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The Christian Work Ethic: Are You a Worker-for-Hire or Are You Working the Family Farm?
The Christian Work Ethic: Are You a Worker-for-Hire or Are You Working the Family Farm?
My great grandfather moved his family from northern Georgia across the Chattahoochee River into southeastern Alabama and purchased a sizable piece of land they called a plantation. My grandfather had 13 children who worked the land until he retired. My father and one brother and sister bought portions of the land for themselves.
I grew up helping dad work our family farm. By the time I came into the family, it was mostly just dad and me working along with the tenant family that lived on the land. Though it was a relatively small farm, my mother would sometimes refer to it as part of the plantation. When asked where some of us might be, she would say, "I don't know exactly; somewhere on the plantation."
The children of the tenant family were my playmates and my working partners. We all did pretty much the same work, but the perspective was different. They were working on the plantation. I was working on the family farm.
Just a Job
The gospel not only transforms our inner lives, it affects our work ethic. We are heirs to his mission and adopted sons working on his family farm. Plantation ethic is mostly about working for hire. You do your job to be paid. You instinctively know that doing a good job brings job security and maybe better pay. But, there is no sense of ownership nor future dreams for development.
Sadly, many Christians have never made the transition. Believing that spirituality and work are in different categories, they spend most of their time involved with secular work, and less time with the spiritual business of worship, discipleship, and church activity. This duality is a great thief of joy. Work is seen as a necessity but not a vital part of being God's people on earth.
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It is easy to see how people adopt different values systems for the business sphere since, in their minds it is not a part of the spiritual life. It also might answer why some feel so demeaned or even dirty because they are forced to do secular work. If work is dirty, then the pay must be dirty, so even the management of finances is extra-Christian activity. When wealth is the goal, materialism is the god.
People who work for money have made themselves slaves to it. It tells them which job, how to advance, and how to measure their worth. No wonder that feel shame when they come to church to worship the God of everything. They somehow must know that God has a competitor in their lives.
Working in the Family Business
Working in the family business is much different. You get to be with the father and the other heirs as you work. You have a sense of sharing in ownership. You have a common vision and hope for development. Excellence is not based on pay but on appreciation and hope. You are expressing yourself and fulfilling your design to subdue as God's partner.
Knowing that the pay-master is also your father, you are confident that he will be more than fair. You are free to be creative in finding ways to help others and make the place better. Working with God as Father, we know that every assignment is backed by unlimited resources. He supplies everything we need to accomplish what he has commissioned us to do.
We are also delighted to be working on a project that is guaranteed to succeed. We don't have to compete for reward or recognition. We are working with God as a partner and the prospects are beyond comprehension.
All Work Spiritual and Eternal
The reconciliation and restoration accomplished by the gospel has made all our work spiritual and eternal in its worth. Everything we do is a good work if we do it as sons/daughters for the sake of the mission and to the glory of our Father.
Missionaries are not superior in their work if each of us is doing what we are assigned. Working on the staff of a religious organization is not better work than working on the staff of a plumber. We are each representing the mission of our Father to do good to all people and leaving the world a better place by reflecting the glory of God in every work of our hands.
Work is a privilege and God's way of sharing his nature and purpose with us. He still works and invites us to work as his son/partners.
Plantation or family business? Your choice.
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
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Awakening to the War
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Awakening to the War
In Psalm 12, David describes the alarm we sense when accosted by the noise filling the air around us:
Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind. They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak...those who say, 'With our tongues we will prevail; our lips are our own -- who is our master?' (Psalm 12:1-4 NRSV).
An Abrupt Awakening
What are we seeing in these days? We can be sure that our God has not forgotten us or gone on a vacation. He is not quarantining in fear of being infected by COVID-19. He is acting to awaken His people to the real war that is going on, and He is empowering them to wake up and shine as lights in a dark world. We have been sleeping through a gradual disintegration of culture. God is abruptly waking up His people who are called to be His representatives on earth.
It is seldom pleasant to be awakened abruptly. We are at first disoriented and even resentful. After all, we were enjoying the sleep. But, to be awakened to the reality that we are in a war is even more disturbing. The subtle lies of our consumer culture have been invading each sphere of society for a long time. All of a sudden it seems they have snowballed, and we feel that there is no one who tells the truth anymore -- no trusted Walter Cronkite or Billy Graham or Abraham Lincoln. The government, the media, the church, and medical science have all lost credibility.
Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now rise up, says the Lord; I will place them in the safety for which they long (Psalm 12:5 NRSV).
God sees and he cares when the people he loves are being oppressed by deception. He is rising to bring truth to the stage. The children of light are being awakened to the true nature of the war and God's strategy to establish His purposes in this generation. Carl Von Clausewitz, a military strategist from the era of the French Revolution, said that the first, grandest, and most decisive act of any general or statesman is to understand the nature of the war in which he is engaged. Our war is a war of words: truth versus lies.
Truth Versus Lies
We were lulled to sleep by the influence of moral humanism. As a culture we have elevated the human hierarchy of needs above the truth of God's word. The consumer-culture demands that what we feel that we need must be addressed and any societal structure that does not comply must be canceled. Human glory is the highest goal imaginable. God's glory is ignored and even mocked. We demand safety, security, acceptance, esteem, and self-actualization from our government, our religion, and our society. We cancel any voice that contradicts our demands for our felt needs to be met. We even cancel God when He doesn't perform according to our definition of good. It is alarming, but it is just the beginning of God's move to exalt truth in a bigger way than before.
Our war is a war of words: truth versus lies.
Waking up is turbulent. We instinctively fight it, ignoring the alarm bells ringing. Denial is a familiar response. We want to find voices that tell us that everything is fine. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in Great Britain in the late 1930s said that Hitler was not so bad and could be appeased. He was wrong. It is impossible to make peace with deception. Contrary to popular opinion, truth is not subjective and selective. God's word is full and final. We cannot deny the encroachment of evil by wishing it would just go away. We cannot simply change our metrics to substantiate our current practices. For instance, churches have ignored the lack of discipleship in our programs and instead celebrated the numbers of people gathered and the size of the campuses we have built. We told people that if they came to meetings and listened to the services, they would be fine. We lied. People who have not built their lives on the words of Christ will not stand in the storms that are now coming.
Don’t Hit the Snooze Button
Delay is another instinctive response to the discomfort of waking. We want to push the snooze button on the clock. Just 10 minutes more… We have developed doctrines that have people expecting a great day in the future, but also expecting evil to prevail until then. Abandoning our role as God's lights in the darkness, we have only looked to a future escape from the world of wickedness.
Of course, something in us all tempts us to want to fly away like a bird to a mountain of rest. But we are assigned here, and we have been given the necessary supplies to not only stand, but to advance. Escapism takes many forms. We can try drugs, distractions, entertainment, or just abdication. We expect the government to take care of us, the public schools to educate our children, the church to make sure we go to heaven, and the media to inform us of what we need to know. Irresponsibility has the same results regardless of how we express it.
Who’s Telling the Truth?
The issue today is the same as in Adam and Eve's day, David's day, and Jesus' day -- it is a war of words. Who is telling the truth? Jesus said very clearly at the end of His Sermon on the Mount that lives built on His words would stand in the storms. Others would fail. It has always been true. History is the faithful witness that only those societies that are built on the eternal transcendent word of God as interpreted through the person of Jesus will last.
The Epistle of James is adamant that the tongue is mightier than anyone expects. It determines direction for people and nations. It can destroy whole structures like a fire in the forest. No human can tame or domesticate it. It is hooked to the heart and expresses the thoughts and desires of the heart. Only when the heart is changed through regeneration of the Spirit can the tongue begin to produce the fruit of righteousness as it was designed.
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God cares about the poor and despoiled. He is raising up spokespersons to speak the truth to the lies of this culture. There are some new "pulpiteers" on the horizon. They won't be so enamored with oratorial performance as with clarifying the truth of what God has done in Christ Jesus. But, it is not the pulpit only. Disciples of Jesus from every stripe will be declaring the good news and its ramifications in homes, offices, and hideaways. Mass media will not control the word communicated by those whose hearts have been captured by God's love.
We are seeing the beginning of a return to God's word as authoritative and life-giving. We will appreciate the need to interpret the Scripture accurately. It is not a matter of winning a theological point, but of spiritual and societal survival. We can't take the word of media preachers as to what God is saying. We must hear from Him, and He is eager to tell us.
Exciting Days Ahead
We shall also see the appearance of true shepherds. They will care more for the welfare of the sheep than their own ministries and kingdoms. They will get equipped to feed and protect those under their care. The emergence of the Christian community is beginning. People need each other and are seeing that we have a common foundation, but different gifts. The focus will be on "We" rather than "Me." All of these factors will produce a kind of life that is more akin to the biblical norm than the American dream.
