Share Real Life Together

“What do bridges and family have in common” you may think. Usually nothing more than the occasional bridge we cross when we’re heading to a given destination on our family road trips. And some of them we don’t even notice since they are so small. But once in a while we cross those that make us stop and wonder, “How much work went in to this?” “How much time and effort did they have to spend to bridge this gap?”

Because that is what bridges do—they bridge gaps. They link one end to another over chasms, ravines, waters, rivers, oceans. And as we wonder, we continue on our drive and think nothing more of them.

So it is with our family. We are bonded by ties beyond our control. We are related via blood or marriage. We spend more or less time with each other depending on how distant the family relationship is. And the more distant the relationship, the more likely we are to “put up” with the family members’ less desirable character flaws. We don’t need to build a bridge, because they were built for us.

So what do bridges and family have in common? Nothing. Unless you call yourself a Christian, that is.

The last two weeks at Trinity we were blessed by great Biblical teachings from Dr. Tim Ralston and Dr. Jeff Bingham respectively. Dr. Ralston spoke about bridges, Dr. Bingham spoke about family.  And they made me think.

Dr. Bingham reminded us that Christ has fundamentally redefined family. As we read at the end of Mark 3:31-35, Jesus extends the family beyond those with whom we have a blood relationship. Our family members are those that obey the will of God. Those around us in our Christian community. Those that sit next to us in the pews each and every Sunday morning. Those that sit in the pews in other churches, each and every Sunday morning. Those that meet in huts and in homes. Those that meet freely and those that are forced to meet in secret. All those that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet in Mark we see repeatedly that the apostles and disciples respond in fear (Mk 5:15 and Mk 5:33), or with surprise and incredulity (Mk 5:31). But we also see those that respond in faith (Mk 5:27) and obedience (Mk 5:18).

So we may respond in fear or unbelief to Christ’s call to extend the family beyond the boundaries of those related by blood or marriage. Or we may respond to His redefining the family in faith and obedience and consider those in our Church Body as our closest family members around.

And personally, when I look across the sanctuary each Sunday morning, there are those I do not know. I may recall their first name, or their wife’s name. With some effort I may recall if they have children and what their names are. But I would be hard pressed to be able to say what their current burden or struggle is. I would be lieing if I were to say that I knew what their prayer requests may be. There is a chasm, a gap, a distance between myself and many people in our body.

And bridges cross these chasms. Oh, it’s hard. It’s difficult. I know it is. We naturally tend to gravitate towards those people we like. So how can we “cross that gap” and “build that bridge?”

Dr. Ralston showed us that there is a power that can help us do that. God used this power to bridge an infinite gap. To create an everlasting bridge that crosses a chasm that is larger than anything we can humanly fathom. That bridge was created by the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Christ’s death and resurrection created a bond, stronger than the strongest “gorilla glue” that joins us to God which nothing can break. And we find this power “In Christ” (Eph 2:13).

“In Christ” we find the power to bridge this gap that separates us from our fellow family member “in Christ.” This infinite power we find enables us to reach out to the others in our body to become one family “In Christ.” To create one church, one family, bearing each others burdens, praying for each other, caring for each other. Where we are all one product of the grace of God. For nothing we can do on our own can bridge that gap to God and to each other, lest we boast (Eph 2:9). One community of sinners, becomes one product, saved by grace.

So why bridge this gap to our new family members in Christ? Is there a purpose? So we can be one Holy Temple in the Lord. So we are a witness to those around us. For through us, as one unified church, we demonstrate to the world how great and good and wonderful our God truly is. As Dr. Ralston said, “There has to be one throne. One God and one people who serve Him.” As long as we are not one people, as long as the gaps and chasms exist, we will never be one. And then one day, someone may say that the glue holding us together, the one power provided to us in Christ, just wasn’t strong enough.

So why don’t you take the time this coming Sunday to reach out across the gap. Find someone you don’t know and get to know them. We always have the invitation to greet those around us. Perhaps we should find someone we don’t know. And greet them and welcome them into the one family we are all a part of. Perhaps, just perhaps, we should spend some time and effort in building a bridge, crossing a gap that with the power of Christ may prove not to be that wide after all.

Michael Luyckx
TFC member

Enduring in hardship requires vulnerability

We were blessed last Sunday to have Craig Schill join us for a message about endurance during trials. It was great to be reminded that when we are faced with trials, and as Christians just like any other person we are or will be faced with our share of challenges, we are being called to endure.

This call to endurance is so counter cultural to our quick-fix and instant gratification society, yet there is a whole treasure throve of Scripture verses calling us to endure while going through affliction or challenging times. A quick perusal may result in this treasure throve: Matt 10:22, ICor.  4:12, ICor. 10:13, 2Tim. 4:5, Heb 11:25, James 5:11, 1Pet 2:20, Rev 2:3, Rom 5:3, Rom 12:12.

