This Mind

“I just want you to be happy,” says a parent to her child.

The Declaration of Independence celebrates our pursuit of happiness. It is our birthright. But is it the reason for which we were made? Is the purpose of our existence the absence of pain and the satisfaction of desire? Our modern culture answers with a resounding, “Yes!”

The United Nations publishes a World Happiness Report every year. The United States has trailed the western world and declined each year since about 1990. And since 2011 happiness, however, measured, has plummeted for teens. If happiness is the human project, we are failing!

And when we turn to the Bible, we hardly find the word happy in the pages of any English Bible. What is that all about? Look at Jesus. The word happy is never used of him. But instead, he was the man of sorrows. In the garden where he prayed and “his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Lk. 22:44 ESV) the word happy just seems so wrong. But the Bible tells us of something more solid and substantial that filled his soul: joy.

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…

Heb. 12:2 ESV

Our lives are seldom—may I say never?—free from those circumstances that cause us grief, pain, sorrow, or heartbreak. Life is filled with toil, and not only does our work not always bring about the desired happiness, but it all must be done again tomorrow. It sounds grim, doesn’t it? But that is perhaps we have set our sights not too high, but too low. C. S. Lewis said,

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

Jesus invites us—no, commands us—to follow him. It is not a path of mere happiness, the freedom from concern and pain, but a path with a cross like his. But it is also a path filled with his own joy. Let’s explore that in the next posts!

Mud Pies, by Ludwig Knaus

A guest post from Pastor Eric Irwin, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Issaquah, WA

• This is the time of year that people cease to worship and use their weekends elsewhere and otherwise. On vacations, I’m always tempted in this way. Always. Though true worship is never first about us, what we do instead usually is. That’s why, ultimately, alternative worship (like the golden calf) doesn’t satisfy: we were saved that we might no longer live for ourselves (2 Cor 5:15), an ethic that finds its first, highest, and best expression in worship. It’s in losing our lives that we find them. So what follows are biblical reasons for the importance of worship in the lives of God’s people, then after that a few practical thoughts.

1. For centuries, Christians could not know what God was saying to them unless they went to worship. The two were inseparable: worship and God’s voice. Individuals didn’t own Bible manuscripts; they were far too expensive. Go all the way back, for example, to the churches at Philippi or Ephesus — you could only know what Paul and the Holy Spirit were saying to you by going to worship and hearing the letter written for you (among others). By this, God organized the formative years of the Church around worship. Not a mistake.
2. Following the exodus, Israel’s most significant watershed moment was a failure of corporate worship (golden calf, Ex. 32). The people were hungry to ascribe honor and worth, but they were also easily misguided. The moment was made all the more possible because of a weak leader (Aaron). So good or bad, the key issue was worship.
3. The crucial first five books of the Bible are much more about loving God in corporate worship — along with the character, content, and practice of that worship — than any other single topic. Nothing else is even close. Worship was the center of belonging to God, and this centrality became a given for the followers of Christ (see below #5 & #6).
4. Israel’s commitment to worship was so fundamental to life that when the Temple was destroyed by Babylon, the Synagogue system — think of it as decentralized Jewish worship — arose almost immediately.
5. Luke tells us it was Jesus’ personal habit to attend synagogue worship (Luke 4:16), then uses the same word in Acts (17:2) to say it was Paul’s custom as well. As with all Jews, corporate worship was woven into the pattern of weekly life, and life itself was a cycle of work and worship, not work and play. 
6. As with Jesus, Paul’s ministry was famously attached to the place of worship (see Acts 14:1; 18:19; 19:8; 18:8; 13:42; 17:10). What we tend to forget is there was a period that Christians continued to meet in synagogues before being forced out. When finally they were forced out, Christians used synagogue worship as their foundation. 
7. The greatest, most unforgettable picture of Glory is the people of God gathered at his feet in his throne room, worshiping and proclaiming his glory (Rev. 4). This is what ultimate reality looks like. To argue it has no bearing on the present is to misunderstand why God has already given us such pictures of our future. Worship is our permanent identity. 

