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.

The Election: What Does It Mean?

Right now I'm listening to a lot of very smart people trying to figure out what happened? By this time there is little doubt as to who won and who lost. In particular states or regions patterns are emerging--the political landscape is different in some definable way. The big question is, though, what does it mean to our nation?
Tea-Party advocates say their emphasis is the explanation. Maybe, but voters left some very visible candidates holding the bag--tea-bag. Some cynics point out that last night's results show that elections can be bought. A couple of ladies in California would beg to differ with that opinion. Incumbency also brought mixed results. Some were voted out on a wave of anti-incumbency, while others, partly on the basis of the power and prestige of office, kept their jobs in the face of well financed and organized opposition. Tip O'Neill's wisdom that "all politics are local," carried the day in some places, while others lost because the race was "nationalized."

Maybe it just is what it is, the wonderful Mulligan Stew called democracy.

Here, though, is an overarching truth. Babylon wasn't a democracy, but change was in the air when God spoke through His prophet, Daniel, "It is He [God] who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings;" (Daniel 2:21) The same point is made in Daniel 4:17&32, and Psalm 75:7. "He puts down and exalts another," and, "He bestows [power] on whom He wishes." Romans 13:1 says "there is no authority except from God." I'm fairly sure that includes winners I didn't support.

"OK, Merrell, having stated the uber-macro truth, that God is in control, tell us how that works out. Why and how does God do that?"
I'm really glad you asked, because I have an answer. I don't have a clue. Furthermore, I'm convinced that those who claim to explain it don't know either. I'm reminded of the answer a wise--not to mention wise-cracking--father gave to his child when she asked, "Where did God come from?"
Dad's reply: "Anywhere He wants to; He's God."

Here is what I need to know based on those statements of God's sovereignty over politics:
My hope is in the Lord.

It's STTA.