Birth and Life and Christmas, Part 1

Spirituality Column #160
December 1, 2009
Current in Carmel - Current in Westfield - Current in Noblesville
(Indianapolis north suburban home newspapers)

Birth and Life and Christmas, Part 1
By Bob Walters

I am the second of four children born in the 1950s. Dad, a newspaper reporter and editor, fashioned a small “newspaper” for each of us sent to relatives and friends as birth announcements.

Going through my personal papers recently, I came upon those four notices. It was fascinating to read long-forgotten details about places and relatives and hospitals and doctors.

I am a sap for nostalgia; and I miss my parents, both long passed.

How sweet to hold those moments in my hands.

Yet, generally it isn’t the circumstance of our birth that gives meaning to our lives. One’s birth is a fleeting moment in time. Every ensuing chorus of “Happy Birthday” is about “today;” perhaps a sentimental summation of one’s life so far. A birthday typically is an inventory – of years, of situation, of station, of stuff – not a history lesson.

One’s life is a complex, constantly unfolding mosaic of many dimensions on many levels in many compartments. Not one of us reduces all that to a day.

Let’s not do that to Jesus Christ and Christmas.

Our culture this time of year marches earnestly toward Dec. 25: toward a day, toward gifts, toward family and joy. Or maybe toward loneliness and despair and memories of a happier, earlier life and Christmases gone bye … one day, one year at a time. For some, the march is toward the emptiness of Christmas that never was.

But … we march; many without really knowing why. Well, here’s why:

Because Jesus Christ is God. Jesus Christ is man. Jesus Christ is eternal.

And Christmas is a whole lot more than a birthday.

Not to strip the trimmings off the tree, but most popular practice and even belief about Christmas is not only fa-la-la but folly. The date’s wrong, divine focus is lost, the word “Christmas” has become a referendum not only on political correctness but civil rights. We have Santa Claus and snowflakes instead of angels and adoration.

The “holiday” celebration dwindles to societal sizzle and secular steak. And then … with seasonal energies spent … Baby Jesus is put back in a box and Christmas is packed up until next year.

I am a sentimental, avid participant in the Christmas season. But I’ve learned that the spark of magic, good will, reverence, and humanity this time of year is God speaking to our hearts, pleading for more than a day.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) will spend December writing about the Christ in Christmas.

Thanks is a God Thing

Spirituality Column #159
November 24, 2009
Current in Carmel - Current in Westfield - Current in Noblesville
(Indianapolis north suburban home newspapers)

Thanks is a God Thing
By Bob Walters

Maybe it is so obviously a “God thing” that we don’t give it a second thought, but the simple word “thanks” has little meaning without God.

At least that’s what the Bible seems to say.

We learn early in American life that the magic words of our culture are “please” and “thank you.” “Please” expresses humility and requests a kindness or indulgence; “Thank you” acknowledges a kindness or indulgence.

“Please” appears throughout the Bible (225 times in the NIV), split evenly addressing requests both to God and among people.

“Thanks,” “thank you” and “thanksgiving” show up 144 times, 141 of them referring to God.

This is what convinces me Thanksgiving is a religious holiday.

“Give thanks to the Lord” and “thanks be to God” are two of the most common phrases in the Bible, stretching through both the Old and New Testaments.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever” is a constant refrain in the Old Testament (e.g. Psalm 106:1, 107:1, 118:1 and others), and provides the opening phrase of one of contemporary worship’s most popular songs, “Forever God is Faithful” by Michael W. Smith.

The line, however, does not appear in the New Testament.

Instead, the focus of New Testament “thanks” is very often on food: most especially on our communion with Christ represented by bread and wine. Jesus, the Apostles, the early Christians … never eat without giving thanks to God.

Which brings us to the American holiday of Thanksgiving.

It is a happy, collegial stuff-fest in most homes. We gather with our families and eat too much … surely a blessing of abundance. An even greater blessing is had by the people who feed strangers on Thanksgiving at community feasts.

