In the Words of Amos

I have recently been blessed to make contact with an online magazine called Amosmag.com and have  agreed to become a writer for the site. I am so excited! The Editor-in-chief, Michelle Railey seems to have a clear vision and provides excellent feedback on my work. For me, this has been an answer to prayer.

As I'm just getting my feet wet, I haven't had any in-depth conversations about the origin of the name of the site, or the original reason for its existence, right now I'm just happy for the space to put original content, but I'm sure that conversation will happen as time permits. In the mean time, I have done what I always do and that's to turn to my Bible. So, I've started reading (drum roll please), the book of Amos. I know, for those of you who have been following for awhile, this probably comes as a great surprise. Let me say though, that the name Amos really jumped out at me as being important.Maybe I'm crazy, but, to the book of Amos I went.

Full transparency, Amos is not a biblical text that I've spent a great deal of time in. I hate admitting that, but its true. The first chapter is really hard to consume because of the negative tone and the repetitive nature and putting all of the places in context for their wrongs against God. For me, it felt like eating a big bowl of green peas. Of course peas are good for me, of course I should include them in my diet, but, I just don't love them the way I do say pasta or pizza or ice cream. But, like a good boy, I kept on, and I'm glad I did.

In chapter two and beyond, Amos gets to the part that speaks to me. Starting in verse 6 which he titles, Judgment on Israel, Amos begins listing the crimes of the Israelite's against God and God's unfavorable response to these crimes. He begins speaking about their treatment of the poor saying, "because they sell righteousness for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals--those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted;" Throughout the next 4 chapters, Amos reiterates how angry God is at the Israelite's because of their treatment of the poor.

Here's some context for Amos' writing. There isn't an exact time frame for Amos' life, but it came before the fall of Israel into Assyrian capture, sometime between 800 and 700 BC. Israel was in the midst of financial prosperity and were preparing themselves for the Lord to come and to make Israel the leading nation of the world. God's plans were opposite. He sent Amos to warn his people that he would not keep them from harm should it come. He was dissatisfied with how Israel had acquired its prosperity by its horrible treatment of the poor and the needy.

Worldbank.org estimates that as of 2013, 10.7 percent of the world lives on less than $1.90 per day. While that's down drastically from the 35 percent it showed in 1990, that percentage still includes approximately 767 million people worldwide, or for context, more than double the entire population of the United States. By comparison, Huffington Post cited figures from the 2013 census bureau that 14.5 percent of Americans live below the poverty line. That means that poverty is greater by percentage in the United States than the rest of the world.

In Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." In Luke chapter 6, it says that, "Jesus looked at his disciples and said, 'Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God.'"

In Mark chapter 10 verse 17 a wealthy man came to Jesus calling him teacher and asked how he could inherit eternal life. The man then told Jesus that he had kept the ten commandments since he was a boy. It says that Jesus loved him. (Of course he did, he's Jesus. You don't have to read long to see that his very existence is love). Then, Jesus commanded him to sell everything he had to give to the poor and he would have treasure in heaven. Then he told him to come and follow him. The man was sad because he had no intention of doing what Jesus had commanded him.

Jesus goes on to boldly condemn the wealthy and explain how difficult it would be for the wealthy to enter heaven, but how greatly rewarded those would be who would give up everything to follow him.

In fact, the Bible mentions the responsibility of caring for the poor on over 300 occasions. By contrast, the mention of homosexuality is seven...And never by Jesus. (Think of this in the context of American politics as it pertains to the Church).

Let's take a breath because there is a lot of information to get to, and a lot to clear up.

What is the point that Jesus is making in telling the man to sell all of his possessions, give everything to the poor, and follow him?

Let me be clear, it is not sinful to have money. It is no sin to have a lot of money. It is no sin to live comfortably. But Jesus wants our entire being. He wants every part of us. He wants to be the Lord of our entire life. He wanted this man to give his entire self over to Jesus, but the man was unwilling to give his wealth. He is also making the point that we did not create ourselves and cannot save ourselves.  And lastly, that earthly wealth has no bearing on  eternal life. God created us and through Jesus we are saved.

The man was sad because he was unwilling to give his all to Jesus. Had he continued listening he would have heard the payoff, that Jesus would prepare a place for him 100 times greater than what he had sacrificed to follow Jesus. For those with a financial background, a 100 fold return on any investment is a pretty good deal!

