November 26, 2022

     We hear a great deal about safe spaces these days. Some mean by this a space free from any triggering (upsetting) speech or imagery or ideas in general. This is far from safe, rather it sets people up for failure. Competition between ideas is critically important. It’s not comfortable, and no one wants to do it but learning to challenge our beliefs and test them against other beliefs is critical. 

     The most common place to find these “safe spaces” is on college campuses. This is somewhat ironic considering that college is the place where we should be challenged the most. It is the place where our ideas should be challenged and where we should learn to question our biases and apply reason and careful logic to our overall understanding of the world. To make colleges and universities a “safe space” is perhaps the greatest disservice we could do to young people. It completely fails to help them develop a skill set which will aid them through life and career.

There is however another kind of safe space. Related to but not exactly what has been implemented on college campuses. It is a space where we will not be castigated or ridiculed for not being perfect. A place where we can be open about our weaknesses and shortcomings so that we can find camaraderie and accountability. It is deer season and so many are sharing pictures of the deer they have harvested or their efforts at harvesting. I have noticed a troubling trend with these images. Whenever a hunter shares something many are quick to criticize. The blind construction the firearm, bow, or crossbow used, the hunting style and location are all subject to ridicule.

     I have often benefited from the wisdom of others and for that I am deeply thankful. However, I will quickly add that I have not benefited much from insults or ridicule. I suspect the same is true of you. We need to be able to have conversations especially about things we disagree about. However we need to remain civil and even loving. Paul instructs Timothy who is dealing with brethren who are in error, to correct your opponent’s gently in hopes that they will be corrected and return in faithfulness. This must be our goal as well.

I am not suggesting that we allow compromise in our worship assemblies or disinformation to be shared by a preacher or teacher. However, I am suggesting that we should foster an environment where people can ask questions and share ideas which may be wrong and then find correction. Where those struggling to remain faithful can find encouragement when struggling with sin. I am reminded of Apollos who was shown the way of God more accurately. We can be thankful that he was and for his contribution to the young church. I do wonder if the same is possible for us today or are we to critical and exclusionary for this to take place. 

We must also consider the admonition to bear one another’s burdens. How can faithful Christians carry out this act of love and service if we have created an environment where people are ashamed to admit they have any burdens? 

     With this in mind I would suggest we create a real safe place, where the body of Christ can do the work of Christ who came to call “not the righteous but sinners to repentance.” I am no doubt in need of repentance and maybe you are too, my prayer is that my brethren carry out this work for me as I will endeavour to do for them. 

~ Kevin Cleary

 

November 19, 202

Have you ever watched a hockey team with many talented players struggle to win games? This is especially typical of younger very talented players who have noticed that they are better than many of their peers. They have no doubt been coached to know that they need to play as a team and are likely working hard at doing it. They may even be doing well at it until they face a difficult opponent. That’s when the problem comes. They start to think they are the only one who can deliver the win, who can score the go-ahead goal, who can lead the team back from a sure loss. They forget that even the best players can’t win alone. They start playing as an individual instead of as a team.

If you are in the stands, you can see the open players being ignored, the great plays being missed. It’s when things get hard that we need to work together the most but often it’s at those times when we allow old habits to come back. When we allow our ego’s or our frustration with others to push our focus inwards. 

The Church like other teams is made up of many talented people, People who know they should work together, encourage and support each other. However when we face problems as individuals or as congregations, it’s easy to forget what we know and focus inward. We start to want to go it alone, we doubt our fellow church members, we start to think to much of ourselves. 

When churches can’t co-operate, things only get worse not better. 

A preacher named Lance Cordle recently made a list of the good things that happen when churches work together I have shared his list in effort to encourage all of us to consider the value of building one another up.

When the church works together…

– There will be less bickering and more forgiveness (Philippians 4:2).

– There will be less criticism and more encouragement (Hebrews 10:24).

– There will be less excuses and more evangelism (Acts 2:46, 47).

– There will be less selfishness and more selflessness (Philippians 2:3,4).

– There will be less discussion of personal preferences and more Bible study and seeking to know the will of God (Ephesians 5:17).

– There will be less worrying about the future and more prayer for the strength and courage to face the future (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

– There will be less dissatisfaction with worship and more concentration on God himself within our worship (John 4:24).

– There will be less individual glory and more glory to God (Matthew 5:16).

With the great need that exists all around us for God’s love and grace lets make sure it’s found in abundance among his people.

~ Kevin Cleary

 

November 12, 202

I often hear people talk about a person or an experience as Spiritual. Songs which are particularly emotion driven are referred to as spirituals. And of course many Christians, myself included,  want to be more Spiritual. As we ask how to achieve this we often seek out experiences, places, and books which stir something inside of us, which make us feel a certain way. What we don’t want is to be unspiritual. However we are confused about what it means to be Spiritual or unspiritual. Spiritual is not something you feel (what you feel is called emotional) instead it’s what you do. Following is a list of things that are called unspiritual notice that many of them are highly driven by feeling rather that truth.

Unspiritual

• Division, jealousy, and strife are not Spiritual I Cor 3:1
• Doing that which hurts Christ’s Church is not Spiritual I Cor 3:16
• Associating with evil is not Spiritual I Cor 6:19
• Misrepresenting Jesus is not Spiritual I Cor 12:3
• Pursuing the desires of the flesh is not Spiritual Gal 5:16
• Bitterness, anger, wrath, clamour, slander, malice, are all not Spiritual Eph 4:30-32
• Causing division of the Lords Church is not Spiritual Jude 19

When we try to determine what is Spiritual and how to be more Spiritual we need to make sure that we are using the right means of measuring Spirituality. The right means is not our own emotional response to a thing but what God through the Holy Spirit says about it in the Bible which He inspired.

