Cuba and the Word of God

When you attend the Church at Brook Hills, there is this question you get asked from the pulpit on a pretty regular basis.  The question is, to paraphrase, "Do we believe this Word?" 
Acts 2:41:  41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The implication, obviously, is if one TRULY believes the Word of God, then one's behavior, thoughts, feelings, and desires are irrevocably changed.
Acts 2:47:  47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Of course, seeing as how we are in church when we are asked that question, the obvious answer seems to be that, yes, we DO believe that the Word of God has the power and authority to order our lives in a way that is pleasing to God.
Acts 4:4:  4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
Seeing as how we are in church when we are asked that, it seems obvious that we DO believe that the God of the Bible is the Living God that we still worship.  It seems that we would read stories of universes being created, seas being parted, the dead being raised, and sinners being saved and live our lives in complete obedience and faith in that God.
Acts 5:14:  14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
Having just returned from six days in Cuba, I would like to encourage all of us to examine our hearts to see if that kind of obedience and faith is present in us.  Now, this is NOT going to be one of those post-mission trip blog posts where I condemn myself and everyone else I know for our wealth and excess.  I'm not going to suggest that everyone quit their jobs, sell their houses, and move overseas.
Acts 6:7:   And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
All I am asking you to do is ask yourself one question:  Do I believe His Word?
Acts 9:31:  31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
When you get back from a mission trip, it seems that everyone wants to hear all about it.  Some people want to hear about what you ate, where you stayed, what your bathroom was like (at a resort, from a buffet, normal)-yanno, what was it like being "OVER THERE?"
Acts 9:35:  35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Some people want to know what you did, who you saw, how precious were the people, and maybe did you get to hold any babies (rode in a van, preached, door to door evangelism; the same 50 people, very, and babies scare me)?
Acts 9:42:  42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Still others want to know what the MINISTRY is like wherever you went.  What is church X doing over there that we can/should/must recreate over here for the sake of our very survival.  Questions will be asked about who got saved and just how you got them to that point (about 150 people, by the proclamation of His Word, and by calling them to repentance).
Acts 11:21-24:  1 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord...full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
None of these questions are wrong or stupid, but (at least with regards to me and my trip to Cuba) they all miss the mark by varying degrees.  
Acts 13:48:  48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 
The reason they miss the mark is because these questions tend to focus on what THE PEOPLE are doing.  The people might be the mission team, the field partners, or the local church, but, whoever it is, somebody is surely doing something.  My friends, I'm here to tell you that that is NOT what is going on in Cuba.
Acts 14:21-22:  21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
GOD Almighty is doing things in Cuba.  Certainly, He is using his church in a mighty way over there, but I think I can speak confidently on behalf of the local church in Cuba that is GOD who is doing everything.  God is convicting hundreds of people everyday of their sin and building his church.  In a way that I have never seen before with my own eyes, I saw God moving and doing things that were beyond human ability, and I saw a people who expected nothing less from their God.
Acts 16:5:  5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
That's the "secret" of the Cuban church.  They read the same bibles that we read and they....they...they...go and do what they read.  It's really quite remarkable.
Acts 17:3-4:  3 explaining and proving that it was necessary forthe Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
When they read that God wants them to share their faith, they go and share their faith.  When they read that God wants his church to spread, they go and plant new ones.  When they read that God delights in answering the prayers of His people, they pray.  When they read that Jesus promises comfort in the midst of sorrow and persecution, they don't run from the slings and arrows headed their way.  If you asked them what their secret was, I almost think that they would be confused as to what you were talking about.  After all, we have Bibles too, don't we?
Acts 17:34:  34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
If you do get a chance to Cuba, there's one verse you'll hear more than any other:  John 15:1-2. It says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."  The Cuban people believe that verse just like they believe all the verses that promise blessing and comfort.  There is a Holy fear of the Lord in Cuba that I have not witnessed before.  In fact, they believe that if a professing Christian is NOT sharing their faith, and if a professing Christian church is NOT multiplying, there is something seriously wrong with them.  Crazy, huh?
Acts 18:8:  8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 
Cuba was a beautiful experience.  I got to preach and see people get saved.  I got to go into people's houses and see them get saved there.  God is moving in mighty ways in Cuba, and it was a joy to be a part of it.  Cuba, however, is in the past now.  For the next year, Birmingham is my present.  I have to ask myself the same question every morning from now on.  The answer will change everything.  So, my friends, I ask us all-do we believe His Word?

Sarcasm and singleness

There are some topics that I have written about in my limited blogging career that I have felt like a complete fraud writing about.  Self control, purity, kindness, etc., etc.  These were not areas that I had a lot of personal experience with, but I felt that I should talk about them anyway.  What I want to write about tonight is an area that, sadly, I feel like an all time champ in.  Sarcasm.  Sarcasm is, as the Greeks put it, absolutely terrible.  Fine, you say, but why call this post "Sarcasm and SINGLENESS?"  I have called it this because I believe sarcasm has much to do with singleness, and I hope that you will let me show you why.  

What is sarcasm?
First, a working definition is in order.  The word sarcasm is defined as, "a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain."  Well, you say, that's not what I think of when I think of sarcasm.  Fine.  Let's try another definition.  How about, "a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter,caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual."  That one doesn't seem too much better.  How about this one from the Andy Wood dictionary of the Southern English language:  Sarcasm is something you say out loud with the goal of making your audience laugh at someone or feel superior to that person.  I hope that you see how I've trapped you self-depreciators out there in that definition.  Yes.  I'm gunning for you as well.  Please also note that I am going to talk about some effects of sarcasm, but I am leaving the causes of sarcasm completely alone.  That's for another blog post for another day.

