"I could have gotten one more..."

“I could have gotten one more person... and I didn’t!”

- Liam Neeson in Schindler’s List as Oskar Schindler.

Schindler’s List… wow.  I haven’t thought of that movie in a very long time.  What a fascinating, powerful, and sobering movie.  If you have not seen it, Steven Spielberg directed this masterpiece that will shake you to your core… if it doesn’t, I don’t think you are human.  It is the movie that tells the story of a particular group of Jews during the Holocaust of World War II and a man who becomes concerned for them witnessing their persecution.  This movie highlights one of the most vivid and heart wrenching times in recent human history where the depths seemed to be reached regarding wickedness and depravity of the human race, and it is on full display.

I saw it in High School (loooooong time ago), and once or twice since then, but not recently.  The story surrounds a man by the name of Oskar Schindler. It is based on true accounts by those who were saved by Mr. Schindler and close surviving family members.  Oskar is a business man looking to make money off of the war in Poland during the height of the Nazi occupation.  While witnessing the persecution of the Jews, in the ghettos and concentration camps, Oskar seeks to use the resources at his disposal to save as many as he can from being murdered. 

A colleague of mine had just watched the movie for the first time.  He shared with me the quote above where Schindler was weeping, realizing he could have done more in his efforts to save these people.  My colleague continued about how that moment in the movie impacted him in a powerful way (as he was saying it, it was hitting me too).  “I could have gotten one more person… and I didn’t!”.

As we look at our great affluence and privilege, the question will be and needs to be asked, “How did we use it?”.   I confess, this doesn’t always cross my mind.  I’d like to think it does, but I know by the power and the depth in which this thought hit me, there is room for much improvement and self examination. 

When this life is over and we are accountable before God, will these words pour forth from our lips?  It may not be saving individuals from genocide like Oskar Schindler, but maybe pulling children from the brink of starvation. Or maybe we will regret not even trying to be about providing the common needs shared by all people like clean water, food, shelter, clothes, education, or even love. 

You are responsible for you, and I have to take responsibility for myself.  As we examine our hearts, weigh the blessing and privilege we experience, see the need before us, and it’s my prayer that God will lead us in being His hands and feet to those in our sphere of influence.  That as you sense that leading or feel that prompting, that you would be obedient, extending His grace, love, and kindness meeting needs that are within our power. 

Oskar didn’t save them all.  He knew he couldn’t.  What broke him at the end were those people that he could have saved, but didn't.  May we spend our lives for the things that matter.  May we use our resources and skills to improve lives, sewing peace, giving thanks to God, being ready to share about the Hope that lies in each one of us as we are asked. 

Be empowered!

You Follow Me

“You follow me.”  -Jesus

These words have been rattling around in my brain these last few months. 

I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that these have been some very difficult few months for me personally.  On top of that, let’s add the contentious political season we just went through (who’s kidding who, it’s still going).  Social media was just as bad as the attacks the candidates were running on each other (it was worse in some ways).   The church that I belong to and pastor, Calvary Chapel in Silverdale, is part of a network of churches that are also going through a challenging time as well.   Not an easy season of life.   

The political season has been difficult for many reasons.  One reason in particular is seeing friends that have been sexually assaulted in the past, friends that have been made to feel like second class citizens, and those who are silenced and demeaned by the actions of individuals who are just as aggressive and mean in their rhetoric as President Elect Donald Trump.  The election of Donald Trump to the highest office in the land seems to reopen these wounds that affect them so deeply.  It's very hard to watch. 

Calvary Chapel was founded by a man named Chuck Smith in the late 1960’s.  God used this man to turn one church into a global movement of over 1400 churches, various Bible Colleges, a University, and countless para-church organizations.  Pastor Chuck Smith passed away in 2013.  Since then, there has been an inability of those entrusted to guide the organization of churches to be unified in their methodology of carrying out the distinctives that make Calvary Chapel what it is.  It’s difficult to see these particular men, who are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, having an inability in doing this among themselves.  

