Sunday, September 11, 2011

God Treats us Differently

So this is a truth that I have been thinking about lately. I know that people like to say that it is not good to treat people differently, but what if you treated your kids the same way? You know, the older one that thinks that he can get away with everything and is very disrespectful. Will you treat your more mild mannered and respectful daughter the same way? Probably not. Because if you lecture her about respecting people, chances are you will lose her respect since there is little if any dialogue there and she will feel slighted. If you treat the older one like the younger one, then you will ignore the issue and things will get worse.

I find that God treats us as people the same way. We often times forget that because we are often times taught in church that God judges the same way. The one thing that we have to remember is that Jesus did not talk to all the disciples the way he did to Peter. He was at times very harsh towards him because he had to address him that way. Jesus is not that way all of the time. Another example of this is the way you see Jesus reprimanding the Pharisees calling them hypocrites, whitewashed tombs, and children of vipers. But then you see him in John 3 talking to Nicodemus, a Pharisee, rationally and discussing with him rather than reprimanding him. So Jesus did not treat everyone the same, he was able to talk to and motivate people differently.

I am writing this today because I know that there are a lot of people out there who are thinking, "well I don't see this or that in my life, so God must have forgotten about me." God talks to people differently in different walks of their lives. I get into this discussion because I hear a lot of people that think that God has left the western Church. Just because we do not see overt miracles everyday or we do not see people getting excised everyday does not mean that God is not moving in his people. He has equally be blessing the man in Africa healing people as he did the woman who is encouraging people and helping create opportunities for people to succeed in life.

Neither one is greater than the next. It is just that God moves in different areas differently to reach specific audiences. Breathtaking miracles are of a greater need in religiously oppressive and poorer areas, where as an amazing teacher that moves people is better suited for an audience that has become irrelevant in their community. When we start thinking that God speaks the same way everywhere and start ranking the acts of the spirit, we get into a dangerous place much like the Corinthian church who favored "flashier" gifts such as speaking in tongues. Paul specifically spoke out against that. This is why there is a body, not just parts. We are needed that way, so lets try to avoid thinking that GOd has to act in specific ways.

Finally, one word on Love. When we read the Old Testament, you will see God showing his love numerous ways. When he led his people out of Egypt with the plagues and then parting the sea, that was his love in freeing the people. When he sent them into exile, that was his love disciplining them. Love takes on many forms, but it is doing what is best for the person.

So when you think of where you are with God, whether it is going through a silent period, a disciplinary period, a lavishing period, or a whatever, just know that he always loves you, it is just that there is not set rules for how he deals with us. Just the same way as you communicating with your children or coworkers differently, God talks to us differently at different times in our lives.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Playing not to lose or playing to win?

When I was in church yesterday, I got prayed over and received an interesting word. I was told that this next season of my life will not be exactly what I want, but it will equip me for what God has for me in the future. It is something that I have heard before from people, but at the same time it is not exactly precise! Those that know me know that I have about four or five different plans organized so that something will work out. With loans to repay, I need to have a job lined up or find a way to stop the bleeding (monthly loan repayments). The pastor mentioned 1 Kings 7:3 and talked about the lepers at the gate... I could identify with their story and I think many others will as well.

In 1 Kings 7:3, there were four lepers at the gate. They knew that they could not stay at the gate or near the city since there was a famine in the city. Generally speaking, lepers were not allowed in due to their condition anyway. So being pinned between the dying city and camp of the enemy who was besieging them, the lepers had a hard choice to make... die at the gates or possibly live by being captured by the enemy. They chose to go to the unknown. In doing so, they found the camp abandoned with everything left behind. So they ate until they were full.

So where does that leave me (us) today? Are we willing to take the risk to succeed, or will we die knowing that we did not fail because we did not try? As I am sorting out my life and trying to figure out how I am going to get employed, that question remains. I could continue to stay at my church where I have been repeatedly told that I would not be employed, I could continue to not make enough money to make ends meet, and in the end chalk it up to bad luck. Or, I could try and step out and find a job else where knowing that it involves a huge amount of risk... and possibly moving to a new area.

This is why I am talking about how you are trying to play the game. For instance, in football, you can have a quarterback or a coach who plays not to lose. This means there is conservative play calling and often times they do not do anything noteworthy. They are trying not to lose. Meanwhile, if they play with more risks with the attempt to create a wider margin, they are playing to win.

I was always taught to not lose. In doing so, I was always cautious and scared of losing. I was never rewarded for trying to win, if I screwed up I was reprimanded for that one mistake. Ultimately, I never succeeded because I was so conscious of not losing. I now know that this is a mentality that needs to be broken. If you spend time fearing failure, you will never try to succeed because the fear of failing overshadows the excitement or the learning experience that goes with risking to be successful.

This leads me to my next point. I take risks when it makes sense and when I am familiar with what I am taking a risk for. The last few weeks, I have had a reoccurring theme of having to take a risk and go on faith. So either I can die standing at the gates, or I can die in the enemies camp, but their is a chance that I can survive. But I will never know unless I try. If you are like me today and are in the same position, my hope is that you will take the risk as well.