“We can build so many things, but if we don’t confess Jesus Christ, then something is wrong. We will become a pitiful NGO [non-governmental organization], but not the Church, spouse of Christ.”

Referring to Simon Peter’s attempt to distract Jesus from the cross: “This is the same Peter who confesses to Christ, who says, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let’s not speak of crosses. I will follow you with other possibilities, without the cross.'”

“If we walk without the cross, how much do we build without the cross? And, when we confess Christ without the cross, then we are not disciples of the Lord.”

– Pope Francis the day after his election

Religious Liberty Vigilance—The Key Role of Prayer

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

– 1st Amendment (Our “First Freedom” in the Bill of Rights)

 

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must…undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” – Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine for sure didn’t have prayer in mind as a way of supporting freedom. But prayer is an important means to pursue and preserve our precious freedoms. Each year the first Thursday in May (May 2 this year) is designated the National Day of Prayer. I’ve compiled a short list of prayer values for supporting our leaders, securing our liberties, and furthering wholesome values.

• In the spirit of 1 Timothy 2:1-2, pray for the president, members of Congress, the Supreme Court, governors and local officials, that they might lead us wisely as God would want them to lead.
• Pray for the victims of terrorism, in Boston and around the world.
• Give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy in America, especially religious freedom. May we use these freedoms to further the work of God as well as to enjoy living in America.
• Pray for challenges to religious freedom in America, especially the power of government to coerce consciences.
• Pray for the persecuted church around the world.
• The issue of undocumented immigration is large right now. Pray that the members of Congress will open their hearts and minds to policies that do justice and love mercy.
• Pray that government at all levels will be responsible in handling the people’s money (tax revenues) and in avoiding deficits that hurt future generations.
• Pray that an ethic that cherishes the God-given right to life will spread throughout the land.
• Pray that churches everywhere will strive to bring shalom (peace) to their communities through seeking justice, showing mercy, and walking humbly before God.
• Pray that the evangelical churches of America will refine our messages and activism so we will be the “salt and light” Jesus calls us to be.

“Prophets are Good for Business”
(Applying Biblical Principles to Work Situations)

Needed: Accessible, Responsive Government

Jesus told the story of a widow who pled with a judge, “Grant me justice!” The judge refused her many times but eventually relented, not because he cared for her but because she pestered him so much.

The judge thought, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice.”*

Governmental agencies sometimes share this judge’s attributes: they don’t fear God and they don’t care about people.

Over the past year I’ve had about half a dozen detailed contacts with government agencies, federal and state (starting with Social Security and Medicare). While I would say that the “human encounters” were usually courteous and helpful, the overall experiences were frustrations big-time. (There are “micro situations” of person-to-person encounters and “macro situations” of policy, inaccessibility, rigidity, institutional culture, etc.)

My experience? Confusing letters, letters of denial when you know you’ve been approved, trips to the Social Security Administration office only to be told I should ignore the letter I received, lost submittals, letters that demand action, letters that warn of action. A “herd treatment” of those who must come to the government office. Phone calls never answered.

My commentary:

1) No business that treated customers this way would stay in business for long (unless some monopolistic practice existed). 2) No customer would put up with treatment like this from a private enterprise. He or she would go elsewhere (but with government there is no “elsewhere”). 3) Government by nature is regulative and “by the book” in how it handles people. That may often be necessary. Good businesses are listeners and flexible within reason. That IS necessary. 4) Government has power to demand and punish; businesses usually don’t and must persuade. 5) Citizens should strongly ponder, “Do we want to see government expand more and more so we can be treated like this all the more?”

The Bible teaches that all men and women are made in the image and likeness of God. This teaching needs to permeate micro practices and macro policies on how we treat one another and must serve as a key motivator of person-centered encounters with business and government and a corrective of all that degrades and dehumanizes. See relevant Scriptures: Genesis 1:27; Matthew 5:21-26; James 3:9-10.

The public must realize the agent you talk to has been listening to people all day, many being unpleasant. The agent must realize that, though you have said it a dozen times already today, the person before you hasn’t heard it yet and is unique, to be valued, and someone you need to help. Both need to see the “image of God” in the other. Hard sometimes.

I once went to Sacramento to support a bill** when it had its first hearing before an Assembly committee. Reps from a state agency spoke against the bill and certainly didn’t expect the rebuke they got from the chairman of the committee: “You are supposed to be a responsive agency!”

Let all government agencies hear that!

