The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit

For many followers of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is a bit of a mystery. It doesn't help that Scripture uses impersonal symbols for the Holy Spirit, like "wind" and "fire." At the same time, Jesus referred to the Spirit in a very personal way, as a "Paraclete," "Counselor," "Teacher," "Comforter." In fact, the word "Paraclete" literally refers to someone who is called along side to support another in a personal way. 

Some folks have begun to catch on to the personal nature of God's Spirit, writing books like, "Good morning, Holy Spirit." I'm most drawn the statement of Paul in Second Corinthians 13:14: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." "Fellowship" is a wonderful word, painting a picture of a partnership or of a shared life. It is a very relational word. How interesting that the most relational word used to describe the Three-in-One God would refer to the Holy Spirit. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit is a shared life with the Holy Spirit, a life of partnership and intimate, personal connection.

That shared life, that fellowship of the Holy Spirit, makes it possible to find a home with and in God. I love how Jesus put it. "My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them" (John 14:23). It's hard to imagine God as our Home. It's even harder to see the desire of God to be at home with us. That kind of relationship is made possible by the Holy Spirit being with us and in us (John 14:17). We are part of a divine community, sharing in the intimacy of Father, Son and Holy Spirit (John 17:21). 

The fellowship of the Holy Spirit also makes it possible to have a true, personal connection to other followers of Jesus. Think about it. The same Holy Spirit who is in me is also in every other believer. We are literally connected S/spirit-to-S/spirit. Paul referred to it as "the unity of the Spirit," pointing out that "there is one Body and one Spirit" (Ephesians 4:3-4). Paul doesn't exhort the believers to make every effort to be unified. He asks them to work at maintaining the unity that is already present by the Holy Spirit. Because you cannot divide God's Spirit, you also cannot divide the Body of Christ. We are one, whether we like it or not. Our challenge is to act as though we are one, to function and serve as one. (I suggest that this reality also offers and new understanding of the dynamic and effectiveness of intercessory prayer.)

Paul even takes it one step further by implying that we share a fellowship with the saints in heaven by the Spirit. How is that possible? I've always been intrigued by Paul's statement in Ephesians 1:6. "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms." Paul didn't say that some day we will be with Christ in heaven - although that is certainly true. Paul painted a picture of us being seated with Christ in heaven even now. Somehow the same Holy Spirit who is with and in us is also with Christ in heaven. And the same Holy Spirit who is with and in us is also with an in the followers of Jesus who have preceded us to the heavenly realms. The saints in heaven are still citizens of God's kingdom. They are still participating in God's mission of his kingdom coming and his will being done, on earth as it is in heaven. They have just changed work sites (they're now in the headquarters building). 

So, the unity of the Body of Christ extends beyond what we can see on planet earth and includes the entire community of saints, the entire fellowship of the Holy Spirit. We are all of us one.

It's no wonder that the writer to the Hebrews could encourage the persecuted saints by pointing out that "we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses" (12:1), those who had lived in a faithful commitment to God on earth and were now serving God without the limitations of mortality, enjoying their home in God's glory. And somehow those witnesses are aware of the challenges and opportunities being faced by those bearing witness on the earth, and not just aware but surrounding them, sharing life in the Kingdom with them because of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. In Christian theology we call this the "Communion of Saints."

The fellowship of the Holy Spirit establishes the reality of perfect unity. An intimate, shared life, S/spirit-to-Spirit with God, S/spirit-to-S/spirit with our fellow members of the Body of Christ, and even a S/spirit-to-Spirit connection with the saints who serve and worship God in the place of his throne. We are truly one, now and for ever. The eternal Fellowship of the Holy Spirit. 

"Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: grant that in my earthly pilgrimage I may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know myself to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. I ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all my intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen" (Book of Common Prayer). 

Gospel Episodes

I remember a study done several years ago using a super computer on a University campus. If the universe does not reflect a design and a Designer, everything that exists has come into being as a result of time plus chance. The super computer was programmed to calculate how long it would take for the complexity we see in the universe to evolve. The result: It was not possible to calculate the amount of time required. Even the complexity of a single human cell would take longer than the many billions of years the universe has supposedly existed - without a Designer. To be clear, it is not possible, using the scientific method, to prove the existence of God. On the other hand, it is not possible, using the scientific method, to prove that God does not exist. Either conclusion is an assumption, a faith choice. Everyone has to choose to believe, either that God exists or that God does not exist, based on the most logical explanation for the evidence at hand. As for me, I settled the issue as a young university student. The existence of God provides the best explanation for all we observe in the universe. There is an origin and an Originator. There is a design and a Designer.

In my experience, it's not enough to just believe in God. The idea of "God" needs careful definition. To be clear, I don't just believe in the "god of the philosophers" (the First Principle) or even the "god of the scientists" (the Unmoved Mover). For the life of faith and of the spirit to grow and expand it's important to see something more than a "Higher Power." As the letter to the Hebrews says, we must believe that God exists and we must believe that God is a certain kind of God with a certain kind of character. Francis Schaeffer used to define God as an "Infinite Personal God." The apostle John wrote that "God is love." In fact, in Christian thought, the "triune" nature of God is a picture of God as a relational God, a God of community and interpersonal connections, a God of intimacy and joyful connections. For that reason, the original work of creation was not just an expression of power and creativity but an expression of Love. Since the nature of God's love is a moving out in self-giving, creating as an expression of love and ultimately, creating for the sake of love, makes a certain kind of sense.

