I want that robe!

Roman soldiers assigned the gruesome task of executing a prisoner by crucifixion were given a small bonus. Since one was crucified naked, the soldiers were able to take the clothes of the prisoner and do with them as they pleased. The Gospel of John records , "[T]he soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they said to one another, "'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be.'" (John 19:23-24) One lucky--or so he regarded himself--soldier walked away from the cross that evening carrying the garment, likely woven by Mary, that had been worn next to the skin of Jesus. I figure he thought he could make use of it, or sell it for a few shekels.
Of course in centuries to come The Robe became one of the most important relics in Christendom. Some claim that this garment can be found in Trier Germany, a gift from Helena, mother of Constantine. Others claim that the robe, or at least four pieces of it are located in the Cathedral in Argenteuil, France. Still others claim that fragments of one of the garments Jesus wore before His crucifixion can found in Moscow, and St. Petersburg, Russia, Mtskheta, Georgia, and Kiev Ukraine. (more info.)

If the fragment of cloth in St. Sophia in Kiev is authentic then I was once within a hundred feet, or so, of something that the Lord wore. As I remember, when I was there, I wasn't aware that the relic resided on the other side of the wall.

In the Gospel accounts of the day the Lord was crucified there is an interesting juxtaposition of events. Luke 23:34 records, "Jesus was saying, 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.' And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves." A gift of infinite value was being bestowed on them, and these soldiers were concerned with a few pieces of second-hand clothing. Today the seamless garment of Jesus would be worth hundreds-of-millions of dollars. That day it was just a shirt, too nice to tear up, but nothing extraordinary. But that was the focus of these practical, down-to-earth soldiers. The Savior of the world, the God-man, Jesus Christ was dying for the sin of the world, and four guys were there at the foot of the cross gambling over a shirt. How typical of human nature.

Tomorrow we have a special opportunity to be reminded of this great event of history, but many of us will, like these Soldiers of Rome, be so occupied with the mundane that we won't pay attention to the sublime. At least one of those soldiers, later on that day, came to see that something special was happening. I hope you will take the see beyond the here and now, as well.

At Covington Bible Church we'll be looking at what happened that day. It will be a solemn time of Scripture reading, prayer, contemplation, music, and reflection. Join us at 7:00 PM, Good Friday.

It's STTA.

Pilate for President:

No, I'm not really serious. There are two major reasons why Pontius Pilate cannot run for President of the U. S. One, I'm fairly sure he isn't an American citizen, and two, he is occupied elsewhere--he's dead.
I just worked through the account of this First-century political hack presiding over the trial of the Lord of the Universe, and I saw several characteristics that seem to be essential for today's politics.

Pilate famously asked, "What is truth?" (John 18:38) Clearly the query did not represent a search for veracity. It was the statement of a cynic--one who had given up the search for the authentic and certain as a futile effort. If truth is an unavailable commodity, then one is left with what works--in particular, what works for ME.

It is clear that Pilate's commitment to doing what is right was, to say the least deficient. He clearly had an interest in insulting the Jewish leaders. He wanted to keep the peace--I doubt because he regarded peace as virtuous, but likely because conflict was an aggravation to him.

He knew Jesus was innocent. He was totally convinced that the Jewish leaders had brought Him before his judgment seat for selfish, corrupt reasons. He was warned by his wife to have nothing to do with this "righteous man." He had the power to do what was right. What he didn't have was the character that would give him the resolve to be virtuous.

In the end Pilate did what was convenient. I figure he dispatched a contingent of soldiers and then went back to bed, while the greatest travesty of justice of all time unfolded.

I hope I'm not guilty of the cynicism that I spoke of earlier, but I see a lack of commitment to truth and right in our world. Since politics involves working with people it tends to exhibit the same characteristic that is observed concerning some poisons in the environment. The further up the food-chain you go the greater the concentration.

