Not Ashamed

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; …”  — Romans 12:10

When I traveled with the Graceland Ramblers more years ago than I care to admit, we sang a Bill Gaither song called “Family of God.” It touched me then as it does now and captures the essence of what Paul was saying with his simple yet profound words in Romans 12:10. Look it up and listen. Here are the first verse and chorus:

You will notice we say “brother and sister” ’round here-
It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God-
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family, the family of God.

As members of the household of faith, the family of God, we belong to one another. No longer need we “go it alone.” Instead, we are part of a fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ.

And as members of the same family, we are to love one another and to be completely devoted to each other. We should consider each other over our own interests and give precedence and honor to our brothers and sisters in Christ. There should be no quarreling or factions between us, and we should consider how to build and encourage each other continually in the Lord.

“Brotherly love” is translated from the Greek word philadelphia, which itself is a combination of philos meaning beloved, dear or friendly and adelphos meaning fraternal love. In its common usage it refers to the love that biological family members have for each other. For example, the love that a mother and father feel for their children. It is this kind of love that Paul is saying should be among the members of the family of God.

What about showing honor? Honor is different from affection because you can honor a person for whom you have no affection. Paul does not want us to choose between these. He says do both. But they are different. Some alternate translations say; “Outdo one another in showing honor,” and “showing eagerness in honoring one another.” We should prefer to honor rather than be honored and love to honor more than we love to be honored.

Other places in scripture teach us also to “serve one another” (Gal 5:13, Mos 1:50), “forgive one another” (Sec 64:2d), “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal 6:2), and “impart one to another” (Mos 9:64). These are just a few of many scriptures that describe our relationship to each other in the family of God. We should always “consider one another” and encourage one another to love and good works. (Heb 10:24) And never forsake gathering together (Heb 10:25).

While catching up on the news of the day over a meal together, a warm handshake, a friendly pat on the back are all part of the social interaction that is important and needed, God has called us into a fellowship that is much deeper than just socializing.

When we move the center of attention from ourselves to others, we show the reality of our new nature in Christ because these are the behaviors that are natural and fitting for those who are born again and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. They are the fruit of the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that knits us together in this brotherly love. Our natures would not allow such to happen.

As the world steams towards God inevitable judgement, it is important and necessary that the family of God, our family, grows closer and closer together. It is also important that we invite as many as will come to join our family.

As I look to 2020 and beyond, I’m so glad to call each of you family and pray that we grow closer to our God and His Son and to one another, preferring, loving and honoring one another and by so doing demonstrating to the world the love and mercy and grace that God has shown us through His Son and the gift of His Spirit.

Weight of Glory

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; … (2 Corinthians 4:17)

“Glory” is a word which is frequently used among those of the Christian faith, but often without really understanding its meaning. Glory is most often associated with God, of course, and rightly so. But what does it mean? What is the glory of God?

To put it in simple terms, the glory of God is simply the presence of God, as He makes Himself unmistakably known. Since God is all glory, wherever God is, His glory can be known. The Scriptures tell us that God is continually revealing Himself and His glory through the things He has created in heaven and on earth. “The heavens declare the glory of God;” (Psalm 19:1) Thus, wherever we look – if we know what we’re looking for – we may expect to know the presence of God and His glory. We also experience his revelation and glory in prayer, study, fasting and worship.

We experience the glory of God as a kind of weight. The original meaning of the word, “glory”, is “to be heavy” or “to weigh upon.” When we are in the presence of the glory of God and aware of it, we become conscious of something greater than ourselves pressing upon us, crowding and weighing on us, like a heavy spiritual presence. In Scripture, whenever God shows His glory to any of His servants, they often fall down to the ground, as though knocked off their feet by the sudden realization of some great, weighty presence.

When Jesus visited the Nephites after his crucifixion, “the whole multitude fell to the earth” and “they did cry out with one accord, saying, Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down and the feet of Jesus, and did worship him.” (3 Nephi 5:13, 17)

In the presence of God and His glory we know a peace that passes all understanding, abundant joy, an overwhelming sense of love, excitement, fear, and even conviction that causes us to tremble and makes us want to linger. Like the disciples on the mount of Transfiguration, when God brings us into His presence and glory, we say, “It is good for us to be here.”

Paul experienced a great many trials in his life. God told Ananias that he would show Paul “how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:16) And Paul did suffer. We know from Acts and other letters that he was shipwrecked, stoned, tortured, and imprisoned.  In his second letter to the Corinthian saints he tells them that he has been troubled, perplexed, and persecuted. (2 Cor 4:8-9) But with just a few words he places the difficulties that he suffered for the sake of the Gospel in great contrast by calling them momentary light afflictions that in themselves brought into his life something far more excellent and eternal, the weight of Glory. The presence of God.

