January 16, Wednesday

The AMI QT blogs for January (weekdays), provided by Pastor Ryun Chang, are extended to cover important sociopolitical matters that have serious ramifications for the Christian faith. Pastor Ryun (PhD), who serves as the Teaching Pastor of AMI, is the author of Manual de Misionología, Theologizing in the Racial Middle, and a contributor to The Reshaping of Mission in Latin America.

Disclaimer: AMI, as a consortium of several churches, allows the expression of multiple standpoints on non-essential biblical matters. My views expressed here do not necessarily represent the respective views of AMI pastors. I am also mindful that not every reader will agree with my stances on sensitive and contentious issues addressed in this month’s blogs. Where that may be the case, I invite you to utilize the comment section below, so that we may have an open dialogue; I highly encourage all readers to share their thoughts and experiences. Thank you.

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (4):

“Senators and Media Dig Up the Distant Past; Does God Do the Same?”

Isaiah 54:4 (ESV)

“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.”

It was quite a spectacle to see some members of the Judiciary Committee—Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) in particular—trying to gauge the fitness of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court based on what he wrote in his high school yearbook. One writer summed it as “lots of football, plenty of drinking, parties at the beach.” Some keyed into a cryptic reference that allegedly referred to a sexual conquest.

No doubt, to the news media and senators, Supreme Court justices are far more important than ministers of the gospel, like myself, but not according to how God sees things. Kavanaugh was trained in a law school to properly interpret the Constitution of the United States; I was trained in a seminary to properly interpret the Constitution of a Higher Order—the Scripture. Thus, before the eyes of the Lord, what I’m called to do in God’s Court (i.e., church) ranks higher than what Kavanaugh has now been appointed to do in the Supreme Court. So, if what Kavanaugh did in his youth is grounds for denying his appointment to the lower court, then, shouldn’t I resign from the higher court since I also behaved badly in my youth? Yes, I confess that I’ve done things in my youth that would greatly embarrass me if people were to find out. So did King David, who, recalling his youth, prayed, “O LORD . . . remember not the sins of my youth or my transgression” (Ps. 25:7).

Are you any different? It turned out that Senator Blumenthal wasn’t any different either. This senator, who took a hard stance against Kavanaugh’s nomination, certainly felt the boomerang effect when what the New York Times first reported in 2010 resurfaced during the hearing: falsely claiming he served in Vietnam. President Trump, not known to pass up opportunities to ridicule his opponents, quipped, “Da Nang Blumenthal.” The issue here isn’t whether to weigh one’s background to gauge the fitness of prospective employees (it’s a must); rather, it is how far back in time do you go back to dig. For the 53-year old Kavanaugh, it’s high school; for 21-year old Kyler Murray, whose anti-gay tweet the media exposed immediately after he won the 2018 Heisman Trophy, it’s when he was 15 years old. Do you have anything to hide yourself? At some point, the digger may need to be told, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone” (Jn. 8:7b).

Nevertheless, I have good news for people like Blumenthal and Kavanaugh, because God isn’t like the media that never forgets our most disgraceful moments, since these stories sell. First, let me start with the bad news: “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that [we all] face judgment” (Heb. 9:27). And during this judgment proceeding, “the Lamb’s book of life” will be opened (Rev. 21:26). But the good news is that if your name is found in this book—because you have believed the promise that “whoever hears my word and believes him [God] who sent me has eternal life”—then, you do “not come into judgment, but ha[ve] passed from death to life” (Jn. 5:24). In fact, God promises that “you will not be ashamed . . . disgraced,” for He says, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Heb. 10:17)—that’s the New Covenant of grace!

But those who have not believed that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (Jn. 20:31), then every single act of rebellion against God—including not embracing the gospel—will be remembered; and as a result, they are “thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15). If this is you, then, be your own media and recall every sin you ever committed, but instead of being given into despair, turn to Christ and repent of your sins—He will save you. Guaranteed!

Meanwhile, try not to drudge up the past mistakes of others when it suits your agenda; rather, forgive and forget, like what God did for us in Christ.

Prayer: Father, there are absolutely no words that can adequately capture our shock at finding that You will claim amnesia, in Christ, so that You will no longer remember our most shameful and disgraceful moments. Thank You! May I extend that grace to others as well. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 18

Tomorrow’s Blog: “Prophetic Witness in the City of Man”

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (ESV):

“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV):

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat [“bema” in Greek: elevated platform] of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

1 Corinthians 4:5 (ESV):

“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

Questions to Consider

I attended a dispensationalist seminary where it was taught that there will be an additional judgment (a.k.a., the Bema Seat Judgment) just for the believers to determine their rewards. Admittedly, there is a paucity of teaching on rewards. Today, we take a small stab at it.

Based on these passages, what should the believers be concerned about regarding their present life on earth: whether going to heaven or hell or something else? Back up your response.
What is one key area that God will examine to decide whether we will receive rewards (not salvation) for the things done while we were on earth? In other words, what are the things that we did that would constitute “wood, hay, straw”—combustible materials?
Certainly, these verses seem to suggest that bad things we did on earth will be mentioned at this judgement as well, which, then, goes against God’s declaration that “[I] will remember their sins no more” (Heb. 8:12). How can we reconcile this?

