Monthly Archives: July 2013

Man to Man…When we are wrong…

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PHOTOGRAPH BY RYAN PRINCE

I have been watching and listening to people this week, reacting, and speaking out about a racially charged case, where a young black man was shot and killed. It should sadden us when we see this kind of thing happen. A man who Jesus shed His blood and gave His life for has taken the life of another, whom Jesus shed His blood and gave His life for. I am sad because the reaction to this is all about one agenda or another, and not about the tragedy of taking a life.

Even we as God’s people can get caught up in the emotion of the moment and find ourselves guilty of overreacting and hurting others by our comments. I am as guilty as the next when it comes to venomous outbursts in reaction to injustice. God has given us all a sense of what is just, and when something offends that we react, usually in anger. That is not always a bad thing, we should actively work to correct injustice, but tempered with God’s love, in order to build that persson up, not tear them down.

Interestingly enough, the very same verse of scripture that says “Seek justice”, also says “Love mercy”, and “Walk humbly with God”.

The real tragedy of an event like this is not only the pain, sorrow, and loss of life, but if we are not careful, the ripple effect of how we react to this as God’s people.

So what do we do when we find we are wrong? How do men of God respond to that?

I have found it difficult to admit I am wrong at times, even when I knew it as soon as it came out of my mouth or when the act was completed. We find ourselves reaching and stretching to justify our actions or positions on a subject, even when we no longer believe what we are saying. I guess that is a pride thing and should probably red flag and move us to repentance and correct us.

In watching all of the reactions this week, I was encouraged by a couple of men I consider good Godly friends and mentors.

One of these men had gotten caught up, I think, in the injustice of the case mentioned above. This friend loves people of all races. He ministers to those in prison without thought of color or age or any other of the things we like to use to separate us. He loves God and is a man of integrity, and I love him like a brother. I read some of the things he posted online in reaction to this case, and by his remarks, I could feel his sense of justice had been offended. I said a little prayer for him, that God would give him peace. Later, I read something he posted, that has come to bless and teach me how to be a better man.

He wrote, “… one of our pastors graciously reminded me….I realized my error and apologized to…”

This is such a great picture of how we should interact as men of God. We may be 100% correct in our belief about something and 100% wrong in how we react to it. It takes real love and courage to go to someone you care about and say to them… “could we talk?” “I have something to share with you”, we risk our friendship. What if we are wrong in our assessment? Will I do damage or hurt my friend by saying something to him? Many things come to mind when we are considering what the Bible calls rebuke or correction.

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

I love the way Paul combines those words Correct, Rebuke, and Encourage. the king James says ” with all longsuffering”

We agonize over saying something to a brother in Christ, but if we are moved by God to speak, we should, in all love and humility, speak the truth to encourage our brother. The reaction is not up to us. That is between our brother and the Lord. But if we have prayed over the words God would have us say in love to correct our brother, we have done our part, now it is God’s turn.

So for one of our pastors to come along side my brother and “graciously remind” is an example that should mentor us as men to love each other enough to take the risk and “correct, rebuke and encourage” our brother in Christ.

This leads us to the reaction. This part does not always go well. None of us likes to be corrected, not even by God. It is the age-old battle we fight with pride. So to see my friend and brother in Christ openly and publicly admit to overstepping and being wrong in how he reacted, not only shows integrity and builds his credibility, it is teaching and mentoring all of the men (and everyone) in his circles of influence on how to properly respond to loving correction. By doing this, we have a part in building Christ like character in others.

I could not be more grateful for his example, and I am so proud to call both of these men my brothers in Christ.

In Psalm 51 we read about David’s reaction to Nathaniel’s rebuke and correction of David’s behavior with Bathsheba and Uriah. What a great Bible example for us to examine and incorporate into our lives as men of God. Will you take some time this week and read through Psalm 51 and ask God to teach you how to be gracious and responsive to loving rebuke, after all, what we really want is to become the men God is calling us to be, right?

God bless you in your quest…

Be a man after God’s own heart…

Be a man like David…

Man to Man…Living a life wothy of your calling

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I do prison ministry a couple of times a week at one of the local prisons, working with the men in the pre-release program.

We have been studying Ephesians ch. 4 over the last Month.  God has so much for us to learn here. Not the least of which is found in the very first verse. Paul issues a challenge as he begs his new converts in Ephesus to live a life that is worthy of their calling.

For me this is one of those verses that bears repeating every day. So when I rise up in the morning, one of the things I do now, is ask myself this question…Am I living a life worthy of my calling? What is the evidence? and how can I do a better job today? As I pray  after spending time in God’s Word, I ask God to help me live my life worth of my calling, that I may continue to become the man He is calling me to be.

I believe spiritual transformation, at least our part of the transformation process, is gradual and will not be completed until we leave this corrupt body of flesh and walk the streets of heaven. So we are all in different places along the process. That is one of the reasons it is so important that we mentor one another  as men.

The process begins at conversion, new converts are described by Paul as babes in Christ. We need to be nurtured and assisted through the infant stages of our transformation process. God’s part of the process is given at the point of our faith in Christ as savior, or as Jesus describes it to Nicodemus, at the point of the new birth. We are spiritually quickened or made alive in Christ, forgiven , justified, sanctified, a personal relationship with God, all of the promises to believers are passed to us immediately,and more.

Now the transformation process begins,  by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom.12:2)

In this process God will use His Word , people and circumstance to transform us.  As men of God we need other men to assist us in this transformation, men who have experiences outside of our own, to help us navigate the traps and snares the enemy lay’s before us;  Keeping us from reaching the fullness of God’s plan for our lives. Sometimes He will bring people into our lives that seem to be very abrasive, they just clash with who we are and can be difficult to get along with. I believe these people are given by the Grace of God to build character in us that conforms us to the image of Christ, much the same way our trials and sorrows do.

Life can be so much clearer when we have positioned other Godly men in our lives to help us see and understand what God is doing with us.

We were all created for relationship. It is in our DNA. We seek it and need it whether or not we realize or recognize it. It is God-given. When we isolate ourselves and try to do it all on our own, or even just us and God, there is something missing.

Ephesians 4: 3 says…Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  vs. 16.  He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and  growing and full of love.

In Psalm one, Solomon, David’s son proclaims the Joys and Blessings to those who seek out Godly council. Even the great Kings of  Israel, David and Solomon, surrounded themselves with Godly men like Samuel and Nathan to speak truth into their lives and assist them in their quest to live their lives worthy of their calling, because just as they were, WE are called by God.

Be a man after God’s own heart…

Be a Man like David…