A few years ago my associate pastor responded to a call from a local hospital. An older teen had gotten into an automobile accident with his brother and was injured to the point of being brain dead. He was only alive due to life support. When he was removed from life support he died within a few minutes. The family was strong in their faith, believing that God could and would raise their son from the dead. They took him home and had an ongoing prayer meeting for approximately four days, right up until minutes before the funeral. God did not raise the boy from the dead.
Many questions arose from their decision to take their boy home. Legal questions about the hospital releasing the body, questions regarding laws concerning having a dead body in a private home, even ethical, moral and practical questions about having his younger elementary-aged siblings in the house while the brother was laid out in a room so people could come by and pray. Other questions arose as well, such as, would I go to such extremes if I were in their position. These questions and others were discussed at the time. The looming question for me was, “Do I really believe that God will raise people from the dead?” That question was continually examined in my heart of hearts.
Now the same question has resurfaced for me when I found out yesterday that the 22 year old son of our friends died suddenly and that they are holding some kind of prayer vigil for him. He died Wednesday and as of the writing of this blog they are still praying for God to raise him from the dead. Again, the questions flood my mind with the big one looming, “Do I believe that God will raise people from the dead?”
I can easily say, of course, I believe God can raise people from the dead. Just a few years ago I saw convincing video documentation of a man being raised from the dead in Africa. Also, my father had died and was gone for about ten minutes before he was brought back. It was in a hospital setting so it was call resuscitation. But, what I do know is that he died, we called a number of people to pray and he came back to life. Later that night he received Jesus as his Savior and was with us for three more days before he went on to be with Jesus.
This question goes much deeper than, “Do I believe God can?” The question is, “Do I believe He will?” I am convinced that a lot of people believe God can do anything. But, they don’t act upon that belief with confidence that He will. Rick Warren says, “We only believe in the Bible to the extent of what we do.” If I really believe that God will, then shouldn’t I pray differently?
I am asking God to raise my friends’ son from the dead, but am I praying with confidence? I wrestle with practical questions. When Jesus raised people from the dead it wasn’t a protracted event – He prayed and they arose. Should that be the way it is? If we pray and people aren’t raised then isn’t that a “no”? Does the effectual fervent prayer of James 5 kick in and if so, how does that apply to praying for a dead person. How long do you pray before having a funeral if the person isn’t raised?
Perhaps this raises a bigger question than whether or not God raises people from the dead. The question is, “How long should I pray before I accept the answer as ‘no’ and then move on?” I like the way The Message puts Ephesians 6:13: “Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting, you’ll still be on your feet.” How do you know you have done everything you can, for as long as you should?
I know when Evie, our granddaughter stopped breathing and Cherie’ called, frantic for prayer, I stopped what I was doing and prayed with great intensity. God took care of Evie and she is a healthy two year old. I love the 22 year old young man whose death sparked this thinking again and have watched this boy grow into a wonderful young man. I am praying for his resurrection with the question, “How do I determine if what I am doing, if what his family is doing is enough?” I am not as emotionally motivated when praying for him as I was for Evie, does that matter?
I have drawn some conclusions about praying for him as well as praying for things that have huge ramifications, whatever way they are answered. I find myself leaning on the conclusions I had settled long ago. Yet, times like these make me wonder, have I done everything I can and should, for as long as I should? Is it time to stand or have I settled for a comfortable solution so I can say I prayed and can put it behind me?
I don’t write this to attempt to give you any answers; rather I write this to challenge you to ask yourself some hard questions to insure that you are standing on a sure foundation of faith. William Cary said, “Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God.” I know that my friends’ actions are controversial. “Are you willing to stick your neck out for what you believe?” is another question worth pondering. It seems to me that my friends are attempting and expecting great things. I, for one, have already been affected by them doing all they can to stand.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Think
I, like most the people I know have opinions about most things. Some of us verbalize them, others tend to share their thoughts with only a few. Some of our opinions are strong and reflect core values, others not so much. Some opinions have been formulated out of much research and deep reflection others are more feeling-based and might or might not be totally factual.
It seems to me that the things that we really care about have an emotional element to them. Over the years I have found that by speaking forcefully or persuasively one can sway a number of people. That is a concern because too often people will adopt beliefs and form opinions with little to no foundation or factual reason. When pressed why they believe certain things, they either have flimsy reasons that don’t stand up to scrutiny or they don’t really know. It’s just the way they feel.
2 Corinthians 11:4 from the NLT says, “You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.” I admit that what I am about to say sounds cynical. That is not my motive. My motive is based on a desire for sound reasoning to prevail. Here it is: I don’t think people “think” enough. It seems to me that too many people allow others to think for them. Here are some thoughts about forming opinions:
1. Trust, but verify. Those words are from Ronald Reagan and they apply to even your most trusted friends. Though you all would do well to share my opinions (LOL), I wouldn’t intentionally mislead anyone. However, you shouldn’t go along with the things I, or anyone else says until you have verified the conclusions for yourself.
2. Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. I don’t know who said that, but it’s good advice. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NKJV) says, “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” At times we will hear things from folks and agree with some of it and disagree with other parts of it. Too often we take an “all or nothing” approach. By thinking things through, we can filter it and keep the stuff that’s right and good. For instance, there are some preachers I enjoy by reading or listening but, they are not Pentecostal or Spirit-filled; nonetheless, they have a lot of good things to say.
3. Think for yourself. To my Christian friends, remember that John 16:13 promises that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. “ALL” is a very inclusive word. Simply put, if we will test things with scripture and an ear to the voice of God, we will draw the right conclusions and form the right opinions. Even for those who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, God has given everyone common sense. I know that’s hard to believe, sometimes, but its true. Check this out: Romans 2:13 - 15 (NIV) 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) It’s not a lack of common sense, it’s a lack of doing the sometimes-hard work of “thinking.”
4. Guard against apathy. I’ll never forget a scene from the 1976 movie, “Network,” which was dealing with the apathy that had set into the nation and how people settled and allowed themselves to be led around like sheep. In the scene I’m thinking of, there was a broadcaster who urges the TV audience to open their windows and yell, “I’m as mad as _ _ _ _ and I’m not going to take it anymore.” The scene cut from the anchorman to people opening the windows and doing that very thing. I don’t advocate that we do that; however, I do challenge you to “think” and ask yourself, “Have I settled, Have I become complacent? Do things concern me the way they should?”
None of us have the energy, money or time to address every important issue facing us as a nation, a church or an individual. However, the enormity of valid concerns are not an excuse to shut down and not “think” and address the issues that we can or should.
I am not writing to tell you what to care about, act upon or what opinions to form. I am calling upon you to think, have an engaged mind, be prepared to discuss your reasoning and be open to listen to and think about what others are saying.
I used to wonder how people embraced the tyrants of history, how so many people could ignore overwhelming evidence and believe lies or how so many would reject Jesus and follow the lead of self-serving Pharisees. The answer to these and many more questions like them is: “people were to lazy, too self absorbed, too whatever to “think.” For your sake and the sake of those you love, please, do the hard work of “thinking.”
It seems to me that the things that we really care about have an emotional element to them. Over the years I have found that by speaking forcefully or persuasively one can sway a number of people. That is a concern because too often people will adopt beliefs and form opinions with little to no foundation or factual reason. When pressed why they believe certain things, they either have flimsy reasons that don’t stand up to scrutiny or they don’t really know. It’s just the way they feel.
2 Corinthians 11:4 from the NLT says, “You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.” I admit that what I am about to say sounds cynical. That is not my motive. My motive is based on a desire for sound reasoning to prevail. Here it is: I don’t think people “think” enough. It seems to me that too many people allow others to think for them. Here are some thoughts about forming opinions:
1. Trust, but verify. Those words are from Ronald Reagan and they apply to even your most trusted friends. Though you all would do well to share my opinions (LOL), I wouldn’t intentionally mislead anyone. However, you shouldn’t go along with the things I, or anyone else says until you have verified the conclusions for yourself.
2. Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. I don’t know who said that, but it’s good advice. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NKJV) says, “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” At times we will hear things from folks and agree with some of it and disagree with other parts of it. Too often we take an “all or nothing” approach. By thinking things through, we can filter it and keep the stuff that’s right and good. For instance, there are some preachers I enjoy by reading or listening but, they are not Pentecostal or Spirit-filled; nonetheless, they have a lot of good things to say.
3. Think for yourself. To my Christian friends, remember that John 16:13 promises that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. “ALL” is a very inclusive word. Simply put, if we will test things with scripture and an ear to the voice of God, we will draw the right conclusions and form the right opinions. Even for those who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, God has given everyone common sense. I know that’s hard to believe, sometimes, but its true. Check this out: Romans 2:13 - 15 (NIV) 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) It’s not a lack of common sense, it’s a lack of doing the sometimes-hard work of “thinking.”
4. Guard against apathy. I’ll never forget a scene from the 1976 movie, “Network,” which was dealing with the apathy that had set into the nation and how people settled and allowed themselves to be led around like sheep. In the scene I’m thinking of, there was a broadcaster who urges the TV audience to open their windows and yell, “I’m as mad as _ _ _ _ and I’m not going to take it anymore.” The scene cut from the anchorman to people opening the windows and doing that very thing. I don’t advocate that we do that; however, I do challenge you to “think” and ask yourself, “Have I settled, Have I become complacent? Do things concern me the way they should?”
None of us have the energy, money or time to address every important issue facing us as a nation, a church or an individual. However, the enormity of valid concerns are not an excuse to shut down and not “think” and address the issues that we can or should.
I am not writing to tell you what to care about, act upon or what opinions to form. I am calling upon you to think, have an engaged mind, be prepared to discuss your reasoning and be open to listen to and think about what others are saying.
I used to wonder how people embraced the tyrants of history, how so many people could ignore overwhelming evidence and believe lies or how so many would reject Jesus and follow the lead of self-serving Pharisees. The answer to these and many more questions like them is: “people were to lazy, too self absorbed, too whatever to “think.” For your sake and the sake of those you love, please, do the hard work of “thinking.”
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