ChurchApplied

I Am Thankful

On this Thanksgiving weekend, amidst the gravy, dressing and pie, I am grateful for the hope that Jesus brings to my heart. Recent violence in various parts of the world reminds me that there are people out there who do not value freedom of belief and expression. Their views of God are dogmatic and absolute. You either see things their way or you are deemed as evil and deserving of death. Unfortunately, this intolerance is not just confined to a few middle eastern religious fanatics. These same attitudes can be found in many religious groups throughout the world, including the U.S.

Thanksgiving Meal - Studiomill. All rights reserved.

Last year I attended a seminar in Altadena, CA where the presenter defined Modernism (from the Industrial Revolution to the mid 1980's) and Post-Modernism (from the mid 1980's to now) and detailed its impact on our present age. Particularly in the West, we enjoy a high level of tolerance that includes the acceptance of different beliefs and lifestyles. Even though I don't buy into the cultural attitudes and choices of many around me, I value our shared freedom of choice and support everyone's right to choose how they want to live (as long as they are not violating the rights of others).

At one point I asked the presenter what we can expect to see next. What comes after post-modernism? Without hesitation he said, Fundamentalism! Once society fully experiences the negative aspects of post-modern thinking and realizes that it cannot solve the world's pressing challenges it will swing hard back to the right and embrace Fundamentalism. I can see this already happening.

Fundamental thinking is less tolerant, more exacting and driven by prescribed authorities. Fundamentalist Christians and Muslims may differ in their specific beliefs, but they are very similar when it comes to their attitudes toward those they view as "unbelievers."

Trust me, you don't want to be on the receiving end of those who view themselves as God's emissaries of justice and truth. History is replete with examples of the disastrous impact such people have had on their communities.

Today, I am thankful that we still have religious freedom and that I can write about it. I am thankful for the quiet revolution of the heart that Jesus modeled and called His people to experience. I am thankful that Jesus is patient with me and others and that He does not use coercion and force to enlarge His kingdom. 

I am thankful that Jesus is not political and self-serving, and that He leads His followers to the higher path of service and humility. As one of Jesus' followers I am thankful that it is not my job to try and clean up the evil in the world, but rather my role is to be a loving, caring influence wherever I go.

Through the power of Jesus I am thankful that I can be the salt of the earth and make people thirsty for the Water of Life.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Pathway to Freedom

To be made a slave is one of the worst things that can happen to a human being. To be denied the freedom to go where you want and pursue your dreams is a tragedy beyond comprehension. The slave industry that existed in this country (which was largely practiced by "Christians") is proof that foul versions of Christianity can be developed by those who wish to justify their actions--whatever they may be.

Slaves - Dreamstime Photos. All rights reserved.

The famous Boston theologian, Cotton Mather, in 1693 included in his "Rules for the Society of the Negroes" the notion that "Negroes were enslaved because they had sinned against God." Where did he get this? Certainly not in scripture! Unfortunately, there are still "Christians" who believe this today, although I would like to think their number is deceasing.

Why do we as humans have such a difficult time breaking with the past; of throwing out beliefs and habits that cannot be supported by scripture? What am I believing and doing today that fits into this category? Is my idea of worship and church scriptural, or is it mostly tradition?

My Personal Journey

I grew up in the south in the early fifties with distinct memories of "colored" bathrooms and drinking fountains. As a child I had no clue what the blacks were up against. I just knew that the white people in power kept saying blacks needed to be kept separate. I saw and heard references to this in my own family. While my parents never made this distinction, my grandparents certainly did. I resisted their narrow thinking.

When I went to college I roomed with one of my best friends who belonged to a respected black family from Blakely, GA. It was a great experience. I still have fond memories of those times and of his brother and sister, whom I thought of a close friends.

As a new pastor I ended up in Florida, which some say is more cosmopolitan that the rest of the south. While this may be true, I saw clear evidence in the mid-70s that there were still strong lines of demarcation. I pastored for 7.5 years in the Florida Conference and never knew the black Adventist pastors who lived and pastored in my community. We were not prohibited from getting to know them, but neither were we encouraged (at least I don't have memory of it). Simply put, "they had their churches, and we had ours." Thank God, I've heard things are different today.

Now as I look back on that experience, I am ashamed that I didn't make an effort to get to know and fellowship with the black Adventist pastors who lived and ministered in my community.

One day, while pastoring a small church in north Florida, my 65 year-old head deacon announced that if I integrated the church and baptized any blacks, he would leave. When I pressed him for his reasons, he stated that it was not "proper for blacks and whites to mix." He went on to say that "they have their place, and we have ours." Of course such thinking is not biblical. In fact, it is anti-Christian! We went ahead and baptized some wonderful black members into that church and were thankful that this deacon's views were not held by the majority in the church.

