After Easter - The Season of Seeing

Spirituality Column #178
April 6, 2010
Current in Carmel - Current in Westfield - Current in Noblesville
(Indianapolis north suburban home newspapers)

After Easter – The Season of Seeing
By Bob Walters

In the hours and days following the Resurrection, those closest to Jesus – those who loved Him, followed him, doubted him, misunderstood Him, denied Him, fled from Him, stood by him, and mourned him – learned their Lord Jesus was indeed God the Messiah, Christ the Redeemer, and the Savior of mankind.

Jesus had defeated death, would soon join the Father in heaven, and promised his followers the same ultimate victory over the flesh and suffering of this world. They too could join eternal communion with God in heaven … if they would trust Him, have faith in Him, love Him, and love people as God loves each one of us.

Christ died on Good Friday and rose from the dead on Easter. Today the ensuing seven weeks mark the official “Easter” season of the church calendar. The Gospels recount the many physical visits of the resurrected Christ …

- To the 11 remaining disciples (Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-19),

- On the road to Emmaus and as “flesh and bones” sharing a meal with the disciples (Luke 24:13-53),

- In the locked room to the doubting disciple Thomas; on the shore directing the fishermen; and by telling Peter to “feed my sheep” (John 20:19 – 21:25).

Following Christ’s Ascension to the right hand of God weeks later, Pentecost marked the descent of the Holy Spirit into the disciples and the establishment of the fellowship of believers (Acts 2).

It was during these Easter weeks that the flesh and blood Jesus, in multiple ways, proved that He was Who He said He was … and is. Replacing Jesus on Earth, into our hearts came the Holy Spirit, also fully God, and the perfect completion of the Communion of the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The disciples, with their own eyes, saw the Truth of, and promises kept by, Jesus. Today, it is the Holy Spirit Who is with us, Who abides in us, and of Whom we ask in the words of the popular Christian song, to “open the eyes of my heart.”

These weeks are when the death and resurrection of Jesus are most fresh in our minds and hearts. It is a most opportune time to ask the Holy Spirit to teach us, as Christ taught the disciples, that God’s love and gift of salvation are truth marked in faith.

Walters (www.believerbob.blogspot.com, email rlwcom@aol.com) notes that the Holy Spirit has the toughest job in the Trinity … living with us.

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.