In our Declaration of Independence, when we announced to the world, and specifically to the King of England, that the United States was to be a free nation, we included the phrase, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL men are created equal." (Men being used to describe humanity). Jesus wants to make the same point. Humanity is God's greatest creation and God has created all man, equally. Unfortunately, the Bible also states that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Another way to say that would be that greed is at the root of all evil.

God values each of us the same. That's despite our IQ, our last name, our nationality, our gender, our height, and the amount of money in our bank account. And it is wrong for us to use and mistreat our fellow man in our attempt to achieve. God told the Israelite's through Amos that he would not bless their prosperity because of how poorly they had treated the poor and needy in acquiring that wealth. He is telling us the same thing today.

As Christians, we aren't called to be Republicans or Democrats. We aren't called to be conservative or liberal. Our Christianity isn't determined by the state we live in, the politician we support, or the job we do. We should never curse the state for providing the welfare that should be provided by the church. We should never celebrate when those less fortunate than us are stripped of their ability to receive healthcare. Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 26 that the poor will be among us always, but that shouldn't cause us to relax, it should ignite us with compassion as we develop better systems to assist. We should never turn a blind eye when we see a person in need. We should only rejoice that we have to means to help.

Why should we do this?

Mother Thersea was famously quoted as saying, "Everyone that we meet is Jesus in disguise." Where did she get that quote? In Matthew chapter 25 starting in verse 35 it says, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." The response comes from the righteous, when did we do these things? The King replies, "Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me."

We are called to give ourselves over completely to follow Jesus. And what does Jesus say? Blessed are the poor. In this country, I fear that the Church has failed to honor those words.

A Small Spark...

For those of you have been reading for a while, let me start by saying THANK YOU! If this is your first time, welcome! I encourage you to check out some of my other posts to get a feel for the blog.

I am aware that I have made bold claims, challenged ideals, been vocal about sensitive subjects, and taken a somewhat harsh stance toward what I believe to be a dated, failing church. I'm sure many of you have wondered what exactly my end game is, and I assure you, there is one.

Is it to destroy the church? Or to destroy the perception of the church? Or to discourage church attendance? Or to ruffle feathers for chaos sake?

The answer to all of those questions is an emphatic NO!

Actually, quite the contrary. I look at a world filled with people that are crying out for help, and then I look out at a church that has become largely apathetic to those cries. I see leaders who are more concerned with politics than with their mission. I see baseless nostalgia, a longing for a world gone by rather than a forward thinking, lighthouse. Unfortunately, many leaders are pointing to answers from dead religion instead of pointing to the Living God. I see a body consumed with condemning the world rather than helping it...scolding rather than saving.

And so, I use my small platform to point out the things that I see.

But why? (Great question!)

The Bible says (yes, roll your eyes, I'm citing the Bible, again) in Matthew Chapter 8 (Ugh, one of the gospels...meaning I'm about to talk about Jesus, again. Yep!) that "a man with leprosy came and knelt before him (Jesus) and said, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'"

BTW, That's a cry for help if I've ever heard one.

So, what is leprosy? It is an infection that may result in the lack of ability to feel pain, thus loss of body parts and extremities due to repeated injuries or infection caused by unnoticed wounds. Its as bad as it sounds. And 2000 years ago, this was worse than you can imagine. Probably the inspiration for The Walking Dead.

Victims of this disease were quarantined from their homes and outcast from society. They were forced to live completely alone. Shunned into total isolation. They were never, ever to be touched again for fear of spreading this awful disease. If a leper came upon other people, they were forced to the other side of the road and had to announce themselves as unclean. Lepers lived in this disgusting, deteriorating Hell until they finally, mercifully died. Alone.

That is the context for the leper approaching Jesus.

If you are reading and feel skeptical about the historical figure, Jesus of Nazareth, put yourself in his shoes in this situation. While your heart would ache for the plight of this dirty, diseased person, can you imagine the level of fear you would feel knowing that one touch from this person could result in your becoming a leper? Then other emotions would come to you: disgust, judgement, shame, superiority, joy for not having this disease. Those are the natural feelings that would go through me whether I wanted them to or not. I'm only human.

If you want a real life portrayal of a man face to face with this situation modern day, I recommend "Dirty God" by Johnnie Moore.