Adventurous and risky lifestyles will be the order of the day. No longer will we read of the miracles of scripture and wonder where they are. Our witness will give hope to those languishing in circumstance-controlled situations. We will live on the edge because we have seen the invisible and believe the promises of the faithful God of might.
These are either scary days of shocking deception or exciting days of early awakening. I am asking God to give us eyes to see what He is doing. We can join Him and see the light push back darkness.
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
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Is It Time to Run?
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Is It Time to Run?
We all have a built-in survival instinct for either fight or flight. When an opponent is too ominous to reasonably expect to win a confrontation, our internal desire tells us to fly away. The psalmist David speaks of such a temptation in Psalm 11:
In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me, "Flee like a bird to the mountains; for look, the wicked bend the bow, they have fitted their arrow to the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalms 11:1-3 NRSV)
David is incredulous that such a solution would be considered by anyone who takes refuge in the God of Israel. Yet today, we still find ourselves looking for ways to get away from the enemy's attack. Many Christians face overwhelming threats and are resorting to escapism in its various forms. Some escape psychologically by using drugs, being immersed in pleasure, distracting ourselves with busyness, or allowing ourselves to be captivated by endless conspiracy theories.
We are aware that there is an invisible war going on, and that our weapons of prayer and proclamation empowered by unstoppable love from God will win in that war.
Philosophically, we take flight by adopting a false form of pacifism fueled by fear and a misunderstanding of humility. Theologically, we flee by entertaining futuristic eschatology that promises a rapturous escape from tribulation. Politically, we naively dismiss the reality of evil and seek ways to just get along while denying justice and placating the status quo.
The Whole Earth is God’s Temple
David goes on in his writing to remind us that the God who created everything is still in His temple, and that He rules from His heavenly throne. God chose to meet personally with Israel's representatives in a temple on earth, but the scriptures depict the whole earth as a temple where God dwells, and where He works through humans to fulfill His purpose for creation. His heavenly perspective allows Him to examine everyone and everything, and His gracious sovereignty enables Him to rule without violating the dignity He gave to His human partners.
God hates wickedness. It robs His beloved of joy and usefulness. It distorts His design and thwarts His plans for beauty. Those who align with Him also hate wickedness, and cannot fly away leaving evil to pervert God's good earth and its people. Sure, we tremble at the roar of the enemy's lion. We are tempted to run. We can even find narratives that seem to justify the abandonment of the mission. But those who behold His face cannot run, fly away, or buckle under the tyranny of evil.
We know we are God's people representing Him on earth, and that His resources are available to us. We know that evil will not prevail on the earth. God will certainly destroy the destroyer and his destructiveness. We also know that He is at work even now. The ultimate source of light came to the earth as God's Son. He called disciples and filled them with the light of His life. Those disciples multiplied, and we are now pushing back the darkness wherever we go.
Not Flesh and Blood, But Still a Fight
Some have been detoured to fight the wrong battles and have misidentified the enemy. However, we who continually behold His face (Psalm 11:7) will leave vengeance to the righteous Judge. We will boldly engage in prayer, being confident in His faithfulness to respond. We will employ the indestructible weapons of love and truth. We will refuse to fight flesh and blood, but we won't refuse to fight. We are aware that there is an invisible war going on, and that our weapons of prayer and proclamation empowered by unstoppable love from God will win in that war.
Taking a clue from Adam and Eve, we will tend our own gardens and expand them as we reproduce children (disciples). We will not run away or wish we could fly away. We were sent by the One who has all authority in heaven and earth. Commissioned by the Lord of the armies of heaven, we will not go AWOL.
We will show up to pray, stand up to speak, and never give up until God's love has eradicated evil.
Fly away? No way.
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
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Oh God, I’m Just Not Feeling You
Being fully inoculated in the post-enlightenment exaltation of human rationality and educated to promote thinking above feeling, I have tended to downplay feelings as having much value in religious experience. How many times have I been reminded by parents, teachers, coaches, and preachers to get over my feelings and act on truth? The post-modern insistence on subjectivity to the exclusion of objective truth claims is foolish and adds to my suspicion of "feeling it."
Yet, I wonder if the sense of longing deep in my breast cries for a relationship with God that is fuller than contemporary religious propositions provide. After all, the words of Scripture do seem to promise a salvation that includes every part of us.
Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save (completely) those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. (Hebrews 7:25 NLT)
The Presence of God Made Real
Jesus promised His disciples that the Comforter who would be sent to them after His ascension would make the presence of God as real to them as the communion He enjoys (see John 14:15-22). All the evidence we find in the Acts of The Apostles points to a community who enjoyed the felt presence of God. They lived far beyond mere principles and propositions. They were loved at the very deepest levels of existence and became rejoicing martyrs and world-changers. They did not wonder what Jesus would do if He were present. They assumed His presence and experienced His communion. It wasn't theory. It was shared life.
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The most common question asked by sincere Christians today is about knowing God's will. Of course we want to know His will. How else can we find direction and fulfill our destiny? But such a question could imply our willingness to do what is required even if God remains distant. If we just know what to do, we can follow the plan with or without His conscious presence. It might even imply that we think we can do the will of God without His enablement. This attitude produces morally-conscious people, but they are usually joyless.
What is the Heart of God?
Maybe there is another question that should precede the one about knowing His will: "What is the heart of God?" If knowing God is the essence of eternal life (John 17:3), then knowing His heart is essential. We can't afford to speculate and assume things about Him that aren't true because we are responding to whatever concept of God we presently retain.
Looking through the branches of the bush they were hiding behind, Adam and Eve concluded some things about God that were devastatingly wrong. Since then, humanity has been misperceiving God's heart. Left to our own perceptions, we will never get it right.
Moses had seen the mighty works of God. He had heard His voice. But he wanted more. He asked if he could see God's glory. To prevent his being incinerated, God hid him in a cave and passed by him while declaring His nature:
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6 ESV)
He Did What Was Necessary
Sadly, many focus on the iniquity phrase and miss the core of the revelation. Fearing the sure consequences of sin, they live trying to avoid it rather than embracing the God whose heart is merciful and gracious. Yes, sin has consequences. Left unconfronted it will continue to infect generations. But God’s merciful heart did what was necessary to be both just and merciful. It is His mercy that moves Him to take the wrath of sin on Himself in Jesus so that we can be forgiven and fully reconciled. It is His heart that is shown in all His works, and it is His heart that invites us into intimate communion with Him.
As we get to know Him, we find mercy and grace abounding and unstoppable love and eternal forgiveness granted. He acts according to His heart. He is not a hypocrite. Jesus came to reveal the nature of the Father and when He self-identified, He spoke of His heart:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28 ESV)
We can never see the purpose of His life, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension if we don't know His heart. His works reveal His heart, but we can marvel at His works and never feel His heart. If we miss that, we miss a large part of the salvation He gives. When we know in fact and in feeling His sympathies toward us, we will run to Him; never hiding or isolating. We discover that, like water, streams of mercy flow to the neediest point.
When we are devastated by our own disqualification, we qualify for mercy -- and that is where He shines brightest. God's glory is the revelation of His heart. We see His glory most clearly when we plead for mercy, and His mercy touches every aspect of our being. We know Him in our thoughts and in our emotions. We move toward experiencing the full restoration of humanity that He purchased. We know it and feel it because it is real.
Oh God, show me your glory!
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
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There are Aliens Among Us
This is not an attempt to mimic "check-out line" magazines that just try to grab attention. This is an attempt to a biblical approach to an obvious tension among Christians regarding their civic duties. We live with this tension because we have two homelands. We are born from above yet assigned to live and die on this earth: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3 NRSV).
If we only think of our eternal homeland, we will neglect our earthly duties. If we only think of our earthly existence, we will be conformed to our culture's norms, susceptible to all the fears and frustrations that come with being cut off from home. We will either be legitimately accused of being so heavenly-minded we are of no earthly good, or of being so worldly that we are hypocrites.
"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11 NRSV).
As God’s Slaves, Live as Free People
Aliens have a special kind of freedom. The apostle Peter expressed it in what seems to be a paradoxical phrase: "As God's slaves, live as free people..." (1 Peter 2:16 HCSB). Since the original fall of humanity into sin, we have been captives to fear and frustration. The only freedom possible is submitting to be slaves to the One who is sovereign love. When He is responsible for our provision and protection, we are freed from self-preservation, self-exaltation, and fear. Nothing is stronger than He, and love motivates everything He does. His purpose is to restore us to true humanity as originally designed. It is an honor to be His slave. The only other option is being a slave to sin.
