David Bahn – Reflections

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Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.– Galatians 6:1-3

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. – Romans 12:3

Maybe you heard about the man who was growing more and more frustrated by the flight delays on day. There was a long line of people waiting to get re-ticketed, or told their fate. The man barges all the way to the front of the line, self-importance displayed in arrogant bluster, and says, “Don’t you know who I am?!?” 

The airline agent calmly takes the PA microphone off its hook and announces, “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. There is a man here who does not know who he is. Can someone please help him?” 

OK, maybe it’s a joke. But wouldn’t you like to see someone put in his place like that? Wouldn’t it be great if the bully was rendered powerless? Self-importance is such a dangerous cloak. 

I’ve watched a few episodes of Undercover Boss and have been impressed with the show’s premise. The CEO of a company goes to work as a low-level employee. He works as a pizza maker. She takes on the job of maintenance worker. They learn how life really is. They discover what it means to be one who does not have a private limo at their disposal, or a personal assistant, or even a prime parking spot. They serve along side common folk. They become not too important to help someone else.

We might think of the need to help a stranded motorist. The opportunity to pick up litter comes to mind. Any time we might need to help someone out of a bind brings with it also the chance to think, I don’t want to get my hands dirty with that issue. 

But helping people out of the mire is dirty business. Mike Rowe-averse folks need not apply. Yes it is a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it. I’m thinking of helping someone caught in the web of drug use or addictions of any kind. And in the helping may also be a temptation.

When I was in college I worked at my parent’s motel. One particularly memorable time came when “the man in room 22” (it was a small motel!) went on an alcoholic binge. He would order booze from a liquor store, have it sent by taxi to his room and drink one bottle after another. Finally we decided to intervene. I went with another friend and talked with him about the situation. We even prayed with him. A day later he had cleaned up completely and was sober and out. There was little temptation on my part to take any of his liquor. But it might open the door for some. 

Helping people can be messy. In fact Jesus got really messy when he helped us out. Obviously when he suffered and died it was a brutal mess. But even before that – early on and throughout his ministry he got messy. He consorted with tax collectors and sinners. He ate with prostitutes and people of questionable character. For that he got less respect. He was accused of improper relationships. Bad fellowship. But he changed people’s lives by becoming involved. 

We’re certainly not more important than Jesus! And we’ve been saved. Forgiven. Redeemed. Made new. 

Not everyone can go into every sinful and dark corner of the world. Women may well help other women gain their freedom from human trafficking. Men may do well to avoid those places. But wherever women or men are willing to be less important than they have a right to be, they can have a huge impact in other’s lives. 

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Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.– Galatians 6:1-3

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  – James 2:14-16

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ – Matthew 25:34-40

It was an easy carry, listening to my friend. He’s got a tale of woes and seemed really to need an ear. Maybe you’ve done that for someone. A friend loses a loved one, and you call, and share, and listen. A co-worker loses her job and you meet up for lunch and commiserate. You might even remind her of some of the garbage she had to put up with (and that you still do). A cousin needs help moving and you lend your back to the task. Your dad is in the hospital and you go relieve your mom so she can get some rest. A brother in Christ is in the hospital and you go visit him. 

These are the kinds of things we do to fulfill the law of Christ. Jesus spoke of such things in his teaching about the sheep and the goats. These are not profound sacrifices. We’re not talking about giving your car to a down-and-out dad, or paying some poor college student’s tuition. But sometimes…

I can share one time (though, sadly, there are many many I could point to) that I didn’t want to do the simplest of things. I didn’t want to visit someone in the hospital. After a long and frustrating drive, a futile trip to the wrong hospital, an additional drive through crowded city streets, and a long elevator ride to the 9th floor, I walked into her room.

Her response shamed me. “Oh Pastor Bahn! I’m so glad to see you. Thank you for coming to visit me.” 

