politics

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Tilling Hatred from Our Hearts

May 3, 2023May 3, 2023 krisshetter

I recently saw a video by Dennis Prager, a prominent Jewish conservative and president of PragerU. In it he spoke with confidence how anyone who says they “love the Nazis” doesn’t know love at all. He inquired, “How can a person who says they love evil people also say they love Mother Teresa or Dietrich Bonhoeffer?” When I showed this to my Bible study groups they all agreed with that statement. So, I then asked, who else in our lives has sinned and doesn’t deserve God’s love? What level of sin does it take to be wholly rejected, never to even have the hope of forgiveness by God?

A few ladies relented and said, “Well if they asked for forgiveness on their deathbed then ok.” Which brought the next question, “So God didn’t love you until you asked for forgiveness?” And if God hated them why would He even give them a second chance, if not out of love? Wouldn’t the entire message of Jesus be pointless if we really believed this? God sent His Son to die for us, while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Not after we begged Him not to smote us. He loved us first. He’s commanding us to love first. This doesn’t mean the unrepentant won’t be judged. Far from it. But the beauty of God’s love is that He provides that path toward redemption and the knowledge that final retribution is His purview.

Which leads me to a second way this week to love as Jesus did. You’ll notice throughout the Gospels that Jesus sees individuals. The woman at the well was just another hated Samaritan to the Jews. But to Jesus, she was a woman in distress. A woman who had given in to a sinful lifestyle. The bleeding woman who touched the edge of his garment was just another sickly, sinful, woman who the average person disdained and ignored. She was “one of those people.” He stopped his large entourage and saw her. Saw her pain and sin and need.

Jesus shows us it’s a mistake to pass judgement on a whole people. Our propensity to group people into categories of who we like and don’t like is why there’s so much political ugliness today. While I of course don’t “love” the atrocities that were committed by the Nazis, how easy is it for us to group all German men and women who were individuals with families, jobs, dreams, fears, etc? Did too many of them hate another group of people they also saw as faceless? Yes. And the cycle went and continues to go around and around. The Arabs hate the Jews, Liberals hate Conservatives, Serbs hate Croatians, Americans hate the Russians, Protestants and Catholics hate each other, Hindus and Muslims hate each other, etc. But each of those groups are made up of people; people created in His image, all descendants of one man and one woman.

Looking back over the COVID years we can see how many “ordinary” people get caught up in doing what those in power demand for fear of retribution. Or going along because it seemed the right thing at the time. And now in the Western world we have the vaccinated versus the unvaccinated and the masked versus the unmasked. We fall so easily in to Satan’s trap of erasing each other’s individuality. He doesn’t want us to look at people as individuals because when we do, we can see ourselves. We can see their failings just like our own. We see their fears and their hopes.

Does that mean we should only hate the people in power? Jesus loved the Pharisees too. Of all the people He spoke to throughout the Gospels it’s the Pharisees on whom He seemed to spend the most effort. Why would He do that? He saw each of them as men with failings. He didn’t turn Nicodemus away when he approached seeking answers. He didn’t toss him out on his ear. No, Jesus loved him as an individual man seeking the truth. When He came, He came to save all of them too.

Mr. Prager, not having faith in Jesus, still lives in the eye for an eye world. A world where there must be constant sacrifice to try and lighten the stain of sin. He doesn’t accept how God loves us so much He sent the ultimate sacrifice to cleanse us. He hasn’t the benefit of knowing Jesus will be the ultimate judge. And that Jesus will be the one to send the unrighteous to hell. No, unfortunately the person, no matter the faith, race or nationality that doesn’t know Jesus needs and wants earthly retribution. And that equates hatred, not love.

During the time of the Holocaust, Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the man mentioned by Mr. Prager, fled to America. While in the United States he realized God was calling him back to Germany to help his fellow man. He aided thousands of Jews and others in escaping death. He spoke out against the atrocities being committed. He was eventually arrested and in the waning days of the war was executed. If there was anyone who could speak of hating the Nazis it was him.