So it likely sent shock waves through the crowd of onlookers when in John chapter 8 verse 3 it tells us that Jesus reached out his hand and touched the leper. "I am willing," he said. He followed that up by saying, "Be clean." And it says that the man was cleansed of leprosy.

Wow!

Jesus wasn't afraid. He wasn't repulsed. He wasn't superior. He never condemned the leper for being unclean. He didn't back away from the man. He didn't feel the need to point out to the man just how sick he really was. What Jesus did was nothing short of incredible. He reached out his hand and touched ☝ the man. And then, he healed him.

So you ask, did Jesus then get leprosy? Or did he immediately run for a bottle of germ-x? Did he regret giving this man the first human contact he had likely felt in years? NO HE DIDN'T DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS! Jesus didn't get leprosy, the leper got Jesus. or to say it another way, because of his contact with Jesus, he was HEALED!

Touching the man was a very small act. In fact, we read many accounts of Jesus miracles where he didn't have to touch anything, the power came from his words. And here again, it was his words that healed the man. So why touch him? He touched this untouchable man, because he cared. He touched him to make the man feel human. Jesus loved this man, like he loves you and I, and he felt compassion for him. It was a small act, but a huge message in the grand scheme. Its an opportunity for us to peak at Jesus nature. What we find is that he was willing to heal the leper and he's willing to heal you and me too. Not because of our merit, or our good deeds. This man had no merit. He was an outcast, a misfit, a sub-human. He did it because he cares. He really is that good!

There are phrases common in our vernacular that I'd like to bring to light. Big things come in small packages. Little things mean a lot. A little bit goes a long way. I like these because they quickly sum up complex truths. And I have a favorite that I'd like to add. A small spark can start a big fire🔥!

That's what this blog is about. I want to ignite the church, and Christians, and all of my readers. I want to be a spark that starts a fire so hot that it cannot be put out. A fire like the one that God ignites on Elijah's water soaked sacrifice in response to the challenge of Baal (1 Kings chapter 18). A fire that defies logic. I want the entire world to grasp who Jesus was and is, what he's really like, and why he came. I believe that having that understanding would ignite a revolution of love! A small spark followed by an unprecedented fire🔥!

That may sound crazy. I've been accused of worse. My platform is small for sure, but I know that in Jesus name, a group of like-minded students went out and changed the world. They were Jesus disciples and they are responsible for establishing the church as we know it, now more than 2 billion in number worldwide. They believed in the man they knew, and I believe in him too.

So this is me begging you, and pleading with you, and asking as nicely as I can, if you're a Christian, stop complaining about the world we live in (Jesus told us we were strangers in a foreign land). Don't be afraid to reach out and compassionately touch it☝. You'll be shocked to find that you won't become infected with godlessness, but hurting people just might, through you, get infected with the love bug courtesy of Jesus Christ.

And for you reading that don't know this man, I beg you to find him. He's a friend to the friendless, a hope to the hopeless, a calm in the middle of life's storm. He's a healing hand to the sick, a present help in time of need, a warm embrace to the broken-hearted, and his is the greatest love you'll ever find.

And if you're worried that you're not good enough to approach him, I contest that we are all lepers asking him if he's willing to make us clean. He answers that question in John chapter 8 definitively by saying, "I am willing."

Having Fun is Okay...Seriously!

So this probably doesn’t mean much to most of you, but this past week was NFL Draft week! I look forward to this event almost as much as I do the holidays. Why, you ask? Well for one, I’m a football fanatic. College, I love The Ohio State Buckeyes, and pro I love The Cleveland Browns.Oh, you couldn’t read that second one, well that’s because I said that I love the Cleveland Browns. And you don’t have to be a sports fan to know that the Browns have given new meaning to the word bad. So bad in fact that they are routinely the butt of many media and pop culture jokes. Like really bad. (A real fan sticks with his team through thick and thin... and thinner... and thinner). But, in being bad, the NFL Draft gives me hope because it is the place where smart teams pick young, talented players to improve their team. Every year I’m hopeful the Browns will do the same, but every year, I am wrong. Maybe this year will be better. A guy can hope, right?

