Excursis on Fruit of the Spirit

 19The  acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5

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When I was a younger man I used to take the family on camping trips especially in the fall.  We used to like to go to a camp ground outside of Hendersonville near one of the many apple orchards there- and pick apples.   There were apples on the tree that you knew were good.  But there were also apples on the ground.  A few of these apples had just fallen, but there were rodents and birds that especially liked the fallen fruit- so you just didn't pick the fallen fruit- it was decaying and damaged and would not taste as fresh or good. 
So Paul was saying there are two different kinds of fruit from the way we live.  The acts of the flesh- are basically decaying, temporary, rotting fruit.  It may seem easy to do and get, but it is not what we really want in the end.  But then there are the fruits of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control.  There is no law that says these are wrong, and there also is no law that can make you- love or have joy, or have peace, etc.  It would indeed be legalistic to say "you have to have peace in your life."  Yet we all want that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. We also don't want to jettison the law altogether    (otherwise we would not know the acts of the decaying flesh were wrong).  But no law can make us have the fruits of the Spirit, but the Spirit can make these fruits grow in our lives.  So be filled with the Spirit!  Do not blaspheme, grieve, or quench the Spirit of God- but rather be open to the Spirit coming into your life and working through you.  Then when you have this love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control- you know it is not something you can make yourself do by trying harder.  Rather- we develop it by simply abiding in God the Holy Spirit, and letting His life-giving self flow into our hearts.  
    

The Hateful Act in Pittsburgh

19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal. 5)

Thoughts: The act of hate and death against the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh is not just a tragedy- it is evil.  The Spirit would not approve of this kind of prejudice, hate, and truly an effort to divide our country along racial and religious lines.  It is the same kind of evil that the shooter committed in Charleston against Emmanuel AME.  It is evil inspired by hate, discord- dividing the nation; jealousy- of the Jews; fits of rage- which led to the killing of 11 people.  It is important that we recognize that life matters- the deaths of these eleven is a part of our own legacy in our generation- a stain and a dark spot- to indicate something is wrong with us.  This is not just a political or legal thing- it is far deeper.  Instead, we are called to a way of love and peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.  We need to pray for the people of Pittsburgh that there would be comfort and healing.  We need to pray for our land that there would be less hatred and prejudice.  We need to act in love and teach love and care for those different from us.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to act with kindness and care toward those different from me.  

Thoughts on Witchcraft

16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever ^c you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5) 

Thoughts: I used to brush off that witchcraft was still alive in America. But as people fall away from God, lack faith, they turn somewhere.  When I lived in Asheville, NC pastors would tell me about converts from Wicca who said there were covens there of 13 each praying against the pastors.  Again, I dismissed such talk.  However, more and more there was an anti-Christian bias.  City zoning laws were passed saying churches could not have food pantries or care for the homeless. Most were struck down in courts.  However, shortly after I left, a new mayor, Leni Sitnick, was elected who made a proclamation in 1999 for "Earth Based Religions Awareness Week."  Such a proclamation immediately divided the Christian community into those who did not care, those who took offense, and those who held up religious tolerance.  Many quoted from the Old Testament Israelite theocratic proclamation of the nation that did not tolerate other faiths in their borders.  But the main point was missed.  There are many growing practitioners of neo-pagan earth based religion.  The Apostle Paul pointed to the gravity of witchcraft speaking of it as simply what is proclaimed by them- an earth-based religion- that does not care (or want to) go to heaven.  There is a way of the Holy Spirit and there is a way of the flesh.  Earth based religions like Wicca and Druidism seek to manipulate earthly things to achieve their will.  Some witches proclaim that they are "good witches" but that is left undefined.  When we turn away from God to other gods- developing our own way- we are putting other gods before the One who made heaven and earth.  This is a breaking of the very first commandment (Thou shalt have no other gods before me).  Paul (and the early Christians) ministered in the midst of paganism.  They did not call for the death of pagans or witches but they did not shrink back from saying there is a better way.  What we believe matters.  We can focus on magic, spells, drugs (associated with some earth based religions) where the emphasis is on feeling and manipulating nature; or we can focus on the God who loves us and offers us eternal life.  Many have turned to Christ from paganism and witchcraft before.  They found it inadequate and more harmful than helpful.  We would do well to remember Druidism's child sacrifice to the Lord of the dead (the basis of the fear of witches grabbing children) and throwing them into the bonefire (bonfire).   In Ephesus millions of dollars of spells were burned as people realized that such things were powerless compared to the power of Christ to forgive, give meaning, give hope, strengthen, give life and heal (Acts 19).  Such things have been repeated many times- and today in other countries (like South Sudan) the shamans/witches are fading into the darkness. Strange that we forget the lessons of history and we go back to find that manipulating earth and others is not the way to go.  We do not pray "My kingdom come, my will be done" or "may the kingdom of my witch come and their will be done."  Rather we pray, "Father, thy kingdom come, thy will be done."  The will of the Father is that we know Him and know of His love for us, not being distracted by false gods and spells. 

Prayer: Lord, there are many who choose earth and darkness over heaven and light.  Let me not be among them.  Let me choose spirit over flesh, love over manipulation, eternal life over this temporary life.  

After thought: The Real St. Patrick is a great one to study in terms of the contrast between Christianity and druidism/earth-based religions.  Christians long ago replaced the pagan "Samhain" with its tricks, spells, threats of death and darkness with "All Hallow's Eve" (shortened to Hallow'een or Halloween).  

ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE PRAYER (Against the spells of Druids)

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,

  

Keep Your Focus

6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. (Galatians 5:6,7)

Thoughts: Paul uses a track term- "who cut in on you to keep you from running a good race?"  Our race is not one of obedience- who can obey the best.  Rather we are all called to believe and to love.  It is not trying harder or doing more things that counts.  

    In the 100 meter relay the U.S.A. team dropped the baton.  But upon further review, they were cut in on- bumped- by a runner form Brazil.  We should keep our eyes focused on the prize.  

Prayer: Lord, let my focus be on faith and love- holding these two things together. 

  

  

8/8/14 Freedom

1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5)''

Thoughts: The illusion is that if we don't believe in Christ and we don't follow Him we get to go our own way- free.  But the truth is we are slaves to something else already- and we may not even know it.  Christ came to set us free from that slavery.  We are slaves to this earth- to be all involved in the temporary, and to think that this life is all there is- so we become short-sighted.  Christ came to tell us that the kingdom of heaven is both here and in the life to come- that we are not slaves to popularity, or to beauty or to the smart or to the earthly powerful.  We are also slaves to sin.  That is we have a natural tendency to be selfish, proud, and tend to bad habits.  Jesus sets us free- so that we are other centered- loving God and neighbor as ourselves.  Jesus sets us free from pride, giving us grace to be humble.  Jesus sets us free from bad habits- allowing us to do good.  It doesn't always make sense.  To the selfish, other-centeredness doesn't make sense.  So the doctors who left families to minister to those with Ebola risking their own lives to do so, are criticized by some as if they were selfish to do this.  Christ sets us free from navel gazing or only being focused on our own area and own families.  

Prayer: Lord, help me appreciate the freedom you give me.