Alien Freedom
Peter goes on to explain the nature of this alien freedom: "Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor" (1 Peter 2:17 NRSV). As we respect all people as being created in the image of God and worth the redemption price of the Son, we eliminate prejudice, racism, and injustice. As we love the family of believers, we embrace the purpose of God to bless the world through His family of priests. As we fear God, we respond to Him as the final authority and last word in our lives. As we honor the emperor, we accept God's use of civil authority to order society, and we submit to participate in it.
A Role to Play
When Peter wrote his letter, there was one emperor of Rome. In our day we live in a democratic republic where the people being governed have a role to play in who establishes order and how it is done. We honor this process by lawfully participating in it with diligence.
The same root word for honor is used for our attitude toward everyone and toward the emperor. We don't have to approve of what everyone or the emperor does in order to honor. We do have to see them as God values them. Emperors change. Civil authority is God's established way of ordering society. It remains. We must constantly work to establish laws that reflect the values of God's kingdom. Personalities are not as important as policies.
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Being aliens who are enjoying a freedom that is other-worldly, we are faithful to embrace our earthly assignments seriously. We are slaves to God who has made us His sons. We can leave the earth a better place than we found it. Aliens who are aware and awake make good citizens of the earth for we know we will be going home.
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
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Are These People Crazy?
Note: On Friday night’s Real Time with Bill Maher, the atheist HBO host said Amy Coney Barrett’s religious beliefs should be considered by the Senate because “being nuts is relevant.” Providentially, we have this new reflection from Stream Senior Contributor Dudley Hall.
What to make of these people who seem to be anchored in some kind of invisible reality? Even in the middle of social unrest and a viral pandemic, they are so joyful they can't find words to fully express it, and they possess a peace that is frankly, freaky.
Seriously, have they been on drugs so long that they have lost touch with reality? Have they been duped by some strange cult that has brainwashed them? Or, is it possible that they have found a normal that the rest of society -- being sub-normal --categorizes them as abnormal?
It has historically been a question that societies have asked about a group of people who are radically bound together by the love of God through Jesus Christ.
Of course, not everyone in Christendom is so radical. Every generation tries to fit into its culture. There seems to always be pressure to synthesize religions by eradicating their radical dynamics and feature their commonalities. It is more comfortable to talk about all of us being basically the same in that we are nice to others and striving for improvement. The doctrines don't really matter, we are told. We just need to be tolerant. The god we serve doesn't matter as long as we are sincere.
When Christianity is seen as simply one of the world's religions trying to do its part in doing good, it is evidence the church is no longer embodying the dynamic of the New Testament gospel. It is a denial of the meta-narrative of the bible.
Creating a New Disposition, New Identity
Jesus didn't appear just to make people nice. Nor did he die to just show an example of sacrifice. Neither was he raised from the dead just to prove he had miraculous power. He came to earth as God incarnate to create a new people with a new disposition and a new destiny. These followers are born again from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have his life in them. The apostle Peter describes them.
Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8
Having been born from the heavenly realm, they are not limited to physical observation and rational deduction in their determination of reality. The Jesus they know and love has been raised from the dead and they enjoy the fellowship of the same powerful Spirit that raised him. They have been loved in a way that only heavenly reality can love. God has acted in history to reconcile them to God, and they now experience his delight in them.
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Christ lives in their hearts by faith and he is more real to them than what their physical eyes can see. They know what they can't prove, yet can't deny. They are not irrational, but they are not limited to reason in their perception of what is going on. They know someone, not just some information, and that someone is majestic and personal.
Free to Love Others
Being loved unconditionally and eternally, they are free to love others. Since they share the very life of Jesus, they love what he loves and act accordingly. That is why throughout history they have led the way in taking care of the poor, needy, sick, oppressed and orphans.
Their joy in giving to the point of sacrifice makes no sense to those trying to hold on to their own lives. They are not looking to delight their souls in things, achievements, applause, or wealth, because they live with a consciousness that the Father is delighted with them already.
It is a joy too big for words. It shines out in the middle of suffering and pain. It offers hope to all who are desperately wanting a life with meaning and peace.
These people live in a joy that is unmistakable but not based on any circumstance. They suffer well, and die in hope. Like the deacon Stephen who was unjustly stoned in the presence of Saul of Tarsus, and the light of his countenance while dying affected Saul, this remnant of people change the world around them. They are witnesses of the great reality that God has invaded the earth and brought the powers of heaven to bear here. They aren't crazy. They have seen something that delights their souls. It's real. It is available to all who will admit need.