Notes

The believers need to be concerned about rewards, not whether they are going to make it to heaven. Whereas salvation is a free gift (i.e., the “foundation . . . which is Jesus Christ”), the rewards are determined by “what sort of work each one has done” while on earth.
I am under the impression that “wood, hay, straw” do not refer to our sins (since we don’t expect to be rewarded for these); rather, these point to apparently good deeds done while we were on earth that were, nevertheless, done for our own glory, not God’s. Paul calls this “the purposes of the heart” and God will disclose the true nature behind each of our “good” deeds at the judgment seat of Christ.
I wrote a book called Theologizing in the Radical Middle whose main thesis is this: when seeing two seemingly conflicting Scriptures that are, nonetheless, true, we accept both in tension. We may have worked out positions that harmonize them (some more convincing than others) but never to a point in which we divisively argue (2 Tim. 2:14). My position has already been stated: in the bema seat judgment of Christ, what are referred to as “bad” things in 2 Corinthians 5:10 are apparently good things, but they were done for the sake of our own glory (“wood, hay, straw”), rather than for God’s glory.

Evening Reflection

Before going to sleep, review your day—focus on those things that you would consider good deeds. Maybe you bought an extra cup of coffee for your co-worker or gave money to a homeless individual. Were you cognizant of your motive in those moments? Looking back, what was the main motive behind those deeds? If it was done for God’s glory, what would that look like? Is this too much thinking for everything we do? Or, should we be more in-tuned with why we do what we do? What do you think? Pray about it. It is important: salvation is free, but rewards are earned. But since our rewards will far exceed what was actually done to deserve them—I mean, who expects to be rewarded for giving a cup of cold water to a child (Matt. 10:42)?—you can say that grace is very much factored in determining our rewards.

January 15, Tuesday

Read this version.

January 15, Tuesday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

Random Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (3):

“Senator Hirono Wasn’t Entirely Incorrect”

Philippians 2:5-7 (ESV)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Perhaps, even Democratic senators were a little shocked when their colleague from Hawaii, Mazie Hirono, who, perturbed that questions were raised regarding Blasie Ford’s testimony, said, “Guess who’s perpetuating all of these kinds of actions? It’s the men in this country. And I just want to say to the men in this country: Just shut up and step up. Do the right thing for a change.” In a single breath, this female lawmaker managed to condemn all men as the culprit to sexual misconduct—a categorically untrue claim since not all men behave this way. To her, women are always victims of men’s sexual aggression, which isn’t far from the truth, but there are enough exceptions, and noting this will diminish extreme tribalism rooted in identity politics.

Many conservatives took umbrage at her diatribe against all males, but the Senator is correct if her statement against sexual misconduct is broadened to include other ways of exploiting people. Grammatically, while the singular “man” can point to the entire human race, on occasions, its plural “men” (the term Hirono uses) means the same. Consider Zephaniah 1:17 that reads, “I will bring distress on men so that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord.” Therefore, Hirono’s statement is dead on if it’s read: “Guess who’s perpetuating all kinds of exploitations? It’s the humans, that is both men and women, in this country. And I just want to say to the humans in this country: Just shut up before God and step up in repentance.”

That’s not, of course, what she meant; nevertheless, what she intended to convey is still serviceable if some corrections are made, like this: “Guess who’s perpetuating all of these sexual misconducts? It’s almost always men but some women in this country as well. And I just want to say to the brass at NBC (where Matt Lauer worked), PBS (where Charlie Rose worked), Willow Creek Community Church (where Bill Hybels pastored), and New York University (where the world-renown professor Avital Ronell was found responsible for sexually harassing a male graduate student): ‘Just shut up and step up.’”

Hirono, and those who share her worldview, surely wouldn’t agree with that for two reasons:

First, she is too heavily steeped in identity politics (IP), which is an unbiblical concept when weighed biblically. The premise of IP is this: My primary identity derives from a social group to which I deem fit to belong—whether racial, sexual, socioeconomic and/or religious—that has been victimized by Eurocentric-white-protestant-heterosexual-capitalist-male. Subsequently, those who include themselves in victim groups feel more righteous than those excluded, which then leads to the expectation that their rights (i.e., demands) are prioritized over those who aren’t in their group. Contrary to this, Scripture recognizes only one group before and after Christ. First, before Christ, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), meaning, we—including women like Senator Hirono and men like me, are all aggressors to God—“there is no difference” (Rom. 3:22b). Second, in Christ, we are “a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17), in which “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). There is no room for IP in Christ, but it does obligate those who are in Him to treat everyone fairly regardless of their social status (Acts 6:1; James 5:1-6; Rom. 12:16).

Second, while it is true that sexual misconduct is committed by far more men than women, exploitation of any kind has to do with power, certainly physical but also hierarchical, in which powerful people take advantage of those whose livelihood depends on them. And because most men can physically overpower women, and because more women still work under men than vice versa, men continue to be the main, but not the only, culprits of exploitation, including sexual harassment. What powerful men like Senator Al Franken, Lauer and Rose further show is that liberalism cannot contain the excess of power, because liberalism and power aren’t mutually exclusive.