• A few practical thoughts.

1. The very last thing Satan wants you to do is come and worship. Satan wants you to worship yourself, just as he worships himself. On Sunday mornings you will find yourself tired, slightly sick (headache, nausea), swayed by an unwilling child, needing to finish some project, irritated by something at the church, or any one of a hundred things Satan will invent in the final hour before you have to leave. If you want a stunning picture of this battle, read pp. 10-14 in C.S. Lewis’s Perelandra.
2. You will draw permission from other people who skip worship a lot, especially those who have some leadership role. We subconsciously want to assuage our guilt. Bad examples are helpful. (If you are a leader, I encourage you to take this before the Lord for ten honest minutes.)
3. We expect little of ourselves and call it grace. Bonhoeffer wrote a whole book about this. Grace is glorious, free, and freeing. But like all ideas we hold in our hearts and minds, it is also subject to the Enemy’s work of distortion. Don’t be afraid to expect more of yourself, as Christ allows it. Expect holy habits, including worship. 

A Prayer of Billy Graham
“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justified. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!”

Photo by Dan Whitfield from Pexels

A hymn for meditation on Good Friday.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isa. 9:2 ESV

This verse from Isaiah usually finds its home in Advent. But I think it is equally at home in Holy Week.

Darkness and light figure prominently in the Bible. Think of Genesis 1 where light and dark, once separated, alternate in a dance that continues to this day. It is as if you cannot have light without darkness.

David, in the Shepherd’s Psalm, speaks of the valley of the shadow of death. These are the very words used in Isaiah 9 (deep darkness or darkness of death). The Lord is with him and will bring him once again into the light.

John speaks of darkness and light in a battle at the beginning of his Gospel:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jn. 1:5 ESV

And at Jesus’ crucifixion darkness covers the land.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

Matt. 27:45 ESV

The same is echoed in the ancient Christian Tenebrae service during the last three days before Easter. It is a service of shadows and often ends in total darkness and, after a loud noise, silence.

Why the darkness over the land? Why the darkness of Tenebrae?

For this reason: Jesus walked our valley of the shadow of death. He entered the utter darkness of the grave and our own dark Hell. Why?

To shine in victory over the grave, death, and Hell for us! Hallelujah!

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Matt. 27:46 ESV

The five books of Moses take their Hebrew names from the first words of the book. So Genesis is called bereshith (in the beginning). The name we know, Genesis, comes from the first word in the Latin Vulgate translation. Similarly, the name of Exodus in Hebrew is just the first word which is in English These. All that to say that the Jews would refer to the books of the Pentateuch by their first words.

Jesus in agony on the cross cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Is he accusing the Father of abandonment? Does he cry out in despair? Has he resigned himself to death without rescue?

What did those standing near the cross—John, Jesus’ mother, and the other Marys—understand when Jesus spoke? His words would have brought Psalm 22 in its entirety to mind. There was no need for Jesus to say more.

Psalm 22 is a personal lament, a very deep lament. It contains a word-picture of the crucifixion. But it does not end in despair, but hope. Jesus did not focus only on his cruel pain and humiliation, but on his Father’s rescue, and his ultimate victory after his resurrection.

I will tell of your name to my brothers; amid the congregation I will praise you: For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him but has heard when he cried to him.

Ps. 22:22, 24 ESV

The laments of the Bible permit us to cry out to God from the depths of pain and loss. God is not offended when his children cry out to him in complaint. But like Psalm 22, our lament in meant to end not in despair or accusation but hope, in praise, and in glory.

So make the laments of Scripture your pattern for prayer. Speak plainly to the Lord of your pain, your fears, your worries, your sorrow. But follow that prayer with praise and confidence that the Lord will rescue you, keep you, guard you as the apple of his eye.

Photo by Nathan Cowley from Pexels

A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish.

Isaiah 42:3

Have you ever had one of those times when everything seemed to go wrong? Or when you felt you had failed and saw no way out? A time when the consequence of a choice seemed impossible to deal with?