God has certainly shed great grace on us, but my concern isn’t that we eat too much; it’s that on Thanksgiving, we pray too little, or pray from the wrong point of view.

The worst prayer in the Bible is described in Luke 18:11: “The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.”

How good and pleasing it is to pray a prayer of deep thanks, in faith with humility and love, and not with the Pharisee’s pride.

Pray, and be glad, and give thanks unto the Lord. Happy Thanksgiving.

Walters (www.believerbob.blogspot.com, email rlwcom@aol.com) thanks God daily for the love of his children, the grace of our being and the beauty of this world.

Salesmanship vs. Relationship

Spirituality Column #158
November 17, 2009
Current in Carmel - Current in Westfield - Current in Noblesville
(Indianapolis north suburban home newspapers)

Salesmanship vs. Relationship
By Bob Walters

Shortly after Christ’s resurrection He met His 11 remaining disciples in Galilee, instructing them to “go and make disciples of all nations.”

This is “The Great Commission” of Matthew 28:18-20. These final words of the Gospel of Matthew tell Christians for the ages that it is not enough just to go to church. Our faith must have the actions of outreach, baptism, teaching and obedience.

Understand: faith isn’t about going to church; faith is about being the church.

It was the solidarity of the relationships among the early believers, as described in Acts 2:42-47, that reflected the faith and showed outsiders a picture of a caring community based on Christ’s love and service. People were drawn to it.

The first Christians were filled with awe, and Acts 2:47 says the fellowship of believers enjoyed “the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Couple of important things to note. First, my Sunday school teacher Steve Hall recently pointed out that Christ didn’t tell his disciples to go into the world and make “converts.” He told them to make disciples. That’s a great point and key distinction.

“Converts” are made by salesmanship, while “disciples” are made by relationship. We might sell or be sold the story of Jesus, but it’s the relationship of believers, the relationship of the Holy Trinity, and the human-divine relationship Christ enabled by His death, burial and resurrection, that we are to share with “all nations.”

I resisted every “sales pitch” about Christ ever presented to me. It was when I learned about and wanted a relationship with Christ – because I saw smart, caring Christians – that I became a Christian.

Second, Acts 2:47 says “the Lord added to their number.” Ever been asked “how many souls” you have saved? The correct answer is “zero.” In our obsessively “measurable” modern society, the sales function is about numbers, and marketing is about packaging. I’ve spent most of my professional career in public relations, where one’s best friend is the truth, and the goal is to build relationships.

I don’t want to “sell” or “package” Christ. I accept Christ as the truth, want a relationship with Him, and love telling others what I know.

Just remember: the Holy Spirit closes the deal (Acts 2:47).

In Christ, I don’t keep score. A loving relationship is victory enough.

Walters (www.believerbob.blogspot.com or email rlwcom@aol.com) spent several years as a sportswriter; where scorekeeping is a big deal.

Mystery, Confusion, and Comfort

Spirituality Column #157
November 10, 2009
Current in Carmel - Current in Westfield - Current in Noblesville
(Indianapolis north suburban home newspapers)

Mystery, Confusion, and Comfort
By Bob Walters

In a November 2004 email exchange with a dear friend, I wrote:

“Over the weekend, for no particular reason, I found myself contemplating God and Christ as a mystery, and locked onto thinking about the difference between confusion and mystery.

“I can see now that my spiritual life changed three years ago (after being baptized in 2001) because my relationship with God through Christ became a mystery, rather than just being confusing. I think there is a key distinction here. Confusion picks at our rational being; it is uncomfortable and something we avoid.

“Mystery, and its close sibling wonder, can hold us rationally in their limitless arms with comfort and peace even in the absence of understanding. When we pray for understanding, we should expect peace in return, not necessarily knowledge. When we pray for wisdom and discernment, we should expect greater comfort, not necessarily more answers.