The best remedy, then, is to “shut up and step up”—meaning, the power needs to be given up to serve. No one will do that voluntarily, but if they come to know Jesus Christ, “who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (Phil. 2:6-7), it becomes possible. And as long as we “fix our eyes on Jesus” the Son of Man (Heb. 12:2), we won’t exploit the weak. That’s the only way—not liberalism, not identity politics, not seeker-sensitive, consumer-driven, user-friendly Christianity.

Prayer: Father, we confess that although we are part of a rebellious humanity that has repeatedly digressed from Your laws, we point finger at each other while claiming moral superiority over others—how foolish! We need to shut up in contrition and step up in repentance. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 17

Tomorrow’s Blog: Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (4): “Senators and Media Dig Up the Distant Past; Does God Do the Same?”

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 3:10-12, 23:

“As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” . . . 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, . . .

Galatians 3:28:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Mark 10:43-45:

“But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Questions to Consider

Does it make any spiritual sense for males to claim moral and spiritual superiority over females and vice versa (Mk. 7:15)?
Does it make any spiritual sense for Christian brothers and sisters to stand apart from each other as if they are about to engage in a tribal warfare?
What can you do to change the overwhelming tendency for the powerful to exploit the less powerful?

Notes

It makes no spiritual sense because the words “none,” “no one” and “all” refer to both males and females. Both sexes are equally fallen because they inherited sinful nature from their common ancestor Adam. Thus, Jesus says, “It is what comes out of a man [all humans] that makes him ‘unclean’” because they all have a deceitful heart (Jer. 17:9).
It makes no spiritual sense because Christ broke the social barrier that favored men over women in antiquity—“there is no male and female . . . in Christ Jesus.” We belong to the same tribe, meaning the believing women and men are spiritual siblings in God’s family.
We must intentionally divest ourselves of our power, literally for some and figuratively for the rest, with concomitant actions of service to prove it (Tomorrow’s QT blog).

Evening Reflection

As you review your day, how did you behave toward the members of the opposite sex (if you are married, that would include your spouse)? Why don’t you enter into silence (e.g., turn off your phone) and ask the Spirit to reveal how you truly acted. Were you being demeaning, suggestive, contemptuous, or even hostile? We’ve got to clean up our attitude. Some of you men really need to stop looking at those sites that demean and objectify women. (Some women as well.) Start the change today with a simple, yet heartfelt prayer: “Lord, help me.” Then, seek help from your pastor or other trusted spiritual authority.

Ps. 139:23-24:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

January 14, Monday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (2):

“If You Are Ever Accused, Would You Demand Corroboration?

Deuteronomy 19:15 (ESV)

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”

During my recent trip to California, I saw an elderly pastor whom I first met in 1982. At that time, he came to direct the Bible institute of the church where I was serving as a youth pastor.

One day, this pastor handed me an official check for $200, which was found in church’s mailbox, seeing that the name on the check was similar to mine. But, since I didn’t recognize the issuer I declined; nevertheless, because he kept insisting, I relented and took the check; and my bank later cleared it. I thought it was an unexpected blessing from God; boy, was I wrong!

Not long afterwards, a parent in my youth group accused me of being a thief; evidently, the check belonged to her acquaintance (a former associate pastor of my church) who told her to keep it for herself. While profusely apologizing and promising to return the money (which I promptly did), I explained the mitigating circumstance that led to my blunder. But, when I appealed to the pastor who gave me the check in front of my accuser, he flat out denied his role, saying that it never happened; apparently, he didn’t want to look bad. Either way I erred, but his denial angered me since, to this woman, I was a thief and now a liar as well.

My problem was having no corroboration for my version of the story—the true account of what really happened. So that gave me a window into how Blasie Ford might have felt when no one at the infamous house party, including her friend, where Kavanaugh allegedly attempted to sexually assault Ford, could corroborate her account. I know many of us really wanted to believe Ford’s entire story—perhaps long lapse of time (35 years ago) is why the friend wrote to the judiciary committee that she “has no recollection of ever being at a party or gathering where [Kavanagh] was present.” After all, one reason behind the statute of limitations is the fact that the recollections of pertinent witnesses will be less accurate over time.

So, regardless of how we feel, some level or type of corroboration is absolutely needed to prove a charge. Scripture certainly avows for it. Deuteronomy 19:15 declares, “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.” First Timothy 5:19 states, “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.” Why? Because, “acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both” (Prov. 17:15). So, to prevent these unjust outcomes from occurring, the requirement for corroboration was and has been established in theocracy, ecclesiocracy, and democracy.

Does that mean that the guilty are always found guilty and the innocent always innocent? Sadly, no—in fact, we see this happening on the day Jesus was tried: While Barabbas, the confirmed murderer (Mk. 15:7), was released, Jesus, sinless and innocent, was executed for the guilty. That wasn’t the first time that happened and certainly not the last. However, it is true that our justice system, which requires substantive corroboration, has put away the guilty while exonerating the wrongly accused with a greater accuracy than almost all systems in the world.