I've been thinking about the heart of our Father-Creator God, a heart of love and self-giving. In the beginning, God brought everything into existence as an expression of God's nature and a reflection of God's glory. Everything that is good, beautiful and true, has its basis in a Good God. As James said in his epistle, "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father." Ultimately, for Love to be fulfilled, a being needed to be created with the ability to both receive and return love, a being with the ability to make real choices, a being made in the image of God. That creature would then have the ability to share in God's work and most importantly, the ability to have a real, personal, intimate relationship with Father/Son/Holy Spirit. "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness." And so, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." What a beautiful picture of our Father-Creator, and an amazing picture of God's good creation and of God's purpose for human beings. Anything else would fall short of the glory of God.

The idea of "Paradise" had taken on new meaning for me. Paradise was what God had in mind for human beings from the beginning. God planted a Garden and then put humans in it, making them responsible to care for it. They were even given the authority to "name" the animals. My favorite description of this early Paradise was the report of the sound of the Lord God walking with those human beings in the "cool" of the day, a reference to the refreshing breezes of God's Spirit. It was a place of unbroken communion with the Father-Creator. The first humans had an intimate relationship with God, with each other, and with the rest of God's good creation. No sorrow. No pain. No fear. Perfect peace, Perfect love. Fullness of joy. And somehow that is still the purpose of God for his human image-bearers.

In Paradise, God's image-bearers had been given the ability to make free choices. A risky decision on the Creator's part, but without that ability, a real, authentic personal relationship would not be possible. Eventually, these humans would need to be faced with a real choice. So, God simply put a tree in Paradise with the command to not eat its fruit. It was a simple, one-question test, and God told them the answer to the question in advance. Who couldn't pass that test? Would human beings use their ability to choose to continue walking in a relationship of loving obedience with their Creator or not? Some would have preferred that the Creator not give these humans a test at all, or to just let them live independently from their Creator, doing their own thing instead of thinking about the need to live in loving obedience to God. It seems to me that because God was the Designer and Originator of all things in creation, there was a vital, relational connection between the Creator and all things. The decision to sever that connection would have serious consequences.

I'm thinking about the need to make our choices thoughtfully and carefully. Unfortunately, our choices tend to be skewed. However, such was not the case with those first humans in the Garden. Their choice was completely free, made by their unspoiled wills, living in Paradise in open, unbroken intimacy, with their Creator, with each other, and with the rest of God's good creation. Their decision-making process is worth of it's own article (or book). Suffice it to say that they knew what they were choosing. They were promised by The Serpent that if they declared their independence from the Creator, if they chose to disobey the single restriction that had been placed on them, "you will be like God." They chose to believe The Lie that if they separated themselves from God, they would become gods themselves. And so they did! But the result was not what they had expected. Pain, sorrow, hostility and death entered into God's creation. God had not created those realities, nor had God willed them. They were simply the outworking of the choice to live independently from the Father-Creator. In fact, the biblical definition of "death" is "separation from God." The core enemy, the last enemy, is death. As a result of their fatal choice, human beings became alienated from God, alienated from each other, and alienated from God's creation. Nothing has been as it was originally designed ever since. Now, every human being tries to find meaning in life, a life separated from God, by living with self at the center. Every human being, by nature, seeks to find ways to successfully live independently from God - the source of all life, of beauty, truth and goodness. Put simply, that explains everything we see around us, everything we hear on the nightly news, and there is no way we can fix it on our own. In fact, an attempt to cure self-centeredness (the essence of sin) through self-effort just exasperates the problem. The image of God can still be seen in humanity, but it dwells in shadow. Humanity is broken.

Fortunately for us, God is always faithful, even when we are unfaithful. When human beings made (and continue to make) a decision to branch out into the world on their own, independently from God, all of creation was "cursed" as a result. Pain, sorrow, hostility and death - evil - entered into creation. But God did not give up on God's original purpose for creation. Since it was impossible for human beings to fix the problem they had created, it was necessary for God to take the initiative in providing for a restoration of relationship that would ultimately result in a restoration of all things in a way that would once again reflect God's glory. I've often wondered, "How serious was God about restoring relationships broken by humanity's rebellion? How far was God willing to God to build a bridge back to his heart and home? What was God willing to do, and what would it cost?" In one word, Jesus. Divinity poured itself into humanity on the first Christmas morning. Jesus of Nazareth, the God-Man from heaven, the King of God's Kingdom, visited earth as a first century Jewish peasant Rabbi, announcing Good News. And finally, to defeat sin and death, Jesus poured out his life for us as the Way back to God, the Truth about God, and the Life that only God can give. The way has been made. It's now possible to return to a heart-connection, a personal relationship with our Father-Creator, through Jesus Christ. And that really is Good News!

