"Rumspringa"

Scripture: As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. (Ephesians 2:1-2)

It doesn't matter what kind of life you walked out of when you first accepted Christ. Whatever the case, it's nothing less than amazing to look back and know, without a shadow of a doubt, that He has given you eternal life!! And you can be nothing but filled with awe and wonder when you look back and see where and how He has guided you since that time.

I watched a program recently about the practice of "Rumspringa" in the Amish religion. This word is derived from the Pennsylvania German language, meaning "running around." Rumspringa is a period of time given to adolescents at the age of sixteen and ends when the individual chooses to be baptized within the Amish church or leaves the community entirely.

It's a weighty decision for ones so young. Many of these sixteen year olds head out into the world, shuck off the traditional clothing of the Amish and for the first time, wear jeans and t-shirts, eat fast food, listen to CDs and radio. They '"try" on all the luxuries of today; buy cell phones, obtain driver's licenses and work for wages. On the extreme side, some will go to parties and experiment with drugs, alcohol, promiscuity.

Statistically, most return to the church, are baptized, marry, have children. A smaller percentage leave and never return, choosing to remain instead out in general society.

As I watched this program, it occurred to me that though we are not Amish, we each, who have come to accept Jesus Christ, have experienced our own "Rumspringa" of sorts. Some of us must see life out in the world; experience separation from Christ ourselves. But choosing Christ in our lives makes the Light that much brighter.

Unlike cults that hold their parishes hostage by threatening their lives if they leave, it's important for every individual to choose Christ themselves in their own time. Jesus always wanted us to have free will to choose to follow Him. God is a gentleman. He never forces those He loves to follow Him.

By choosing Christ for ourselves, as most Amish children do, it generally keeps individuals from growing resentful towards Christ and their own community. This is especially important when the communities the Amish live in are very small, and very tight, where everyone knows everyone; and everyone pretty much knows everyone else's business. But on the flip side, they have survived in America for close to 300 years due to the fact that they DO live in such tight communities, taking care of each other and each other's needs. There are no homeless Amish. No Amish individual goes hungry, unemployed, or on welfare.

Every faith group has their own distinct belief system and order of living. But so long as we can all agree on the basics: That Jesus Christ, Son of God, born of a virgin birth, came down from heaven in human form, lived among us, was crucified, died and was buried, rose on the third day and now sits at the right hand of the Father - we can all learn so much more from each other.

Prayer request: For those in our close circle of friends and family who are not yet saved. That we can be the light to them, and that the Lord can use us to woo them into the arms of Jesus, Who is ready to accept them into His loving arms - if only they would accept His love and grace.

Prayer: Lord, we come humbly to You and thank You for the path You put us on that led each of us to Your unending love, peace and grace. What mercy you have showered upon us, and we are grateful. And now we come and ask You to help each one of us to shine YOUR light out into the world, and help us to show others the way out of the darkness of their lives. Move in the lives of our loved ones, and let us be Your conduits to bring them into Your lovingkindness. Amen

Can we take back America?

Scripture: When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" (John 2:13-16)

In the New Testament, Jesus becomes angry maybe three times that is recorded. The most well known moment is when he drove the money changers out of the temple. Upon doing research for this blog, I will let you come to your own conclusion as to what, exactly, Jesus was angry about, for I discovered a few interesting interpretations that I didn't have time to really mull over as I was writing this blog.

My point is that Jesus did well up in anger and He was not in sin. The second recorded moment that Jesus became angry is in Mark 3:5, where the Pharisees were closely watching Him to see if He would heal a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath. He poses a question to the Pharisees, and they remain silent. In verse five, Jesus "...looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.'"

I am going to pose a question to my Christian brethren that I don't have an answer for, but it is something we all need to carefully consider, search our hearts, read the Word and pray about.

The American church has been witnessing the world removing God out of the very fabric of our great country. God is being extricated out of our history books, denying the very foundation that our country was built on. The name of God has been taken out of schools, court houses and the Pledge of Allegiance. Memorial crosses are being torn down from public land, nativities are no longer allowed in front of city halls. "Christmas" trees have been referred to as "Holiday" trees so as not to "offend" anyone. It's illegal to mention Jesus Christ in the work place.