“Christian love draws no distinction between one enemy and another, except that the more bitter our enemy’s hatred, the greater his need of love. Be his enmity political or religious, he has nothing to expect from a follower of Jesus but unqualified love. In such love there is not inner discord between the private person and official capacity. In both we are disciples of Christ, or we are not Christians at all.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

My friends, if we want to live a life free of hatred, free of the turmoil it causes, Jesus has shown us what to till in our hearts – love. Loving people enough to truly help them find real, eternal freedom. To see God’s creation the way He does – as individuals loved by Him. He didn’t say it was easy. Oh no, it’s probably one of the most difficult requests put forth for us worldly creatures. That’s why He didn’t leave us to figure it out ourselves. Holding on to hatred and extreme anger is not the garden God wants as our home.

“The list of ways chronic anger can affect a person’s well-being – and even put the health of others in peril – is long, John Schinnerer, an anger management coach says. “It’s been linked to obesity, low self-esteem, migraines, drug and alcohol addiction, depression, sexual performance problems, increased heart attack risk, lower-quality relationships, higher probability of abusing others emotionally or physically or both … higher blood pressure and stroke,” he notes.

For our physical and spiritual health we need to release that anger and not leave that space empty for the devil to fill it up again with weeds. Instead, Jesus, our good doctor, gave us the healing power of love. When you find yourselves acting, speaking, thinking out of hatred or anger toward a group of people we must first choose to obey Jesus and seek another action, another perspective. Call on the Holy Spirit. Remind yourself that the fruit of that Spirit starts with Love. For when you do, that little sprout of love will blossom into an unimaginable garden of beauty and shock those around you. It will do what is promised by Jesus in the rest of John 13: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Coming up: The gardening tasks of Love

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Taking Offense

January 12, 2023January 1, 2023 krisshetter

Fools show their annoyance at once,
    but the prudent overlook an insult. Proverbs 12:16

This is the second rendition of today’s post. When I started this blog over two years ago, I asked the Holy Spirit to speak through me. If writing a particular post felt like I was pulling teeth I knew it wasn’t coming from the right source. As a result, the post I wrote earlier went into the “delete” pile. Each sentence I wrote was interrupted either by texts, my husband, timers going off, etc. I now realize every time my mind wandered to one of those interruptions it was a tap on my shoulder to re-focus and re-write.

You see what was happening in the background of my original text was this very proverb. I was getting annoyed and offended by problems surrounding an event I am hosting. It only took me about a half a day to finally figure it out. The Holy Spirit giving me a real life example of practicing what I preach!

Being offended has risen to an artform these days. We are offended by other drivers, cashiers, politicians, neighbors, strangers, businesses, faceless people in our social media threads, our friends, our family, our spouses and on and on. If “they” don’t conform to our wants and needs, it might ruin our day. If “they” don’t act how we think they should we are hurt and insulted. No grace and definitely no mercy.

We take for granted that God won’t do the same to us. Thank goodness because we all probably offend Him multiple times a day. While He may allow our sinful actions to suffer the corresponding consequences, He isn’t sending down bolts of lightning to smote us each time we mess up. He hasn’t washed His hands of us because He’s had it for the last time.

Friends, it’s time to step back and control our emotions. We have in Jesus the perfect example for us today. He was whipped, beaten, stabbed, spit on, forsaken by friends, and hung on a cross yet He still loved. He still asked God to grant mercy. Today, can’t we do the same with the brothers and sisters around us who are probably doing their best to make it through this day just like you? I, for one, got this message loud and clear today.

Gracious God, thank you for your mercy. Help me to deliver that same mercy and grace to those around me who might insult me or cause offense. I thank you for teaching me how to seek peace throughout my days. Amen

Taking The Easy Way

January 9, 2023December 31, 2022 krisshetter

 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
¹⁷    “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!”
¹⁸But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead. Proverbs 9:16-19

There’s a great debate raging in the United States today about achieving equity through stealing. Where I live, a law was changed so that if you steal less than $950 and are caught you might receive a small fine. As a result of this change, reported (much goes unreported) larceny as has gone up 3% in just one year. Property crime has increased in 24 counties throughout the state. Stores are closing in areas where shoplifting has skyrocketed. As one woman put it in an interview, “If I need diapers or formula who is going to get it for me? They aren’t out there arresting people for shoplifting and everyone knows it.”

Now this post isn’t a spotlight on political missteps or any particular point of view. But there are consequences when we choose to live and make decisions outside God’s plan for us. And one of the oft repeated admonitions in Proverbs is about laziness or taking the easy way out. Some argue that being against allowing people to steal for what they call “basic needs” is racist or discriminatory. But what really is at work in this particular issue is people who are not in need, such as politicians and activists, taking the easy path. “Well, if we just let people steal without punishment that solves the problem, right?”

