Eye Black, Faith, and Free Speech

I have recently read some strong criticism of players like Tim Tebow who write Bible verses on their eyeblack.  I’m not a huge fan of Tebow (because of the uniform he wears, not the faith he professes), but surely the kid has a right to simply profess his faith.  I’d find all the hostility towards the simple sharing of a Bible verse amusing, if it wasn’t so completely absurd.   Why is there such a strong reaction to what amounts to a strip of black tape with a few white letters and numbers on it?  If it were a Nike swoosh or an Adidas logo, no one would care.  If it said something like “healthcare for all,” people would applaud the athlete’s convictions and resolve.  But, put a simple thing like “John 3:16″ and some go nuts.  I’ll simply reply to these critics of free speech with the same advice they’ve given to professing Christians over the years:  If you don’t like what you see on television, change the channel.

God Meets Our Needs

We tend to be fearful creatures.  One of the reasons we are so fearful is because we are forgetful.  We forget who God is and how He works.  We lose sight of His faithfulness.  That may be one of the reasons we find so many reminders of God’s faithfulness in the Scripture. 

In the book of 1 Kings, we read of a man named Elijah.  In the opening accounts of his life, we see two great reminders of God’s provision.  The Bible says, “Then the LORD said to Elijah, ”Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.  Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”  So Elijah did as the LORD told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.  The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook” (1 Kings 17:2-6, NLT).

Eventually, a drought dried up the brook, and Elijah moved on to Zarephath.  There, he encounters a widow, and asks her for food.  She, however, lacks the food to help him.  She tells him that she only has enough food to feed her family one last time before they die.  The prophet tells her, “Don’t be afraid!  Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first.  Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.  For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:  There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again” (1 Kings 17:13-14, NLT)!

On two different occasions, in the midst of difficult times, God meets the needs of those who trust Him.  We need to remember that He is faithful.  We may not always have what we want, but God is faithful to give us what we need.  Jesus reminds us, “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat?  What will we drink?  What will we wear?  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:32-33, NLT).  So fear not, because God is faithful.  He meets our needs.

A Major League Dilemma

I am a major league baseball player.  My life bears no evidence of that mind you, but I am nonetheless.  My physique and athletic ability cannot confirm my claim, but I am because I say so.  My hand eye coordination might suggest otherwise, but hear me when I say I am a major leaguer.  I know I am because I have sat in numerous stadiums through the years.  I have stood during the seventh inning stretch and sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”  I have bought several souvenir programs.  I own t-shirts that prove my claims.  I have hats that bear witness to my profession.  I even have a bat, ball, and glove somewhere.  No doubt about it, I indeed play in the bigs.

It doesn’t matter that every aspect of my life denies my claims.  My behavior and habits have nothing to do with it.  My daily routine might suggest something completely different, but I am a big-leaguer.  Just because I don’t travel with the team, take batting practice, shag flies, go to conditioning, sit in the dugout, or play in the games doesn’t mean a thing.  Sure, no one ever really sees me doing much as a player.  That’s not the point.  What I do has no bearing on my claim.  I’m in “the show.”  Don’t tell me otherwise.  To do so is judgmental. 

On the same note, don’t quote some document to me either.  Just because I completely ignore some standards on paper means nothing.  Sure, I don’t honor what the contracts and handbooks say about being a player.  That’s beside the point.  I’m a major ballplayer.  I know there’s a coach.  I’ve sat in the stadiums a time or two.  My claim is sufficient. 

Listen to the words of Jesus.  He said,

“If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.  What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?  For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:24-27, HCSB).

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ⌊only⌋ the one who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21, HCSB).

The Apostle Paul writes,

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.  Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness” (Romans 6:8-13, ESV).

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV).

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27, ESV).

The Apostle Peter likewise writes,

“Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.  But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-16, HCSB).

Finally, the words of the Apostle John.  He writes,

“Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever” (1 John 2:15-17, HCSB).

I can claim to be in the major leagues all I want.  My life says otherwise.  The documents of baseball say otherwise.  And, I’m sure the coach would say otherwise too.  Likewise, we can make all the claims we want regarding our relationship with Jesus.  We can claim to be a Christian with intense believability.  But I wonder, what do our lives profess?  Does the fruit of our lives confirm or deny our claims?  Hear me well.  I am by no means denying that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).  We cannot earn our salvation.  Genuine faith, however, will impact the way we live.  Our church membership certificates and baptismal certificates mean little if we lack Jesus.  Our claims and professions are empty without Him.  May our lives match our claims.  May they honor our Savior.