Why would anyone want to settle for another religion that tries to conform us to regulations and rituals. We can see the invisible and live in the eternal now, while we wait eagerly for the consummation of all things in Christ's last coming.
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
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Compelled to Speak
There comes a time when we must speak up and speak out. Failure to do so is a denial of who we are and what we believe. The New Testament Christians had a kind of boldness that betrayed normal human demeanor. They were emboldened to confront systemic evil with effectiveness. One such occasion is recorded in Acts, chapter four. A cripple man had been healed in the name of Jesus as Peter and John walked in the temple area. It caused a stir. The leaders of religion gone bad were demanding that they stop using the name of Jesus. Their response was classic and the effect was miraculous.
"Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard." -- Acts 4:19-20
Walking in the Authority of Christ
What made them so bold?
They were radicalized by hearing the shocking announcement that the long-awaited kingdom of heaven had arrived in their day. Since the Garden of Eden, humans had longed for order to be restored in creation. Trapped by sin and tossed by confusion, all of mankind longed for a day of restoration.
Universally, people knew something had gone wrong and needed to be fixed. For centuries Israel's prophets had foretold such a glorious time. Speculation had been rampant among the Jewish teachers about what it would look like. It was the object of their hope. They were looking for the climax of history.
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According to Jesus that day had arrived, but in a different form than they expected. He taught his students to pray, "Thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Though it was a radical prayer, it resonated with the hope that lingered deep in their hearts. They had seen the simple carpenter's son who lived righteously, taught insightfully, died unjustly, and raised from the grave miraculously. He was exalted to the place of authority which he dispensed to his disciples. It was this authority that healed the cripple man by the gates to the temple.
Assured of Divine Justice
They somehow knew that they were working with God to displace the kingdoms of darkness that tormented the world. They were not Old Testament saints still waiting for a kingdom to invade the world. It was time and they knew it.
When the tentacles of systemic evil tried to stop the spread of new life, they would not stand down. Since they believed firmly that death was not final, they did not shrink back from dying for their faith. They were single minded in their zeal to declare the good news of Jesus's complete work. Getting that done was more important than physical life and exalting him more urgent than personal survival. They were dangerous to the kingdoms that used death as a leverage and fear as their weapon. They were aware that they had been sent by the ultimate authority, and thus had no fear of lesser authorities. Though humanly weak and unrecognized, they spoke the confidence of those assured of divine justice.
We Have Been Commissioned
Those early Christians were heroic, but they don't represent an unreachable ideal. Their behavior is normal for those who have seen the available kingdom of God. We have the same life ebbing in us that they enjoyed.
When we align with what God is doing, he will lead us. First, we must recognize that this is our time. The kingdom of God is available and we are compelled to speak.
The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead has brought new life into us. We too live for something greater than our own pleasure. We have been commissioned to start where we are and move throughout the earth praying for the kingdom of heaven to displace the powers of evil, and proclaiming that Jesus is Lord over all. When opportunities to speak up and speak out arrive, we are to gladly step forward. With the love that conquers hate, and the mercy that forgives wrongs filling in our hearts, we call out injustice and offer a kind of peace that stills all storms.
Compelled to Speak
We have been given one of those opportunities recently in our land. While some are expressing their anger and fear in destructive ways, it is time we stood up and affirmed what our Father is exposing.
When people ask what we should do, the first answer is that we must not do nothing. A cup of cold water, a word of encouragement, a kind gesture -- these will open doors for deeper conversation and longer relationships. When we align with what God is doing, he will lead us. First, we must recognize that this is our time. The kingdom of God is available and we are compelled to speak. Love never fails.
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
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Is Human Progress Inevitable?
My uncle Charlie continues to express his amazement at the level of unhealthy discourse going on down at the local coffee shop and on TV. He can't understand why everyone can't see what is as obvious as the nose of your face ... to him. Uncle Charlie is not alone. Ordinary citizens don't spend much time thinking about or discussing social Darwinism. But our unaware society is bogged down in the mire of its implications.
We decry the silliness of today’s political discourse, yet we relentlessly watch the spinning of one false narrative after another from almost every form of media, both secular and religious. We search for some basis to defend the leader that best suits our own preferences, even allowing for some serious speculation. Then, we get excited to find some tidbit of information that might discredit the other side.