There are free needle exchange programs, safe drug taking areas, laws removed to allow for sleeping on the streets, money thrown at problems, etc. None of these choices make us step back and take the harder, more intricate path. Some would say they exacerbate the very issues we are trying to resolve. As Christians we should be convicted to be more thoughtful and loving and wise. To have the desire to help God’s fellow sheep be lifted from sin and despair.

My favorite reality contest show was Biggest Loser. Not only was the goal to lose weight but the show counseled participants on the root of their weight issues. Many discovered their pain from abuse or loss triggered their unhealthy eating habits. Without resolution of that pain, they were sure to continue on their destructive, “easier” paths.

Friend, if in your own life you seek bandaids rather than true healing, if you try to avoid doing things the right way because it just seems easier, God is calling you to wisdom. Stolen water is sweet but the dead live in that realm. He is calling you to life and true joy.

Father, at times it seems simpler and less painful to take the easy path. Please guide me to making better choices that effect both my own life and the world around me. Amen

Guard Your Heart

January 4, 2023January 1, 2023 krisshetter

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

I’ll admit to you right here for the world to read that I have a serious problem with cursing. Once upon a time I was innocent with my expletives. I’d say, “Jimminy Crickets!” and “gosh darn.” And then I started working in a restaurant. By the time I’d graduated high school my responses to things that went awry or to not nice people weren’t so innocent any more. Up until recently I figured I just needed to work harder at stopping. But I was reminded that overcoming sin requires more than just “working harder.”

I read a devotional that convicted me of the root of my sin – the status of my heart. It shone a light on what was flowing from my heart — anger, pride, unforgiveness, lack of compassion, lack of self-control. Although James was spot on with his imagery of the tongue being like a fire, I realized that that fire is sparked by my heart.

My “ah ha” moment that day was how much anger I allow to swirl around in my head and in my heart when someone doesn’t act how I expect or when the world doesn’t stick to My Plan. Instead of compassion, kindness, love there’s *@%! A truly ugly use of my God-given heart and tongue. And a heart change can only take place with the help of the Holy Spirit. My gal pals know I’ve joined forces with the Holy Spirit to remind me of the fruits of the spirit whenever I leave my house (because I never seem to have a cussing problem in the quiet confines of my She Shed!). I cannot produce this fruit; I can only bear it because I am closely attached to the vine of Jesus.

Friend, the world doesn’t think cussing is any big deal these days. In the past, you’d never hear cuss words on tv or on the radio. If you’ve ever spent more than a few minutes at an elementary school – yes, elementary school – you’ll find our lax attitudes toward this sin have affected our children. But we are called as Christians to be different. To be transformed. We are to guard our hearts from taking in and spewing darkness. I, for one, take the pledge. How about you?

Holy Spirit, guide my choices today in what I take into my mind and heart and help me to return to the world the fruits of your Spirit – kindness, compassion, patience and most of all love. Amen

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At Home With God

August 14, 2022August 25, 2022 krisshetter

“Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.”  Romans 4:20

Holy God, everything I have belongs to you — my home, my car, my food, my marriage, my family. Help me to use them in service to you each day so I can proclaim Your glory and the wonderful work you have done in my life. Amen

I’d have to say one of the first obvious signs that I was submitting to God and giving Him authority over my life was years ago when my brother-in-law came to visit us and wanted to bring his girlfriend. We had two small children and my husband and I decided we needed to model God’s morals by telling his brother that although she could come, they couldn’t sleep in the same room together. He laughed, thinking we were joking. But when we affirmed our decision, he asked how we could decide that when we, ourselves, had lived together before marriage. It’s an easy answer actually. We were now Christians with children to whom we were responsible for modeling God’s will.

Here’s the thing, Christian, it’s ok, even necessary in God’s act of progressive revelation, to change our minds. To grow in our faith. To set up new boundaries. Especially in our own homes. For Abraham, mentioned in our first verse today, he struggled to align his entire household with God. He made bad decisions about his wife, he had to make peace among his family, he was faced with the prospect of sacrificing his son to the Lord. But He kept moving forward in his faith. With each step he learned more about God’s expectations of him and he guided his family and home toward God’s promises. He set history on the right path by giving glory to God over and over. Joshua carried this forward when he assembled all the tribes of Israel.