Dependent Joy

It often seems like the headlines of our lives steer our emotions.  If we arise to be greeted with good news, we’re happy.  If, on the other hand, we hear something not so pleasant, it can ruin our day.  I guess it’s only human for us to react that way.  The reality is, however, that God desires so much more for us.  He wants us to live a life that is not overwhelmed by the events around us.  He wants us to trust Him in everything, and thus be able to rise above the trials and triumphs of life.

As Paul closes out his letter to the Philippians, he writes, “Always be full of joy in the Lord.  I say it again—rejoice” (Philippians 4:4, NLT)!  In that one simple sentence, Paul gives us a key to living above our circumstances.  It’s living in the Lord.  In God, we are able to find lasting joy.  In Him, we are able to experience the good and the bad of life knowing that God is greater than all of it.  That’s why Paul says we find joy in the Lord. 

Is there a real difference between joy and happiness?  I think so.  Joy is greater than happiness.  It’s sort of like uber-happiness.  Happiness is so often dependent on things going our way.  We’re happy if we get a new gadget or a great promotion.  Joy on the other hand transcends our circumstances.  It is that sense of contentment that flows from knowing God.  It is a confidence that He is in control, and can handle whatever comes our way.  It is the security that comes from knowing that He holds all things in His hands, and that He always has our best interest at heart (Romans 8:28).  Joy is being able to enjoy God, and the life He has given to us.  We achieve it through a deepening relationship with Him.  That’s why joy rises above our circumstances.  It’s not dependent on them.  It’s dependent on Him.

Supplemental Living

We say things all the time.  We’re going to lose weight.  We’re going to be a better spouse.  We’re going to get a handle on our spending.  Promises made.  And, usually promises broken.  Tragically, we have grown accustom to making claims and not following through.  Even more tragically, this same phenomenon takes place in our spiritual lives.

The Apostle Peter writes that God has given us everything we need to live for Him (1 Peter 1:3-4).  With that in mind, he then writes, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2 Peter 1:5-7, HCSB, emphasis added).

In other words, since God has given us what we need to live for Him, we need to live for Him.  It’s not enough to just make claims regarding our faith.  We need to put some work into living it out.  Peter is not speaking about working to have salvation.  He’s calling us to live faithfully because of our salvation.  It’s the same idea that James had in mind when he said, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26, HCSB).  Peter’s point is simply that since God has given us what we need, we need to supplement our saving faith with faithful living.  We do this not to be redeemed, but because we are redeemed.

Genuine faith prompts us to live a life that reflects God’s presence in our lives.  Too many claim Christ without living for Christ.  I’m fearful that these claims are little more than empty words.  Again, I am not advocating that we earn our salvation by works.  Quite the contrary.  We are given salvation by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).  We need to begin to live like we have been changed by that grace.  May we truly appreciate the grace God sheds on us to redeem us.  Then, may we live a life that honors Him in the power of that grace.

More than Words

Their is an ever present tension in Scripture between faith and works.  While the Bible makes it clear that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), it also makes clear that our faith in Christ manifests itself in some outward evidence.  James reminds us of this challenge when he writes, ““You have faith, and I have works.”  Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works.  You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder” (James 2:18-19, HCSB).

James makes the point that it is not enough to merely claim to be a Christian.  It’s the same idea Jesus conveys when He says, ““A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit.  For each tree is known by its own fruit” (Luke 6:43-44, HCSB).  Our lives should give evidence of the faith we profess.  At the very least, we should feel the presence of the Spirit convicting us of sin and wrongdoing.   How is it possible that we have so many who profess Christ yet give no manifestation of His presence in their lives?  None of us our perfect.  I can identify with Paul who proclaimed himself the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).  We all know what it is to sin, stumble, and fall.  With that said, however, it’s absolutely tragic that there are so many that want to claim Jesus without demonstrating any desire to live for Him.

The Intersection of Doctrine and Reality

There comes a time when what we believe intersects with the reality of our lives.  It is there that our doctrines faces a tremendous test.  It’s one thing to believe something in theory.  It’s quite another to trust it in the midst of our circumstances.  Such was the case for a lady in the Bible named Martha.  Martha had recently lost her brother.  As a matter of fact, he had been dead about four days when Jesus arrives at Martha’s home.  The Bible gives us the story.  It says,

“When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.  Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss.  When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him.  But Mary stayed in the house.  Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”  Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”  “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”  Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.  Do you believe this, Martha?”  “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God”” (John 11:17-27, NLT).