So, what did I do this past week/weekend? To quote my dad, “Something very spiritual.” I was sitting on my father’s couch (and my own) with my personal list of 300 college football players, enjoying pizza, root beer, and conversation with my dad. I was also texting my friends and my brother to get their thoughts on the subject. I was also trying to explain what was happening to my young son. And now that it's over, I’ll be waiting anxiously to see if my team, The Browns, knew what they were doing. I'll read every article. I'll check Twitter everyday until the season starts. I’ll probably be excited at times, and at other times, frustrated and disappointed. But it will be awesome!

My love of the draft can be traced back to my time as a youth in Michigan when a friend, who I consider a brother, and I would get together and chug root beer and eat bratwurst and enjoy the NFL Draft. Very few people get it. Over the years my friend, who still lives in Michigan, has flown to Kentucky many times so that we could enjoy this event together. And no matter what our favorite teams did (he's a Detroit Lions fan), we always had a blast! We compared notes. We laughed. We talked a little smack to each other. We spent time together. We grew closer. All over a silly hobby, and yet, it has brought some of my fondest memories…So I ask, is it really that silly?

Many of you are now wondering why you should care enough to keep reading 2000 words about an event you probably have little to no interest in. Please keep reading, as always, I promise there is a point coming.

While you may not enjoy football, or watching three consecutive days of teams announcing players that they are basically hiring, I’m sure there is something that you do enjoy. My younger brother-in-law loves all things outdoors. He loves fishing, bow fishing, duck hunting, dove hunting, etc. Those aren’t my interests or hobbies, but they are his, and I can always tell how much joy they bring him. His entire social circle is comprised of friends who enjoy doing all of the things he enjoys. And their friendship somehow grows stronger by spending time together on those common interests. I always smile when I see his parents suited up in their hunting gear to go with him too. They don’t necessarily love his hobbies as much as he does, but they love to do them together. And because of that, they all have fun, and their relationships grow. (My in-laws are the absolute best! I feel so sorry for people who don't get along with their in-laws because I feel like I hit the jackpot. Seriously!)

There are literally hundreds of examples just like this that I could provide, but I’ve decided to spare you. What I do want to emphasize is the aspect of fun and relationships. At the end of the day, when we die, the only real legacy we leave behind is in the people we love.

Cliché alert: None of our possessions go to an afterlife with us. We don’t get to be buried in a sports car. No one will mourn for our Apple watch. No one will be discussing how great it was that we were a status member at various establishments. They will only mourn the memory of us, and the relationship they had with us, and the fun times we shared. Relationship is so important that God, the creator of Heaven and Earth, designed us in his image simply to have relationship with us. He sent Jesus to take on our sin and die for it so that we might renew our relationship with him. He was telling us that the tasks we accomplish are important, but relationships we have are far more important!

Now, we take a turn. I’m sorry, I can’t help it. My mind isn’t linear, it jumps all around and I have to follow that stream of consciousness. Thank you in advance for your patience.

I was raised in church. My first church was in upstate New York. I attended there until I was nine years old. In my lifetime, that small town church congregation had grown so large that we had to set up chairs in the aisles for Sunday services. I remember thinking that was strange then, but I was a kid. Today, that would be so thrilling to see (seriously, imagine if every church in the U.S. outgrew their capacity!). What I remember most about that church will surprise you. I remember all sorts of social events. My dad, the pastor, was the captain of the church softball team. There was a fun celebration themed for every holiday. We had Baptism services in the summer at a family in the churches' house, and the event was supplemented with a bar-b-que. I remember that the congregation of that church would get together to enjoy fireworks on the Fourth of July. There were all-night charity events, annual trips to amusement parks, dinners sponsored specifically for the community, and on and on and on. What I remember about that church was that the members were very welcoming to newcomers, and that they genuinely had fun together. Coincidentally, that church grew like crazy both in attendance and in their faith. I’ll never forget that.

And now to the point...

In John chapter 2, verses 1-12 we find Jesus' first recorded miracle at the wedding at Cana.

Warning! Warning! I'm about to say things that may rub you the wrong way. I'm sorry in advance, but I encourage you to keep reading, and to please check my research. Anyway, there is a point coming.

Mary, Jesus' mother, approaches him to let him know that the wedding was out of wine. At first, Jesus plays dumb, basically telling his mother that it isn't the right time for him to show the world his power, but of course, like a good son, when his mom told him to do something, he listened. So he told his disciples to go get the six stone water jars and begin drawing out water and take it to the master of ceremonies (MC). When they did, the MC was astounded that the very best wine was being presented last. He claimed that they normally serve the best at the first and reserve the lesser wine for last, after people had already "drunk freely."