"¹⁵But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Our home spaces are the perfect place to glorify God. Why? Because when we stand in our home, every blessing we can see belongs to Him. The home, apartment, tent, condo, all belong to God. The food in the cupboards, the furnishings, the beds, the indoor (or outdoor) plumbing – yes, all belong to Him and should be used in His service to glorify Him.

My two oldest friends are unfortunately not believers. And over these last few years I’ve had the Holy Spirit convict me of my behavior when I’m around them. I need to show them the work God has done in me. When they are at my house, I must model God. That means I shouldn’t allow certain behavior or speech within the walls of my house. I fail at times when I let myself be pulled into the world of unbelievers. Sometimes I forget to pray over our meal, I drift into outraged political discussions, and I gossip. My first step was realizing what I was doing doesn’t honor God. My second step is to be more consistent in application.

Friend, if the Lord has blessed you with a comfortable place to lay your head each night, a place to make a life for your family, a home to provide hospitality to others, we need to remember it was all given for a purpose. If we struggle to honor God in our home, how can we be expected to receive further responsibility from Him outside our homes? So today, stand in the middle of the place you call home and proclaim it is all for His glory.

Where Our Loyalty Lies

August 7, 2022August 22, 2022 krisshetter

"Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness."  Psalms 115:1

“Heavenly Father, when I enter into worship with you help me not be distracted by worldly pursuits. I want to praise you with all my heart and mind – not as a divided servant. In my busy day I carve out time to give you glory of which you are deserving of so much more. So LORD, especially while I am in your house of worship I lift all glory, honor and praise to you and you alone. Amen”

About a year ago I tried out a new church. The people were very friendly and the staff welcoming. We were asked to rise at the beginning of the service and the doors to the worship center opened. As a color guard entered the room with the United States flag the small band played a patriotic song. And I thought, “I love this place already.”

We sang songs calling us to action and freedom and my heart swelled. When the pastor began his sermon, he was riled up! He launched into a religious-political speech like no other I’d heard before. Now, granted many of the churches in my area were shutdown. This church was in defiance of that action – something I was looking for. And this pastor was fervent about pushing back against the oppressive state.

I left electrified and full of thoughts of civil disobedience. It was all right up my alley. Until I went to my current church’s life group meeting that next week.

I hadn’t even brought up the topic and yet God wanted to speak to me about “church” and where my loyalty lies. He did so through another member. She, seemingly out of the blue, started talking about her past church searches. And she said this, “I want to go to a church where the sole focus is on worship and learning about God. Not about praising a country.” Whoops. Now I know some of you may take issue with this. But notice she didn’t say she’s not a patriot. She didn’t say praising a country is wrong. She said she wants what goes on in the House of God to be about….God.

"Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

This simple statement by this woman suddenly shifted my perspective on who and what I was worshipping. I was placing country first then God somewhere down the line.

I recently heard a rumor that the church I am attending doesn’t have an American flag on the worship platform because the pastor worries it would be offensive to black Christians. It sounded a bit odd so I shot off an email to a staff member seeking clarification. One of the pastors replied with this:

“The reasons we do not fly a flag on our platform have nothing whatsoever to do with the pastors or elders feeling it might be offensive to black Christians (who I think would find it offensive that people would think they would find it offensive). Our general philosophy for worship services is that we do not want to have anything on the platform that wouldn’t be on the platform in heaven, if you will. Second, we try to only sing songs that we would also sing in heaven. We have no problem with patriotic songs or the American flag, but we do not feel they have a place in a worship service where we have gathered to worship God.”

Friends, I’ve come to realize having a country flag is not the issue (would we be annoyed if we didn’t see a French flag on the church podium in France?). It’s always about where our attention is focused. It’s always about turning our hearts and minds completely over to giving glory to God – especially during set aside times of worship. Having a country flag in our churches isn’t wrong but if there isn’t one, should we really care if the reason is to put our laser-like focus only on God?

The Heart of the Matter

February 14, 2022February 14, 2022 krisshetter

“And I am so angry I wish I were dead.”  Jonah 4:9

I’ve shared before about the miraculous year I had doing God’s will during our 100 Lunches project. When Jesus first spoke to me, directing me to make 100 lunches and deliver them to the homeless in downtown San Diego I had no idea the lessons He had in store for me. Initially, I thought it was just a need that He directed me to fill. My spiritual gifts were perfect to complete this task – or so I thought. What began as a one-time submission to God became a year-long lesson in trust, compassion, faithfulness and humility. Definitely not traits I would’ve confidently listed amongst my gifts.