One of the most common and most significant expressions of worship in Scripture is, "the Lord is good, his mercy endures forever." I'm struck by the word "mercy." It literally refers to God's covenant-keeping love, God's loyalty to covenant promises, God's commitment to a covenant relationship with those who desire to know God. "Grace" is the word we know from the New Testament. Grace means that God has done everything that is needed to go forward in life connected to God heart-to-heart. God has made the way, God has made it all possible, God has taken the initiative. Paul goes to great lengths in his letter to the Romans to point out that because every human being is equally in need of salvation - needs to be rescued from the human dilemma - the work of Jesus provides that salvation equally for every person. It's not possible to achieve our own salvation. It's all grace, a free, undeserved gift. We can't earn "brownie points" with God, we cannot earn any aspect of our salvation. Our role is really very simple, and it is summarized in the word "faith." Faith is simply our sincere response to God's initiative. It is our "Yes" to God's offer. Our willingness to admit that we need God to save us and our acknowledgement that Jesus has made the Way, our acceptance and embrace of that way. And even our faith, our ability to respond to God's initiative, can be given and energized by God. Somehow we just have to be willing to be willing. As we read in Revelation 3:20, Jesus is standing outside our door, wanting to come into our life. All we have to do is open the door and invite him in. God will take care of the rest.

Lynda's favorite author was Jan Karon. She loved Karon's depiction of a small southern town, Mitford, NC (based on Blowing Rock, NC).  Jan Karon's books are not classified as "Christian fiction," meaning they are not "preachy." But she has a wonderful way of including the Good News into the normal flow of the story. Her main character, Father Tim, is an Episcopal priest who has a wonderful, pastoral relationship with his small town. In the series of books there are times when Father Tim prays with someone with the goal of establishing a personal relationship with God through Christ. I love the simple words of his simple prayer. They are not magical words, but if prayed sincerely, from the heart, they lead to a heart connection with God. After all, it was Paul who wrote, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved" (Romans 10:9-10). So, here are the words of this simple but wonderful prayer: "Thank you, God, for loving me, and for sending Your Son to die for my sins. I sincerely repent of my sins, and receive Christ as my personal savior. Now, as Your child, I turn my entire life over to You. Amen."

The nature of our faith depends to a great degree on the way we understand God, how we define God. For me, one of the most important ideas about God is that "God is a God of restoration." Among other things, that means that God has never given up on God's original plan - God's plan for our lives and, in the big picture, God's plan for humanity and the rest of creation. It's certainly true that our current experience is not all there is. In fact, we are barely dipping our toes into the reality of God's heart, God's mind, God's glory. All of life, indeed the entire created order, has been twisted by the human decision to live independently from God - the very definition of "death." But God has not given up on us. A Way forward has been sacrificially provided for us, a way that leads to eternal life and even now in this life, a beautiful fellowship with God resulting in peace, hope and joy. But in the end, God will remove all sin and all the consequences of sin, from humanity and from the created order. While we look forward to a wonderful experience of heaven, the place of God's throne, Paradise will finally be the New Heavens and the New Earth, where God's original plan for all God had made will be fulfilled. And what a day that will be! Until then, we seek to draw near, to submit, to trust and obey, to be faithful every day God assigns to us in this life. After all, what else is there?

My Tribute

Lynda Asplund is a teacher. James reminded her that she was always teaching her children, almost from birth, so that they were well prepared (if not ahead) for school. She was the first kindergarten teacher at New Covenant Academy in Springfield. She taught such courses as Speech Communication and the Education Ministry of the Church at Portland Bible College. She administrated the distance learning program at PBC. And since she started fighting cancer in 2015, she has been a vitally important partner with me as I have taught online courses at four colleges. I give her a class roster for each class and she posts them on the bulletin board in her War Room, praying for each student by name every day. Not only will her family miss her, but hundreds of students around the world will miss her as well. 

Lynda Asplund is an adventurer. We have traveled wide in our 47 years together and she was always an enthusiastic full partner in our travels. We lived in Jamaica in the latter half of 1977, teaching in a small pastor's college. She didn't know it when we left but she was pregnant with our son. The smells made her sick every day, but she was faithful and strong. While at PBC we made two trips to Malaysia together. I'll never forget the "VBS" she conducted for the children of Sentul. She used colored cards from Child Evangelism to teach them the Gospel. When the kids brought cards home with no words on them, the church would not get in trouble, since most of the kids were Muslim. Then there was that beautiful trip to Uganda. Her heart was already weak at that point, but we made the trip together and taught in the RUN school of ministry and in the local church. We have made major moves together, from Springfield, Missouri to Portland, Oregon, and then from Portland to Georgia. Her faith and intercessions were a major reason we could bear fruit on our travels. Churches and schools around the world will miss Lynda. 