* Luke 18:1-8. Jesus told the story to encourage prayer. God is not like that judge!
**A bill supporting foster parents’ rights. In this case, my assemblyman responded to my concern and submitted this bill, unlike that uncaring judge. The bill became law.

Bible Insight – The Meaning of Pentecost

– Taken from the Book of Acts, chapter 2:1-11

“Pentecost” was the day it all began! Many Christians observe “Pentecost Sunday” to remember this drama. This year Pentecost Sunday is May 19.

The Bible identifies three great feast times for the Jewish People: Passover, First Fruits (“Feast of Weeks”), and the Festival of Booths (“Feast of Harvest”). See Exodus 23:14-17 and Deuteronomy 16.

“First Fruits” (Pentecost) was seven weeks after Passover. The earliest harvests were celebrated. For Christians, Pentecost (fifty days after Jesus’ death) was the day of the “first harvest” that kick-started the Christian Church. Three thousand people were baptized into the Christian faith on that day. Read of it in the Book of Acts, chapter two.

But the great kick-off day was not marked primarily by this result. It was marked by God’s gift to his followers that made the result possible—the presence and power of God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God empowered Jesus’ followers so that they miraculously proclaimed “the wonders of God” in the native languages of the many pilgrims who were gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:4-12).

So when we think of Pentecost, we think of the power of God’s Spirit and the worldwide spread of the Christian faith by that power. From day one, the Christian faith has been spread by imperfect humans (as it has often displayed), being influenced and empowered by God’s presence.

So it continues today, and will do so until Jesus returns.

Upcoming Ministries

5 Sundays in June—Speak at 1st United Methodist Church of Seal Beach on “The Lord’s Prayer” (9:30 a.m.)

July 26-31 – Participate in “Vision 2020 South”, Leadership Conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. Present resolutions to the Conference as chairman of the Social Concerns Committee.

Good News from Grace
www.gracesealbeach.org

 

Vacation Bible School at Grace Community Church of Seal Beach is July 8-12 (8:45-noon).

This is one outstanding program! Register your child (age 4 through grade 5) now to be sure to reserve a space. Perhaps 300 children will find themselves in “King Arthur’s Court” in search of the “one true king.”

This is not only one of the highlights on the church’s calendar, it is a highlight in the community. Call (562) 596-1605 with any questions. Get the registration form from the Website (click ministries, children).

Message of the Month – Immigration Reform is Now!

Last year I wrote a resolution supporting immigration reform. It was approved by my denomination’s annual meeting.

This resolution* asks for federal legislation that:

• Respects the God-given dignity of every person,
• Rejects the nativism that ignores the love of God for all and our country’s history of immigration and openness to the foreigner, as captured in the words enshrined on the Statue of Liberty,
• Protects the unity of the immediate family and seeks the best interests of native-born children of undocumented immigrants,
• Respects the rule of law,
• Holds employers accountable for ensuring the legal status of workers,
• Creates secure national borders,
• Ensures fairness to taxpayers,
• Develops a generous and fair “guest worker” program,
• Protects all immigrants from exploitation and violence, and
• Establishes a pathway toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents or citizens—a pathway that both achieves justice and loves mercy.

It concludes, “We recognize that meaningful solutions to this problem are not easily reached. We also recognize the solutions must come through a determined will to reach them and cannot be ignored time after time, year after year.”

Has the time now come for meaningful legislation? I say yes.

Senate Bill #744, sponsored by eight Democratic and Republican senators, goes a long way to accomplish what needs to be done. Is it perfect? No. Should it be tweaked? Probably yes. Does the Kingdom of God come with its passage? Not at all.

Legislation is incremental, often flawed, often selfishly focused. I sometimes say, “If you believe in the rule of law, and if you enjoy eating good sausage, then you don’t want to ask how either is made!”

Legislation is temporal, not ultimate (as God’s Kingdom is). Legislation is a give-and-take effort, seldom a “winner takes all” thing. Absolutists who want “all or nothing” will likely get the latter. Christians should not expect to get “God’s way” done in Congress. But we shouldn’t be cynical or wash our hands of the process either. We must work for the “better”**.

I urge us all to follow S744 closely and call on our elected officials to support it, so long as this bill achieves most of the needed goals and doesn’t take on any lethal amendments.

* You may read the whole resolution from a blog at my Website. http://donaldshoemakerministries.com/blog/?p=61
** Please read my published opinion, “Politics and God’s Kingdom” on the Website.

www.donaldshoemakerministries.com

Refreshing blessings of springtime to all!