I wonder. If we took care of the Procurator's problems that I mentioned at the beginning of this article, gave him a 21st Century image, and hired a good political team to manage him, how far would he get?

My answer scares me.

It's STTA.

Were You There Last Sunday?

Generally when I go for my regular dental checkup the hygienist will ask if I floss my teeth. I reply that "they are flossed regularly." Sometimes the technician is impressed, until I explain myself. They are flossed every time I come to the dentist's office--that is regularly. According to a study quoted by Rebecca Barnes and Lindly Lowry, only about half of those who say they attend church are actually there on Sunday morning. The report's author, Olson's "findings reveal that the actual rate of church attendance from head counts is less than half of the 40% the pollsters report. Numbers from actual counts of people in Orthodox Christian churches (Catholic, mainline and evangelical) show that in 2004, 17.7% of the population attended a Christian church on any given weekend." (You can find some other interesting data on Olson's website, (http://www.theamericanchurch.org/free-state-of-the-church-2008-download.html) There are churches that are growing--they tend to be younger congregations--and we need to learn from them, but since this is a very short article, let me offer a simple solution (knowing it is inadequate, but confident it will provide a start). It would appear that when Mr.Barna or Gallup calls a significant number of professing church goers give an answer similar to my flossing report. It is called the Halo-effect. We want to look good, so when asked a question about something that could make us look good or bad, we tend to find a way to justify giving a reply that flatters us. It may help us look good, but it does no good. People who say they attend church but don't show up: Provide no encouragement to other Christians by that behavior. Empty seats aren't very stimulating. (Hebrews 10:24-25) Likely are not helping the church with the worldwide work to which the Lord has called us. (Matthew 28:19-20) Are probably growing colder--meaning they are not only contributing to the churches increasing irrelevance, but are helping to accelerate the process. It has been popular for a long time now to make fun of the old Sunday School pin. Do you remember them? You got a succession of more impressive looking badges for "perfect attendance for a certain period of time. After a while you started adding bars for numbers of years of faithfully showing up. I can remember some old-timers who looked like they were wearing military decorations. They could trip on them! How quaint, how pre-postmodern, how prone to hypocrisy and other vices that 21st Century types despise. But you know when I think back to Mr. Lietzow, Ed Ostrowski, Kaye Marseau, and Mr. & Mrs. Baber--perfect attenders all--I see folk who had a profound impact on my life. A large part of that impression simply came from the fact that they showed up--They were there. It's STTA.

Why Should I Go to Church?

I could simply do a bullet list. There are a great many reasons why one should go to church--assuming the church in question is one that teaches the truth and encourages Bible-based living. I may continue in coming days to explore the question, but today let's consider a basic inversion. Rebecca Barnes and Lindy Lowry, in an informative article say, "We've created a church consumer culture." What am I looking for? What can this church do for me and mine? That is a valid line of questioning, but if it is the only path of inquiry we pursue we are sure to end up with the wrong answer. Hebrews 10:24 is one of those "One-another" passages. ". . . consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds." Way too many of us (But apparently not as many as we think. Tune in tomorrow.) show up with a me rather than a us attitude. Or, we choose to stay home or do something else because we conclude or assume, "There is nothing there for me." Here is a question: What do I bring to church that will help others? Don't answer, "Nothing." too quickly. I realize I am weird--my experience as the guy who works at church is far different than those of you who actually choose on a given Sunday whether or not to come, but I think I share this with you normal folk. At the end of a Sunday's worship I am more or less likely to make a difference for the Lord, Monday - Saturday, based on the involvement of others--or lack thereof. This past Sunday a little girl shared a smile with me that could melt a glacier. It put gas in my tank. A young woman lit my fuse with her passion to do something significant. A husband/father/manager/home-owner/etc. challenged me with his dedication to do something more--not be trapped in the mundane. One of the officers in our church impacted me with his faithfulness to his responsibility--responsibility with a great attitude. I figure that these people and a great many others who actually showed up had the same kind of impact on a number of others. I received a great deal by showing up at Covington Bible the day before yesterday, but if that was all that concerned me, I blew it. What did I bring? It's kind of like one of those diet-ruining church suppers where everyone brings something. Sure it is a great meal because Mrs. X brings that cooking-show-worthy casserole, and Mr. T brings some of those blue-ribbon tomatoes,.but the single dad who brings a bucket of chicken, or the bag of chips from the college kid also makes the meal. (I notice that generally the fast-food chicken and potato chips are gone at the end of the meal.) What do I have that I can bring? It's STTA.