Seeing as God Sees

I'm looking forward to the day when there are no lines of distinction; when people are simply people--regardless of the color of their skin, or national origin. I often think, when God looks at our world He doesn't see national boundaries. He doesn't think of people as Germans, Japanese, South Africans or Americans. He doesn't identify them as Republicans or Democrats. He doesn't even see denominational lines. He simply sees His children, the people of His creation; members of His family--even though some are confused and lost.

The problem

Until we are able to see and love as God does, we are ravaged by the evils of distorted perspective and lost in sin. We are still controlled by the powers of darkness who long to keep us from experiencing God's amazing freedom.

But when we do see--when God performs His miracle of grace in our lives, and the scales begin to fall from our eyes, then we are FREE! Then, with Paul we can say:

"Whatever we used to be with our old sinful ways has been nailed to the cross. So our entire record of sin has been canceled, and we no longer have to bow down to sin's power" (Romans 6:6) The Voice.

"God, I want to experience this kind of freedom. I want to see as You see, to love as You love--today!"

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Kissing Jesus

Who is the last person you kissed? Was it your wife, your husband, or maybe your child? How about it kids, was the last person you kissed your mom or dad? Or, maybe your sister or brother? Typically, in this part of the world, we only kiss the people we love or are close to. Kissing is a sign of friendship and affection.

Mature Couple Kissing. Dreamstime. All rights reserved 2009.

Of course not all kisses are the same.

In some parts of the world, kissing, particularly cheek kissing, is used as a ritual or social gesture to indicate friendship, perform a greeting, to confer congratulations, to comfort someone, or to show respect.*

In our part of the world it is customary for people to kiss when greeting or parting (especially if they haven't seen, or won't see each other, for prolonged periods of time).

Romantic kissing is what people do who are in love. They usually kiss each other on the lips and sometimes forget to breath! Or, so it seems.

Kissing has played a significant role in religion.

* Muslims may kiss the Black Stone during Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

* In Ancient Rome and some modern Pagan beliefs, worshipers when passing the statue or image of a god or goddess will kiss their hand and wave it towards the deity (adoration).

* In the gospels of Matthew and Mark (Luke and John omit this) Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss—an instance of a kiss intertwined with betrayal. This is the basis of the term 'the kiss of Judas'

* The holy kiss or kiss of peace is a traditional part of most Christian liturgies, though usually replaced with a handshake today in Western cultures

* The pope will kiss the ground on arrival to a new country.

* Visitors to the pope traditionally kiss his foot. (The ring of a cardinal or bishop, hand of a priest.)

* Jews will kiss the Western wall of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and other religious articles during prayer such as the Torah, usually by touching their hand, Tallis, or Siddur (prayerbook) to the Torah and then kissing it. Jewish law prohibits kissing members of the opposite sex, except for certain close relatives.

* Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians often kiss the icons around the church as entering, they will also kiss the cross and / or the priests hand in certain other customs in the Church, such as confession or receiving a blessing.

* Catholics will kiss rosary beads as a part of prayer, or kiss their hand after making the sign of the cross. It is also common to kiss the wounds on a crucifix, or any other image of Christ's Passion.

* Hindus sometimes kiss the ground of a temple.

* Above material excerpted from Wikipedia

Is it possible to kiss crosses, rosary beads, and holy icons and not mean anything by it? Of course. We call this hypocrisy?

Is it possible to kiss someone and not mean anything by it? Of course. Sometimes people kiss each other in romantic ways but they don't really love each other. A number of years ago Tina Turner sang a popular song that asked the question, "What's Love Got to Do With It?"

What`s love got to do, got to do with it?
What's love but a second hand emotion?
What`s love but a sweet old fashioned notion?
What`s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?

This describes people going through the motions of being in love, but it's all make believe. Instead of truly "making love" they are "making believe they're in love."

Running Away From Love

When I was sixteen years old I didn't know very much about love. If you asked my wife today, she'd probably tell you I still have a lot to learn. But when I was in the ninth grade I decided I didn't need my parent's love, or the love of my church, so I run away from both.

A friend and I boarded a plane in Orlando, Florida and flew to San Antonio, Texas where we stayed for a couple of months. I can assure you we didn't kiss our parents goodbye. In fact, ten days went by before we even told them where we were. Foolishly, I believed I could find happiness apart from my family and God. Unknowingly, I was singing the song, "What's love got to do with it?"

The last person I wanted anything to do with was Jesus Christ! In my mind He symbolized everything I wanted to be liberated from. In essence, I kissed Jesus goodbye, but not with a desire to ever see Him again. Fortunately, He didn't hold me to it.

In one way or the other we are all kissing Jesus. The question is, what do our kisses really mean?

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services