We celebrate in rallies when our candidate wins. But our smiles are shallow and our laughter his hollow, for deep down there is a sinking feeling. We know that what we are watching is more entertainment than serious governance. Yet, we believe that as long as "our side" will come out on top, things will inevitably get better and better.
The Belief in Inevitable Progress
That’s the underlying problem we are not addressing. We have bought what Hell has been selling since the beginning. It is the myth of inevitable progress toward human flourishing. In the end political discourse is fruitless -- because each proponent is pushing his/her view of how we implement inevitable progress, but without including a personal God who both created and sustains the world by his beneficent power. Who is going to tell the Emperor that he has no clothes?
There is no guarantee that history is marching toward utopia or even a better condition than before. Leaders can promise that their agenda will promote the progression better than the opponent. But without including God, the promises are nothing but seductive temptations. I'm confident that the generation that built the Tower of Babel could not conceive of things going badly. Just like today, progress was being made and humans were discovering how powerful and smart they were. Much of current civil leadership is characterized by the belief in unlimited human capacity for progress.
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In the absence of plausible reasons to promote their view, politicians have reverted to entertainment instead of persuasion. Therefore, as N.T. Wright stated in Surprised by Hope, they demand to be treated as Rock Stars, and Rock Stars are pretending to be politicians. Washington, D.C., has replaced Hollywood as the entertainment center of the nation. It is captivating drama -- but sadly, we can't turn it off by pressing delete. Our future as citizens of the earth is at stake, and in the hands of people bedeviled by the same myth that the Serpent told Eve. "Don't worry, when you know good and evil, you won't need God."
There is Hope for Progress -- Through the Kingdom of God
There is a hope for real progress, but it is only in the dynamic of the Kingdom of God. Jesus expressed this hope in his parable of the leaven in the loaf. The tiny bit of leaven expands and transforms the entire lump until it is an altogether difference substance. More flour couldn't do such. More water would not accomplish the same. Something wholly different from the dough, even in a small amount, is what causes it to progress into what it was meant to be. Conversely, the sure hope for those who deny God and his kingdom is not progress but the spiral of descending deception and destruction (see Romans 1:18-32).
Some suggest we return to a more moral national ethic derived from a consensus of the different religions of the world. Some Christians even suggest that we institute biblical law. Though aligning with the Kingdom of God does bring progress in all relationships between humans and creation, that alignment is impossible to sustain without a relationship to the King of the kingdom. So, it would seem clear that the most important task of all humanity is to recognize and revere the person who has been enthroned as king, and get to know him. Of course, that is related to the mission of the Church in society.
History without the leaven of the Kingdom of God being operative in society, will tell a miserable and tragic story.
Jesus commissioned his followers to infect all nations with this hope. But that institution has largely bought in to the myth as well. Trying to be respectably relevant to culture, it has taken its seat in the audience to be entertained by those who are shaping our government and dictating our lives on earth. Relegating true hope to a future heaven or delayed millennium, much of the church has placed earthly hope in secular inevitable progress. We adopt without critique the idea that history is moving toward progress and we must be sure to be on the right side of history.
Reversing History’s Determined March to Self-Destruction
Here is a truth alert! History, without the leaven of the Kingdom of God being operative in society, will tell a miserable and tragic story. Throughout most of history, the true followers of Jesus have been engaged in reversing history's determined march to self-destruction. They were conscious of being ambassadors of his kingdom. They are those who have been reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). They speak on his behalf exhorting everyone to be reconciled to God. That is the hope!
The reconciled ones have access to the wisdom of the reigning king. Sharing his very life, they have a capacity to care about creation in a way that others do not. They know the power of humility and the fruit of love. They know that God loves his creation and is eager to bless it. But they know that without his blessing, the only future is destruction.
I call all those whom Jesus identifies as his to repent (change your mind) of buying into the myth. The best way to serve your country and the world that God loves is to live fully as an ambassador from the eternal kingdom. You are qualified by his righteousness.
It is time to stop watching the political drama and engage our world with the hope of progress based only on the Kingdom of God now in existence through faith in Jesus, the king. We cannot afford to sit by and watch the amusing circus going on in the seats of human government, though God himself laughs at the absurdity (Psalms 2:1-6).