What about when the system fails however infrequently? Ultimately, we rest assured in God’s eventual justice, that “there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known” (Matt. 10:26). And if such disclosure doesn’t materialize this side of heaven, then, it certainly will at the judgment seat of Christ before which “we must all appear . . . so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:10). Meanwhile, we “ke[ep] coming to [God] with the plea, ‘Grant [us] justice . . .’” (Lk. 18:3a NIV).

By the way, don’t accept checks that don’t belong to you (trust me on this) and avoid places and situations where a large quantity of alcohol is consumed (you will thank me later).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I recognize today that Your concern for us is more than how to get to heaven. You also want us to live in a just and fair society. Therefore, remind me and help me to be just and fair to those around me, beginning with my own family members. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 16

Tomorrow’s Blog: Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (3): “Why Senator Hirono Wasn’t Entirely Incorrect”

Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 26:59-67 (ESV):

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

John 10:17-18:

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Questions to Consider

What is wrong with this legal proceeding?
Is what the two witnesses said about Jesus (“. . . rebuild it in three days”) worthy of a death penalty? What does Jesus, in fact, do at this point to help the cause of His accusers?
Why does Jesus give the Jewish leaders the information that will lead to His death? What does this say about our Lord?

Notes

The judges (the members of Sanhedrin—the ruling body), long before hearing from anyone who could corroborate allegations against Jesus, already decided on the verdict (“so that they could put him to death”), and then looked for witnesses who will back them up. That is a rigged trial. Going back to the Kavanaugh trial, once the accusation by Ford became public, it is a fact that several unsubstantiated or fabricated charges were made (e.g., Judy Munro-Leighton), which, then were quickly believed by certain judiciary committee members who never wanted Kavanaugh in the first place. We probably have all done something similar on a lesser scale in our private lives, but it (i.e., making up our minds before hearing from corroborating witnesses) would be very unkind and indecent thing to do to another human being.
The charge the Jewish leaders are looking for is that Jesus calls “God his own Father, making himself equal with God” (Jn. 5:18). The accusation that Jesus said He could rebuild the temple in three days is not quite enough to make the case of blasphemy against Jesus. So then, what does Jesus do? He voluntarily gives them the information that will make their case stick: “Yes, I am the Messiah, the Son of God.”
No one, whether the devil or Sanhedrin, can take life from Jesus unless the Lord allows it. By giving the Jewish leaders the information that justifies their charge that will lead to His death on the cross, Jesus is allowing them to take His life so that “we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24b). This is all the more reason Jesus Christ is worthy of our praise.

Evening Reflection

What were your thoughts while following the Kavanaugh hearing that produced several unforgettable moments, including Senator Graham’s indignant outburst, Senator Booker’s Spartacus moment, Ford’s cogent accusation and Kavanaugh’s fierce defense of himself? Truth be told, none of what I have been saying and will say in the next few blogs is something the secular media, whether CNN or Fox, will ever say. Why? Today’s media establishment is neither into objective reporting nor cognizant of the biblical metanarrative. On the contrary, my attempt is to construe all that went on during this divisive hearing from the standpoint of God’s Word, which would ensure objectivity in my reporting.

Now let me ask you as a fellow believer: Are your values and beliefs shaped more by the secular media and academia than Scripture? That’s a fair and important question. How well do you comprehend God’s Word (with all of its intricacies and nuances)? Pray about raising the ante and really study God’s Word and acquire a biblical worldview. It’s about time Christians stop gullibly believing everything the media and academia purport. Pray about changing your study habit; pray about reading books that can help you with this (e.g., Total Truth by Nancy ~~Pelosi~~ Pearcey).

January 13, Sunday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Who’s in Your Calendar?”

Luke 5:19

“Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.”

Luke 11:37

“As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.”

Note: The topic of this devotional is inspired by the passage “The Brotherliness of Jesus” in The Character of Jesus by Charles Edward Jefferson.

I have an aunt who we consider incredibly sociable; my relatives jokingly relay stories about how “nosy” (in my mind, ‘curious and bold’) she was as a child, how she would go to the local barbershop to shampoo other people’s hair or follow friends’ families to the market and watch over others’ vegetable stands. Once, when we passed by a swanky new high-rise, she remarked that she considered buying a unit but didn’t after chatting with a tile-layer who confirmed a rumor about poor installations. She is as comfortable with a storeowner of luxury goods as she is with the store’s security guards. She is not Christian, but despite that, when I spend time with her, I am left with a deep appreciation for the humility with which she approaches others. Her lifestyle indicates a belief that each person is incredibly valuable and important, so she is both comfortable and interested in getting to know people of all backgrounds.

When we read about how Jesus spent His time, we see that He spent it in the presence of both religious leaders as well as people of poor reputation. One does not get the impression that Jesus did so out of dutiful politeness or showed up purposely just to expose hypocrites and correct them (one might be surprised, after reading Luke 11, that He still receives invitations to dine in Luke 14). We see that He was accessible and made Himself accessible to people of all classes and reputation, and that they desired His company as well. Though we know with our minds that God loves the entire world, we rarely appreciate how marvelous this versatility was. He made time for people who were rich and poor, religious and non-religious. He was able to make good conversation with them and enjoyed them as well.