In place of this void, our country is fighting for homosexuals to have the right to marriage. Abortion is still legal. So much so, even teenagers no longer need a parent to consent to this life-changing action. Children in the third grade can be given condoms without parental consent, but can be expelled for carrying a bottle of Midol to school. Schools will teach about Buddha, Islam, and teach children about eastern meditation, but mentioning the name Jesus Christ is strictly forbidden.

My question to you is: Why does the church seem paralyzed to defend itself?

I don't have the answer. It's a question we all have to wrestle with, and hopefully come up with an answer, in unity, and soon.

Does remaining a peaceful religion mean we do nothing so as not to offend anyone? Are we in a boat that we are trying not to rock so as not to "stir up" anything? Have so many Christians taken on the "turn the other cheek" scripture to new levels, to the point of inaction?

Jesus flipped tables over in the temple with a whip in one hand. He probably yelled "Get out of here ...!" He had a righteous anger, and he took action. He didn't politely sit back and ask them to please leave the premises. Jesus even had the power to bring fire down from above. But He didn't. "How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" He exclaimed.

Jesus had come to earth to show us the way; what He did, we do. Make disciples out of one another, spread the gospel, heal the sick, feed the poor, love one another. Why not take appropriate action in righteous anger?

Our faith is in need of defense right now in our country, and the only people that are shown in the media, unfortunately, are so off base, and they are breaking my heart. A church in Florida wants to burn a Koran. Another church demonstrates at military funerals; they are against war and rail against the families of fallen soldiers. And yet another (or maybe it's the same misguided church) demonstrates against homosexuals, posting lies about our God on picket signs, about God hating them.

How sad, wrong and hateful! What a horrible example of the real Jesus!

God doesn't hate sinners, otherwise there wouldn't be a Christian church in existence. We are ALL sinners, even when we become believers. God hates sin, injustice, the evil in the world. And His heart breaks for those who have not yet come to know Him. I want to stand up against those churches that spread such lies about God!! I want to point out how Jesus ate with the sinners, showed them love and compassion, and when they ignored His word or turned away, He NEVER railed against them with insults or told them He hated them!! God never gives up on His creation. He waits for each one to come to Him. His heart breaks for each one that does not.

So what do we, as a church, do? There is a lot of hand-wringing, nail biting and genuine concern for the direction this country is going. How do we get heard without condemning individuals for living lives of sin? Is there a way to protest that doesn't bring shame to Jesus Christ?

Perhaps we don't flip tables, protest, hold signs up with sayings. Maybe we need to take our faith to serious new levels inwardly before we can go outwardly in defense. Check our own hearts, motivations, beliefs. It is my humble opinion that the only way to bring about change in our country is to first ground ourselves in our faith, then connect with others who are like-minded, share the same faith, come together in prayer and fasting as a country. To gather together publicly, in masses and peacefully, and let THAT become our demonstration.

I see beginnings of this happening. There is a movement kindling where people are coming together as one faith under one God, just to worship and praise Him en masse. I hope to see more and more of this. I hope to discipline myself even more to hit my knees, not only in prayer, but in worship and adoration.

I think we could all learn from 2 Chronicles 20, when Jehoshaphat was surrounded by his enemies: "Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him." (vs. 3-4)

Can you imagine what would happen to our country when and if we unite as one in prayer and fasting, seeking the LORD? I love the power of verses 5-9, and believe God would move in strength and power if all our hearts could cry out in this way: "Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'"

Verse 13 says, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

How powerful. And how appropriate for today. I pray we can all come together under God and take our country back. With God - all things are possible.

Prayer request: For America to begin seeking the Lord in earnest.

Prayer: Lord, we come to you with contrite hearts and ask You to guide our steps, help our faith to grow, help us to really hear Your voice - and when we do, to take action. Heal our country, help each of us to bring more discipline into our lives to give You honor and reverence due to You. Heal our country, Lord. Amen