Unsettled Series

Unsettled Series - Active Love

“Here comes Jesus with this pesky admonition to love our enemies, but if you are a follower of Jesus you don’t have a choice. ”
— Pastor Kyle

Love my enemies?! Really, Jesus. Couldn’t you have left that one out? It’s hard enough to love the people I like — can I get an “Amen!” I’m not certain if I’ve experienced a year when the difficulty of loving others was more pronounced than in the pandemic- filled year of 2020 — how about you? 2020 was full of disagreements — stay-at-home orders, masks or no masks, a divisive political cycle, extreme civil and racial unrest, etc. — it was almost too much to handle, and those disagreements still exist. Maybe more so than ever it’s easy to identify those whom we consider to be our enemy.

With all that in mind, here comes Jesus with this pesky admonition to love our enemies. “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-44 NLT).” This is a declaration of Jesus. Meaning, if you are a follower of Jesus you don’t have a choice but to try to love those you consider your enemies; no matter how you feel about them. Jesus goes on to say that loving only those who love you is common to all people, even the despised tax collector. But, we who follow Jesus are to be different as we live out the faith modeled by Jesus.

What Jesus is saying is that the love of neighbor and enemy alike should characterize the disciples of Christ. The reason God calls us to this kind of love is because of the way he has loved us. One author I read this week wrote, “We often forget what our lives were like before God saved us... Paul described our condition before Christ as outsiders.” In Ephesians 2 Paul wrote that we (gentiles) were separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel, not part of the original covenant promise, we were without hope and without God (Ephesians 2:11-12).

Wow, that’s a fun description of our condition. In effect were enemies to God. Yet, God sought to welcome us back. His perfect love has cast out fear, turned strangers into sons, and the distanced into daughters through Jesus. “Wow, well, okay Pastor Kyle, when you put it like that.” Exactly. What Jesus did for us was incredible — and it calls us to a different way of living.

Jesus was able to model something our culture desperately needs — spaces of welcome where strangers, enemies, outsiders, and others can become our friends. Did you know we are part of one of those spaces? A ‘pocket of love’ in the midst of our neighborhood — it’s called the church. The church is to exist not as a haven from the world but as a place of hope for the world. Can we partner together to love those around us? Even the ones we consider our enemies? This week as you think about this, come up with a few different ways you can practice love especially to those around you who might be a bit difficult. The good news is that Jesus has already shown us the way.

Unsettled Series - Those Who Mourn

“The closer we grow to God, the further we realize we are from Him and yet the closer we long to be.”
— J.D. Walt

I read an article this week that said, “One doesn’t read Jesus long until they realize he is speaking from a very focused and even fierce point of view. He focuses with laser-like precision on how the Love of God works on and in a human person.” What a great perspective to have as we consider the impactions of biblical mourning. 

One of the greek words translated as “mourn” in the bible is ‘koptō’ which means “to be cut off.” What I find so fascinating about this word and the meaning of biblical mourning is that we are to lament, grieve, and even weep or cry out that we are essentially “cut off” from God - and its all of our own doing. Think about that! 

Because of the past year we all have a deeper understanding of the concept of mourning as we’ve experienced being ‘cut off’ from our loved ones, our friend groups, our social circles, as well as our routines, activities and places that anchor our lives. Still others have lost someone dear to them as a result of COVID. We know well what it means to cry out, “I just want this pandemic to be over.” Yet, even amid pain and loss, we can remember what Jesus said, “For those of you who truly understand and experience mourning, God will bring you comfort (my paraphrase).”

Wow! Right out of Jesus’ mouth. For those who’ve experience the depth of being cut off from God because of their sin, YOU WILL BE COMFORTED! Incredible. I don’t know about you but that leaves me a little taken back. Jesus’ words hit me like a conversation with a good friend when I’m feeling lonely, or like a deep breath I take at the beginning of a few days away when I’m standing on the beach first looking at the ocean - relief.

Maybe you’ve had a chance to listen to the message (see video above) or listen to our discussion podcast (see link below - by the way, these are all designed to work together), but we find examples in scripture of God pursuing someone out of his abundant love even in the midst of that persons pain. The story of Peter is one example. 

I’m stunned by the possibility that God chose to comfort Peter even after he denied knowing Jesus not once, not twice, but three times. Mark 16:6-8: “the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” 

Did you see that? Why would the angel single out Peter in this verse? Is it because Peter is no longer considered a disciple? No! What I think is happening is that this is a picture of God’s particular comforting of the heart of one of his beloved friends in the midst of his feeling ‘cut off.” One commentary I read this week said: “This [moment] is not intended to exclude Peter from the disciples, but rather to ensure that Peter gets the message. God is hunting down the miserable Peter because he wants to have mercy on him.”