When myths displace truth, the trajectory is set toward misery and destruction. The people who make up the body of Christ can make a difference. We represent a kingdom that cannot be destroyed. When it is recognized, it produces the fruit of light -- one day, one person, one prayer at a time. Progress is promised in Jesus. Without him it is not inevitable, regardless who is maneuvering the controls of government.
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
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Dankar the Donkey: A Children’s Story for All
It was cold on that winter night. Fires were lit in every fireplace. Children huddled together sharing warm blankets. Moms and dads sat close to their fires sipping hot soup.
There were no warm fires in the barn, but the animal world could manage. Genie had been hoping that her baby donkey would be born on a milder night, but as she lay in the straw, she knew this would be Dankar's birthday. She and donkey-father, Jack, had chosen this name for no special reason other than they liked the way it sounded. "Dankar" rolled off the lips easily.
Just before midnight, Dankar was born. He shivered in the cold barn but snuggled close to his mother for warmth and nourishing milk. Jack stood close by, nervously nibbling on some tasteless straw left in the feeding trough.
No one could imagine what lay in store for Dankar. Though his name would never be known outside the animal world, he would become a player in the greatest drama in the whole world. His story will be told as long as there are people to tell stories.
‘Why Me?’
As he grew up, he had a few friends close to his age. They sometimes talked about the lowly status of donkeys. They noticed that horses and camels often wore beautiful saddles and ornaments. People could be heard boasting about the speed and endurance of their horses and camels. Donkeys were useful, but seldom celebrated. There was nothing Dankar and his friends could do about being a donkey. No use wishing they were horses or camels. No benefit to wondering, "Why me?"
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Dankar was a strong but regular colt. No one had yet chosen him to ride. He was learning how to be led by a rope at the hand of his owner and to follow his commands. He spent lots of time tied to a wooden rail just outside his owner's house.
One day some nervous-looking men slipped up from behind and untied him. As they began to lead him away, he heard his owner, "Why are you taking my young donkey?" They said that the master needed him. Surprisingly, his owner agreed.
Dankar was nervous too! Soon it became clear that he was expected to carry a man on his back in some kind of parade. He had never done that before. Would he be able to hold up? Would he stumble? Would the rider beat him if he didn't walk smoothly? Why not get a more experienced donkey? Why not a horse or a camel? Why me?
Dankar Couldn’t Have Known
There was no way Dankar could have known that hundreds of years before, ancient prophets had told of this day and promised that the greatest person who ever lived would ride a donkey into the city of Jerusalem. This person was and is the king over all nations of the earth and his kingdom is marked by the humility of the donkey. This king would love the unqualified, stumbling, weak, and less noble people of the world. They would be the ones who shared in his parade...forever.
But Dankar didn't know about prophets and stuff. He did not know that the one on his back would in a few days be nailed to a cross and three days arise from the dead. How would he know that the greatest day in history was just a few hours away? For the moment He was in a big parade with palm branches under his feet. People were cheering their hearts out. No horse or camel had ever been in this kind of celebration. He loved it! It was so exciting that he forgot about his fears and questions and just enjoyed the walk.
He knew that they were not cheering him, but the one who was riding on his back. But he loved being a part. He didn't want the parade to end. It was so much fun. He had never dreamed of being a part of such a grand day. Later he was taken back to his owner. He couldn't wait to tell his friends. They would never believe him, but it was true and he knew it. Often he would muse about being a part of the grandest parade in all history and wonder: Why me?
Writer’s Note: Interpreting and Applying This Story
I wrote this story of Dankar for Palm Sunday. We read it for the four grandsons, ages 10-3 during family church. It was interesting what part they picked out as significant to each of them. The good thing about a story is that each person can see something that speaks to them. When they asked me what stood out, I admitted that I have often felt that I was insignificant in the grand scheme of things and sometimes confounded that God would want to include me in his parade. I think a lot of people can identify with that.
I'd like to encourage you to believe that God delights in you and enjoys being with you. He sees all; He is not ashamed of you, and He loves to see you smile.
I'd like to encourage you to believe that God delights in you and enjoys being with you. He sees all; He is not ashamed of you, and He loves to see you smile. You are in the parade. You are valuable and your story is not only interesting, but powerful. Jesus has chosen to put his weight on you. You are carrying him to all parts of the world and when the world really sees him, they will cheer -- and you will smile. You will know deep in your heart the cheers are for Him, and He deserves all the praise and glory. Some day "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is the Lord of lords and King of kings."
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
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