A secret successful church leaders have known for years is the importance of boundaries in ministry.  A Pastor, like us, has just 24 hours a day to attend to the needs of his family, his church, and most importantly himself.  When there is a problem, we often go to him for help.  When a “stranger” is in need and has nowhere else to turn, it often is to a church or church related ministry they go to help.  When someone is near the end of the rope, it often is the church they turn.  While many requests do go to those who work in the church office, they may also go to you, the pewsitter, on a Sunday morning.  To be a Christian, we must help them out…right?  Isn’t that what Christ mandates.  Look at Matthew 25:31-40.  If we set boundaries, then we will not be following Matthew 25, following what God says…will we?   Perhaps your like me and think of something like:  If I set this boundary, what if the person really is in need and I destroy their faith, or cause them harm…does that describe you?

What do you think?   When is it OK to set boundaries in Christian ministry?  When is it OK to set boundaries in the church?  Whether layman or pastor, let me know what you think…

We know that Exodus and Deuteronomy have the ten commandments, but what I had forgotten – for it has been a long time since I read Leviticus, is what is in chapter 19.  Titled in my study bible as “A Call to Holiness”, it reminds me of the way God wants me to live my life.  I am reminded of a number of things…

…to respect my elders and God;

…to love God and not turn to idols – things that our privileged lives make it easy for us to do;

…to be genuine in worship, loving God and “sacrificing” our best, our first fruits to him;

…to not steal, lie, deceive another, or cheat;

…to serve the poor;

…to swear falsely using God’s name – and to be honest in all my dealings;

…to not curse others or cause others to stumble in their faith;

…to not pervert, but uphold justice – the laws of this land;

…to not slander, gossip, or endanger my neighbor’s life or reputation; and

…to not seek revenge or bear grudges;

As I look at this chapter, I see the many ways I have failed to meet God’s command and love Him.  Perhaps this would be a  good chapter to review when preparing for the sacrament, woundn’t you agree?

Johnsen & Taylor (a local Christian bookstore owned by Tyndale Publishers)

Unexpected, but appreciated.  Clearly offering me a warm greeting, but also encourages my return business – ever so subtly of course.  I love Johnsen and Taylor.

Citibank

Typical Citi fashion, with the blue “pill” and a clean look.  However, rather than just saying best wishes, they acknowledged they are in a competitive environment and mention how they appreciate having me as a customer.  While many might not like big banks, I have found their service to be exemplary.  Yes, I think they do have some of their call centers in India or somewhere outside the US – but they are easy to understand and, most importantly, understand me.  Unlike Chase, when I go into the branch I’m immediately served and don’t feel a heavy sales push. 

Just my thoughts on holiday greetings…any ones stick out to you this year?

Clearly one needs to look first at the motivation for lying.  What are the consequences and motivations?  If we are lying for our own benefit, perhaps to avoid a consequence, or if we are lying in such a way that it will either cause our brother to stumble in their faith or be hurt, then of course most every Christian would say that lying is bad.  And they would be correct.  That means that most, if not all, situations where a lie is told are inappropriate. 

However, we live in a society where black and white is a cookie, and not the outlook on life.  We often live in the grey areas.  When we sin we can often look for a way to justify our sin before God.  That is quite a dangerous situation.  Often we justify white lies as protecting others feelings, but that doesn’t make lying appropriate, does it? 

Now, if we look at the commandment (from Deuteronomy 5:20):

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (NIV)

And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (ESV)

You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. (NLT)

No lies about your neighbor. (Msg)

We then need to take a look at Proverbs 19:5 and Ephesians 4:25, which state:

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free. (Prov. 19:5)

Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. (Eph 4:25)

Still don’t agree, look up a few more scriptures: (I’m not going to include them here, but you can read them at http://www.esvbible.org or in your own Bible.

Exodus 23:1, Exodus 23:7, Leviticus 6:2-4, Leviticus 19:11, Proverbs 12:22, Proverbs 13:5, Proverbs 24:28, Luke 3:14, Ephesians 4:25, Colossians 3:9, James 3:14, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27.