We see that Martha doesn’t have a problem in her theology.  She believes perfectly well that Jesus was able to heal the sick (Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died).  She believes in the physical resurrection of the dead (Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day”).  She believes that Jesus is the Messiah (I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God) who can do anything (I know that God will give you whatever you ask).  She completely passes the doctrinal exam.  Her theology is solid.  In theory anyway.

What she struggled with is the same thing you and I struggle with.  On paper, our belief system is fine.  It’s our realities that gum it all up.  When Martha faced the loss of her brother, everything she believed remained a theory.  Jesus could have helped her yesterday, and He could help her tomorrow, but there was nothing He could do today.  Her circumstances were beyond was He was willing to do.

For many of us, we wrestle with the idea that God really wants to work in our lives.  God can fix other people’s marriages, but He won’t fix ours.  He can heal other people’s illnesses, but He won’t heal mine.  He can meet other’s needs, but He won’t meet mine.  It’s not an able issue.  It’s a willing issue.  It’s not a doctrinal issue.  It’s a reality issue.  God is able and willing to work in the most difficult circumstances of our lives.  He is more than a God on paper.  He is more than a theory or a paragraph in a theology textbook.  He is the sovereign creator and sustainer of all that is (Hebrews 1:2-3).  He can do anything and anytime.  It’s perfectly acceptable to trust God with the past and with the future.  Only, don’t forget to trust Him with the present.  That’s where our doctrine intersects with our reality.

Trusting God with Everyone Else

Faith is hard.  I always knew that in some form or fashion.  It’s hard to trust God.  It’s hard to fully let go and let Him guide my present and provide for my future.  As I get older, I am finding out that it’s even harder to trust God with the lives of people entrusted to me.  I have reached the age where my kids are preparing for life on their own.  My oldest is in the process of applying for college.  He is looking at a variety of schools.  He has been accepted at all of them.  The issue (as it is with most families) is financing.  I see a kid who wants desperately to serve the Lord in some capacity.  He has worked so hard and is eager to find God’s place.  That is where the real test of my faith comes in.  It’s one thing to trust God to take care of me, but do I trust God to take care of him?

This dilemma of the heart reminds me of the Apostle Paul.  Many times he prayed for people who were separated from him.  As he writes the Colossian Christians, he tells them,

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you.  We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.  All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.  We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.  May you be filled with joy” (Colossians 1:9-11, NLT).

Paul modeled praying for people who were apart from his direct influence.  He desired for them to grow in their understanding of God’s will.  He desired that God would continue to work in their lives.  Thus, he prayed.  When we find ourselves having to trust God with everyone else, sometimes that’s all we can do.

Grab Your Shield

One of the things that makes superheroes great is their gadgets.  You know.  Spider-man has his web-slingers.  Iron-man has his armor.  Daredevil has his billy-club.  And Captain America has his shield.  That shield is so cool.  No one else has a shield.  There is just something special about it.  I remember that as a kid I would cut shields out of cardboard, decorating the front with one design or another, and then running off to win the battle and save the world.

As we continue talking about the tools we need to stand firm in our faith, we turn our attention to our shield.  Paul writes, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16, ESV).  The shield was vital to the survival of a Roman soldier.  Typically, it was four feet high by two feet wide and was covered in leather.  It could be dipped in water to help extinguish the flaming arrows that enemies would shoot at it.  For centuries, Roman soldiers sought protection behind their shields.  It could protect virtually from head to toe.  Their formations depended on it.  The shield was absolutely essential. 

Paul tells us that faith is our shield.  It is faith which protects us from all the things Satan throws our way.  It is fatih that saves, and faith that helps be confident in our salvation.  The Bible tells us that we are made right with God through faith.  In Romans, Paul writes, “since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1, ESV).  Furthermore, our confidence is rooted in faith.  It gives us assurance.  The author of Hebrews says, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, ESV). 

At its most basic, faith is trust.  It is not simply believing.  It’s more than that.  It is a complete surrendering.  It is trusting God to do what He claims He will do.  It is believing that Jesus is who He said He is, and did what He said He did.  It is the confident expectation that God will keep all of His promises.  Not some.  Not most.  All of them.  When we doubt, we are encouraged by faith.  When we fear, we are strengthened by faith.  When we hurt, we are comforted by faith.  When we are tempted, we are delivered by faith.  We we are stagnant, we are motivated by faith.  The evil one will attack.  He will shoot those arrows dipped in pitch and set ablaze.  When those arrows approach, it is our faith that knocks them away.  It is faith that extinguishes those flames.  Grab your shield.  Head to the battle.  Stand firm in your faith.