Lynda Asplund is a woman of God. She has a rare, childlike faith and an ability to see God at work in almost any situation. And she is a prophetic intercessor. My faith can be a bit squirrelly at times. When we made the trip from Portland to Georgia in 2006, we had waited many months for multiple confirmations, since our dearest friends and family members were in Portland. The final confirmation was the sale of our home on Rocky Butte. So we packed up and started down the road. We didn't get as far as Cascade Locks before we received a call saying the sale had fallen through. In my great faith I told Lynda, "We're screwed!" But she would have none of it. She called our CBC Prayer Team to intercede with her, and by the end of the next day, the house had sold again. I have stories like that too numerous to mention. I'll never forget the time when she was going in for cardiac bi-pass surgery in 2012, not knowing she would survive since her heart was so weak. The elders of New Community Church gathered before the service to pray for her, but by the end, she had gone around the table, laid hands on each one, and prayed a prophetic prayer over them. Just last night, she asked me to pray for her, and when I couldn't because I was crying too hard, she laid her precious hand on my head and prayed a beautiful prayer for me. She has a rare and wonderful spiritual quality in every part of my life. All those who have been the beneficiaries of her faith and prayers down through the years, and especially myself, will truly miss her. 

Lynda Asplund is a wife, Mom and Grammy. She gave herself selflessly to our two wonderful children. Charity Asplund Toombs and James Asplund filled our quiver, and she loved every minute of it. We sometimes thought of ourselves as a smaller version of the Waltons. (Good night, Jim Bob.) Then they got married and we were blessed with four wonderful grandsons. Dominick Vescio (19), Jonathan (17), Ian Asplund (15) and Joshua (9). How Lynda loves her grandsons. "Your children's children" have a special place in our lives. And Lynda has been married to yours truly for 47+ years. We have had many adventures together with a lot of changing and moving along the way. She has always been a positive, cheerful, hopeful, supportive partner every step of the way. She was my best friend before we got married, and she has remained my best friend. There is nothing I would rather do than hang out with Lynda. She is the rock and the anchor of my life. She is the light of my life, my sunshine. No man could ever ask for a better wife than Lynda. Only God knows how I will go on without her. 

Lynda Asplund's Christlike character was formed through suffering. No one should have to suffer the way she has. I remember when we had our first appointment with an oncologist, who said, "Well, your digestive system wins the prize for being the most messed up," with acid reflux, celiac disease and IBS. In 1998 her heart became very enlarged and weak (EF 25) and she was confined to her bed. The doctor said that if she rested enough she might live 2 more years. She didn't want to neglect her PBC students so we set up a cot in her office in the classroom building with instructions that whenever she tired, she was to lay down. At the end of 2 years, her heart had recovered. Then she fell and broke her tailbone - twice. Later when she was experiencing severe pain in her lower back x-rays showed that she had been living with a minor form of scoliosis most of her life and that arthritis had formed where she had broken her bone. Eventually she developed chronic sinus infections and discovered a severe allergy to mold, and the doctor said, "You must have a warmer, sunnier climate." So here we are in Georgia. In 2012 he heart had weakened again (EF 15) and a coronary artery needed to be repaired with bi-pass surgery. That experience greatly weakened Lynda's overall stamina. In 2015, it was chronic lymphosytic leukemia - a ticking time bomb in her body. In 2016, breast cancer, with very painful tests, surgery and radiation. And 2 weeks ago, a very aggressive stage 4 liver cancer. One night I pointed out an interesting phrase in 1 Peter 4:1: "whoever suffers in the body is done with sin." Somehow suffering has the ability to perfect godly character. We've always known about Paul's claim: "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3,4). Lynda has always been a godly woman, but anyone who has had the privilege of relating and interacting with her during the last few years, and even today at Hospice, can testify that Lynda is a wonderfully loving, selfless, patient, compassionate, concerned, sweet woman, exuding the character of Christ. Even during these days she thinks only of others and their well-being. I know how much the Father values that and am not surprised that he is calling her home. 

I married WAY UP when I married Lynda Asplund. I'll never forget the first time I met her. There was a coffeehouse ministry in Springfield, Missouri, an outreach of Central Bible College at the time, and my Dad was a member of the Board overseeing the ministry. So, when I returned from the west coast after spending the summer with an ORU outreach team, I went down to the coffeehouse to hang out. August 29, 1970. And there she was. Singing on the stage, her platinum blond hair glowing like an angel under the black lights. I took her home that night and we were immediate best friends. We were a matched pair. She was working as a model at the time, a very beautiful girl. She was also smart and godly, a people-oriented extrovert. We were married 8 months later. I can't tell you how many times students at PBC would come up to me and say, "Brother Larry, the fact that you were able to talk Lynda into marrying you gives me hope." She was always a bit taken aback by that, being a fundamentally humble person, but I totally agreed. She has always been the strongest, most stable, most mature part of our long relationship. She is by far my better half I've long known that Lynda Asplund was very spiritually mature, but I never really stopped to reflect on what that meant. I was just happy to live with someone who had great discernment and wisdom. I almost felt protected as a result of my relationship with Lynda, looking to her for confirmation and balance. (I felt equally unprotected without her.) It's amazing to see someone who is never concerned about themselves, who are always concerned with true compassion for others, and whose first and last instinct is always to pray for them. I suppose that is the definition of an intercessor. I witnessed that fact this evening in a beautiful way. A summer thunderstorm hit Lagrange, with the usual wind and thunder and rain. She seems very weak this evening, having difficulty even keeping a sip of water down. Nevertheless, she opened her eyes and reached out to me and said, "We need to pray for the people." Even though she rarely said anything aloud, I could see her lips saying over and over again, "Bring peace, bring peace, keep them safe, bring peace." 