One thing you can be sure of: you aren’t alone! All of us at times find ourselves following a path that doesn’t lead where we thought but instead brings new, even greater, problems. Worse still, it may leave us with a sense of utter failure. The question becomes critical – Where do I turn for help in my helplessness?

Isaiah the prophet sought to remind God’s struggling people that it was God who had always protected and cared for them. But they turned away. Isaiah then pointed out the futility of turning to man-made idols to replace God as the authority for finding their way in life. Instead, he told them to trust God and that He will send One who will “take you by the hand and keep you!”

In the chapters that follow, Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Messiah, though He is not named. This prophecy is God’s answer to life’s questions. The answers are found in the teachings, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ who fulfilled God’s promise that first Easter.

Isaiah’s prophecy became a reality in Christ who took our sin and judgment upon Himself. Those who believe in Him find answers to living in the now and anticipation of life everlasting. You may feel bruised, or like a dimly burning wick, but God affirms “I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over You. . .” All He asks of us is to acknowledge our need, believe and turn to Him in trust, giving ourselves to into His hands.

Where are you looking for life’s answers?

Photo: Fumée by JR Guillaumin
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Righteous are you, O LORD when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?

JER. 12:1 ESV

“Stop complaining!” is a phrase every parent has spoken to their whiny children. And you can hear it on any day in any public place. Our culture considers not complaining a virtue. It is just downright impolite to whine. And complaining is not safe. I should never complain to my superiors if I want my career to go anywhere.

And indeed, we should never complain to God! No, that would be the height of arrogance! It’s not even safe.

But when we read the Psalms, we hear complaining voices and no criticism from God. Over half of the Psalms are lament, a complaint to God. And the Psalms are the prayer book of God’s people. And the Holy Spirit inspired them.

Our Father is not like us. His store of patience is not short. He does not take it amiss when we complain to Him. The lament Psalms are his permission to pray this way, and we should.

But what assurance do we have that it is OK to pour out our complaint to God? Let me offer just one:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

mATT. 11:28 esv

Jesus invites the worn down, the downtrodden, the hurting, the tired, the discouraged, the sad, to come to Him. And when we come are we then to be silent? No!

My Dad once told me his favorite hymn was I Must Tell Jesus:

 I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
 I cannot bear these burdens alone;
 In my distress He kindly will help me;
 He ever loves and cares for His own.

 I must tell Jesus!
 I must tell Jesus!
 I cannot bear my burdens alone;
 I must tell Jesus!
 I must tell Jesus!
 Jesus can help me, Jesus, alone.

I think my Dad felt Jesus was the only one to whom he could talk plainly.

Do not fear! You can pour out your heart to Jesus. He will hear and not rebuke you. He will kindly take you, his child, into his arms.

Start complaining!

Photo by Samuel Martins on Unsplash

For this is the will of God, your sanctification. (1 Thess. 4:3 ESV)

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians speaks of them as having been saved. Of the Corinthians, however, he says they are being saved. But in Romans, he speaks of those that shall be saved.

Now I’m sure all who are reading this know that Paul is speaking of the impact of God’s grace when we come to Him in faith. We have been saved if we have truly repented, confessed our sin, and by faith trusted ourselves to Christ. And with all believers, we will be saved on the day of His coming, when our salvation is complete, and we enter the glory of heaven itself. But salvation involves more than redemption and glorification. It involves sanctification!

Paul often declares the importance that marks trusting Christ. And he rejoices at that moment when Jesus will come again, and we may take our place in heaven. But he also calls attention to the fact there is a lifetime to be considered between our becoming His, and His coming again,

Note his words to believers in 1Thess 4:3. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” God’s will for each of us is not just “Go to Church on Sunday.” We are each called, in our uniqueness to serve Him. When we turn from the world to Him, the Holy Spirit begins God’s work in us that we may be set apart for His purposes and Glory. This is the beginning of a lifetime journey of spiritually growing and becoming His new creation. Paul defines sanctification like this, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

What is our part in all this? In John 17 Jesus addresses this question in His prayer for those He is sending into the world. He asks the Father saying, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” But He doesn’t mean just listening to a sermon or reading a bit in the Bible. Sanctification involves listening, as Jesus admonished, “having ears to hear.” It calls for prayer that seeks God’s wisdom, and asks the Spirit to open the eyes of our heart so whatever our circumstance, we may understand, trust Him and in His strength, as His witnesses, mature, worship and live in the joy of His love.