Demas?

"Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone. . . ." (2 Timothy 4:10)

I've been wondering about Demas for a while.

During the imprisonment when the Apostle Paul wrote several of the New Testament Epistles, Demas was there with the "Prisoner of Christ." Apparently he was well known in the Christian community; Paul passed greetings from him to the believers at Colossae and to Philemon. (Colossians 4:14, Philemon 24) He is called a fellow worker. Being on the same team as the great Apostle is quite a line for ones resume.

But at the end of Paul's life, Demas had decided to go elsewhere. He wanted something else. He forsook his old friend. I wonder what was in Thessalonica that attracted him so? Based on some Demases I have known, and the inner Demas that tempts me, here are some possibilities:

• There is short-term enjoyment in sin. Moses turned it down in favor of permanent benefits. (Hebrews 11:25-26) Demas may have been looking over Paul's shoulder, when he wrote, "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.". (Colossians 3:2) Like the prodigal son, though, he decided in favor of the here and now.
  
• I figure that Demas didn't make the decision all at once. Certainly Lot--an Old Testament counterpart--didn't. You can follow his decline in Genesis 13. He looked, chose, and moved toward that wicked place. He was a part of the City of Sodom in chapter 14 and when we get to chapter 19, he has become a leader there.
  
• There is a need for constant vigilance. "Be sober, be on the alert." Why, because the enemy of God's people, one who is integrally involved in and holds power over this world, goes about like a lion looking for a meal. (1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 2:2, & 1 John 5:19)
  
• Maybe Demas had watched Paul be treated badly and decided he wanted better, not taking into consideration that by walking away from what seemed negative he was forsaking the infinitely positive. It takes grace to rejoice that you have "been considered worthy to suffer shame for Hisname." (Acts 5:41)

I'm sure Paul wrote about his friend and former co-worker with a great deal of sadness. I'm not sure exactly what happened to Demas. I'm looking to God's grace to keep it from happening to me

Lord, keep me from following the pattern of Demas. May I be faithful like Timothy. Amen.

It's STTA.

A Constant Remodeling project:

For about four decades I've been into remodeling, home repair, fixing-up, call it what you will.

Most of my efforts bear no resemblance to the popular shows on TV. It is interesting to watch one of the shows where they claim to be doing a low-cost project. Their budget for a room is often more than I paid for my house. Especially in our earlier projects, by far, the biggest question was what will it cost. I can show you walls that were built out of 2x4s that came out of other walls that were torn down. A long time before I had anywhere approaching adequate tools, I tore panel doors apart and cut them down or put mirrors in them, etc. etc. My current project involves a good bit of new material, but still, I'm working with what is there.

It's a lot like life. In the kind of remodeling I'm describing a person who does everything "by the book," will end up greatly frustrated, and will spend a lot of money. You can usually spot this kind of craftsman. Every ninety seconds or so they will loudly lament, "Nothing is square in this house." On the other hand a remodeller who doesn't have a good feel for what will work and last, will end up creating a project that will fall down around his ears in a year or too. (I know this from experience.) When you are doing what I'm talking about you have to take what is there and based on sound principles make it better with what you have on hand.

Christianity is not a way of life that only works on the controlled environment of a TV show. Where mistakes end up in the out-takes. Christianity is real-life way of life, where a person takes what is there--out of square and all--and then uses, following the directions in the Bible, what the Lord has provided to make progress.