Note that endurance of hardship is not the same as the toleration of sin nor is it identical to being passive. We are called to speak boldly against sin and take action. And as we are learning to live under the challenges God has put above us, Craig provided five ways we can live while being under the affliction:
1. Thank you notes: To remind us to continually thank the Lord, even under affliction. (Phil 4:6).
2. Welcome mat: During times of hardship we are invited to seek community. (2Cor 1:4)
3. Full length mirror: Allows us to ask the question “Who am I”, since suffering tends to reveal who we really are and what we identify with.
4. School desk: A place to learn. James 1:2-4 shows that a time of trial is a time of learning that produces perseverance and maturity.
5. Lay-z-boy chair: During any time of trials we need to find a time for repose and rest and rejoice. Psalm 37:7 implores us to wait and what better place to do it than in a comfy chair.   

But it is the second and third items I would like to elaborate on a bit. Welcoming people into our lives when we are faced with affliction is a tough thing to do. As Craig pointed out, it is usually the time where we like to put out the “Do not Disturb” sign. Especially as men, we are taught that a real man takes care of his problems. That a real man doesn’t need others. More widely, we even have a saying to prompt us that it’s not wise to “air out the dirty laundry.” And yet, during times of difficulty, could it be that dirty laundry which is causing our afflictions ? Perhaps we weren’t wise with money. Or we have children that are being difficult. Or worse, that are taking drugs. Or even more damaging to our public reputation, a daughter that gets pregnant out of wedlock !

Being able to seek community to be comforted and lifted up in prayer during those afflictions requires us to be vulnerable. It is so easy for us to try and hide whatever troubles us. It is difficult to be able to admit we may not have it all together as much as we like to portray it. Whatever public image we have kept up is usually stripped away during our time of affliction. The mirror shows where we need a group we can trust with what bothers us and what afflicts us. And one cannot expect this group to just show up on our doorstep when we ask for it. It requires us to take the first step to get to know people, to build that trust and love relationship so that when (not if… but when) the time of affliction comes, we can fearlessly and unashamedly admit we fell short, admit we are vulnerable and need help, and enjoy the comfort of our Christian family around us.

So where is your group that will support you when you go through your days of affliction ? Where are your connections that will come when you put out the welcome mat during your times of trouble ? If you can’t answer that question, have a look around on Sunday. Perhaps figure out what this “Connection” thing is all about.

Michael Luyckx
TFC Member

I am about to sin again.

In the Heidelberg Disputation, Martin Luther’s defense of his 95 Theses, Luther argues that we are so depraved that not only are men capable of sin, but even their good works are sins. That’s because, he says, any work that a believer does because of its goodness is really just a work of his own–it’s not one of God’s works.

I’m not sure when I became a torchbearer for Total Depravity, but it’s the only application I’ve found so far that offers me a fighting chance to answer the challenge of Philippians 2.  It would be one thing if it were just this:

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

I don’t really have a problem with thinking of others as more important than me.  I’m happy to hold the door for you.  I’ll even wrestle you for the privilege. (See? My works are gooder than yours!)

The real problem starts here:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

I don’t know how to “empty” myself.  I mean, maybe I do.  Except that every time I try to think of emptying myself, I end thinking about my Self.  It’s like trying not to think about polka-dotted elephants.  I’d like to accommodate you, Sir, but it’s just not going to work out.

So that’s frustrating, but that’s not even the hard part.  The hard part is this:

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

But here’s the thing:  I can’t even be obedient right!  My obedience stinks!  I’m not one of those people who worries about finding God’s will—I’ve pretty much settled in my own mind that it’s not hidden.  It’s sitting out in plain sight at the end of Romans 12, a plain old mundane to-do list that’s as unburning as a bush could be.  But even when I try something nice and devout, like devoting myself to prayer, I find myself shushing my seven-year-old.  Or I work on persevering in tribulation, only to have God remind me that the “tribulation” I’m persevering against is my co-worker with the abrasive laugh, someone He made and loves.

So no matter what I do, I manage to turn it to sin.

And what helps me in my humility is to remember that I’m always about to sin again.  That the only way my actions and words will come out right is if God untwists them and turns them to His purpose.  The thought chronically (I wish I could say constantly, but it isn’t so) turns what I’m about to say into gentler words, and it reminds me that you are fighting a hard battle too, and that I should not be rude.  Instead I should be patient and kind, bearing all things, believing all things, enduring all things. When I remember that I’m about to sin again, I get more patient, I listen better, and, I suppose, I turn to God and say, “Maybe You should take care of this instead.”

See, now I’ve gone and done it again.  I got puffed up in my pride and made a point of telling you how I’ve got everything worked out and you should really try to be more like me.  I sinned AGAIN!

There’s no hope for me.  There’s just Hope.

And as for you? What about you?  Well, let me tell you, buddy, there’s only one thing I know for sure about you:

You are about to sin again….

Skipper Pickle
TFC Member