Does the Bible speak to sarcasm?
I believe that it does.  Here's the problem:  some of you (most of you) are going to agree with me that sarcasm can be bad.  My fear is that you will say, "Yeah, but my sarcasm is different. It's not hurtful."  Or, even worse, you will say, "Jesus and Paul were sarcastic!"  To that first response I will say that, yes, by definition, your sarcasm is hurtful.  Look up there again at those definitions.  Do you see the words, "sharp...designed to cut or give pain...directed against an individual."  The fact of the matter is that your sarcasm has hurt people far more often than not.  To the people who would offer up the second excuse, I would say that you are not the Son of God or the  apostle to the Gentiles tasked by the Holy Spirit to write half of the New Testament.  Jesus may have used sarcasm to open up the eyes of a Pharisee to their hard hearts, and Paul may have used sarcasm to make a point to a just converted pagan, but you (if you're anything like me) are usually using your sarcasm to get a laugh at the dinner table.  Jesus was described as a suffering servant who wouldn't snuff out a smoldering wick or break off a bent reed. Are we that gentle in our speech?  In Galatians chapter 5, Paul writes that the Galatians have been, "called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."  We are free, but we are free to serve one another.  We are free to love one another like we would like to be loved.  Do you like being the target of sarcasm?  Do you like the sound of people laughing at your expense?  Then why do you do it others?  He goes on to say the Galatians are to avoid sins like, "enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,divisions..."  If you're anything like me, this is how you read that entire list of sins, "sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmitystrifejealousyfitsofangerrivalriesdissensionsdivisions, 21 envy,[d] drunkenness, orgies."  If you haven't shacked up with anyone or cast a spell lately, you think you're good.  Unfortunately, we are answerable for all of those sins.  I want to show you the command against sarcasm from another direction, however.  Later in the same chapter, Paul writes that the Galatians are to be filled with the fruits of the Spirit which are (everybody sing the song!) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  Look at that list of things we are to be.  Where does sarcasm fit in any of those categories?  

What is the effect of sarcasm?
Let's look at it from several angles.

• What does it take away from us?
• Sarcasm takes away our harmony.  Wolf packs have alpha dogs and then the wolf that every other wolf picks on.  That's what sarcasm does to us.  We identify the weak one and that's the one we pick on.  Sure, it might change from week to week, but we still put others down so that we can elevate ourselves.  Brothers and sisters, this is NOT what we are called to be.
• Sarcasm takes away our ability to trust.  This one is particularly painful for me to talk about, because I have seen it in my own life first hand.  When we are sarcastic and exist in a world filled with sarcasm, we can't accept compliments from one another.  If I say something nice to you, are you going to take it at face value or are you waiting for the punch line?  After all, 15 minutes ago, I made fun of you, now are you supposed to believe that I really do think you're great?  And, if I just was sarcastic to you, was your compliment towards me sincere or a rebuttal?  
• Sarcasm takes away our desire for deeper purpose.  Does sarcasm lead you to want to pray with one another?  Serve with one another?  Spread the gospel with one another?  Of course not.  Sarcasm kills those better instincts.
• What does it add to us?
• In a word, nothing.  It adds nothing good.  No one ever went home from a prayer meeting and said, "Yanno...the Spirit wasn't really moving, but then Bill insulted Mary and the tongues of fire descended!"  
• In a negative sense, sarcasm adds tension and dissension.  Tension comes from the constant flow of hurt feelings from one person to the other.  In any group, someone's feelings are always getting hurt.  Dissension comes when that person with the hurt feelings voices their pain and their frustration in ways that are unhealthy.
• A word to single men-
• Ah, at last.  The singleness part.  Single men, don't be sarcastic.  You know who is sarcastic?  Little boys and grown men who act little boys.  Be men.  Be kind.  Be encouraging.  Be gentle.  For Pete's sake, be smart.  Do you think that a Godly woman wants to spend her life with a man who is going to mock her daily?  And if you hoodwink one into marrying you, how is she going to feel about you 15 years down the road?  I mean, if you want to be single forever, fire away.  If not...let's lose the sarcasm.  
• A word to single women-
• I'm going to tread lightly here, but, ladies-ponder the words of Proverbs 21:9 with me.  It says, "It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife."  If that didn't make it clear enough, Proverbs 25:24 says, "It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife."  I mean, ya'll, for real:  it says it twice.  Now let's look at the "ideal wife" of Proverbs 31:  "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."  Do with that what you will.  
• A word to single communities-  
• If you're wondering if you're in a single community, take this test.  Think about what you did this weekend.  Ok, now, think about last weekend.  Who was there?  Pretty much the same bunch of people? Any of them married?  Ok.  You're in a single community.
• If you find yourself in a single community, know two things.  1.  The world hates you.  Yes, the world hates you.  The world wants to see you tear each other apart and then bad mouth one another to unbelievers.  The world hates the unity of the body, and sarcasm is one of it's chief weapons.  2.  You exist to send one another out to greater works.  Those works may be marriage.  They may be a lifetime of foreign missions.  They may be any number of things.  Whatever they are, love one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, and be kind to one another.  Sarcasm doesn't fit.
• What are we to do about it?  
• Focus on the Cross of Jesus Christ.  If I look at the Cross, how can I think of myself more highly than I ought?  If I look at the Cross, how can I mock someone that my Savior thought enough to die for?
• Do things that matter.  Men, take the lead.  When you're gathered together, don't talk about sports or some Youtube video, ask people what the Lord has been teaching them.  Ask them how you can pray for them.  Instead of ANOTHER trip to the lake, get people signed up to build a house one Saturday morning.  It's hard to be sarcastic when you're doing things like that.
• Maybe don't talk so much.  Proverbs 10:19 says, "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent."  If you can't say something nice....