Lynda is HOME! 

Here is a link to the slide presentation shown at Lynda's Celebration as well as the Celebration itself.

God Wept

If you grew up in church like I did you may remember Sunday School "Bible Drills." The idea was to see who could find an obscure Scripture the fastest, or could quote a Bible verse before anyone else. Silly, I know. A favorite verse to quote quickly was John 11:35, the shortest verse in the Bible. "Jesus wept."

While that might be a convenient verse to quote quickly, few have stopped to consider its importance. Those who have, pose a variety of interpretations. One of the most common suggests that because some in the crowd questioned why Jesus had not kept Lazarus from dying (verse 37), it made Jesus so upset that he cried. After all, the very next verse points out that Jesus "was once more deeply moved" (verse 38), proof positive that Jesus wept because he was upset at the unbelief of some in the crowed. But what does that suggest about Jesus? At the very least, it suggests that when Jesus was upset enough, he responded by crying. For some reason, it seems unacceptable that Jesus could have wept simply because he was sorrowful or grieving.

The context of this short but profound statement points out that when Jesus saw Mary weeping (verse 33), he responded emotionally and empathetically to her grief. In fact, some in the crowd noted, "See how he loved him" (verse 36). Jesus could not have been grieving at the death of Lazarus since he knew very well what the Father had planned. He was simply sharing in the sorrow of Mary and her friends. Not only is it acceptable to believe that Jesus wept out of compassion for Mary in her grief, doing so paints a very important picture of the heart of Jesus, and of God. 

A great deal of our faith development depends on how we view God. For some, God is a grumpy old man sitting on a throne, criticizing and judging us. In fact, God may be hoping we will make a mistake, knowing that inevitably we will, so he can slap us and remind us what losers we are. Or just reject us outright! God would certainly never grieve for us, mourning our poor choices and their consequences. However, "Jesus wept" paints a very different picture of God.

When the antediluvian society became utterly corrupt, "it grieved [God] at his heart" (Genesis 6:6). While the Israelites were demonstrating their hardness of heart while wandering in the wilderness, God "grieved with this generation" (Psalm 95:10). While giving Jeremiah a message of judgment for Judah, God revealed, "Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people" (9:1). God wept! God takes no pleasure in the failings and pain of people but only in any opportunity to demonstrate his love for them. "Do I take pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23).

The story of Mary and Lazarus was not the only time the Gospel records Jesus weeping. Before his trial and crucifixion, Jesus saw the city of Jerusalem and wept over it, knowing the judgment that was to come (Luke 19:41). Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would be "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3). God's heart is filled with love, a love that gives selflessly to others and grieves when that gift is refused.

Some might say that these passages are simply examples of human beings making God in their own image. The truth is, human beings are made in God's image. The human capacity for empathy and sympathy are true reflections of the heart of God. It is a sign that God's heart of love is working a change in our lives when we are able to "rejoice with those who rejoice [and] mourn with those who mourn" (Romans 12:15). 

Seeing Jesus on the cross, hearing his cry, "Father, forgive them," is the purest example of the heart of God. At that moment, God was not only demonstrating his love for us, God was also inviting us to return to a life-giving, intimate relationship with him. Jesus made the way for us, and his love still reaches out to us today. 

The Heart of the Matter, Part Two

I don't know about you, but I like to get to the root and the core of an issue. So much of what we deal with and even fight about is superficial, surface and external to the real issues. Ultimately, that begins with understanding the core of our own existence. Discovering what is in our own hearts will enable us to focus on our real issues, not focusing primarily on surface symptoms.

In Scripture, the center and core of a human person is called the "heart." All the core elements of our nature and lives can be found in our heart. Every virtue has its roots in our heart. At the same time, every element of our "sin disease" also has its roots in our heart. It could be that we spend so much time wrestling with the symptoms of our fallen nature because we never discover what the core issues are.

"Sin" is not a popular word in our culture, but looking at the story of how it entered into God's good creation reveals that sins exists because of a decision to rebel against God as Creator and Lord. Sin results from any attempt to live independently from God, to displace God at the center of all things, including our lives. In the end, the essence of sin is self-centeredness. To put it simply, the core and root of every sinful thought, word and behavior is some form of self: self-importance, self-indulgence, self-pity, self-sufficiency, etc. Having said that, it is clear that Scripture shines a light on the specific roots of sin in our nature.

Any pattern of sin comes from a hard, unresponsive heart (Psalm 73:7). It is a stubborn, rebellious heart that proves to be disloyal and unfaithful to God (Psalm 78:8). The prophet Jeremiah was famous for pointing out that "the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure" (17:9). It is the tendency of a hard, human heart to scheme and conspire, to look for reasons to get one's way. Being beyond cure means that we are completely dependent on God to provide the cure. The prophet Ezekiel pointed out that the leaders in his generation, while being very pious, were setting up "idols in their hearts," resulting in "wicked stumbling blocks" (14:3). All idolatry is a heart issue. In fact, it could be said that, in essence, all idolatry is self worship.