     On another occasion we will consider a similar positive list of what behaviours and characteristics the Bible calls Spiritual. 

~ Kevin Cleary

Note: There are other actions and behaviours that could be added to the list because they are directed by God but I wanted to restrict the list to those things mentioned in the context of the Holy Spirit’s influence.

 

November 5, 202

I want to propose an outlandish but hopefully worthwhile thought experiment. What if universalism was true and everyone would go to heaven no matter what? We will set aside for a moment the logical inconsistency with this scenario and the teaching of scripture as well (I know not a great way to start a Church bulletin article). If this was the case and everyone would go to heaven regardless of their behaviour or their belief what would you do? 

Some might react as if it was the purge and go crazy doing whatever they wanted. Others might carry out that one secret desire that they have kept secret for so long. Some might decide just to sleep in on Sunday or give up reading their bibles. This exercise is of course directed to those who are Christians since many in the world already behave as if there is no God or accountability. 

     It’s these people I suggest actually teach us a powerful lesson. Their lives are not happy and fulfilled always abounding in health wealth and companionship. Instead those who live outside of the limitations revealed by God find themselves facing all kinds of problems. Their relationships suffer, they are often in prison or homeless, they often can’t hold a job, they end up addicted to various substances. Those who end up well off financially are not better off as they struggle with addiction and mental health challenges empty relationships. 

     Even adopting a few very basic limitations make a huge difference. Ben Shapiro has cited statistics repeatedly which indicate if a person will only finish high school, not have children outside of wedlock and avoid addiction they will not be permanently in poverty. Where do these basic principles come from? God of course. 

     This brings me to the point of this little thought experiment. I would propose that even if nothing we did or believed could bring cause us to be eternally lost it would still be better, wiser, and more reasonable to believe in and obey God. There are at least two applications I would like to make in considering this.

     First, we need to understand that nothing we can do no matter how hard we work or how “good” we are can redeem us or pay for our sin. That is only possible through Christ. If you are trying to work for your salvation, you are missing the point.

     Second, I am often asked if I believe this or that issue to be a matter of salvation. I am always tempted to ask; What if it’s not? Do you only listen to God because you fear punishment? That sound like some people who once came to John the Baptist. If you are only obeying out of fear, then I think your understanding and appreciation for who God is and what he has done is out of whack. 

     I absolutely believe we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling understanding the value of our eternal souls. However, I also know that obedience must be motivated by love for and a desire to be like our master. 

     Based on these considerations and others I would submit that even if sin had no consequences, we would still be smart to avoid it. Even if God didn’t care if I followed Him, I would still do it. Because he is going where I want to go. 

     With all of that said we must come back to the fact that God is Holy and Just. There are consequences to sin, in this life and the life to come. Only through obeying the gospel by faith, repentance, baptism, and faithfulness can we be free from sin.

~ Kevin Cleary

 

October 29, 202

     A few years ago, I read an article by Steve Higginbotham, (if you don’t follow his writing, I recommend you do as he offers very good devotional thoughts). He made a great point about consistency which I have included below. It did make me think of a couple of important points that I would encourage us to think about. First Steve’s point is a great reminder from what is something of a humorous story. Secondly It makes me think of two important and practical matters. 

     First we need to develop habits which will enable us to keep our relationship with God front of mind. It may be daily Bible study, family devotionals, regular prayer, dedicated participation in Church events. All of these can help us to faithfully live out our Christianity.

Second, we need to remember that people will look at us often judgementally specifically looking for failure. We should also remind them that we are not perfect but look to Christ to make us perfect. Further we are not claiming to be superior to others but uncompromisingly serve a God who is superior to all of creation. 

     Here is the story Steve shared.

     A couple years ago I had the opportunity to make a trip to Israel. One of the places we visited

was the “Church of the Nativity.” This church building was erected over the alleged birthplace

of Jesus. As we walked through the facility, one of the men in our group quietly chuckled at

something that was said by another tourist. Immediately, one of the priests approached him

and threatened to throw him out if he continued to show disrespect in this “holy place.”

I found this priest’s rebuke to be rather ironic, because only months prior to our arrival, the

Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests that share possession of this church building got into a

brawl as they cleaned the building in preparation for their observance of the birth of Jesus.

Due to their brawl, several priests and police who tried to stop the fighting had to be sent to

the hospital. So while this priest lectured this man about “respect,” I couldn’t help but think

that this man, only a few months earlier, had engaged in a free-for-all at the same spot.

Well, it happened again. As December 25 approached in 2011, these priests got into it again,

throwing brooms at each other and beating each other with broomsticks and iron rods. Again,

their riot had to be broken up by police.

     Allow me to make a point from this. We need to allow this story to remind us how in

congruent unholy actions are coming from those who are supposed to be holy. Oh, it’s easier

to see in others than in ourselves, isn’t it? The inconsistency of the actions of these priests is

glaring as we look on. However, let me remind you that our unholy actions are just as glaring

to our friends and family. God has called us to holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16). There is more to

being a Christian than just a single act of obedience which allows us to wear the name of

Christ. Those of us who wear the name of Christ must also give special attention to walk in the

footsteps of Jesus, and to guard our influence so that the world will not blaspheme.

Copyright © 2011, Steve Higginbotham. Permission is granted to copy these articles.