How many of us purposely plan our schedules or are truly interested in spending time with people different than us? I will confess that I usually do not, nor do I make myself available to receive invitations, and I rarely give up that prized pocket of dinnertime. In contemplating the life of Christ, we should be challenged to recognize that God’s heart is for people of all types and characteristics. My encouragement for myself and for you is to spend time assessing how our time is spent. Do we make room to fellowship with and enjoy people from all walks of life, including those who share differing or opposing views? Could we take steps towards cultivating a heart of love that looks more like God’s, roomy and spacious for many others? Perhaps we can start at church today by saying hello to and taking steps towards building friendship with people we do not ordinarily fellowship with.

Our hindrances may be fear of awkwardness or rejection, or of an attitude that it is impossible for us to learn how to love those different than ourselves. Let’s confess these to God and ask Him to replace our fear and our resistance with His heart. From there, He will reveal and grant us a heart that is genuinely interested in understanding and embracing the wide spectrum of the people He created and cherishes. Let’s be people who eagerly desire to see beyond our familiar worlds into all the others that God also loves.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You love me so deeply. Teach me what it is that You love about others, and give me a heart to know and love them as well. Help me also to better appreciate Your love as I begin to learn how it is so varied and thorough for each person that I encounter. Would You show me how You love people that I do not naturally gravitate to and give me a fuller heart of love that resembles Yours? Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 15

January 12, Saturday

The AMI Spiritual Food for Thought for the weekend of January 12-13 is provided by Christine Li. Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City. She attends and serves at Remnant Church in Manhattan.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What Are You Wearing Today?”

Colossians 3:12

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Winter in New York City is quite cold, and to my parents who live in Georgia, the thought of it is unbearable. Occasionally, they’ll worry: “Are you wearing a scarf? Do you have gloves? How many hats do you own again?” Although by this point, I feel fairly confident in my own ability to dress myself, their reminders are warranted. It’s important for me to check the weather each day and run through my schedule to determine what to wear. Other considerations come to mind: Am I seeing friends? Am I going to be doing a lot of walking? I need to be sure to have an outfit conducive to these plans. I’m sure this is common for each person. Whether you care much or little about your actual appearance, there’s sure to be some passing thought on the function of your clothing when you get dressed for the day.

In speaking about who we are as new creations in Christ, Paul likens character traits to clothing. He suggests that these, in the Spirit, can be easily put on: we are to be people who visibly display virtues of God. If we take this analogy a little further, we can be reminded that—similar to how we shop for and keep clothes—these qualities also take proper care to maintain, and we need to spend time identifying and acquiring them.

And we choose what to wear not solely based on how it makes us look but also for functionality. Just as outer garments and footwear shield us, their spiritual equivalents that shield us spiritually are meant to be appropriately applied to all situations and circumstances in our lives. As Christians, we know that this world is not only full of spiritual battles but opportunities for our old, sinful selves to rear their ugly heads. Therefore, we need the Spirit to keep us from indulging in the temptations to be selfish, greedy, and unloving.

Because putting on virtues sounds nice as a general practice, my encouragement for you today (and the next several days) is to specifically anticipate how to clothe yourself before you leave your home. If you’ve planned a tough conversation with a difficult coworker, can you remind yourself to layer on an extra measure of compassion? If you anticipate heavy traffic when you drive, you might want to bring along some extra patience, just in case. Let’s ask God to help us prepare for the day ahead… and also to not forget what we have resolved to carry!

Prayer: Father, I confess that I often am more concerned with what I look like on the outside than what I look like on the inside. Please fix my sight and attention on the treasure of inward character; remind me and help me intentionally clothe myself with spiritual fruits above all. Make me someone who carries the aroma of Christ wherever I go and to radiates Your presence and character.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 13-14

January 11, Friday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (1):

“If You Are Ever Accused, Would You Want Due Process?”

Psalm 9:7-8 (ESV)

“But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.”

The whole country was riveted while watching the confirmation hearing for then the Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, when Blasie Ford accused him of attempted rape some 35 years back. Kavanaugh denied it while acknowledging that “she may have been sexually assaulted” by someone else. In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer insisted that “the sexual misconduct allegations are reason enough for him to withdraw,” adding, “there is no presumption of innocence or guilt when you have a nominee before you.”

Upon hearing what Schumer said, I couldn’t help but to think of the Inquisition. Many bring it up in public discussion to silence the Christian faith itself, including former President Obama, but I’m not too sure whether they know what it was really about. The 44th POTUS, trying to put into perspective the violent Muslims of Islamic State, said, “During . . . the Inquisition, people committed terrible death in the name of Christ.” Well, that’s not completely true. The Inquisition carried out during the Middle Ages was a potent tool that the Roman Catholic Church employed to root out beliefs that the Catholic Church deemed heretical to remain in power, and the principal victims were the Protestants (i.e., our spiritual ancestors). That is why “in time the phrase Inquisition became a byword, particularly in Protestant areas, for cruelty . . .” (Encarta 1994). All this to say: The Inquisition had little to do with Christ.

