Deciphering Truth and Lies by Tami Cinquemani

I love family traditions. I think one of the reasons this is my favorite time of year is because the holidays are steeped in tradition. Each family will enjoy their own special version of holiday rituals that will bond its members and celebrate the season. My family enjoys its own unique traditions – things like the family football game after Thanksgiving dinner, celebrating “Mikulas” by opening Christmas stockings on December 6, candlelight communion on Christmas Eve, and late nights playing “Mafia.”

For those unfamiliar with the game, “Mafia” begins when each player secretly selects a playing card from the Moderator. The card chosen identifies whether you are a mafia member, police officer, doctor, or townsperson. The game proceeds as the mafia members try to hide their identity by “knocking off” the other players, and the other players try to save their town by seeking out the truth and discovering whom they can trust. There are accusations, presumptions, pleadings, and debate –lively discussions and enthusiastic arguments. There is triumph when perpetrators are caught, and shocked bewilderment when trusted family members are found to be lying and deceitful gangsters. Nice family game, huh? Okay, so maybe you have to be Italian to appreciate the fun.

I was talking with my son-in-law the other day, and we were discussing the book of Hebrews. Though the authorship of this book of the Bible is debated, one thing is clear – whoever wrote the book was intent on people knowing the identity of Jesus. The letter was written to a group of first century Jews at the beginning of the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire. This group most likely consisted of both believers and seekers of the Christian faith.

The Hebrews were in danger, and insecurity and fear can lead to bad decisions. They were beginning to doubt the truth that would save their lives. There were those who sought to deceive, trying their best to convince the new believers that their trust should be put in things that would only lead to death. When persecution began and hardship prevailed, things they knew were not true seemed reasonable and became very enticing. Hebrews was written as a witness to the truth that the only hope, the only possibility of security, and the only path to salvation is in Jesus.

Is this any different than what we confront today? Even during a season when we are surrounded by the startling and astounding truth that God sent his Son to save our world, we so easily get distracted. There are many deceiving messages to sort through: God can’t be trusted; We have to save ourselves; I’m too sinful to save. The list is long. The lie is clear: Jesus isn’t enough.

The message in Hebrews is as relevant to us today as it was to the Jews of the first century:

“We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help. Hebrews 4:14-16 (CEV)

The truth is clear. Jesus’ identity is revealed, and He not only saves the town . . but the whole world.

Tami Cinquemani

Changes in the Air by Greg Creek

In the last few months of living in Florida, I’ve had opportunities to venture outside the state. At some point during my trips away, I stop, notice the foliage, and think, “Oh yea, it’s Fall.” Living in Orlando, I don’t get to experience the seasons like I have grown accustomed to in different parts of the country. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ll be welcoming Christmas in a pair of shorts . . . which is just weird.

When living in a less tropical area, the first clue that Fall is upon me is usually the changing colors in the trees. Then I get confirmation of the season’s change by a blast of cold air when stepping outside. Trees that are always green and weather that is warm all the time has me thinking that nothing is really changing.

I was talking with a friend of mine a few weeks ago, and he was explaining to me the different growing seasons for fruits and vegetables in Florida. Until that point, I just assumed you could grow just about anything at any time in a tropical climate. That conversation made me realize that, despite what I thought, there were changes happening around me. Even though I was still walking around in shorts, it was cooler now than it was a few months ago.

The truth is, change is always happening, but I’m not always noticing. When I broaden that idea from the seasons to my life, it makes me wonder how much I’m missing around me because I’m not taking the time to notice. There’s an old saying that encourages us to “stop and smell the roses.” It makes me wonder if there are other important things happening around me that I may be missing because I’m too caught up in what I expect to see. Perhaps I need to stop and notice the foliage, even if its shades are more subtle and nuanced.

Greg Creek

Christ's Low Standards by John Monday

Occasionally things happen that cause us to reevaluate, or perhaps just more deeply consider, what we or the organizations we are associated with stand for. Just such an event has recently captured my attention and created no small amount of conversation around the subject of the doctrines that we hold dear. It’s not a new conversation, but it has received renewed vigor as of late and raised the question, “What can or should a church require of its members?”

Churches exist. This might seem a simplistic place to start, but it really is fundamental to the conversation. As organizations, churches, associations of churches, denominations, and many other religious organizations exist and have the right to define themselves. This right certainly isn’t restricted to religious institutions. If you want to join the Rotary, the PTA, or become a board certified lawyer or surgeon, you will be expected to meet the minimum standards of that organization.

Likewise, churches define what membership in their organizations means and what is required for entrance. The requirements vary widely but seem to have a common point of contact. Almost invariably, churches have some body of doctrine that must be intellectually acceded to in some public forum before a person can be accepted into membership. This in itself is not a bad thing. I believe that Christ himself established this pattern.

Good churches that desire to honor Christ and protect his people believe this and strive to understand what a “good” christian should be. As a result, churches codify expanding lists of doctrine that the potential member needs to understand and accept. Elders and theologians gain some new insight, and a few decades later it’s a required belief for all members. The administrators and gatekeepers of the organization observe a weakness or abuse, and another “fundamental” teaching is defined and codified. The church organization becomes involved in preserving and protecting the institution of the church with ever-enlarging circles of protective doctrines. And that’s our right.

In fact, our government protects and defends that right. The problem is that, while we have every legal right to define the human institution known as the church, that organization is not Christ’s Church. Christ’s Church is the body of Christ that has Christ as its head and every believer in Christ as a part of the body, and we have no heavenly right to exercise our legal rights in Christ’s Church.

Christ has defined what it means to be a part of his Church and has defined a criteria for entrance. On our best days we try to organize our human churches to honor the standards that Christ established; some days we do better than others. But when we claim the right to define what is required, we move into extraordinarily dangerous waters. And when our requirements for entrance exceed Christ’s we move from danger to peril and quickly arrive at the place where our church organizations can no longer claim part in Christ’s Church.

We must understand that there is a standard; in fact, there is a double standard. God’s requirements for entrance into his kingdom are so high and exacting, and we are so flawed and depraved, that we have no hope of ever crossing the bar. We do, however, have an advocate in Christ. He has cleared the hurdle and removed it. Having accomplished the work of the law and completed the work of salvation, he has reset the bar and this is it . . .

Believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

and receive eternal life.

All those who believe in Christ and receive his free gift of eternal life are brothers and sisters in Christ’s Church and, by God’s grace, I want them to be accepted in my church.

May our church organizations and denominations always remember that we’re not here to preserve and purify the church. We’re here to walk with people and to love them into a life-long friendship with God.

Amen

John Monday

He's Watchin' You by Chad Hess

My two-year-old son has a stuffed frog that he loves. When I get him up in the morning, he brings it with him as comfort as he wakes up. A month or two ago when I sat him down for breakfast, he didn't want to let go of Froggy. So I put Froggy on the table next to him. He looked at Froggy with a grin and said, "Froggy's watchin' you.” Since then, we have done it every morning, and he loves it. The thought of his Froggy watching him gives him great delight and pleasure; it's comforting to him.

I find this an interesting juxtaposition to the way we typically react to the idea of God watching us. When I hear people say, "God is watching you," it is usually done in the context of judgment and "Be careful what you do or say." But it doesn't have to be this way. If we have a loving and committed relationship with God, we should be happy that God is watching us because it means God is with us. It means that he is watching over and protecting us. He is not a God of whom we have to be afraid. He is a God who loves us and wants to spend time with us. So I can be happy that God is with me – and I am comforted that he is watching over me.

Chad Hess