With each passing day that year, God placed new trials and new opportunities for me to finally grasp what He really wanted of me. I could administer any program at my church, work or other organization. I’m organized, comfortable with leadership, a successful multitasker, and can teach readily. As long as I was in charge life was good, so it seemed. Until someone was unhappy with me or disagreed with me. Or I hurt someone’s feelings. Or I felt overlooked and unappreciated. Praying came after the fall, if at all.

But the Spirit of God came upon me that fateful day. I like to think of God seeing my potential. My new beginning. And He knew with some pruning and care I could shake off many of my old ways and start working on new ones. Starting with praying to Him to help me make the change. And learning that God wants our heart first, above all, so that it’s our heart that pours out to the world.

“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. Jonah 1:2-3

The story of Jonah and the whale rank up there with Noah and his ark as being widely known by Christians and non-Christians alike. Jonah tried to get away from God, jumped overboard, was swallowed by a giant fish, prayed to God and God spit him out onto the shore. A nice story of turning back to God in faith, right? But in these four little chapters there’s so much more! There are lessons on being a “I’m fine, it’s fine” sleepy Christian. Lessons like Moses experienced when he told God he wasn’t up for the job. Lessons on how one person can help save so many.

Jonah was actually a man of great faith. He knew that if he went to Nineveh, a sworn enemy of the Jews and well-known for its evil ways, God would most likely use him to rescue the people there. But Jonah’s patriotism got in the way of his faith. So, he resigned as God’s prophet. He didn’t want his new beginning to look like betrayal back home. But God gets His way no matter how hard we try to thwart Him!

Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah 3:3

So yes, Jonah sees how amazing His God is while sitting in the mouth of a giant fish and prays, remembering how God saved him before and asking for him to do it again. And Jonah finds himself once more pressed on toward Nineveh.

While there he spreads God’s message that in 40 days the city would be destroyed because of their wicked ways. But there’s something missing. Within this story you will not find a message from Jonah on how to stop this destruction. You won’t find compassion and love for these 1,000s of people. He states the fact, does it efficiently and without pause. In three days this one man had reached the ears of every citizen, including the king. Pretty impressive right? And although God loved the fact that they believed and turned from their evil ways you can’t help but think the real target of this lesson was just one man – Jonah.

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. Jonah 3:10-4:1

Jonah had the gifts of prophecy, faith, evangelism and apparently administration. And he begrudgingly used them. Where God saw an amazing new beginning as a man who could help bring so many to faith, Jonah saw embarrassment and shame. He didn’t want to go home to face his people who hated the Nineveh citizens and be known as a traitor. He stopped remembering that God loves everyone and God can work miracles in all our lives, even our enemies.

In chapter 4, Jonah is like the Prodigal Son’s elder brother – critical, selfish, sullen, angry and unhappy with what was going on. It isn’t enough for God’s servants simply to do their Master’s will; they must do “the will of God from the heart.” Eph 6:6
Warren Wiersbe

So as Jonah sits on the hill outside town in the last chapter of this amazing story God takes another shot at softening Jonah’s heart. He provides another lesson for him to experience and learn. Because God is love He doesn’t give up on us. He wants our new beginnings to be filled with love and compassion. I love this quote from a sermon by Charles Spurgeon on Jonah:

“The deeper your trouble, the greater are your possibilities of adoration.”

When I first went into our 100 Lunches project, I was certain I could complete this simple task with efficiency and ease like Jonah. But God put me on the hill, overlooking all that I had done that first week and said, “You have much more to learn.”

With each distribution of lunches He said, “do it again, this time like this.” He showed me how to be ok with people turning me down when I asked for help. And how to be grateful when people came out of nowhere to help. He taught me how to slow down and look the hurting in the eye and offer a kind word or even a gentle touch. He reminded me to trust in Him, to love Him. He answered prayers which encouraged me to pray even more. He allowed me to be loved by society’s “unwashed”, giving me the opportunity to tell them of God’s glory and provision.