Could it be that in the moment when humanity first learns of the saving work of Jesus, in this seminal moment that changes the course history, God took a second to make sure that Peter was comforted?! Incredible. If God will do that for Peter, in moment like that, I can guarantee He will to do the same for your hurting heart. Jesus has been redeeming broken stories and reclaiming broken lives from the very beginning - He’s very good at it! Are you mourning today? Run to Jesus. He will give you comfort.

Unsettled Series - Anger Issues

“Jesus speaks directly to the issue of anger in the sermon on the mount and in doing so he continues to deepen the faith of those listening to his powerful message.”
— Pastor Kyle

Did you know that anger is mentioned about five-hundred times in the bible? That is a lot. The only other emotion mentioned more than Anger is love. It’s clear that the bible has a lot to say about anger and the biblical authors recognized that anger was a significant part of the human experience. Has that been true in your life? Maybe from time to time? Have you faced circumstances or relationships that caused you to become angry? How did you deal with that anger?

Jesus speaks directly to the issue of anger in the sermon on the mount and in doing so he continues to deepen the faith of those listening to his powerful message. Jesus essentially says, “Listen closely, you think you're justified if you get mad but not mad enough that it leads you to murder someone (sounds a little extreme today doesn’t it) just like the law says - but if you are going to follow me you need to be concerned with the base level of your anger, it matters.”

Matthew 5:21-22: “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.”

This is important to think about especially because of all that has happed in 2020. The pandemic, an extremely divisive political season, and multiple levels of cultural difficulty have turned up the anger level for all of us. 

Anger, at its worst, devalues a person to the degree that one might consider someone else as having no created value. In other words anger, at its worst, fails to recognize that another person, even if that person is someone you disagree with or have been harmed by, is still a person deserving of the recognition that they were created in the image of God. This type of anger seeks the ‘complete destruction’ of someone else - this is the definition of the word “idiot” in the passage above and is completely opposite of the heart that are to embody as followers of Jesus. I know, that’s hard to hear. 

Anger at its best is a powerful emotion that can be used in positive and redemptive ways when in the face of injustice, oppression, or the marginalization of the vulnerable in our world. Anger can lead to healthy or unhealthy behavior. Careful assertiveness is a healthy response to anger that involves problem-solving, compassion, and even love. While, aggression is an unhealthy response to anger that involves hurting or controlling others, revenge, or hatred. Again, some personal reflection here is helpful. How do you usually respond when you experience anger?

What should you do when you get angry? Here are a few helpful suggestions: 

  1. Don’t ignore it. Anger usually finds an expression. Deal with anger as quickly and responsibly as possible—before the sun goes down—so that you do not “give the devil a foothold.”

  2. Pray about the anger, asking God to give you deep insight.

  3. Focus on the source(s) of your anger. Make a list. This will likely finding some clarity.

  4. Change locations (if you can). Getting away from the moments/places of heightened crisis can help defuse the situation. Do not allow anger to cause you to act in ways that you will later regret.

  5. Talk with a trusted friend who is unrelated to the anger-provoking situation who can help keep you grounded in faith and encourage you through prayer and scripture.

I know this is just scratching the surface on the topic of anger. Dealing with anger can be a very difficult spiritual and emotional reality. I know. I’ve faced several situations in my own life that have caused significant pain and anger. It’s not easy - and we are all a work in progress. Yet, for those of us who follow Jesus. Our call is go beyond the “letter of the law” to deeper heart change. I’m glad Jesus calls us to this more difficult work of life and faith. It’s not easy, but together with God and each other we can become who God has designed us to be.

Unsettled Series - The Panorama of Grace

“I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama.”
— Matthew 5:18

I just checked. I currently have only three panorama pictures on my phone. Only three panoramas out of 7,069 pictures and 626 videos are currently stored in my photos application. That’s not many! The truth is that I’m not very good at taking panorama pictures, so I usually don’t.

To prove it, below, you can see the last panorama picture I took. It was on a hike with some friends around Crater Lake in Oregon - it’s not a great picture. You can see my finger, the bright glare of the sun, and a lot of blur.

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As we continue to move through Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7 we come to this passage in Matthew 5:17 where Jesus says:

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

The message version of the bible puts it this way:

“Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama.

Jesus takes a blurry picture of God’s attempt at redeeming humanity (at least it was blurry to those he was addressing at the time) and makes it crystal clear - he says if you want to understand what God has been trying to do, look at me - I am the answer. Jesus brings into focus his ministry using the law and prophets as his panorama as it were. He helps his listeners understand the broader context of his ministry and how He brings God’s plan into focus. God’s plan is the saving and redeeming of his creation. God wants to “put things back to rights” as author N.T. Wright likes to say - and the culmination of that plan is Jesus.