I like to set up young men who are in pre-marital counseling with a question based on Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” I ask them, “If someone were to threaten your sweetheart you would stand in their way, wouldn’t you?” “Of course I would,” is always the answer. “Please remember that when she asks you for the smaller acts of love, like taking a walk, listening to her when she wants to talk, cleaning up after yourself, or doing your share of the housework.” 

Sometimes the littler things are more difficult to do than the big challenges. But we fulfill the law of Christ when we do the little things just as well as when we do the heroic ones. 

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

⁴ Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. ⁵ For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

⁶ Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ⁸ Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. – Galatians 6:1-10

They weren’t that expensive. Not really that beautiful. Not worth getting overly exercised about. But there they weren’t. An empty spot on the sidewalk where they should have been. One on each side of the doorway into the church. How galling! How rude. How completely hubristic! Stealing concrete planters from the church. Throwing aside the plants that were previously in them. I’m not sure I can fathom what possessed someone to see them, decide that they were valuable enough to steal, and then to walk up the 40 feet of the sidewalk to dump out the plants and carry the planters away. 

But I remember vividly what I did next. We replace the concrete planters with new ones. They were also stolen! So when we put out the third set, I made a label on the bottom, “Be not deceived. God cannot be mocked.” The newest planters remained. I guess the thieves didn’t really need a third pair. It’s obvious they didn’t read my label. Nonetheless, it’s true. God is not mocked. 

I’d like to think I never mock God. I’d like to believe I have a strong enough conscience that I won’t blatantly disregard God’s laws or wantonly transgress against his commands. I’d like to believe that. Most Jesus followers would wish never to mock God. Most would avoid serious transgression. Few need to be restored from an entanglement to sin that requires outside help and intervention. 

But some do. Just last week I learned of a church worker who had to resign his position because of moral failure. He apparently succumbed to temptation – not once but four times. Four times he crossed the line. Four times he went down a path that required intervention. Sadly, though helped (and the help, love, and care continues for this man – thanks be to God!), he is now set aside from his ministry. 

Whether or not our church body’s zero tolerance policy for sexual misconduct is right, that is the policy. And while this is not to say he is outside the grace of God, it is a severe consequence for his actions. 

We’d like to think we’d never do such a thing. And perhaps few Jesus followers actually do cross the line. But if James 2:10 means anything, it serves as a reminder that in fact, “there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And we all need help once in a while. 

Sometimes that help takes the form of sever intervention. Hopefully more often we intervene before drastic action is needed. But the purpose in every such intervention is to restore the sister or brother to the faith and fellowship of the redeemed. And that’s the thing we must all remember: ours is a fellowship of the redeemed. We stand on level ground at the foot of the cross.

For your personal meditation and edification on this Lord’s Day

Psalm 14:1-3

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5:22-24 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. – Galatians 5:16-18

Every hill is steeper. Every climb is longer. Such was my assessment of my first 18 months as Senior Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. I say this not to complain or criticize. I say it to express a challenge we all face from time to time. Things we think ought to be a snap all too often become a huge challenge. Little hills we think we can easily climb become mountains. I keep telling Diane, “It’s hard being me.” Maybe you can relate.

When it comes to self-control, or the display of any of the fruit of the Spirit, we encounter that same problem. We have a handle on a peaceful heart one moment. The next, we’re blowing our stack at some idiot in front of us on the highway! Oops. Sorry. She’s not an idiot. She’s a single mom who had to drop off the kids at school. Now she’s late and will lose her job if she doesn’t get to work on time. One minute we are filled with joy. The next moment your team fails to score a single run. The World Series is over. There is no joy in Mudville. 

Why can’t we be more steadily filled with love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Why do we fall off the wagon into doubt, distress, and derision? The classical answer is that we have a three-fold enemy of all that God wants to accomplish in our hearts and lives. The devil, the world, and the flesh conspire against the grace, love, goodness, mercy, and ways of God. But the devil has been defeated, Jesus has overcome the world, and we are new creations in Christ. Why is there still a battle? 