Jonah’s story ends without a word from him letting us know he “got it.” His last lines are the first in this look at Jonah – “I wish I were dead.” God’s last words are about His love and care for all people – no matter their nationality, financial status, religion, or sins. Think of the amazing new life Jonah could’ve had when he left Nineveh. Not just knowing about God, not just having faith that God is in charge. But loving God and loving the fact that He wants us to live like Him, in love.

Jonah’s faith was a divided one. He held onto his patriotism and pride with a vengeance. It caused him to withhold his love and compassion. When we think of the Bible’s greatest lessons about love, 1 Corinthians 13 probably comes to mind. In verses 4-13 Paul tells us what love is. So many think these passages are about romantic love but in the context of the entire letter it’s about how we serve out God’s will with our gifts. In a way, the more important lessons are in verses 1-3. The lesson God was trying to teach Jonah. The lesson which can help us all in our new beginnings as God’s servants.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Cor 13: 1-3

Abundance

November 26, 2021November 29, 2021 krisshetter

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When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.  Numbers 11:9

There’s a lot of chaos in the world these days creating havoc in so many lives. But if we were to breakdown the situation into two basic schools of thought we’d probably arrive at the concepts of scarcity and abundance. On one side you have people who believe everything in the world is limited. Limited natural resources, limited finances, limited opportunities, limited food, limited education, and on and on. On the other you have the concept of abundance. That we are limited only by our will to seek, create, build, gather, harvest, and more.

God created a world teeming with abundance. He has always provided and will always provide. That’s not to say we don’t need to share in that abundance but rather we should live in the mindset of what we are given is 1) from God and 2) enough.

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life  does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 1:14

When we think of the gift of abundance from God, we can be swayed by the world into attributing it to “stuff.” How much stuff, money, food, etc we have. We will see that unfold today with Black Friday stories of fighting and grasping for more of that “stuff.” But in God’s world abundance is to be shared. Whether we are blessed by money, talents, love, possessions, and more God is always asking us to give freely and abundantly just like Him.

The concept of scarcity entered the biblical story when Pharaoh was worried about the drought and famine. He greedily began gathering up all the grains and animals for himself. He worried he wouldn’t have enough. And throughout the Bible we read stories of people, like the prince who approached Jesus to become one of his disciples, who cannot open their treasure stores because of their fears of scarcity.

These conflicting world views are sometimes used to say Jesus is a socialist. But that twists the message of the Bible. A government which forcibly takes from one people (who they deem having too much abundance) and gives it to others (who they deem are not able to live abundantly) is acting out of that scarcity mindset. Jesus always wants our heart. He is powerful enough to demand it but wants it freely.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Matthew 6:25

When I see young people on the streets screaming for the rich to “pay their fair share” it really saddens me. What is a “fair share?” Who has determined what someone is “owed?” Who has determined what is “enough?” All that comes from a belief there isn’t enough. But God has created a world of amazing abundance. There will always be those that have more and those who have less. The only person we owe anything to is Jesus. And when we thank Him for His abundant love for us we should be spurred to share in all that He has given us.

The Well-Worn Path

October 21, 2021October 21, 2021 krisshetter

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Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

In the mid-1800s hundreds of thousands of pioneers left the comfort of their eastern homes beyond the Mississippi River and traveled West toward what we now call Oregon. The result of those courageous pioneers is hundreds of miles of well-worn wagon wheel ruts. In some places the gouges from the wagons extend four feet deep in the rock. It became a symbol of being on the right path when your wagon wheels found the ruts for which to follow. And because they were so deep it meant your wheels would stay true to that path.

And there lies the idea behind “being in a rut.” A well-worn path that, in some cases, is a good place. So often, however, the result of creating those paths in our lives leads us down roads we long to escape. I wonder how many of us Christians find ourselves in a well-worn path that either isn’t to our liking or to God’s?