Clearly, telling a lie is prohibited by scripture.  The question is one that seems to contradict with Rahab’s Joshua 2:4.  You may recall that Joshua sent two spies ahead of the Israeli delegation to the promised land.  They stayed in a house with the prostitute Rahab.  The king of Jericho specifically asked Rahab to bring the spies/men out of her house.  Why?  I do believe it is pretty clear, both to Rahab and to us, that it wasn’t to give the spies a banquet, but was to kill them.  However, Rahab tells a mistruth, a deception:

But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. (Joshua 2:4)

When we take a look at this account, we must speculate on why Rahab lied.  Had she told the truth, would God protected the spies?  We can look at Daniel and the lions den.  Certainly it is possible, with God all things are possible, so it certainly is possible.  However, the fact that Rahab lied makes this a moot point.  What did Rahab gain by lying?  Had she told the truth, would she have been punished for hiding the spies?  Certainly a good chance.  Would she have been spared from the destruction?  Most likely not.  Did Rahab consider this, or did she simply think of the men’s safety when she lied?  We never will know as scripture is silent on that matter.  However, if her motives were explicably pure, that she was only considering the safety of these men, then could we not argue that her deception was an act of doubting God? 

Many would say that she was rewarded for her deception which saved the spies.  Many would quote James 2:25 as praise for Rahab’s lies:

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

It would certainly seem that way.  However, can we interpret scripture outside of scripture in its entirety?  No.  God is clear elsewhere that lying is a sin.

If we look at what Dr. Bert Thompson and Sam Estabrook say in Apologetics Press, we can see an argument that there is no moral contradiction for God.  They point out that other people who are characterized in the Bible as righteous or faithful where commended in spite of their sins. They cite Abraham’s lie to Pharaoh about his wife Sarah being his sister and for King David’s adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of Uriah, her husband.  Both men are listed in Hebrews 11 of faithful people from the Old Testament.

If we look at Hebrews 11:31, we see Rahab’s entry into the “Faith Hall of Fame”:

³¹ By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Why was Rahab considered righteous because of her actions to protect the spies, or was it because of her faith in God. Neither Hebrews nor James mentions, much less gives approval of, her lying.

The fact is, nowhere in scripture is Rahab’s deception condemned, or anywhere in scripture is it approved.  What is the lesson to take from this passage?  Let’s take a look at John MacArthur (of the MacArthur Study Bible fame) and what he writes in Twelve Extraordinary Women…  He argues that Rahab’s righteous act of hiding the spies was tainted by her lying to protect them.  Yet, God’s grace redeemed this sinful woman.  As he states, God’s grace "can redeem even the most horrible life."

So, is it appropriate to lie, ever?  I can not think of one instance where a lie is appropriate.  Scripture seems to indicate that it is never appropriate to lie.  Is there not always a way out of a situation to avoid lying?  Even if it means that we rely on and trust God to work his righteousness in the situation?  I do believe so.  Look at Matthew 19:26: ²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

MacArthur adds that not only was Rahab’s life spared but God gave the former pagan prostitute a special legacy in both Jewish and Christian history. Becoming the wife of Salmon (who, according to Jewish tradition, was one of the spies), Rahab was the mother of Boaz who married Ruth, the great-great-grandmother of King David, and a direct ancestor of Jesus the Christ, whom Christians regard as the Savior of the world.

* Unless noted otherwise, quotations of scripture are from the New International Version (NIV/NIV84), 1984 revision. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® is Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

We had a blast and had an excellent opportunity to get to know each other a little bit better.  Our Pastor came along and let us in a couple of exercises.  For starters, we looked at our Meyers-Briggs personality assessment.  After we figured out what we were, we then shared our scores and looked at how that affected our current ministry.  We then looked at the underrepresented areas and determined where our weaknesses are.  I think this will really help us as we readjust our ministry goals for next year.  We’ll have a few staff changes, including a few new members such as myself, and this will be good for us to move forward unified.

We also spent some time really looking at our spiritual health.  What I liked best was our hour-long prayerful review of Isaiah 51.  We also looked at where we were spiritually and developed a plan for where we want to be in six-months.  That was quite informative.