Now, consider how the Inquisition was typically conducted. The accused Protestants who did not recant their alleged heresies were tried under the following condition: “The names of witnesses [for the Inquisitor] were . . . difficult to discover. The suspect was not allowed a defense lawyer . . . [and] did not know the names of his accusers . . . Torture was a most effective means to secure repentance” (Finucane 1977:321). So, under the office of Inquisition, being accused, in effect, meant the one accused was already found guilty. The approach preferred by Schumer and the Inquisition is called undue process.

Now, consider Paul and Joseph. If you are ever accused of the charges that were levelled against them, what process would you prefer: due or undue process?

The commander of the Roman troops in Jerusalem, to appease the angry mob who wanted to kill Paul for his alleged blasphemy, commanded that he be flogged. But that order was rescinded right after Paul told the commander that he is “a Roman citizen” (Act 22:25). Still under accusation, Paul wasn’t released that day; he did, however, exercise the rights of Roman citizens to appeal his case to the Emperor (25:21). Festus the Roman governor, having no choice but to accommodate Paul, put him in a ship sailing toward Rome. That’s due process.

Potiphar’s wife seemed believable when she insisted that Joseph, whom her husband put in charge of the house, “came in here to sleep with [her]” (Gn. 39:14). After all, everyone recognized the cloak she held belonged to Joseph. So, when Potiphar “heard the story his wife told him,” he immediately “put him in prison” (39:19-20). No grand jury, no trial—this is undue process.

So, what process would you prefer if you are the accused?

We live in America—not Europe in the Middle Ages—where the presumption of innocence is a basic ethos of our criminal justice system. Thus, the Miranda rights are read to any criminal suspect; the grand jury weighs the probable cause to determine whether the accused should be prosecuted; and a public defender is assigned to any accused who wants one. This is called due process, and it originates from God Himself, because “God is a righteous judge” (Ps. 7:11) who “judges the peoples with uprightness” (9:8b). Thus, the LORD says to the accused, “Present your case . . . Set forth your arguments” (Is. 41:21 NIV).

So then, be fair when you are making accusations; don’t rush to judgment. Jesus says, “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment” (Jn. 7:24 NIV), because that’s you would want if you are the accused.

Prayer: Father, we praise You for being a fair Judge who judges us not only in accordance to Your righteous standard but with grace and mercy. We are especially grateful that You do “not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Ps. 103:10). Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 12

Monday’s Blog: Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (2): “If You Are Ever Accused, Would You Demand Corroboration?” (The weekend blogs will be provided by Christine Li.)

Lunch Break Study

Read John 19:6-12 (ESV):

As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” 13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. 16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

Questions to Consider

What law is Pilate following? What is his verdict based on that?
Under what law were the Jewish leaders attempting to accuse Jesus? Why? Did the Jewish leaders alter their original charge against Jesus (under the Jewish law) once they realized that Pilate was going release Him?
In view of your findings, would you consider this a fair trial?
At the personal level, do you argue with your friend/spouse/child/co-worker at all cost just to win, i.e., get what you want?

Notes

The Roman governor Pilate was obviously following the Roman law that has no stipulation against any Jewish person claiming to be the Son of God. Such an individual will surely be deemed as crazy but certainly not deserving of death. Besides, Pilate “knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus to him” (Matt. 27:18).
The Jewish leaders initially found Jesus guilty of blasphemy based on their law, but once they saw that Pilate wasn’t biting, they switched over to the Roman law and presented Jesus, not as the Son of God, but a king who opposes Caesar. The charge was no longer blasphemy but sedition.
Of course, it wasn’t a fair trial. Furthermore, what the Jewish leaders said earlier to Pilate wasn’t exactly true either: “But we have no right to execute anyone” (Jn. 18:31). Legally, that was true but that didn’t keep them from executing those whom they deemed as blasphemous like Stephen (Acts 7:59-60). They didn’t try to execute Jesus because “they were afraid of the crowd” (Matt. 21:46).
At the personal level, let’s allow the facts and truths to prevail, not our desire to win at all cost that always distorts how we see the reality that surrounds us.

Evening Reflection

Rarely do we go through an entire day without contending for or arguing in favor of something, whether it be in our workplaces, homes, classrooms and conversations over politics, sports, etc. Now, Jesus says, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” (Jn. 7:24). Based on how you presented your thought/opinion/conviction to others, would you say you were being fair? If not, what does that say about yourself? How do you need to change so that your speech and conduct reflect our God who is a fair and righteous Judge?

January 10, Thursday

Read this version.

January 10, Thursday

Extended Devotional Thought for Today

“What Conscientious Men Should Do When Men Act Badly Toward Women?”

Exodus 2:16-17 (ESV)

“Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock.”