I'm especially fascinated by the teaching of Jesus on the matter. In both the Gospels of Matthew (15:17-20) and Mark (7:21-23), Jesus commented on the superficial piety and hypocrisy of the Pharisees who were questioning why his disciples did not wash their hands before eating. Jesus responded by getting to the heart of the matter. The issue of eating was an external, surface issue and did not get to the core issues. After all, whatever a person eats will simply enter and eventually exit the physical body. It was not an issue of virtue or character. "There is nothing outside the man which can defile him" (Mark 7:15). Instead, Jesus pointed out that human defilement and corruption are the result of whatever is in the heart, and that certain corrupt elements in the heart eventually come out as sinful words and behaviors. The problem is not outside but inside. When we combine the teaching in Matthew and Mark we can observe a list of 14 issues that have their root in the human heart. Just attempting to manage their sinful words and behaviors will prove to be fruitless. Take a look at the list:

• Evil thoughts
• Murder
• Adultery
• Sexual immorality
• Theft
• False testimony
• Slander
• Greed
• Malice
• Deceit
• Lewdness
• Envy
• Arrogance
• Folly

That's quite a thorough list of human attitudes and behaviors. For Jesus, it was vitally important to understand that they were more than bad choices, that they had their roots in the human heart. These issues are really symptoms of deeper, core issues in the heart.

The apostles often commented on sin issues. Paul referred to a stubborn and unrepentant heart (Romans 2:5). The writer to the Hebrews spoke about an unbelieving heart (3:12) and the problem of bitterness taking root in the heart (12:15). James drew attention to the problem of bitter envy and selfish ambition growing in the human heart (3:14). Learning to discern the root and core of our issues existing and growing in our hearts is essential to the development of the character of Christ in our lives. While it is not a prerequisite for salvation and does not earn us any righteous "brownie points," learning to follow Christ in faithful obedience is the desire of Christ-followers and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

It's no wonder Solomon advised his son, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23). However, the ability to guard our hearts does not happen accidentally. Knowing how to guard our hearts calls for reflection on those things that foster a good and noble heart and an intentional, proactive focus on those things. Being honest about the condition of our heart can be difficult, requiring more awareness than we usually have. It's for that reason that God promises to occasionally provide a "test" that will show what is really in our heart (Deuteronomy 8:2). 

We are also encouraged to search our own hearts (Psalm 4:4). It is those who have a pure heart that will be able to "ascend the mountain of the Lord" (Psalm 24:3-4). "Create in me a clean heart, O God" (Psalm 51:10). 

Both Old and New Testaments speaking about the need to "circumcise" our hearts (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6). While that certainly involves entering into a covenant relationship with the Lord from the heart, it also includes a commitment to no longer being "stiff-necked," to having an open, soft, responsive heart toward the Lord. "Plowing up" the hard ground of our hearts is an ongoing challenge, one that can only take place if we commit ourselves to the process. A soft heart is the only kind of heart that can become the seedbed for the character of Christ. 

A soft heart is devoted to seeking the Lord as a lifestyle (1 Chronicles 22:19). A soft, responsive heart is one that serves the Lord with "wholehearted devotion" and "a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart" (1 Chronicles 28:9). A willing, obedient heart meditates on those things that are pleasing to the Lord (Psalm 19:14). A soft heart is a heart of humility, understanding it's radical dependence on God (Psalm 131:1). A heart responsive to the Lord is a single, undivided heart, a heart that is knit to the Lord (Psalm 86:11). It is a repentant heart, determined to return to the Lord with the whole heart (Joel 2:12-13). 

A heart prepared for the Lord has made a hiding place for God's Word in the heart (Psalm 119:11), and is committed to responding obediently to that Word (Psalm 119:112). "Search me, God, and know my heart" (Psalm 139:23). 

I once again return to the teaching of Jesus about the human heart. Jesus pointed out the difference between the good things that come out of the good store up in the heart as compared to evil things that come from an evil heart (Luke 6:45). He warned about a heart that is weighed down with "carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life" (Luke 21:34). Jesus also promised that those who are "thirsty" for living water should come to him and drink and he would give them living water. "He who believes in me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-38). It is possible for a person who has a heart-to-heart relationship with God to, instead of being weighed down, experience an overflow of living water from the heart. 

The apostle Paul provided excellent guidelines for the cultivation of a pure heart. His overarching principle is this: "A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please the flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7-8). The human heart is pictured as a garden. It is possible to reap a harvest of eternal, abundant life, but that harvest will require a certain kind of seed to be sown. "Garbage in, garbage out!" Discerning the difference between the two kinds of seed requires careful and prayerful sensitivity.

Paul provided examples from his personal life. In more than one place he pointed out that all things were "lawful" for him. His personal salvation was based on a sure foundation of grace. He had answered the question of his personal standing before God. He had settled the issue: God was his Father and heaven was his home. I'm amazed at how often people ask what the least thing they need to do and still not go to hell! It's a grossly irrelevant and misleading question. That issue needs to be settled once and for all. However, although all things were lawful for Paul, not everything was "beneficial" or "edifying" (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). He could "get away" with some things that were not, however, advantageous, helpful or profitable. Some things would not involve breaking covenant with God, but they also did not build up or strengthen him in vitally important ways. A lot of things are entertaining without passing the edification test.