Real people who really love the Lord.

The Lord has given us the resources--His word, prayer, the church, His own presence with us--to build a life to his glory. Done right our life won't look like every other Christian McMansion on the street. Rather the Lord enables us to build lives that have a character of their own. In fact some of the lives will be described as "characters." The Apostle Paul's fanatical Rabbinism became a part of his Christian persona, likewise John's compassion, and Peter's impetuosity. The Lord is building real people, in conformity with His word, increasingly taking on a look that becomes a clearer expression of Who He is. He is not creating Christian Stepfords.

How is your project coming?

It's STTA.

Arrogant?

This past weekend our focus at Covington Bible Church was reaching out to the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. What we call the great commission--Jesus Christ's mandate to His followers to carry the story of salvation to all the world--is not embraced by all Christians. Here is the command in Mark's brief, to-the-point style: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:15)

• Isn't that chauvinistic?
• How arrogant. You are telling others that they are wrong and you are right.
• Look at all the bad things that have been done in the name of Christianity. Don't you think you should just back off?

I deny the "chauvinist" label. Key in the definition of that epithet is the concept of excess or unjustified surety or enthusiasm. If Heaven and Hell and eternity, and the value of human's lives is real then it is hard to see how one could be over-the-top in proclaiming the message at the heart of scripture.

When I proclaim the Good News I'm not arrogantly pushing my agenda at the expense of all others. Telling the Gospel story is built on me telling my story, which is based on my surrender--admitting my profound need. Sharing the story of Christ has been described as, "One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.

The message of Jesus Christ changes societies, but its methodology is one-at-a-time. The Apostle Paul says we are ambassadors. Peace has been made between man and God. We have the privilege of proclaiming that reality. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). How can we not give as many as possible the opportunity to make peace.

My efforts personally, and our efforts as a church are far from what they should be, but my response to the Lord's command, and the response that I am encouraging the Covington Bible Church to take, is, "Yes Sir."

Maybe you are one of those who is still on the wrong side of the millennia-long conflict between men and the their Creator. Find out about peace in Christ here.

It's STTA.

Messing with the Mess, or Cleaning It Up?

Have you noticed, this world is in a mess?

Natural disasters, made worse by crumbling technology.

Hard-hearted, not to mention "headed" dictators see their positions of power as a means for personal enrichment.

When the oppressed people rise up, too often their movement is hi-jacked by those with another destructive agenda.

The age old observation, "I don't know what this world is coming to!" is certainly apropos.

Is it like the weather?

Everybody talks about it, but no one does anything about it. Certainly talk is not only cheap, but incredibly abundant. The airwaves, cables, and Internet are full of talk. I'm listening to some of it in the background as I type this piece.

I'm glad to say some are doing more than talking. Certainly the dedicated men and women in our armed forces are making an incredible difference, but that is another article, for another day. Right now I'm thinking about those who go out with the Bible being their weapon. They battle for the hearts of people.

Jesus told His followers to go into all the world and seek to make disciples--fully devoted followers of Christ. This weekend at Covington Bible Church we honor those who leave home to take the Good News to places where the folk aren't likely to hear unless they do go. I'm thinking about folk who have gone to regions dominated by modern secularism, to proclaim a two millennia old message that is still relevant. Or, others who have gone to people who have barely emerged from the stone-age, people who still live under the oppression of spirits real and imagined that makes their life dark and fearful. Like the brave firemen who ran into the twin-towers while others were fleeing, these men and women go to places not because they are safe or comfortable, but because the need is great.

But not only do we honor those who have gone, we encourage others to go. Billions of people still have not heard the Good News that "God so loved the world. . . ."

Find out more about CBC's Missions Emphasis Weekendhere. We'd love for you to join us. This world is a mess. Let's do something about it.

It's STTA.