Beyond Mediocrity Blog

(Image courtesy of dreamstime.com.) A few years ago, I heard a missionary speak about the most difficult place to be a follower of Christ. I was expecting him to say “Pakistan” or “India” – some place where the persecution against Christians was the most intense. Instead, he said, “The most difficult place to follow Christ is in the United States of America.” Surprised, I listened intently to the reason why he would say that. He continued, “Because of the materialism in the U.S., it is difficult to stay focused on Christ.” His words still convict me to this day.

(Image courtesy of stocksnap.io.) Last night I had a very strange dream. My wife of over a decade said to me, “We’ve been married for a while, and things are going well. I think we’re at a place now that we can get a divorce.” To my horror, I agreed with her illogical conclusion. Quickly, I went and married a younger woman. After some time, I began to miss Lauren, and I wondered how she was doing. Running into her toward the end of my dream, she didn’t seem the least bit enthused that I had re-married. What a bizarre dream! When I woke up, I had to process what I just went through. How d evastating it would be for not only me, but for my entire family and future family to throw my marriage away at such an illogical, whimsical decision. Indeed, how more illogical can we become than when we reason, “I love you, and I’m growing in my love for you, but let’s end all that love and happiness right now just because, ok?”

(Image courtesy of istockphoto.com.) And [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,                   “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,                                 because he has anointed me                                 to proclaim good news to the poor.                 He has sent me to proc...

(Image courtesy of stock.adobe.com.) “If you pray for patience, be careful; you’ll be given a lot of situations that will teach you patience.” This has often been repeated to me and probably to you. Perhaps you have even said this to others. I do not doubt the goodwill or the sincerity of the brother or sister in Christ who may have said this to you or vice versa, but I do think this common, Christian cliché deserves a little unpacking.

(Image courtesy of shopify.com.) Every season has its quintessential images and moods. Winter, for instance, brings to mind images of snow, howling winds, and freezing cold. Trees stand naked against a sea of white. But what is dreadful outside is wonderful inside: images of hot chocolate, a crackling fire, and fuzzy blankets warm us almost immediately. To me, springtime creates anticipation and excitement for the new life that is budding and blossoming all around. The spring rains truly do bring spring flowers. The countryside teems with new life: speckled fawns nurse in the thicket and baby blue colored eggs fill the robin’s nest. The deadness of winter is forced into distant memory as the greenness of new life bursts forth everywhere!

(Image courtesy of loc.gov.) "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment" (Romans 13:1-2). During the government overreach of the COVID mayhem, we witnessed the limit of government jurisdiction and authority. In short, God never contradicts himself. We do not throw ourselves behind the support of all government edicts, with a sort of blind obedience, for then we might be guilty of obeying man but disobeying God himself. What COVID reminded us was that the Church by her very nature must meet together. It is essential and an apostolic command: "Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together." Let no government silence the Church. Her Lord is not the State, but Christ.