In an earlier blog, I mentioned that while on any given day, a female soldier can outperform a male soldier, on the average, male soldiers outdo female soldiers with respect to tasks requiring strength and durability (but not intelligence), since most men are bigger and stronger than women. And because of this differential, too many men have leveraged their physical advantage to harass and bully women, sexual or otherwise.

Scripture certainly is not reticent when it comes to exposing how badly men have behaved toward women from antiquity, just because they—being physically stronger than most women—could overpower them. Consider what happened in Midian (in northwestern Arabian Peninsula) about 3,500 years ago. One day, seven sisters whose job was to take care of their father’s flocks came to a well to draw water for their animals. Shortly thereafter, several shepherds (all men), upon coming to the same well, drove the women away so that their animals could drink. This has two ramifications: men physically harassing women; men economically exploiting women.

Then there is the case of Amnon, a son of King David, who lured his stepsister Tamar to his house to make him some food on pretense that he was sick. When unsuspecting Tamar came into his room with food, Scripture says that Amnon “grabbed her . . . and since he was stronger than she, he raped her. Then Amnon . . . said to her, ‘Get up and get out!’” (2 Sam. 13:15). In both incidences, men could do what they did to their female victims simply because they were bigger and stronger. If anything, the #MeToo movement has shown that this predatorial behavior has not been expunged even among those men in the media and Hollywood, who, despite talking a great deal about women’s rights in public, have no regard for them in private.

So then, what should conscientious men do when women are treated this way? I would advise that we do what Moses did, but not imitate what David failed to do. As for Moses, upon seeing women being harassed, he “got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock” (NIV). Not only did Moses protect the harassed women from chauvinistic men, he likely helped the women water their animals. Therefore, in some sense, what Moses did was equivalent to ensuring that women get equal opportunities at work.

On the contrary, “when King David heard all [that Amnon did], he was furious” (2 Sam. 13:21) but he did absolutely nothing about it thereafter. David was known for being “a man after [God’s] own heart, who will do all [His] will” (Acts 13:22), but not on this occasion, because he failed to “open [his] mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Prov. 31:8).

Tragically, this lack of intervention prompted another violence: Absalom, the indignant brother of Tamar who probably was miffed at David’s non-action, later kills Amnon as an act of revenge (1 Sam. 13:32).

So, let’s not be like these shepherds and Amnon who push their weight around physically weaker women to get what they want—that’s call exploitation and God will exact justice against those who do that (Prov. 22:22-23 NIV). Neither should we be like David who, in effect, acted as if he didn’t care that a woman (his own daughter no less) was raped. Rather, let’s remember to protect the weak and do our part to ensure that they are not victimized. The apostle Paul reminds us: “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves” (Rom. 15:1). So, when you see or hear something that denigrates women, say something—firmly. And then, let’s make sure we don’t do the same thing to women when no one is looking.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank You for protecting us and shielding us from those who seek to harm us. Help us not to forget, therefore, that we ought to do the same for those who are weaker than us, physical or otherwise. Help us not be exploiters of the weak but rather their protector. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 11

Tomorrow’s Blog: Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (1): “If You Are Ever Accused, Would You Want Due Process?”

Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 20:25-28:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Peter 3:7:

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Act 20:35:

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Questions to Consider

What is the typical way in which the pecking order is established in the world? How are the people at the bottom often treated?
How should the followers of Christ conduct themselves differently amid the pecking order of the world?
What is one reason that ought to motivate us to work hard? Has that been the case for you?

Note

The pecking order is established based on power and authority: those who have accumulated more money, attained higher education, and have better connections lord over those who don’t. The worth of those who occupy the bottom are often appraised based on their ability to make the rich richer and the powerful more powerful.
The followers of Christ, including the bosses, ought to have a servant mentality. And in homes, although much has changed with respect to gender roles, husband ought to remember that the Lord expects them to honor and take care of their wives (Eph. 5:28).
One reason we ought to work hard is to be able to help the weak (Eph. 4:28).

Evening Reflection

Did you meet some new people today? What is the first thing you do internally? Is it sizing up how you fare in light of how others appear to you? Most of us do that. Okay, you sized them up and you came on top—now what? The next time when that happens, why not leverage your strength to make the other person feel accepted and respected. But, if you use your strength to make others feel “small” and out of place, what does that say about you? Really insecure, perhaps? Take a moment to see what’s really in your heart. Repent if needed.

January 9, Wednesday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Beware of the Two Maxims of Modern Feminism”

1 Timothy 6:7-9

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

Many years ago, once the seniors at Wellesley College (a women’s college) learned that Barbara Bush, then the FLOTUS, was asked to speak at their commencement ceremony, 150 of them vehemently protested. They said: “To honor Barbara Bush as a commencement speaker is to honor a woman who has gained recognition through the achievements of her husband, which contradicts what we have been taught over the past four years”—that “we will be rewarded on the basis of our own merit, not on that of a spouse.” They added, “She does not represent the type of career woman the college seeks to educate.”

So then, what type of women does Mrs. Bush—a mother of 6 children who dropped out of Smith College to marry the future 41st POTUS—represent in these students’ minds? A type who chooses to be a supportive wife and stay-at-home mother; a type who opts out of having her own career for her husband-sake; a type who has no real achievement of her own. Subsequently, these reasons prompted the feminists at Wellesley to shame Mr. Bush and every woman in America like her.