The question: am I living His will?

–Photo by Jason Betz on Unsplash

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Jn. 8:32 ESV

Have you ever seen a truth table? It is an exciting tool used in fields like math and logic. Its purpose is to determine, through symbolic representation, the final truth-value of any compound statement. It can be complicated if you include all the possibilities but stick with me, the heart of it isn’t complicated at all.

The key idea of the truth table is simply this: the truth or falseness of any factual statement depends on the truth or falseness of its parts. For instance, as I write there is a can on my desk which is filled with nuts. That is a compound statement of fact. Now to be a statement both conditions must be true, i.e., there must be a can setting on my desk, and it must be full of nuts. If the can isn’t there, or if it is there, but empty, then the statement itself is false. That it is partially true confuses the issue but does not make the statement true. If I look at the truth table for this set of relationships it looks like this:

1. True + True = True
2. False + True = False
3. True + False = False
4. False + False = False

What interests me is this: The true is obviously true (l above) and the false obviously false (4). However, statements of partial truth (as in 2 & 3 of the table) are ultimately false even if entirely true in one part. Often these are difficult and confusing to deal with because the false is obscured by alignment with what is true. The can is setting on my desk. You can see it if you look. But what is in it is not so obvious. (And now I’m going to put this can away so I won’t eat any more of the nuts! Maybe full is no longer the best word.)

Now if you’re still with me, you’re probably saying, “So what?” Well, I think there are several so whats which force themselves on Christians. For instance, consider the danger in holding to unexamined truth. Whether there are nuts in the can on my desk is no big deal and can be left unexamined. But whether you are building your life, home, marriage, career and eternity on what is true, is a BIG DEAL! No one structures his life on the false. Our problem is being sucked in by the partially true.

According to Jesus, when we know the truth it will set us free. (John 8:32) Recognize the depth of this statement. Jesus assumes that truth really exists and provides bedrock underpinning for life. It stands as something that resides in the core of existence and forms a base for that existence. If you know this, it’s freeing. BUT partial truth is always a distortion and consequently, false! It cannot set us free. It can only enslave us by tying our life to the unreal.

The depth of another statement Jesus made comes into focus here too. The Christian life cannot be a compound of true and false. Jesus said “No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve God and mammon.” It is easy to see why. The final value of the compounding of true and false is false. That is how creation works! And the challenge is right here.
Don’t be fooled by partial truth. Sometimes the error is difficult to see. It is usually easier to leave the truths we build our lives on unexamined. But the truth table should jerk us back to reality. The false distorts the true to the point of falseness. Set for your goal nothing less than God’s absolute truth!

(January, 1987, Ojai CA)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:8 NASB

I am a Puddleglum. I confess it. I am prone to melancholia, and now and then, especially when responsibilities and worries weigh heavily, I will think, “I am quite a useless critter after all.”

The thought does not last long, as I know better, but it still creeps into my consciousness unasked. As we grow older we seem to accumulate failures, disappointments, dashed hopes, and derailed dreams. And a Puddleglum will weight those more heavily than the more real, solid joys of life, the gifts that God gives. And, if we are wise, we will not be tricked into believing that fame or wealth or professional accomplishment will answer that thought. So, at the end of the day, that one word often looms in my mind: useless.

Puddleglums like me need reassurance. We need a solid promise. And Peter gives one that is so striking and brilliant that I have trouble wrapping my soul about it:

…if these qualities are yours; you are neither useless nor unfruitful…

In God’s eyes—and they are about the only eyes that matter—we are useful, significant, (famous if you will) if only we are growing in Christ, building little by little.

If you are a Puddleglum like me, I challenge you to memorize this short passage from Peter and use it to encourage yourself when the cares of life weigh heavily.