Unfulfilled Expections

One of the most frustrating things we can encounter is unfulfilled expectations. Five minutes is not long to wait, but if you expected someone to be on time it can be irritating. This can be a common source of frictions in churches. People expect a church to be a certain way and become angry when it fails to live up to it. Congregations expect leaders to fit a certain mold and are upset when they do not. Leaders expect congregations to behave certain ways and become bitter and cynical when this does not happen. And people on both sides can end up tearing apart churches and destroying relationships, all the while being assured they must be right. Is there a way to avoid this?

Now I do not want to deny that there are serious issues of Christian behavior or Christian teaching that must be dealt with (Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:23-26; Jude 3). But we need to carefully distinguish between clear violations of Christian principles and an individual or group not meeting up to our personal ideals. We are all people in the process of being transformed into who God wants us to be (Philippians 3:12-16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:10). It is important for us to encourage one another in this journey (Hebrews 10:24,25; 12:12,13; Ephesians 4:11-16). But it is easy to slip from required correction and needed encouragement to standing in judgment on another person's progress in the spiritual life (1 Corinthians 5:1-5; Romans 14:4; 2:1). And there is nothing like unmet expectations to send us down this path. Now I do not want to lower the goal, which is God's righteousness (Romans 8:29; Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 4:23,24). But we are involved in a lifelong growth process, with this as the ultimate destination, and we are not there yet. Given that, we may need to put our expectations in perspective. And we need to remember the grace of God, which not only covers our sins, but those of our fellow believers (Romans 8:33,34; Hebrews 8:12; 1 Peter 4:8). Particularly when what is involved may be differences of methodology and personality rather than actual sin.

Now I do not want to suggest total cynicism or pessimism. But I do believe there needs to be a realistic balance between that and high-flown expectations that never live up to their press. And the irony is that we can, by pursuing unobtainable goals, miss the genuine relationships that can be developed in the real world if we just take a more measured view of things.

A Touch of Humor - Asking Directions

 

Is it sometimes possible to do things without realizing their consequences? And can we then look for a quick fix to undo the problem? How can we avoid this mentality? 

A Voice from the Past - Gregory the Great

Now I confidently say that whoever calls himself, or desires to be called, Universal Priest, is in his elation the precursor of Antichrist, because he proudly puts himself above all others. Nor is it by dissimilar pride that he is led into error; for as that perverse one wishes to appear as God above all men, so whoever this one is who covets being called sole priest, he extols himself above all other priests. But since the Truth says, Every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled (Luke xiv:11; xviii. 14) I know that every kind of elation is the sooner burst as it is the more inflated.

Pope Gregory I, Epistles, Book VII, Epistle XXXIII, 597 AD (Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, Vol. XIII, T & T Clark/Eerdmans, trans, Rev, James Barmby, p. 226)

What are the implications of this quote? Why is it important?

Our Adversary - 1 Peter 5:8-10

If Only We Had Enough Faith

"If only I had enough faith, things would go the way I want them to. I would see God's constant miraculous intervention, and every prayer I prayed would be immediately granted." It is not uncommon, from a Christian point of view, to feel this way. But is it what the Bible teaches? Sometimes this becomes faith in our faith. "If I just believe hard enough, what I want will happen." This can be found in its crudest form in the word-faith movement. "If I just have enough faith, I will obtain heath and wealth." But it is not limited to there. Sometimes it can come tricked out in more noble goals. "If I just have enough faith I can reach the world for Christ or overcome all my sins." But at the bottom it can be the same thing.

The Bible does not speak of faith in faith, but faith in God (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 4:17-22; Psalms 127:1,2). Further, faith in anything other than God is sternly rebuked (Isaiah 31:1; 44:6-11; Colossians 2:8-10). The basis for faith is that it is grounded in God's power (Isaiah 43:10-13; Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:13). Faith is not, and should never be, construed as being faith in faith. Also, while faith is important, often only a small amount of faith is seen as all that is necessary to move the hand of God (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6; Mark 9:23-27). Further, doubt in the New Testament means to waver and means to genuinely hesitate between two opinions and is not just the stray thought passing through our head (James 1:5-8; Matthew 14:28-31; Acts 11:12). Ultimately, it is clear that God can refuse to answer specific prayers when it is required to serve a broader purpose (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Matthew 26:36-46; Numbers 23:1-12).

In Acts 12:1-17 we are given the story of Peter's imprisonment. Peter was imprisoned and was sentenced to be put to death, and the church was praying for his release. Then God sent an angel and freed Peter from prison, and he showed up at the prayer meeting. And the people at the prayer meeting were unwilling to believe it was really Peter. Even with their highly imperfect faith, God had worked a miracle. But what if it works out the other way around? What if we are praying fervently for something and do not see it. While it could be our lack of faith, could it be that God, who is in control of all things (Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28; Matthew 16:18), has a different plan and we need to trust in Him, even though we may not understand what He is doing (Proverbs 3:5,6; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Psalms 46:10)? Could this be what is really meant by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:13-16; Romans 8:24,25)?

A Touch of Humor - Fish Story

Sometimes in is hard to speak the truth (following the story about George Washington and the cherry tree). What are some times it is hard to speak the truth? Is it ever hard to know what the honest  thing to do is in a particular situation?

A Voice from the Past - Tertullian

What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church? what between heretics and Christians? Our instruction comes from "the porch of Solomon," who had himself taught that "the Lord should be sought in simplicity of heart." Away with all attempts to produce a mottled Christianity of Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic composition!

Tertullian, 145-220 AD, On Prescription Against Heretics, Chapter VII (Anti-Nicene Fathers, T & T Clarke/Eerdmans, 1997, trans. Rev. Peter Holmes, p.246)

What do you think of this statement? Does it reflect the correct Biblical stance?