The last few weeks we’ve looked at ways Christians are expected to stand apart, be held to a higher standard, and stand resolutely with Christ, not the world. But for many of us that means climbing out of that four foot deep rut. The rut of going along to get along. The rut of living in half-truths such as only expressing love without truth or vice versa. The rut of an unintentional life. The rut of sitting in a church where you aren’t convicted or spurred to share the message of eternal life. The rut of any number of sins.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. Psalm 91:9-10

The Apostle Paul was in a rut. He followed half-truths taught by the Pharisees and then he, himself, passed those false truths along with a vengeance. It wasn’t until Jesus abruptly entered his life and yanked him out of that four foot hole that he realized his state. And when he did, he took the message in Psalm 91 to heart. He pressed on and on staying close to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He trusted that although perils would befall him it would not stop him from his mission. And thank God. Because he, like you and I, was just a man. A regular flesh and blood human. A person filled with sinful ways. Without his trust in God, without his life of intentionally following Jesus we wouldn’t have his wise words to guide us. He was like Jesus in a sense that God wanted us to have a fleshly example to model. Jesus clothed Himself in skin so he could endure our earthly life. And endure it with full trust in God.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. Psalm 91:14

Because He loves me just as much as He loved Paul, I know that I can live a bold life in the name of Jesus. I know that even when hands come against me or when words try to hurt me, I will receive the ultimate promised prize. And when we live a life in worldly ruts – cowering before our accusers, afraid of speaking our faith, staying in the shadows not helping pull our fellow travelers from the flame – we are saying to God, “I really don’t trust you to work all things for my good.”

The ruts we need to seek are the well-worn paths of the saints, not the sinners. The paths that Jesus has laid out for us are so clearly defined in His Word. We need to look for them as parents, as spouses, as co-workers, as sisters in Christ, as citizens.

He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. Psalm 91:15-16

We can’t do this alone my friends. Through praying in the Spirit (not the flesh), through Christian fellowship, good teaching, and constantly living with God just ahead of us as our pioneer guide we can accomplish everything He asks of us. And He will satisfy us with salvation and the glory of heaven.

Friends, what well-worn worldly paths are you living in? Is it your parenting style? Or maybe you’ve flipped the script in your marriage. Are you in too deep with equating your faith with your politics? Have you forgotten that God sees and knows every word you speak, every emotion that lies in our heart? Are you taking advantage of God’s promised salvation and disobeying Him without repentance? It’s time to stop in our tracks and look up to the edge of the rut. Stick out your hand and ask the Holy Spirit for a leg up. You can do it, we can do it. You are not alone.

Join me starting November 1-30 for 30 Days of Thankfulness!

Contend for the Faith

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021 krisshetter

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Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  Hebrews 10:33-35

Our country has become a virtual cafeteria of different religions, cults, and non-Christian world views that are all vying for supremacy on America’s religious landscape. Our country is also currently confronted by many tough domestic and global issues. We need Christian wisdom and biblical discernment as never before.
Ron Rhodes, 5 Minute Apologetics for Today

That phone call that dreary night will never be forgotten, at least by me. And I wasn’t even the person in trouble. I wasn’t the one who desperately needed to hear the right words to save a life. But I was in need of knowing the right words to say. And because I didn’t have the wisdom, the strength of faith I have now, I must take part of the blame for ending a life that night.

My friend’s voice was filled with desperation. She was pregnant. She was also just 19, a college student far from home, a woman who was having an affair with a married man (who had also gotten another woman pregnant). I had counseled her before, over and over, trying to get her to stop seeing this man. He was slimy and untrustworthy. But of course, he was oh so different with her – a genuine prince apparently. And so, a life of unwanted, unprepared motherhood was staring at her in the face. What would she tell her parents? How could she show her face? My immediate response? “You must get an abortion of course.”

This young woman who dreamed of being married one day and having many children was looking for a way to erase her mistakes. To reboot her dream of becoming a nurse first then having a family. And I helped her take what seemed to be the easy path. We washed our hands of it all and moved forward with both our lives. But I have never forgotten what I did. And I doubt she has either.

I wasn’t a Christian at the time but I was a member of the human race. A person that valued fairness and justice. A person who for the most part thought she was a “good person.” I had no one in my life telling me different, showing me a different way. It wasn’t until I drew closer to Jesus that I realized how far from the truth I was really living.

The problem was I then swung too far in the other direction. I took up the mantle of “truth” and forgot about the Royal Commandment – to love one another. And I think when we Christians get ourselves mired in political and social issues we can forget about that place of balance that God seeks for us. We can forget about what we are really needing to accomplish in God’s name.

In the United States, the Republican/conservative/right leaning parties are automatically associated with Christians. And yes, there are many of the same values involved. But to assign our faith to one political party’s platform is a mistake in so many ways. For one, it politicizes the message of Jesus. For another it assumes that all party stances are within the biblical realm. It also assumes there aren’t people in other parties that profess their Christian faith.