When we stand for the name of Jesus, it may not be easy for us. But when we stand, he will meet us there with his presence and in the weight of that Glory, any affliction that we suffer will pale in comparison. Let us be steadfast. Let us be faithful. Let us keep our eye single to the glory of God.

God so loved …

As I have stood each morning this past week waiting for the train to take me to the office, I have been blessed with a reminder of God’s love for all mankind. Across the tracks from the platform where I stand is a small billboard among other billboards with a simple message. It contains a paraphrase of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish; but have everlasting life.”

It stands in stark contrast to the other billboards advertising a wide variety of “things” that if you believe their message, would make one better, happier, more fulfilled, content, and a better person. It also stands in stark contrast to the culture I’ve come to know in this place. One that seems sterile and barren of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the wonderment of this Christmas season, where will we find our contentment? Will it be in the glitz and glimmer of “things?” Or will it me in the real wonderment and understanding that God sent Only Begotten Son, born of a virgin, to mankind to offer himself as the greatest gift of all that we should not perish, but have the hope of life eternal in his abode.

God “gave” his son. A precious and priceless gift to us. One that we do not deserve or have earned. In honor and recognition of that gift the wise men also gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It is widely understood that these gifts represent the very essence and nature of our Savior. Gold representing his kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) his deity and myrrh (an embalming oil) his death. This is expressed beautifully in the hymn “We Three Kings:”

Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain; Gold I bring to crown him again;
King forever; ceasing never Over all to reign.

Frankincense to offer have I; Incense owns a deity nigh;
Prayer and praising all men raising, Worship him, God on high.

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume Breaths a life of gathering gloom –
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in stone cold tomb.

Like the billboard I have seen each morning this week, I believe that God has called each of us to stand in stark contrast to the world about us. And like the wise men of old we should honor our Lord and King with our gifts in recognition of who he is and the gift we have received. We should take every opportunity to adore him.

The very best gift we can offer is a life of service and devotion. He wants our lives. The greatest gift you can give to God this year is yourself. The greatest gift you can give to God is to say, “Lord, I give you my life. I give you my talents. I give you my abilities. I give you my weaknesses. I offer myself to you. Here is my gift to you.”

May the dedication and devotion of our lives to him and our love for one another be the bright and shining lights of this Christmas season.

We are in the middle of another political season and it’s tough to watch. So much vitriol and partisan rancor. So much argumentum ad hominem. As a nation we are divided and polarized as never before and not just across the political spectrum but in just about every aspect of life. We seem so far from the nation that was raised up by the providential hand of God.

God said that he “established the constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men who [he] raised up unto this very purpose.” (Sec 98:10e) The political sentiment of the church has been from nearly its inception that “We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man” (Sec 112:1) but that “he holds men accountable in relation to them.” (Sec 112:1)

Moroni “prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren so long as there should be a band of Christians remain to possess the land;” (Alma 21:43) Our constitution, albeit under attack, was established in answer to Moroni’s prayer to “secure the Blessings of Liberty.”

But David Barton wrote that “if our understanding of historical facts and constitutional intent becomes confused or mistaken, the resulting policies may be not only ill-founded but may actually create the very abuses that the Founders originally intended to avoid.” (from the Forward to Original Intent by David Barton) Historical fact has been distorted and one could argue that we are seeing what David feared.

Is there hope for our nation?

Yes, I believe there is and it is found in the very purpose for which our nation was established. To be a crucible of freedom in which the gospel might be restored and flourish in order to establish the literal kingdom of God on earth. There is a land that has been consecrated for the gathering of the saints, a land of promise, the very place for the city of Zion and no other place shall be appointed.

God says that “he removeth kings, and setteth up kings.” (Dan 2:21) He causes nations to rise and fall. He uses one nation to bring judgement against another … all for his purposes. What we see in the political landscape in our nation today may not make sense to us. It may even upset us but we must trust that it is all for God’s purposes. He is sovereign over all the nations. He reigns in truth and righteousness.

So while we may not like the politics of our nation and fear that we may lose our liberty, we can rest in the hope that God will accomplish his purposes. His word will not return to him void. He has appointed a place. It shall be called the New Jerusalem and it will be a “land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the most high God.” And most importantly “the glory of the Lord shall be there.” (Sec 45:12c-d) Let us so order our lives that we might have the privileged of citizenship in his kingdom that will surely come to pass.

He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him in!

The above quatrain from a broader work by Edwin Markham was brought to my memory in prayer service a few weeks ago. I was thinking about our monthly theme of repentance and how we so often want God to quickly forgive us when we trespass but how slow we are to forgive each other. How too often when we “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3) we point the accusatory finger at another … how our contending at times becomes contentious and divisive.

