missionaries' downfall

There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine; all joy has grown dark; the gladness of the earth is banished.*

I glanced at the menu in this little pub, unsure if I wanted a drink or not. I was out for dinner with a friend last month, we then went for post-dinner drinks. Then one cocktail caught my eye, and simply by its name, I thought it was worth getting! "Missionaries' Downfall". I did not, and still don't, see that drink as my downfall! Firstly, I'm not a missionary exactly. And secondly, I believe that alcohol is part of God's creation, and like so much else in the world, it is good but can be misused. Over-consumption isn't wise, yet that doesn't mean no alcohol is allowed.

The Proverbs were written thousands of years ago, yet I am certain they hold wisdom and truth still relevant to this day. There is a limit to a good thing. Wine, and other forms of alcohol, can cause mockery, brawls, people to be led astray, and a lack of wealth.** I also avoid over-consumption as I hope to regard and respect my Lord and God in everything I do, and I doubt my ability to do so if I were to have too much alcohol.

Please, take a moment to read and think over these passages, do they speak true to your life? Do you see a correlation between what you do and what others -God included- might expect of us?

The one who is intoxicated reels and staggers in their vision to see clearly and will stumble in giving good judgement.****

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them! They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands.***

Does that mean, no alcohol? No! (for some it might be yes, but I do not believe the Bible is against it completely!) Was I really letting go and ignoring God when I got that cocktail? No, I don't believe so, rather I was enjoying in a respectful way one of the joys of life. I trust that on the Last Day, when Jesus returns, there will be a massive feast and celebration. Which will include wine, at least! The Bible describes this feast in several places, one of those is in Isaiah:

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”*****

Our society in Australia enjoys alcohol a lot, as do many other countries, I might add! I see the appeal, to get away from the daily issues, and socialise and relax. I also see the abuse of a good thing, and of those people around us who suffer from or because of the abuse of alcohol. There is such a thing as "too much of a good thing". I hope and pray that we can consider what it means to enjoy the gifts of the world without over-using and misusing them.

*Isaiah 24:11
**Proverbs 20:1, 21:17
***Isaiah 5:11-12
****Isaiah 28:7
*****Isaiah 25:6-11

powerful words

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.*

When I was in high school, there were days that I wondered what made a friend a friend. Honest statements are appreciated, but when they have a subtle jab, an insult, mockery. It hurts a lot more than words coming from non-friends. Add to that those words said from across the room from peers, not friends, can also stay long after we leave school. I remember several such painful occasions, when I wished I could sink into the concrete or change how I looked, or fast-forward high school! The sad thing is, it doesn't only happen at high school. It also happens in primary school. At university. At home. With family. With strangers. These situations scar us, they shape how we act, and how we see ourselves; mostly for the negative.

My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.**

Not good enough. It's not right. Words do hurt, they do break... maybe not bones, but hearts and self-esteem. When we are in such situations, or remembering such pain. We are free to cry out to god, like King David did:

Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.***

When God seems far off and we wonder if He is real, if he cares what is happening to us. We ought to remember not to retaliate. It will not solve or make things better to repay them. It might be satisfying for a moment, but in the long run, it only stretches out the pain, guilt and shame. Peter, one of Jesus' faithful disciples reminded followers:

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”****

Words can be used to break down and to build up. Often the bad cry louder than the good. I remember a friend telling me once how good I am at singing, and another reminding me what an inspiration I can be. The challenge is keeping the good words in balance with the bad.

There is a power in words. They are a double edged sword, to rip open and to bind back together. Proverbs reminds us that 'the tongue of the wise brings healing'.***** We all long for healing, to be made whole. To get away from the words spoken that still stick thorns into our minds and souls preventing us from wholeness. But God has the words to restore me, and you. He loves us. He cares for us. He watches over us. He provides for us. 

But you, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name's sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me! For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me. I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust. My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt, with no fat. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads. Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! Let them now that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it! Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad! May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak! With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.***

May I encourage us all to be people with words of wisdom and encouragement, kindness and love. With useful things to say that build one another up. With praise and thanks to God for the blessings he has already given and the ones he promises to provide. So that slowly these powerful words might remove the sting of the negative ones. 

*Proverbs 18:21
**Psalm 57:4
***Psalm 109:1-5, 21-31
****1 Peter 3:9-12
*****Proverbs 12:18

church

"I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.*

Church is the name given to both the building where worship of Jesus the Son of God takes place, and the name given to the people who visit collectively each week.

What is church for? Why do you go to the church that you do? Why don't you go to church? What factors make up your decision? Why go to the local church? Why go to a church with many people? I have been thinking a lot about the people who make up the church community, and how we decide which branch or area of the wider church we attach ourselves to. I have been able to think about this having traveled around Europe and visited a church almost every Sunday, and now back "home", with the opportunity to recommit or commit to a different community. I don't have the answers, but I do want to share part of my journey -what I have learnt thus far- with my readers :) hopefully with this we can make better, more informed, decisions about the questions above and any others we might have about church.

The church community is treasured by God, and was chosen since the start of time to be God's people, under His rule, as His witnesses on earth. The church is based and founded on the truth that Jesus is Christ, the answer to all our questions. The church is ideally a gracious, merciful and welcoming place. Each person who makes up part of the church is there- not for themselves, but- to share their gifts for the common good; for the building up of the church**.

The church exists in Christ. Without Jesus there would be no church, He is the Life and Meaning, and Reason. If Jesus wasn't a real person, didn't die and rise again, wasn't fully human and God incarnate, then there would be no reason to meet together. If Jesus had not given us the task of remembering Him and being His messengers on earth, if He had not modeled what that should look like, then the church would be quite the meaningless community!

Who is this man who seems to dictate how so many people live their lives? Why does the church listen to and follow Jesus? Because God said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”*** and then 'God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.'****

The church is to be collectively holy, set apart from the world. In the world but not of it. Sharing and speaking into the world, but living life pleasing to God in fellowship. God intends the church community to speak into the world, sharing His world view and message, just as in the old testament the priests were God's messengers to His people, so now, the church collectively are the messengers to the whole world.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."*****

The church is not perfect, and God uses that weakness to show his power. If Christians were any better at being human than anyone else, then they would get all the praise and glory, but since they are just as human and still flawed God is able to show his awesome power and strength, wisdom and love, mercy and forgiveness.

"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord."******

*Isaiah 43:12
**1 Corinthians 14:12
***Matthew 17:5
**** Ephesians 1:22-23
*****1 Peter 2:9
******Ephesians 3:10-11