We also spent a lot of time in prayer and in planning for our next year.  We’ve got a good group of students and I’m looking forward to 2012!

http://www.mystudybible.com/

Also, you can check out my friends blog.

Raised in a $1.5 million Barrington Hills home by their attorney father, two grown children have spent the last two years pursuing a unique lawsuit against their mom for “bad mothering” damages allegedly caused when she failed to buy toys for one and sent another a birthday card he didn’t like.

The alleged offenses include failing to take her daughter to a car show, telling her then-7-year-old son to buckle his seat belt or she would contact police, “haggling” over the amount to spend on party dresses and calling her daughter at midnight to ask that she return home from celebrating homecoming.

Last week, when the court record stood about a foot tall, an Illinois appeals court dismissed the case, finding that none of the mother’s conduct was “extreme or outrageous.” To rule in favor of her children, the court found, “could potentially open the floodgates to subject family child rearing to … excessive judicial scrutiny and interference.”

In 2009, the children, represented by three attorneys including their father, Steven A. Miner, sued their mother, Kimberly Garrity. Steven II, now 23, and his sister Kathryn, now 20, sought more than $50,000 for “emotional distress.”

Miner and Garrity were married for a decade before she filed for divorce in 1995, records show.

Among the exhibits filed in the case is a birthday card Garrity sent her son, who in his lawsuit sought damages because the card was “inappropriate” and failed to include cash or a check. He also alleged she failed to send a card for years or, while he was in college, care packages.

On the front of the American Greetings card is a picture of tomatoes spread across a table that are indistinguishable except for one in the middle with craft-store googly eyes attached.

“Son I got you this Birthday card because it’s just like you … different from all the rest!” the card reads. On the inside Garrity wrote, “Have a great day! Love & Hugs, Mom xoxoxo.”

In court papers, Garrity’s attorney Shelley Smith said the “litany of childish complaints and ingratitude” in the lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt by Garrity’s ex-husband to “seek the ultimate revenge” of having her children accuse her of “being an inadequate mother.”

“It would be laughable that these children of privilege would sue their mother for emotional distress, if the consequences were not so deadly serious” for Garrity, Smith wrote. “There is no insurance for this claim, so (Garrity) must pay her legal fees, while (the children) have their father for free.” . . .

Steven A. Miner [the father and one of his children's attorneys in the case] wrote that the case is no different from a patient suing a physician “for bad doctoring.”

The children “do not view their (lawsuit) as an attack on mothering, but rather on accountability,” he wrote. “Everyone makes mistakes, but … there must be accountability for actions. Parenting is no different.”

via Children sue mom over party dresses, birthday card and toys – chicagotribune.com.20110828_1_mothering-care-packages-birthday-card

You see, the story does start within the Lutheran Church, but it isn’t necessarily why I left.  You see I was a member and an elder in the Lutheran church I was a member of.  About two years ago I had a friend from college invite me to a group of young adults at her new church.  Now, if you are Lutheran – or any mainline denomination for that matter – you might know that some, ok most, churches have a difficulty with reaching this age group.  My old church was no exception.  (Didn’t I read that the average age of LCMS members was somewhere in the range of the upper 50′s to upper 60′s (depending on who you ask) -  So, looking for fellowship of people my age, I decided to go.  I wouldn’t join.  After all, them Presbyterian’s were a bit nuts in denying Christ’s presence in the sacrament and on top of it, being double-predestinatiarians they would never evangelize or have a heart for missions.  Or so I thought.  So I went, and soon we began our fall study with the senior pastor, the second Pastor Jeff Moore I have come to know.  I continued on, learning and building friendships.  I also continued to hear about this Pastor Jeff’s sermons.  During this time, I also heard a lot about how First Presbyterian was dedicated to God’s word and taking a stand against the liberalism in their old denomination.  Through the year, First Pres moved toward leaving the PCUSA, something that could easily have meant losing their property or incurring a great debt to retain it.  The biblical way they approached this impressed me.  Plus I’d never join the PCUSA or ELCA or UCC or Episcopal church (if you see the common thread, you know why!)