It is easy to sit on the sidelines and cast judgements and pick sides.  One of the temptations in doing this is to mischaracterize someone’s hurt, concern, or feelings and then minimize it.   The reason this happens is because it’s easier than actually listening, being vulnerable, and having a conversation.  It’s been an observation of late that we have seemingly lost the art of civil disagreement.  In other words, to agree to disagree and still love the other, though there is a disagreement. 

Jesus’ words to Peter are simple, “… you follow Me.”  (John 21:22).   In a time where it is easy to react to those things that strike a deep nerve, the command of Jesus should ring in all of our collective ears, “…you follow Me.”  This should translate to us denying ourselves (our self will and need for retaliation), picking up our cross (crucifying our fleshly desires), and following Him (being obedient to His word).  Our greatest commandment is to love Him and love others. 

May we seek to love God, in all circumstances.  May we seek to love those that bless us and those that hurt us.  That is what our Master did, He loved you and me while we were still sinners; going to the cross for us despising the shame because of the joy that was set before Him.   So the next time someone says something or does something that hurts you, if you have the ability in the moment, love them and pray for them.  If you don’t have the ability to love, walk away praying for your heart and theirs… this too is love.  If someone is hurting, don’t try and fix it or minimize their pain. Sit with them and let them know they are not alone.  Love them by just being there. 

This isn’t easy and nor is it intuitive.  It’s learned.  May the Lord richly bless us as we seek to follow Him.

The Flawed and Beautiful Church

“These days American Christians switch churches because the one they are in lacks the desired programs. By contrast, Bonhoeffer “switched churches” so that he could go suffer with a church that was in difficulty and distress… Church as a place to serve, much less as a place to suffer, just doesn’t compute.”     - Everyday Life of a Pastor: Reasons to Persevere, by Stuart Stogner; The Journal of Biblical Counseling - Summer 2006

The Church is an amazing organism. It is one of the only things in this universe that in it’s brokenness and depravity, does it also magnify the graciousness and goodness of God. Of it’s many members, it speaks to the community that is the Trinity.  As there is fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, so the church is not to neglect the communal gathering. 

Having held the role of a pastor for almost 20 years I’ve seen my fare share of those who have left my church to go to another.  I’ve also seen those leaving another church to come to mine.  All for various reasons that seem important for the individuals that have made the decision to leave.  In my opinion, some had very legitimate reasons to leave our church.  Others, I thought their reasons were quite petty.  

No matter what the reason, my heart is to encourage those that leave our church and those that come to make the church better.  A cynical heart, like mine at times, would say the church is already better because of those that have left.  But that would be wrong and counterproductive to admit.  I’ve had to repent of such feelings.  No, the best thing to do is to encourage those coming into the church from another to understand that we are as flawed as the last church they left.   Yes, we are flawed in different ways, but you will find out soon we are still flawed. Help make us better.  To those that leave, know that where you land, they are flawed too.  When you find that out, please don’t leave, but for the very reason that they are flawed you need to stay.  

The reality of encountering Jesus is to understand that we are sinners who can only be saved by grace through faith.  The more we understand and know who God is, the more we are aware of our own sinfulness and inability apart from God’s initiation.  It is only those who are disillusioned as to who God is and the reality of their present situation that can stand in front of another man and think of himself better than him.  

When the weakness of the church is exposed, it is all the more reason to stay, to labor, and to pray for the church to become what God has intended it to be.  If a doctor never went into the room of a sick patient, no one would ever be healed.   When we see the brokenness of the church, we must declare and marvel at the goodness of God that He would leave the glories and majesty of Heaven, for the joy that was set before Him (the Church), endure the shame of the cross, forsaking all of the glories and splendor of Heaven, His precious treasure… His pearl of great price… the Church.  Is that not worth laboring with and serving those whom Christ died for?

Christian, see that your place in the church is first to serve.  In your service you will receive what you need as the Lord ministers to you through your service.  May we remember that a servant is not greater than his Master.  We have His example, may we do as He did.  No greater love has a man than this, that he would lay his life down for his friends.