According to modern feminism, for a woman to be deemed successful, first, she must be dependent only on herself—that is, credit to her success is attributed to no one except to the woman herself; second, she must have a career of her own in order to stake a claim to a life of significance. The truth of the matter is that most women who read this blog are prime candidates to experience great tension over these matters. Why? First, they received or are receiving a privileged education that very much fuels their career aspirations. Second, they either are recently married or desire to marry and have kids, eventually. Third, they are caught between the Bible and the ideals of feminism and aren’t entirely sure which way to lean.

Here is a biblical response to the first dictum of modern feminism: self-reliance. Whether it’s a woman or man who depends only on oneself to succeed, such self-reliance is a rebellious disposition of the autonomous self against God. The Scripture tells us to “lean not on your own understanding” and “not be wise in your own eyes” (Prov. 3:5, 7). We “rely not on ourselves but on God . . . On him we have set our hope” (2 Cor. 1:9-10).

As for the second dictum, there’s nothing wrong with women having their own careers. The Bible presents several working women: Priscilla was a skilled tentmaker (Acts 18:1-3), and Lydia was “a dealer in purple cloth” that attracted high-end clients (16:3-5). But there’s plenty wrong when our career is all about us. Instead, the core reason for pursuing a career should be to glorify God and to serve His agendas, and not to satisfy excessive ambition, which always results in discontentment, much like “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare.” That the career of Priscilla and Lydia was to serve God’s agendas is demonstrated by this: Priscilla, along with her husband Aquila, founded several churches (Rom. 16:3-5; 1 Cor. 16:19) while working in different cities. Once, this couple let the apostle Paul to “stay and work” with them in Corinth for 18 months when Paul desperately needed some respite from his arduous missionary journey (Acts 18:1-3). Later, Paul, while recounting those days, said, “They risked their lives for me” (Rom. 16:4). As for Lydia, this businesswoman was the first founding member of the Ephesian church known for its generosity (Phil. 4:15-16). And to have a career that is serviceable to God’s kingdom work, a modest lifestyle is both necessary and commanded by God (“If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content”), so that we can readily move when God tells us to “Go” (Matt. 28:19).

Barbara Bush, who passed away last year, was invited to Wellesley College anyway, and she told the future Sheryl Sandbergs and Michelle Obamas this: “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal . . . You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent.” Let me add: “You’ll regret not having served the Lord fully when you had your health, wealth and opportunity and done your best to “bring up children” in the Lord (1 Tim. 5:10).

Prayer: Lord, we lift Your name on high. We ought to be so grateful that we live in a country where we have the freedom and resources to pursue our dreams. But remind us constantly that our dream must come from You and that we are part of building Your kingdom, not ours. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 10

Tomorrow’s Blog: “What Conscientious Men Should Do When Men Act Badly toward Women”

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 12:11-21:

“‘And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.’ Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ 14 But he said to him, ‘Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?’ 15 And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ 16 And he told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” 18 And he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’” 20 But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

This parable works well with the complaints of modern feminism. Replace “someone” with a woman and “my brother” with men. #MeToo movement has shown that women continue to be exploited by men. Economic parity with men isn’t a full reality yet, even though things have gotten so much better for women. So, here, a woman in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell men to divide the economic goods with me.”

Questions to Consider

I think it is important to note what theme Jesus was addressing when someone in His audience abruptly asked Him to settle a family matter that has to do with money. Was this person paying attention to what Jesus was teaching? What does that indicate about his spiritual condition?
In light of how you answered the first question, what would Jesus say to a woman who would ask Him to tell the men to give her fair share? Focus on the parable.
None of this is to suggest that changes are not necessary—of course, much changes are needed. The key issue is at what cost are we going to focus on addressing social justice issues? What is too high a price to pay?

Note

Jesus was talking about a serious matter: paying a high cost (i.e., being persecuted) for following God. And it’s at this point this man brought in a very personal matter for Jesus to adjudicate. No, this man had no interest in spiritual matters; his mind was on earthly things.
Even as the concerns of women are legitimate, God wants us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col. 3:2). Social justice is part of “things above” but when we get higher position and salary as a result of having addressed social justice matters, the material benefits that come with it can become part of “earthly things.”
Too high a price to pay for addressing social justice matters is entirely dismissing and making light of the matter of justice of God. What is justice of God? It’s the gospel that tells both women and men that “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Evening Reflection

I was saddened to see the passing of Barbara Bush’s husband President George Bush (41). During the week of mourning, I saw a video clip in which Mr. Bush lamented that he didn’t talk about God at all while he was in the office. He said no one can do the job of the president without being on his knees. Mr. Bush said he prayed often on his knees but never talked about it in public. “I was too much of an Episcopalian,” he said.

Why don’t you try it before you go to bed tonight? The truth of the matter is you cannot raise your kids without being on your knees. You can’t do life without being on your knees. Let’s pray on our knees right now.