Matthew 7:6 contains the words, “Don't give what is holy to the dogs and don't cast your pearls before the swine.” Lots of people have wondered what Jesus meant. Here's what I think.
This verse comes immediately after Jesus says that we should not judge others and that we should work on the log in our own eye before we take the speck out of someone else's eye. I believe that he adds the next part to help us set some boundaries for the verse on judging. See, we are to be loving people even to those who are not so kind to us. It’s possible that someone comes along and tells us that we shouldn't judge them no matter how they act with their words or deeds. So Jesus is telling us that we don't have to put his teaching out there in front of just anybody because these "anybodies" might just use our own loving ways to turn against us.
Let's take another example. Jesus tells us to forgive everyone. So someone in our life continues to hurt us because they know that we will continue to forgive them. Well, surprise, surprise. We are going to put our pearls back into our pocket and give them what for (in a manner of speaking).
Recall in John 18, when Jesus was arrested and officers hit him, he asked them forcefully to state what he had said that was wrong or give a good reason why they slapped him. You can only push loving people so far before they call you to account for yourself. Even Dietrich Bonhoeffer finally set the limit for Hitler.
Christians are to be generous from their hearts but they are not fools to be taken advantage of by the wiles of Satan or the world. And one day folks are going to have to answer for the way they have persecuted God's children.
And Christians, don't get snooty, because we are going to stand before the same Judge.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor George
7.03.2013
Come To The Table
Our home group has been studying the love of God; the unconditional affection that God has for us. Well, one evening we came across a poem. We don't read a lot of poetry at our home group but this poem was very – how do people say – “Right on.”
It was written a long time ago by George Herbert, an Anglican priest who lived in the early 1600's. His poetry is some of the most beautiful expressions of faith and love. The one we read that particular evening was simply entitled LOVE III. Here it is for your enjoyment and invitation to Communion this Sunday. Read it carefully and let it soak into you.
Love (III)
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack,
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lack'd anything.
A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.
Can you hear the call of love inviting you and me to have the humility and courage to surrender, knowing who it is who invites us?
Come to the table this Sunday, whoever you are. Come, let your hand be taken and be led to the table of Grace.
Yours in Christ,
George
It was written a long time ago by George Herbert, an Anglican priest who lived in the early 1600's. His poetry is some of the most beautiful expressions of faith and love. The one we read that particular evening was simply entitled LOVE III. Here it is for your enjoyment and invitation to Communion this Sunday. Read it carefully and let it soak into you.
Love (III)
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack,
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lack'd anything.
A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.
Can you hear the call of love inviting you and me to have the humility and courage to surrender, knowing who it is who invites us?
Come to the table this Sunday, whoever you are. Come, let your hand be taken and be led to the table of Grace.
Yours in Christ,
George
6.18.2013
It's All Coming Together
Philippians 3:17-21 (The Message paraphrase)
17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
20-21 But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
There are a lot of people in the world today who are overly pessimistic. And while the daily news might make a good case for such pessimism, a better case for optimism can be made from reading the Bible passages such as the one above. Paul knows that a time will come when Christ will return and set everything up in a visible glorified Kingdom of God. Right now the Kingdom is quite subversive, moving into lives and communities in the world in more subtle ways. But one day God will make all things beautiful, radiating the splendorous love of the Father — that will be the new heaven and new earth.
Certainly now we work for justice, help the poor, love the enemies and do all that Jesus said to do. That's all part of what citizens of the Kingdom of God do and, I might add, will probably keep doing in some fashion when Christ returns. Not that there will be injustice or poverty but the essence of love is that it always seeks another to serve in some way.
We work hard here because we know what love the Father has for us and how that love will be consummated on the new earth. Our bodies will be changed (hallelujah) and our minds and spirits will finally 'get it'. Recall Paul writes that God, who began his good work in us — the transformation of our lives — will bring it to completion on the day of Christ's coming.
And so this world will run its course, satisfying itself, but the Father, Son and Spirit are moving within this world to finally transform it. God in Christ is reconciling all things to himself. Remember that. (Colossians 1:20)
This will be big. It will be historical. And it will take many by surprise. Jesus says, 'watch and pray' lest we will be led into temptation to run with the “belly belchers”.