And so, when we come personally up against a faith/biblical/moral issue we may frequently pull back from our commission of helping others out of a sin-filled life because we don’t want to be labeled a “right winger,” a “bigot,” a “nut job” or any other derogatory statements.

To be fair, too many of our churches have either abdicated their responsibility to teach their flock about so many hot button issues such as homosexuality and abortion and how to respond correctly. While others have so politicized their churches you can’t tell the difference on a Sunday between a patriot rally and a sermon.

A new friend of mine told me how she was visiting various churches trying to find a new church home. One visit took place on the 4^th of July – the U.S. Day of Independence. As she stood for the beginning worship, she noticed all the songs were patriotic ones. And when the US flag was marched in by worshippers, she got up to leave. At the door the pastor stopped her and asked why she was leaving. Her response? “I came to worship God, not the United States.” She loves her country but her love of God doesn’t have anything to do with her country.

And so, like the women in my Bible study groups we ask questions that our churches fail to address or in the way they need to be addressed. We feel safe to dig deep into what the Bible truly says about homosexuality, transgenderism, abortion, and more. But we aren’t theologians – that’s why we go to church. To hear the Word of God taught to us in ways we can turn around and use them out in the world. It’s sad, to be honest, to hear Christians desperate for knowledge and yet left unfed week after week.

One of the ladies in my study group recently had a profound breakthrough related to this topic. She is very sweet and prides herself on creating good relationships. But she realizes her desire to not “rock any boat” has also been an excuse for not speaking the truth + love when it is needed most. “I’ve realized that in the past I had the excuse of being naïve as to the expectation of what God wants from me. But I can’t use that excuse anymore. I know he wants me to contend for the faith. I know what is truly at stake. I’m now struggling to see what that looks like for me,” she said.

I’m not going to take each major issue facing our world today because I am not a theologian with lots of important degrees to back up my words. But I will direct you to the steps you might take to be better prepared when your friend tells you their daughter wants to start hormone treatments to become a man. Or, when your co-worker tells you that having a nice house in a nice neighborhood is white privilege and you should be ashamed. We also need to be prepared to step back and know when a political issue maybe doesn’t have any biblical connection at all and just must be looked at from a “good citizen” point of view. Because yes, not everything we deal with is a faith hill to die on – but how we deal with those issues is.

You’ll remember at the beginning of this post I referenced the book 5 Minute Apologetics for Today. It was written in 2010. But you’ll find most of the issues we face currently. It’s a great, easy read for giving us biblical perspectives. In addition, here are 4 steps that were recently explained in my current Bible study on Jude.

As background, Jude (Jesus’ brother) was writing to a church that was infiltrated by false teachers. Teachers who were leading lives and encouraging believers to give themselves over to sexual immorality and more. Towards the end of his letter, before he tells the believers how to confront the false teachers, he gives them these four pieces of advice:

Build up your knowledge and confidence in the Word. Learn about and study the Bible, God’s character, His promises and the judgment to come. Be immersed by also finding a good biblical teaching church – not one that just tells you some good stories each week. Join Bible studies and do the work! Jude 20/Eph 2:19
Pray not in the flesh but in the Spirit. Go to the Holy Spirit and ask for help in what to pray. By doing so you’ll show God your dependence on Him. Ask for help in knowing what issues you should be concerned about and which you should just leave alone. Jude 20/Rom 8:26-27
Keep yourself in the love of God. Fight to resist your own passions and doctrine that keeps you separated from God. Lean into God for His promises and His direction. Jude 21/John 15:9
Stay in the hope of the mercy that is waiting for you. As Jackie Hill Perry says about this, “We have been saved from God’s wrath for God.” The knowledge and hope of what is to come when Jesus returns should feel like a protection. We have something better in store for us than man’s approval. We need to keep our sights on this so the persecution we might face doesn’t silence us. Jude 21/Heb 11:25-26

On a final note, I want to encourage you to do a study on Revelation. It helps to do it with others. Don’t just read Revelation. It’s probably too confusing to be honest. A good study with people you trust will reveal to you what so many of our churches seem to fail to remind us each and every week – that judgment is coming to all. We have a greater commission than just being “nice Christians.” We are commissioned to help God save souls. We might want to start in our own households.