My wife teaches her 8th grade language arts students to use context clues to find meaning in texts. So, using our context clues, we understand that the reason the cheap wine was usually saved for the end was because, after drinking freely, the guests senses were lowered and they didn't know the difference. You might say they were inebriated.

And this is the time when you respond by telling me that wine here does not mean wine as we know it today, more like grape juice, which we coincidentally have words for that this could have been translated to. I've heard that many times in my life from many people. Remember our previous post and how many times uncomfortable Biblical truths are misinterpreted or glossed over because they don't fit our personal narrative? This is another example. And it is important, so please keep reading. Even if I've offended you and made you angry.

The Greek word used for wine in this text is oinos. This is the same word used for wine in Ephesians 5:18 when Paul tells us "Do not get drunk with wine." Meaning, the content of the wine that Jesus turned from water was an alcoholic beverage, and in context, apparently a very good one.

Let me insert some information for those who have been offended. I do not condone underage drinking. Why? Because the Bible says "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and give unto God what is God's." Meaning we should obey the laws of the land, which state that you are not eligible for alcoholic consumption until the age 21. Also, in Proverbs, Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, tells us on more than one occasion that it is not right to live as a drunkard. Why? Because drunkenness alters our mind, inhibits our judgment, causes irrational decisions, is highly addictive, effects people in unpredictable ways, can poison the blood stream and lead to death, and has been a root cause for destroying lives and families in this country for generations.

I know this because it has happened in my family. My grandfather has been deceased since the late 1990s. He thankfully received salvation through Jesus Christ two years before he passed. As a younger man, he was a terrible alcoholic. So terrible that he shot a gun at my then 2-year-old father while in a drunken stupor. He kept his family in poverty for years because of his addiction. He had a family on the side that he supported because of decisions made related to alcohol. He abandoned my father at a young age because of the shame of drinking. And his drinking led to the physical and verbal abuse of his family. The fingerprint of his life still looms large over my entire family. His life, in many ways, was a waste, because of his ADDICTION to alcohol. I know many stories like that, but that is the only one I feel comfortable sharing, because in my grandfather's salvation, his life changed. He finally became the man God intended him to be late in his life. And his story assures me that if God loved him and forgave him, there is no one beyond God's love and grace and mercy. I repeat, no one!

So why make such a bold statement about Jesus turning water into alcoholic wine only to tell you how bad alcohol can be for your body, your family, and your life if used unwisely? (By the way, too much sugar causes diabetes, too many calories cause obesity, too much caffeine can cause insomnia, etc. Do EVERYTHING in moderation.) Because I think it's important to show the true nature of Jesus. For so long, he has been portrayed as a wet blanket, task-master waiting for you to make a mistake so that he can pounce and punish. I have news for you...If God was mad at you, you would already be dead. He created heaven and earth and all that is in it. Getting rid of you or me wouldn't take much work. He's not mad. He's the father in the story of the Prodigal Son hoping to run and meet you when you decide to come home. He wants to give you the finest clothes, the best food, and the keys to the entire kingdom! Many Christians forget to tell you what a wonderful, loving God we serve!

And so, Jesus turned water into wine. Really he did. It wasn't written by accident. Why is that important? It is important because it shows that Jesus wasn't at the wedding to ruin their good time. He was there to enhance it. Being around Jesus should be the most fun you could ever have. He doesn't want you to be miserable; he wants you to be filled with joy and peace and love! And so, I beg you, if you've ever been told that God is angry with you, reread the good news of the gospel. Jesus loves you! He forgave the very people who tortured and killed him. Seek him out and find that he really is the best!

And do not mistake what I am saying. I'm not telling you to go chug a beer or that drinking equals fun. I'm saying, "Judge not, less you be judged." It's ok for you to have fun and enjoy life. It was ok for me to spend the weekend watching a football draft and relating it to friends and family. It's ok to go to an amusement park, go shopping, go wine tasting, go hunting or fishing, or just go Sunday driving. Fun is really ok! It's not ok to pass judgement on someone else's good time. That's not our job.

And if you don't get anything else out of this post, just know, you won't be punished for having fun. It really is okay. I promise!