Paul went so far as to list the kinds of things that someone concerned about sowing seed that produced true life should focus on (Philippians 4:8), including things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. He encouraged believers to set their hearts on "things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1), and to direct their hearts to the love of God (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

In the end, it is the grace of God that is able to strengthen the human heart (Hebrews 13:9). It's also possible for our hearts to be broken. Almost every person has experienced giving their heart to someone or something, only to be broken and hurt as a result. Part of the mission of Jesus was to "bind up the brokenhearted" (Isaiah 61:1). It's comforting to know that God draws near to those with broken hearts in order to heal them (Psalm 34:18; 147:3). If the goal is to have a heart like God's heart, it will require God personal intervention as well as our conscious intention.

I love how the last stanza of an old Wesley hymn puts it: "Speak, gracious Lord, my sickness cure, / Make my infected nature pure; / Peace, righteousness, and joy impart, / And pour thyself into my heart." Amen. 

The Heart of the Matter

People can be complicated! I have often claimed that I am just a simple guy, not fancy or complicated, the product of generations of farming families. What you see is what you get! blah blah blah But in reality, I'm just as complicated as the next person, with mixed motives, jumbled up emotions, moments of doubt and fear. And an aging body just aggravates the complexity.

Just when we think that the apostle Paul has simplified matters for us by referring to our "spirit, soul and body" (1 Thessalonians 5:23), theologians jump in with disagreements about whether or not we are really made up of three parts, two parts or just one combination of all. They then disagree on how to define each part of the human being with a vast variety of views on how they all interact and work together! In the end, it just seems to muddy the water.

But the more I reflect on our human nature, the more I am drawn to one simple conclusion: the core and center of every human being is described in Scripture simply as the "heart." And if that is so, we would be benefited by exploring what the Bible says about the human center/heart and how that might help us focus our lives, and even facilitate the process of growth in Christlikeness.

If our "heart" is the center and core of our being, then everything else flows out of that center. Every other aspect of our lives, both the good and the bad, are extensions of some core elements in our heart. 

Our core values, the things we treasure, are located in our heart (Matthew 6:21). Our core motivations and affections can be found in our heart (1 Corinthians 4:5). Trust, a key element in our faith, grows in our heart. Our will, our desires and the way we make decisions, is found in the heart. The human character is formed primarily in the heart, God's "law" being written on our heart (Romans 2:15). "As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart" (Proverbs 27:19). 

The heart is where the human spirit has the potential of being activated by the entrance of the Holy Spirit and becoming a powerful element in our lives. As the Bible says, God has "set eternity in the human heart" (Ecclesiastes 3:11; see also 2 Corinthians 1:21-22). Our personal knowledge and relationship with God is primarily a matter of the heart (2 Corinthians 4:6). In fact, the actual covenant we have made with God to be his faithful servants exists primarily in the heart, as a "circumcision of the heart" (Romans 2:29). Our deep, personal commitments reside in our heart (1 Kings 8:61; 9:4). 

It is possible to be religious, to say and do all the right things, to give every appearance of being a spiritually mature person, without that reality existing in our heart. Both the prophets and Jesus had little patience with that kind of superficial religiosity (Isaiah 29:13). "Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart" (Proverbs 26:23). A lack of integrity results in the need to pretend we are more mature than we are, something Jesus condemned as hypocrisy. 

It's important to note that God is described as having a heart. God's character and motivations, God's love, is a matter of the heart. That's why God was looking for, longing for, people who reflected his own heart (1 Samuel 2:35; 13:14). "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). In fact, if we are to grow into the heart of God, we will be dependent on God opening our hearts and depositing the beautiful aspects of his own heart into ours (Acts 16:14). It's no wonder that Paul prayed "that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened" (Ephesians 1:18). 

So, we can fake godly virtues and character, but if the core and roots of those virtues are not in the heart, if they are only in our heads, we can be found to occasionally exhibit their opposites.

Virtue is found in our hearts. When God promised a "new covenant," one of the core promises was that God's Law would be written on the human heart and not tables of stone (Psalm 37:31; Ezekiel 11:19). "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). A key concern involves the difference between a hard, rebellious heart a willing and obedient heart. Somehow keeping our heart open and responsive to the Lord is the starting point of our relationship with God and the transformation of our lives. 

King Solomon is famous for asking the Lord to give him a "discerning heart" (1 Kings 3:9). Just being knowledgeable would have been an insufficient basis for his righteous rule. True wisdom is not a matter of the head but of the heart (Proverbs 14:33). Trusting the Lord in every situation is the basis for a steadfast heart (Psalm 112:7). "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).  

Having a personal knowledge of God and an intimate relationship with God is a matter of the heart. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of receiving a heart to know God (24:7) and of a promise that those who seek the Lord with their whole heart will find him (29:13). 

