"Guys, Guts & God's Glory"
Jesus--- a 'poured out' life
To All the KING's Men...
Did you hear? A significant number of young adults (mostly men) have a 'zombie attack' plan. Up 37% of adults under the age of 30 know what they are going to do when the zombies come. The plans include phrases like 'board up the house', 'call all my friends,' 'steal a car', 'get a gun' and 'stock up on Twinkies' (well, we can again, now!). Amazing, huh? Well, there is some biblical evidence worth noting...
"...people will become like walking corpses, their flesh rotting away.Their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. On that day they will be terrified, stricken by the LORD with great panic. They will fight their neighbors hand to hand." - Zechariah 14:12-13
It also seems, according to the prophet, that God would do this. So, while some adults are formulating plans for zombie attacks, there are others who plan for daily life and the days to come. I'm one of those guys. I hope you are, too!
Do you have any preferred Bible words or phrases? One of my favorite words in the Bible is "splagchna" (σπλάγχνα). It's fun to say... "SPLAG-CH-NA" or "SPLAG-CH-NOICE" and while it appears less than a dozen times, it is a powerful word. A 'guy' word. It means "bowels" or 'guts'. It's never singular. Always plural. Remember that. Always plural, never singular. When we talk about 'guts' the word is more than just a reference to our 'innards.' It pushes our emotions also and is related to phrases like 'tender mercies', having a 'compassionate heart' or 'inner affections'. And the term also shows up in a graphic reference in Acts 1:18 when Judas went out and hanged himself and his "bowels" poured out all over the ground. GUTS... a guy word. Vivid images can be good for us. Our emotions can lead us to do good work.
When Jesus had accomplished his 'cross and crown' mission of taking on the sins of the world and when the Roman officials were finished with him, a soldier took a spear to his side to determine if he was dead or alive. When the spear plunged in and out, Gospel writer John recalled that water and blood 'poured out' from Jesus' side. Water and blood being poured out of Jesus. God's compassion and mercy all over the place. God's power. The same power when water washed over Jesus at the Jordan River and God's voice said... "this is my son, my beloved; listen to him." The same power when water was turned into wine at a Cana village wedding. The same power when, during Passover, Jesus took a chalice of wine reserved for the prophet Elijah and ordered his disciples to keep drinking 'this cup'... a new covenant via his blood... and remember always, never forgetting his love for them. Plural. For us. Plural. Not singular. For them... for all of us. Water. Wine. Blood. Grace. Forgiveness of sins. Guys, guts and God's glory ... Jesus being with us... really present now and forever.
In Paul's Letter to Titus (chapter 3) he writes...
"God’s people should be big-hearted and courteous. It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this." (The Message)
One of the things I've come to consider recently... without any intention to harm or diminish clarity ... the language we use in our conversations of faith, theological descriptors and even in our worship a certain kind of confusion exists for those who walk the streets of "Struggles in Life Blvd," "Wrestling With God Row" and "Seeking A New and Better Way to Live" Circle.
Here are three examples...
Here are three examples...
- We ask others, "where do you go to church"? In asking, the presumption is about the person. Singular. Not plural. Would it be better if we began to ask the same concern by the query... "Tell me about your faith community? Church is plural. Never singular. Jesus didn't die on the cross to save ME or YOU... that's the personal witness... Jesus died to redeem "the cosmos"... all of life... all of creation! This shift in questioning moves the focus from one person to a group of people. Remember, Jesus sent his followers in groups and no less than 2's.
- For centuries our worship services have ended with the blessing and benediction (Numbers 6:22-27) from Aaron to God's people... "the Lord bless YOU and keep YOU; the Lord make his face shine on YOU and be gracious to YOU... " and most of you reading this blog can finish the blessing... but here's the rub... when Aaron said those words, the people of God heard with their Hebrew ears the 'plural' form of YOU... not the singular. So did our German and Scandinavian ancestors as their native tongue had distinctions of singular and plural. Spanish makes that distinction as well. Our English language has inferences to both, but we use the same word... YOU... so I'm thinking that many people come to worship get their 'personal' blessing and can't hear the plural form when the words are spoken. This may explain or describe how attitudes of 'individualism' in our culture are wearing down our sense of corporate. Is there a connection between 1 and 2? Knowing the distinction can minimize the confusion and fallout.
- In some places we like to say, "Amen" when we agree with another's comment... and especially following a spirited sermon! But, many of us were taught 'amen' means... 'truly, truly' or 'let it be so' ... and let it go at that... but the term, 'amen' has a more powerful image for us than most think about... 'amen' has it's roots in the Aramaic term, "emunah" (pronounced EM- OOO- Nah') and literally means... "stand fast, hold your ground" or 'keep your place; don't let 'em push you around.' It's exactly what Jesus did in every circumstance. He had guts for God. He held his ground, stood fast and did not let anyone push him around. His desire to be compassionate, hold inner affections for people in all circumstances of life was clear. Blood. Water. Poured out. For the sake of the world. Amen? Amen. Someone told me that Jesus was the ONLY man who ever accomplished everything he set out to do...
"I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone." (The Message)
We're a year away yet, but I'm looking forward to the Triennial Lutheran Men in Mission National Gathering in Nashville, TN July 18-19-20, 2014... please share with others...
Guys, guts and God's glory will be the focus and worth the trip and celebration... Why?Simple. I can't be church by myself. Nor can you! Plural. Never singular. I need other men in my life.... and it's good from time to time (every 3 years can be one of those times..) to step back and take stock of who I am... ask what I'm made of and to ask the one who gives and pours out life to feed me with what I need to be a man in mission... I hope you will do that, too!
One man at at time; no man left behind,
Brian