About a year ago, I was invited to join a guys bible study and accountability group.  Lord knows I could use that – though I think most of us could!  So I started going and continued to hear more good things about the church.  Well, I finally decided to visit and went to the Christmas service – which had a clear presentation of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ – and enough law for us to know how much we needed him.  About a month later, I went to a wedding at First Presbyterian and had the person I was sitting next to invite me on Sunday.  Wierd – certainly that would never happen at a Lutheran church thought I.  So I ended up going and really began to dig into my theology and determine what it was I believed and what it was that them Presbyterian’s believed.  Perhaps it was the comment by my friends that the EPC was like the LCMS of Presbyterianism!

So, I began to look in to the EPC and their doctrines and beliefs.  (They have a wonderful website)  One of their key tenets is evangelism and missions.  So I took a look at their site and found a resource most excellent, most informative – the EPC Leadership Training Guide.  Amazing, I thought…double predestination has no effect on evangelism…no effect on how you live witness in your life.  As I read this “book”, I learned more about the EPC and Presbyterian views.  I knew that I would do well to visit the church and explore more.  So I visited and then joined the new members class.  Mind you, I kept none of my attendance at First Presbyterian’s youth group secret – posting it both publically on Facebook.  However, I didn’t want to commit to leaving the LCMS until I was sure this was the place for me.

The thing that was the stumbling block was communion.  You see, Lutherans believe in Sacramental Union and taught that all other Christians apart from Rome taught that communion was symbolic and Christ was not present.  Yet, the EPC mentioned that they believe, in line with John Calvin, that Christ is present in the sacrament – only not specifiying specifically how other than his spiritual presence.  Well, that intrigued me.  So I inquired of Pastor Jeff about learning more…the book was not in depth.  So he loaned me a book and I devoured it. 

As this was going on, things in my LCMS church showed me that it was time to leave.  In all honesty, I hadn’t been comfortable in the church or felt that I was being fed for several years.  I evaluated  what I believed and what I liked about my old church.  Number one, was the loving and supportive family of believers.  What didn’t I like?  Well, the Congregational polity of the LCMS had caused some divergency in the unity of Lutherans.  For a lot of Lutherans, it seemed to be their relationship had been reduced to name calling, something that I didn’t particularly like.  I also thought about the other churches in my area…I could be comfortable at another one.  Then I thought, why not First Presbyterian?

As the members class continued, I noticed their commitment to missions – they budget a full 12% to missions and apparently have done so since the early 1990′s at least.  The Pastors both preached Christ crucified as the center of Scripture, the center of our lives.  Clearly we were sinners and could do no good apart from Christ.  (Ok, good).  Both Pastors had to be examined on their ordination standards to join the EPC and both had to know Greek and Hebrew.  (And I know they did, because they quoted it in their sermons).  The church held communion in reverence (though it is not celebrated weekly like my Lutheran church – maybe that is the only negative!??  Not really), maintained confession and absolution, and uses a Trinitrian benediction.  Honestly, Calvin wasn’t that far from Luther.  And we all know that Luther was quite stubborn…

So, the decision was getting easier – however, the fact that it seemed that the church was not only focused on Christ, it was focused on everyone growing faith in Christ – both those in our pews and outside our doors, that impressed me most.  It seemed that the elders of the church, the members, and the congregation itself put Christ front and center.  We are a family, growing together, willing to accept those who need Christ in their lives – no matter where they are in their journey – loving them to know Christ better.  

So, if a church can love Christ and do their best to live Christ, something that many of my LCMS friends and Pastors do, and I can honestly say that I have no problems with their doctrines…why not join…  and I did.

The thing is that even though I am Presbyterian, do I believe everything that I am taught, did I as a Lutheran, will I as a Presbyterian?  The fact remains that there is no 100% true understanding of God here on earth – since we are all humans.  I will never know everything about Christ here on earth.  However, as long as I keep moving forward, moving toward a better understanding of Christ, encouraged to be in His word daily, then I know for a fact that I am being fed and this is a place for me.  But I know one thing beyond doubt, God led me to First Presbyterian and through this church he will enable me to care, share, know, and grow in His love…and (with His help) I will be a beacon of His love to whoever I come in contact with.

To God alone be the glory!