar with God and the Bible even if they were not followers of Jesus. This is not the case any more.  What I began to feel in the 1980's has really taken over our country.

Yet, God has chosen for me to be living on this earth at this point in history.  My call is no less than the saints in the Old Testament.  They lived lives in a minority culture, sometimes even as slaves. 

One of my favorite examples is Daniel.  He was carried away from his home.  Instead of eating the rich foods of the land he continues to practice his faith, sticking to a strict diet and praying to God, even when it was against the law.  Ultimately he finds himself in a lion's den for being obedient to God. 

They ran their race in faith and hope. I run mine having received the promise of Jesus Christ.

There is a cost to being different in our culture, but I need to remember that this world is not my home, I am just passing through.

Ways Not To Lose Hope As a Christian in a Minority Culture (Part 4)

This is a seven part series that was originally given as one meditation for a vespers service at Central Christian Church in Grand Rapids Michigan.  In my opinion, people who are living their lives with the Bible as their authority are in a minority in our country.

I took a FB test recently that told me I was a pessimist.  While I have never been a sugar plums and puppies kind of person, I have been a half full girl, not a half empty one.

I have so changed since 9-11.  Since I do not believe our country will be improving any time in the near future, am I doomed to be a pessimist?  NO!  I can pray for an attitude adjustment and I can tell myself the TRUTH, the way that I always have when times have gotten tough in my life.

Truth four:   I need to ask myself, what would Jesus do.

Jesus would not get angry.  He always responded to those he met with love and compassion.  Lest we think the love and compassion of Jesus squishy, remember he had some harsh words for the Pharisees and Sadducees  He called these religious leaders hypocrites and relatives of Satan! 

Most people I encounter are not going to be of the religious leader variety.

If my goal is to win others to Jesus, I need to take James 1 to heart.  Hear it in the Message translation:  ^"Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger."

We could probably also change out the word anger for other emotions.  God's righteousness does not grow from human frustration, human condescension, etc.

Ways to Not Lose Hope As a Christian in a Minority Culture (Part 3)

This is a seven part series that was originally given as one meditation for a vespers service at Central Christian Church in Grand Rapids Michigan.  In my opinion, people who are living their lives with the Bible as their authority are in a minority in our country.

I took a FB test recently that told me I was a pessimist.  While I have never been a sugar plums and puppies kind of person, I have been a half full girl, not a half empty one.

I have so changed since 9-11.  Since I do not believe our country will be improving any time in the near future, am I doomed to be a pessimist?  NO!  I can pray for an attitude adjustment and I can tell myself the TRUTH, the way that I always have when times have gotten tough in my life.

Truth Three:   I need to tell myself the truth about suffering and persecution.

Suffering or suffer is mentioned six times in I Peter.  Here are some key verses to recall when those feelings of despair start to rise in me:

"But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.  When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."

 Even Jesus had to continue putting his life in the hands of the Father! 

^" If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 

Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. "

Here are some comforting words for those who suffer as Christians taken from The Sermon on The Mount:

 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Rejoice and be glad.  Hmm.  I have been doing anything BUT this!  I don't want to be called a bigot or a fearmonger!  Help me God to rejoice and be glad.

Ways To Not Lose Hope As A Christian in a Minority Culture (Part 2)

This is a seven part series that was originally given as one meditation for a vespers service at Central Christian Church in Grand Rapids Michigan.  In my opinion, people who are living their lives with the Bible as their authority are in a minority in our country.

I took a FB test recently that told me I was a pessimist.  While I have never been a sugar plums and puppies kind of person, I have been a half full girl, not a half empty one.

I have so changed since 9-11.  Since I do not believe our country will be improving any time in the near future, am I doomed to be a pessimist?  NO!  I can pray for an attitude adjustment and I can tell myself the TRUTH, the way that I always have when times have gotten tough in my life.

Truth Two:  Since God is in control and God is good, I need to trust Him.

All of Job's children were killed in a day!  Then his body was horribly afflicted.  He did not shake his fist at God or anyone else.  This posture of Job is one I should strive for.  Job said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”  He also said, "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"

Other verses that might inspire me to trust when despairing:

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Or this:

II Corinthians 4: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

My absolute go to verses when I am overwhelmed with hopelessness are found in Psalm 62 in the Moffatt translation of the bible:

"Leave it all quietly with God, oh my soul, my help comes from Him alone.  Rock, refuge, rescue-He is all to me.  never will I be overthrown."

Ways to Not Lose Hope As a Christian in A Minority Culture (Part 1)

This is a seven part series that was originally given as one meditation for a vespers service at Central Christian Church in Grand Rapids Michigan.  In my opinion, people who are living their lives with the Bible as their authority are in a minority in our country.

I took a FB test recently that told me I was a pessimist.  While I have never been a sugar plums and puppies kind of person, I have been a half full girl, not a half empty one.

I have so changed since 9-11.  Since I do not believe our country will be improving any time in the near future, am I doomed to be a pessimist?  NO!  I can pray for an attitude adjustment and I can tell myself the TRUTH, the way that I always have when times have gotten tough in my life.

Truth One:  I need to remember that God is in control. 

How did Joseph respond when his brothers threw him in a pit, sold him into slavery, when he was falsely accused by Pharaoh's wife, when he was forgotten in prison?  He just continued on with life, believing God and serving others.  Toward the end of his life when his brothers apologized for their wicked deeds, Joseph is overcome with emotion.  He has not held a grudge.  He knows that his being in Egypt at that time in history actually saves his family.  He could confidently respond, "what you meant for evil, God used for good."

God has His purposes.