Then Jesus ends by saying something that would have blown the minds of those immediately around him. He reframes for his listeners what the plan is - not perfect keeping of the 613 laws, but a transformed and changed heart. How is your heart these days? Is it soft to the unfolding grace of God in your life?

I want to encourage you to watch this video by the bible project to help you put into context what Jesus came to do - it will give you an understanding of the panorama of God’s grace throughout the work of human history - and right to your heart!

Resources:

Unsettled Series - Salt & Light

“What on earth could I do? But it was clear in my heart, I had to do something. ”
— Amy Wolff

What has been your impact on the world? Have you ever thought about that question? Do you know that you matter in a deep and meaningful way to the people and events around you? That you can make a difference? In fact, not only do we get to impact people and events around us, we are invited to do so by Jesus. 

I love the metaphors Jesus uses in Matthew 5:13-16:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

For Jesus salt wasn’t only a spice put on food for flavoring. It was a primary way the ancient world preserved precious food. Jesus uses this multilayered metaphor to encourage those who follow him to impact the world. Using the salt metaphor Jesus is teaching that one outcome of those who display the kingdom tendencies highlighted by Jesus in the sermon on the mount is one of preservation, or the ability to “arrest the decay” of the society in which they live. Wow! You matter. 

With this in mind, I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Amy Wolff. I’ve known Amy and her family for years going back to when I was in Jr. High. Her brother and I were friends and Amy’s mom, who is a Pastor in Newberg Oregon, has been a spiritual mentor of mine. Amy, has had a significant impact on the world and it started very…unintentionally.  Here is bit of her story. She’s an example to all of us that God can use even simple acts of kindness to major effect. You Matter. 

“We were hanging out with friends when one of them mentioned the suicide rates in our community and I about fell out of my chair. I felt completely hopeless and ill equipped to be part of a solution. After all, I wasn't a therapist. I didn't know of anyone suffering with thoughts of self-harm. What on earth could I do? But it was clear in my heart, I had to do something. The idea of encouraging yard signs had been bouncing around in my head for years but it was always 'just a silly idea'.  That is until May 2017 - then it became the something.” - Amy Wolff

Take some time to look through Amy’s website, read her story and reflect on the ways God is using you as salt and light for the kingdom of heaven.

Unsettled Series - Kingdom Tendencies

“One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.”
— Matthew 5:1-2

It’s true that when you think about the sermon on the mount, Jesus’ most well know sermon found in Matthew 5-7, you don’t usually think of the word unsettled. Yet, when Jesus preached this message he did so knowing that the content of his teaching would directly challenge many cultural norms of his day.

As he sat there on a hill with his disciples listening closely, Jesus reinforced what it looked like to be a member of the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, we can actually read the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) as being descriptive. In the Beatitudes, Jesus described both what he did in his incarnation and ministry as well as what God’s kingdom people are to be like. The unsettling part of reading the beatitudes can come when we ask spiritually reflective questions such as: 

  1. Do these kingdom tendencies describe my daily attitudes and actions?

  2. Do I embody a worldview marked with these specific kingdom tendencies?

  3. How and when do I slip into modeling current cultural values that are not in line with the way of Jesus?

Ouch! These are tough questions. They are unsettling questions, especially when we realize that we might not like the answers. In our weekly teaching and our weekly discussion podcast we make a list of what might be some current “cultural beatitudes.” They go like this: 

Blessed are the rich, in things, and self-assurance. Blessed are those untouched by loss. Blessed are the powerful. Blessed are those who are “realistic” about righteousness, compromising when they need to. Blessed are those who demand and exact an eye for an eye. Blessed are the crafty and opportunistic. Blessed are those who are bold enough to fight. Blessed are those who, by doing good things, receive many accolades. Blessed are those who are widely praised and adored.

Does that list seem familiar to you? Do you see these “cultural tendencies” on display in the world around you? Are any of these cultural tendencies on display in your life? Jesus’ way is different. While his way isn’t always easy, it is good - and he helps us as we journey in faith!

Exercise: 

Compare Jesus’ list of kingdom tendencies found in Matthew 5:3-12 side by side with the list of “cultural tendencies” listed above. Spend some time in prayer, reflect, and write down what tendencies are on display in your life. Then make a plan for how you might more fully live into the way of Jesus.

I’m so thankful for Jesus. He’s a good pastor as he both teaches and models for his followers what it looks like to be a member of his family! What a grace-filled invitation.