Monthly Archives: November 2015

Stories

Posted on by

“There have been great societies that did not use the wheel,
but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.”
—Ursula K. LeGuin

For thousands of years, history, important lessons, commonly held beliefs, explanations of mystery and things beyond us, have all been passed down from one generation to another via one very important means: stories. Whether it was the tales told around campfires, or the annual renditions of events which had transformed peoples and places, stories are one of the oldest and most effective ways of communicating our values, our feelings, and our memories. Truth be told, no one can resist a good story!

That’s why I have made it a practice over the years to tell stories to my children. Sometimes we do it around the dinner table; sometimes before bed. Sometimes stories are told during our long “road trips”. Sometimes we tell them with pictures; sometimes a book or a movie serves as a catalyst to make critical lessons or things of interest to become personal. We have often had amazing people from around the world in our home. I take every opportunity to ask them to share their stories with us. Some stories are about things that happened to me, or our family from earlier years. Some of them are of things which took place in ancient times…things which should never be forgotten. Some serve to inspire; some to warn. Some have a moral; some just make you laugh. Information and facts may touch a mind; but stories touch the heart.

C.S. Lewis is one of the greatest theologians of the past one hundred years. And although he wrote great books which explain the path to belief or answer the questions of doubt, he is most famous for the stories he wrote which present these same arguments in timeless allegories which tickle the conscious and echo in the memories of young and old alike.

In the same way, your kids might not remember much of your moralizing. But they will not likely soon forget lessons you have told them that you are able to capture in story form. If this has not been a part of your parenting arsenal, consider ways to open up stories to your children. You may just find that you will have found a key to their hearts.

Change

Posted on by

“Those whom I love I rebuke and chasten;
therefore, be zealous and repent.” Rev 3:19

It is not fashionable to repent anymore. It’s too messy, undignified. It’s old school. It’s ashes, and sackcloth. Books about repentance don’t make the best-seller lists. They don’t even get past the first reading at the publisher! Let’s face it, leaders consider that messages about repentance are not going to bring people out to church. They reason that the sheep need something practical, something to make them feel good about themselves, something to assuage all the wounds they get in this cruel world throughout the week. Not bad reasoning…for a psychologist! While it may be popular to talk about WWJD, it certainly is worth considering that the very first words out of His mouth when He began to preach were “Repent!” (Matt 3:2)

Hebrews 6:1 speaks of repentance as an elemental teaching, a part of the foundation of the church’s teachings. And yet, many would remove the foundation altogether! There is a whole stream within the church (call it “hypergrace”) which has abandoned teachings about repentance altogether. According to this popular “grace” message, Jesus already paid it all. Our sins have been completely forgiven. There is nothing left for us to do but to receive. Trust me, there is a part of me that loves the idea of being able to keep right on sinning and not ever have to worry about it! Unfortunately, it is a lie, and if perpetuated, it will lead to death and eternal consequences.

What compels me to write about this subject? First, I want you to be alert, vigilant, and not hoodwinked by this false teaching. It is a growing cancer in the Body of Christ. Second, I want you to take this message and apply it personally. I am asking this question of myself too: have I truly repented of any and every thing which is an offense to my Lord? Was it heartfelt, and thorough, or did I just say a casual “I’m sorry” prayer and move on. Sorry scratches the surface. We say sorry to gain some relief, in hopes that our actions will not be held against us. Through repentance the axe of God is laid to the root, resulting in not a simple covering over but a legal and experiential break from the power of sin. Sorry is volitional, but repentance is transactional. Jesus did not command us to be sorry; he commanded us to repent.

When Jesus confronts the church in Laodicea about their apathy, he says “be zealous and repent”. Zealous (Gr) implies heat, passion, and zest. That is the spirit and mindset which brings about true repentance. If I have zeal, I have the right “stuff” from which repentance is birthed. Without zeal, I only bring words to the altar. Though forgiveness is offered to me on the basis of “my confession”, I have discovered that it is only a matter of time before I have to rebuild this altar, and rework these words, since the power which causes me to sin never moved out and gotten a new address. It just went into the basement to wait for the opportune time to come out and wreak havoc all over again.

Among the marvelous Sermon on the Mount topics is a seldom talked about or understood verse, “Blessed are those who mourn” (MT 5:4). Mourning is one of the deepest and complex emotions we as humans experience. Without going into too much detail, may I suggest that we probably have not really found the key to true, lasting repentance without it. I must feel more than bad; I must feel grief. Like the one who mourns, he may be doing other things for days and weeks following the death of a loved one. But his thoughts will have been invaded by another, deeper reality where memories of the loved one cannot be discarded. For that season, we wear mourning like a cloak. Even when we are laughing, some part of us is still wiping away tears.

Jesus precludes his “harsh words” about repentance to the Laodiceans with the phrase “those whom I love.” The one who will repent with sincerity and conviction first hears these words of welcome and warmth. Since repentance is painful, it is critical to know that it is not the unreasonable demand of a cold taskmaster. It is longed for out of love, out of the anticipation and joy of reconciliation.

Make no mistake about it, for those who find the grace to repent, the benefits are dramatic and immediate. Jesus says of the truly penitent, “I will come and eat with him, and he with me.” I may close the door and cry out in agony and brokenness; but my weeping only lasts for a night. Joy comes in the morning. I rise from the way of divine exchange which a “sinner’s” hall of fame has trod, only to find a door has been opened for me, and a table set, filled with every item my hungry soul has ever longed for. As though this was not enough, I get to have Jesus…richly, personally, and intimately.

I named this article “Change” because few would have read it if I wrote “Repent”. But beloved, let’s be clear. You and I are never really going to change, until we learn to repent. It’s time to proclaim that there are no shortcuts—no painless, feel-good formulas.

So if you will please excuse me, it is time for me to stop writing about it. It’s time to pray.