The parable of the prodigal son is a stern rebuke of what it means to draw a circle and shut someone out and the benefits of drawing circles to take people in. In this parable we often focus on the younger son, the one who ran off with his inheritance and squandered it in riotous living. We marvel at his father’s reaction on his return and we should because it is a wonderful example of repentance and forgiveness.

But this parable is more about the elder brother, the one who stayed. The one who never left. The one who did not squander his inheritance. The one who believed he was right and his brother was wrong. Consider his attitude upon his brothers return. He was angry that love had the wit to win and that his father drew a circle and took him in. In the end, the elder brother did not partake of the great feast, he was left on the outside, bitter and angry. He had drawn a circle that left his brother out. He deemed him a heretic a rebel and a thing to flout … but in so doing, he just left himself out.

Forgiveness and love is always the better course. Latter day revelation teaches us that we “ought to forgive one another, for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses, standeth condemned before the Lord, for there remaineth in him the greater sin. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men;” (Section 64:2d-e)

If the adversary can get brother to turn against brother, sister against sister, he creates a whirlwind of division and destruction and he wins. If the body of Christ demonstrates love and care and concern for one another, if we bear each others burdens, if we are long suffering, if we forbear one another in love, if we uphold each other in prayer, if we resist the temptation to draw circles and shut people out but draw circles that take each other in, then God wins and his kingdom will be established among us.

We should each and every day walk in the inspired admonition that came through Joseph Luff:

Heed ye, then, this admonition:
Climb to atmosphere of love.

Love ye me and love all people—
Love as I have loved you;
This your calling—this my purpose—
Thus be my disciples true.

Then in this exalted station
Your companion I will be;
Every promise of my Scriptures
Will be verified in thee.

“Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the great I AM, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins, who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice, and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer.” Section 28:1a

No one can argue that we live in a difficult day. Decadence is on display just about everywhere. Moral decline is not just evident; it is wanted and sought after. Conservative Supreme Court nominee Judge Robert H. Bork chronicles our plight in his book “Slouching Towards Gomorrah.” In it he states “So unrelenting is the assault on our sensibilities that many of us grow numb …”

Individualism that is unconfined by the tenants of the gospel and its moorings will end up in hedonism. Our world is fast approaching the day when the Machiavellian pursuit of pleasure will be all that matters.

The word of God bears record; “as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:44) And as it was in the days of Noah, judgment will certainly be poured out. Perhaps it has already begun on His house. God will release his grip on those that strain against his loving grasp and the consequences of sin will devastate.

Jesus knew. He was well aware that the frailties of our flesh, the nature that we inherit at birth, and the uncertainty of our situations would collide with a force of devastating strength and determination. He knew we would see the “sights that dazzle” and the “tempting sounds” that we would hear. He knew that self-confidence, that affluence, that pride, that self-pity, that power would provide the green grass that attracts wandering sheep. He knew that the enemy – crafty, deceptive, evil, polluted, hateful and attractive – would do anything and everything to draw us away.

The metaphor is correct – like sheep, we are “prone to wander” and prone to “leave the God we love” and I’m sure that Jesus knew that there would be times in all of our lives when we would stray, when we would doubt, when events of pain and catastrophe would wedge a crowbar against our resolve.

That is why he was prepared from the foundation of the world to save us and that is why He endeavors to holds us so tight.

There is something wonderful about the mental picture of our Savior wrapping his omnipotent hand around each of us, and of the Father wrapping his own almighty hand around his. We become “encircled about with the matchless bounty of His love” (Alma 14:95) and our “life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)

The story of Noah and his family’s preservation provides an example. When the ark was finished, God shut Noah inside. The storms of judgment fell in all their fury. The “fountains of the great deep [were] broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened,” (Genesis 8:36) but Noah was safe. He was in the ark. The waters of judgment fell on the ark, not on him.

Our salvation, security and protection are sure if we listen to his voice. His limitless grip will encircle us and hold us tight if we listen to his voice. His love will never let us go if we listen to his voice. He will never relinquish control if we listen to his voice.

“O my people, saith the Spirit, Hear the word of God today; Be not slothful but obedient; ‘Tis the worlds momentous day! Unto honor I have called you – Honor great as angels know; Heed ye, then, a Father’s counsel, And by deeds your purpose show.

Time is ripe! My work must hasten! Whoso will may bide the hour. Naught can harm whom God protecteth – Elements confess his power. Up ye, then, to the high places I have bid you occupy! Peril waits upon the heedless, Grace upon the souls who try!”

Despite the difficulties that we see and even experience, his promises are sure and the glory of His coming waits to break upon our day.