Jesus promised a kingdom blessing on those who have a pure heart, promising them that they would see God (Matthew 5:8). A pure heart is simply a heart with a single focus on and commitment to God and a life that serves God wholeheartedly. Jesus warned about the danger of not forgiving someone from the heart (Matthew 18:35). In the famous Parable of the Sower, Jesus taught that it is seed planted in a "noble and good heart," in a praiseworthy and upright heart, that will bear abundant fruit. Before his crucifixion Jesus encouraged his friends to not allow their hearts to be troubled, to not be afraid (John 14:27).

The members of the first church in Jerusalem had a reputation for having "glad and sincere hearts," joyful and simple hearts (Acts 2:46). God's Spirit is joined to our human hearts, resulting in a new life with new possibilities. It is the presence and activity of the Spirit that also represents the presence of Christ in our heart (Ephesians 3:17). True worship comes from the heart of a believer, not the head (1 Peter 3:15). Frankly, it is possible to fake worship, to go through all the expected motions.

God's quality of love becomes a very important element of our heart (Romans 5:5). The peace of God is to be established in our hearts (Philippians 4:7). "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15). Our growing faith in God is a matter of the heart (Romans 10:10). It is the Holy Spirit in our hearts that is able to call God our "Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6). It's not just our relationship with God that comes from the heart, a heart centered on the Lord will also affect our relationships with others. "Love one another deeply, from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22).

All of the core virtues, the qualities of God's own heart, are to be found and cultivated in the human heart. Integrity of character is a result of the contents of our heart consistently matching the outward elements of our life, our soul and even our body. But it's also true that the core and roots of sin are to be found in the human heart. In fact, the growth and development of our faith and our Christlike character depends on our ability to discern these root issues.

What Does the Bible Say? Fairness

If you've ever raised a teenagers you've heard the complaint, "That's not fair!" And if you are like me you may have responded, "Life is not fair!" Which is certainly true, if by "life" we mean this temporary adventure we're sharing in this world shaped by human sin. 

On the other hand, it is extremely important to remember that God is perfectly fair, and to understand fairness from God's perspective we have to see fairness as a core aspect of God's heart and character. So when it comes to fairness, my question is, What does the Bible say?

It's clear that God does not ever think it terms of partiality or favoritism. There is no "in crowd" or "out crowd" in the mind of God. This idea formed an essential core of the Mosaic Law code. "Do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly" (Leviticus 19:15). Low or high, rich or poor, powerful or powerless, all we equal in the eyes of their Maker. "Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God" (Deuteronomy 1:17). While the great and powerful might have the ability to help you if you judge in their favor or hurt you if you judge against them, it is vitally important to remember that in the end, the Judge, will hold everyone accountable. Therefore, "do not be afraid of them." 

"Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe" (Deuteronomy 16:19). Showing partiality might be beneficial in some cases, but the sacred principle of fairness, of equality before God, must always be maintained, "...for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality" (Deuteronomy 19:7). 

I love how the wisdom of Solomon states it simply. "To show partiality is not good" (Proverbs 24:23; 28:21), and "If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever" (Proverbs 29:14). God promises to bless those in power who act in complete fairness. 

Jesus had a reputation for never showing partiality (Luke 20:21). When Paul gave instructions to his associates, he was very clear on this issue. "I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and do nothing out of favoritism" (1 Timothy 5:21). If it was not a strong enough word of instruction, he even brought the elect angels into the picture. 

So, the teaching of the Bible on the issue of fairness is very clear. There is just one problem. Everyone tends to have favorites and to show partiality. Even very conscientious parents who are committed to fairness and equality while raising their children, tend at times to favor one of them. 

Frankly, when you think about it, our sinful bent toward self-centeredness, toward favoring ourselves and our own personal interests, tends to be reflected in the partiality we have toward others. Perhaps it's due to the fact that we find some people to be more supportive, more affirming of us, easier to manage. Others just rub us the wrong way, so no matter how well intentioned, it is easier to favor (even if unconsciously) the one that "rubs us the right way."

Try to think of it from God's perspective. God has created every human being intentionally and with purpose. God designed every person with an eternal significance and destiny. God did not decide to create some people to favor and others to have less importance. God did not create any throw-away, unnecessary human beings. God loves every one of his human creations with equal passion and commitment.

On the other hand, we look for reasons to believe that we - either me or my in-group - are, as the church lady used to say, just a little bit superior. We are comforted in our mess when we see others we think are even messier. In our sinful pride we may even define entire classes of people as essentially inferior. In that way, we feel justified when we treat them with anything less than fairness or equality. It seems important to recognize that any form of prejudicial treatment is contrary to the heart of our Father and is a clear violation of his commands.

The three classic expressions of favoritism are: racism (defining an out-group because of their race or ethnicity as unacceptable and arguing for their inferior status), classism (treating some people as inferior because of their economic and/or social status), and sexism (arguing that one gender is inferior, not just different, in some way). Even if we forget that God created everyone with equal worth and dignity, we can at least acknowledge that Jesus came to "level the playing field." Once again, Paul stated it so well. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile [racism], neither slave nor free [classism], nor is there male or female [sexism], for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). Prejudicial thinking that comes from pride and frankly, from sin, has no place in the heart and mind of God or of God's committed children.