“Yet, as opposed to the ‘Age of Reason,’ the ‘Age of Mystery’ doesn't sound especially appealing. It seems to require rejection of reason, which is required to live productively and ensure our human survival. Reason is God's great gift to man that makes us different from the animals. But so is spirituality a great and singular gift.

“It's a mystery to me, and I'm OK with that.”

Came the reply that evening:

“That is a mysterious email! There will always be a part of the Faith that will be a mystery to us. If we knew as much as God we would try to pull off a coup and take over. Besides, there are only a few of us who know it all. As John Wooden said, ‘It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.’ An interesting reading for you would be I Kings 3:6-14. Young Solomon pleased God by asking for a discerning heart instead of long life and wealth.

“So, God gave him understanding and wisdom with the longevity and big bucks thrown in. It is right for us to ask for the right stuff and we get more than we expected. You are certainly right in saying that mystery creates a calming effect.”

That, along with some other clever word plays and personal encouragement, was longtime Indianapolis pastor Russ Blowers, a Christian who preached the Gospel. He died two years ago today, Nov. 10, 2007.

I – and many others – miss him so.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) invites you to visit past columns about Russ (Nov. 27- Dec 25, 2007 and Nov. 11, 2008) at www.believerbob.blogspot.com. Got a Russ story? See www.russstories.blogspot.com.

Christ-likeness ... WWJD, Really?

Spirituality Column #156
November 3, 2009
Current in Carmel - Current in Westfield - Current in Noblesville
(Indianapolis north suburban home newspapers)

Christ-likeness … WWJD, Really?
By Bob Walters

What Would Jesus Do?

For starters, Jesus would glorify and obey God. Jesus would love others as an expression of his humanity, resist Satan as an expression of his divinity, and resist temptation as an expression of his humility.

Of course, Jesus Christ did not act in the subjunctive realm of woulda’, shoulda’, coulda’ or maybe. Christ’s example was one of assured actions and definite faith. His words were wise, kind, insightful, harsh, shrewd, mystical … but always God-honoring, always memorable, always true.

Christ performed miracles most of us, really, don’t expect to perform. In fact, if we ever think we have performed a miracle … I mean seriously think we, me, I personally have performed a miracle … think again. It’s Christ, not us.

We are fallen souls in a fallen world, yet it is miracle enough for me that in Christ, our souls can soar even in circumstances of despair. Experiencing real love, real beauty and real grace are eternal gifts we can’t earn. Jesus gives them freely.

Trying to earn forgiveness? Christ on the Cross already erased our sins.

You’re not a believer but you see love, beauty and grace? Of course you do.

Just because a person doesn’t believe in Christ, that has no bearing on Christ’s love for that person. Christ came for everybody, with truth for everybody. Christ didn’t exclude anybody. That’s what Jesus does.

We can only exclude ourselves.

Perhaps most importantly, impossibly, dangerously and miraculously, God pursues a personal relationship with each of us. We are divinely given freedom to choose and an intellect to discern whether we accept that relationship through Christ. Many people do; many people don’t. Again, God doesn’t separate us; we separate ourselves.

So, can we be like Christ? Is Christ-likeness something we should seriously shoot for? Is “WWJD” the same as “WWID”, What Would I Do?

Yes … and no. Of course we should love and serve others, rebuke Satan, resist temptation, praise God, be humble, thankful, and give God the glory for our successes. Christians, like Christ, will endure the world’s scorn. We must strive to preach, teach, and share God’s word as best we can, study and reflect Christ’s teaching, and be an example of grace for others. But there is a limit.

In the Gospels, there are 20 times when Jesus says, “Follow me.”

For heaven’s sake, don’t follow me, or anyone else. Follow Jesus.

Walters (www.believerbob.blogspot.com, email rlwcom@aol.com) quotes the Notre Dame football movie Rudy, “There is a God, and I am not Him.”