“Hope” is a major operative word in the Kingdom-of-God-life on this earth. It is the anchor of our souls. It tells our spirits that God is going to work this all out for our good and his glory. And so in our sorrow we can be joyful, as Paul was when he lived and suffered in this world, knowing the love and work of the Father. (see 2Corinthians 6) Kenbe Kouraj.
Yours in Christ,
George
17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
20-21 But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
There are a lot of people in the world today who are overly pessimistic. And while the daily news might make a good case for such pessimism, a better case for optimism can be made from reading the Bible passages such as the one above. Paul knows that a time will come when Christ will return and set everything up in a visible glorified Kingdom of God. Right now the Kingdom is quite subversive, moving into lives and communities in the world in more subtle ways. But one day God will make all things beautiful, radiating the splendorous love of the Father — that will be the new heaven and new earth.
Certainly now we work for justice, help the poor, love the enemies and do all that Jesus said to do. That's all part of what citizens of the Kingdom of God do and, I might add, will probably keep doing in some fashion when Christ returns. Not that there will be injustice or poverty but the essence of love is that it always seeks another to serve in some way.
We work hard here because we know what love the Father has for us and how that love will be consummated on the new earth. Our bodies will be changed (hallelujah) and our minds and spirits will finally 'get it'. Recall Paul writes that God, who began his good work in us — the transformation of our lives — will bring it to completion on the day of Christ's coming.
And so this world will run its course, satisfying itself, but the Father, Son and Spirit are moving within this world to finally transform it. God in Christ is reconciling all things to himself. Remember that. (Colossians 1:20)
This will be big. It will be historical. And it will take many by surprise. Jesus says, 'watch and pray' lest we will be led into temptation to run with the “belly belchers”.
“Hope” is a major operative word in the Kingdom-of-God-life on this earth. It is the anchor of our souls. It tells our spirits that God is going to work this all out for our good and his glory. And so in our sorrow we can be joyful, as Paul was when he lived and suffered in this world, knowing the love and work of the Father. (see 2Corinthians 6) Kenbe Kouraj.
Yours in Christ,
George
6.04.2013
Too Fast
I watch my dog, Lucy, eat her meals. She wolfs them down, like she might never see another bowlful of Natural Advantage again. I watch people eat that way too. I enjoy seeing people who take a bite and actually put their fork down, not worried that someone will steal it. Slow eating people are probably healthier too.
In my neighborhood of Foxwood Village, people go too fast. The speed limit is 15 mph but some folks are just in too much of a hurry to pay attention to any limits. I am thinking of getting a checkered flag and while I walk I can give the speeders the flag. Gigi says we haven't lived here long enough to make enemies.
But, really. Let's take it easy, live in the slow lane once in a while. Stop and smell the flowers. Take a moment to just daydream. Jesus said to not get all worked up about the tomorrows. I would like to suggest that we not get stressed about the next hour of our life.
Gigi sometimes tells me to slow down when driving so we can take in the scenery. I get annoyed but that's my problem.
So let's slow down and enjoy the good gifts around us. Maybe summertime is a good time to change the pace a bit and enjoy the presence of God. You don't even need a Bible to do that. Just be still and know that God is really God, the God of our lives who even Himself took a Sabbath rest.
Gotta go. Have an appointment. Have to rush off, sorry. No, only kidding. I have the whole evening off.
Blessings
George
In my neighborhood of Foxwood Village, people go too fast. The speed limit is 15 mph but some folks are just in too much of a hurry to pay attention to any limits. I am thinking of getting a checkered flag and while I walk I can give the speeders the flag. Gigi says we haven't lived here long enough to make enemies.
But, really. Let's take it easy, live in the slow lane once in a while. Stop and smell the flowers. Take a moment to just daydream. Jesus said to not get all worked up about the tomorrows. I would like to suggest that we not get stressed about the next hour of our life.
Gigi sometimes tells me to slow down when driving so we can take in the scenery. I get annoyed but that's my problem.
So let's slow down and enjoy the good gifts around us. Maybe summertime is a good time to change the pace a bit and enjoy the presence of God. You don't even need a Bible to do that. Just be still and know that God is really God, the God of our lives who even Himself took a Sabbath rest.
Gotta go. Have an appointment. Have to rush off, sorry. No, only kidding. I have the whole evening off.
Blessings
George
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