The devil is defeated, but like the serpent he is, he continues to writhe. He is still somehow a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. The world is all around us. And the one who has overcome the world (John 14) prayed that the Father not take us out of the world. We’re in it. 

And in spite of our best efforts the sinful flesh clings. I’ve seen people try to explain away this reality, saying silly things like, “a converted person does not sin.” What!?! 1 John 1:8-10 lays that idea to rest. Others try to claim that we have no hope or even a need to resist the devil. But James tells us to resist the devil, and promises that he will flee from us (James 4:7).

The difficulty we have in keeping on the straight and narrow and consistently displaying the fruit of the Spirit, and being distressed about this is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our hearts and lives. If we did not have the Holy Spirit. We wouldn’t care. But we do care. And we are distressed when we discover we’ve forfeited the fruit of the Spirit in any situation. Thanks be to God that Jesus welcomes us back. And we can pray with David, “take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation,” whenever we sin. That, too, is the Spirit’s work. And it is not too difficult for God.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5:22-24 

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. – Proverbs 25:28

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. – 2 Timothy 1:7

And the walls come a tumblin’ down. Those words come from the song about Joshua at the battle of Jericho. Seven times the army of Israel had circled the city. Finally they blew their trumpets. All this was at the command of God. Unlikely battle tactics. An opportunity for the enemy to ridicule Joshua and his people. Fertile ground for grumbling on the part of the people Joshua was leading. Did it seem to be an exercise in futility to many? But when the trumpets blew, the walls came down. And when the walls come down there is access to the city. Victory for Israel. Destruction and defeat for Jericho. 

I believe self-control is the wall that prevents us from giving in to anger, bullying, doubt, evil, discord, depression, and hatred. Self-control stand sentinel against the loss of the fruit of the Spirit. For while it is named last, it has the honor of being the first line of defense against Satan’s schemes.

Consider Jesus as he faces the devil in the wilderness. It’s been 40 days without food. No doubt he is extremely hungry. Satan’s ploy: entice Jesus to use his powers to turn stones into bread. There’s nothing evil about feeding yourself. There’s nothing wrong with ending a fast. But the stakes are much higher. Will Jesus listen to Satan or to God? Will he use his powers for his own sake or for the sake of others? 

Jesus does not give in. He controls himself and seeks the sustenance of God’s word by which we truly live. 

Someone provokes you to anger. You can lash out at him. Yell. Plot revenge. Curse him. Perhaps even get even by returning his provocation in double proportion. Or you can exercise self-control and pray for him, rest your heart in God’s mercy and love, and seek the peace that passes understanding. 

You are tempted to pad your expense account, add hours to your billing, say you worked when you didn’t. You can do that, but you damage your soul in the process – selling your proper birthright for a pot of porridge (cf. Genesis 25:29-34). Or you can recognize the grave danger of gaining the whole world and forfeiting your soul (Matthew 16:26). Self control helps you keep your soul, your being, your essence, your youness.

Recent study of the brain helps here. Researchers have discovered that under pressure the thinking, reflecting, and creative part of the brain receives less blood supply. The lower part of the brain – that which is reactive and self-preserving – lights up with activity. Self-control, humanly-speaking is a matter of accessing the higher-thinking parts of the brain. It’s a matter of getting beyond self-preservation. 

To some extent, therefore, self-control is a human process. So how is it a fruit of the Spirit? Self-control is a result of the Holy Spirit’s presence and influence. It is also a means by which we keep from giving in to the deeds of the flesh. It’s the result and a means. 

Those apart from Christ may have great storehouses of self-control. They may train harder, focus more intently on the task ahead, or manage their anger better than others. But apart from Christ and the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit they will not know true peace. Love will never be fully experienced. Joy will be momentary. Patience will have no God-factor. Gentleness will have nothing to do with faith. 

Those who have the Holy Spirit, have Christ, and with him the truest expression of these gifts. Self-control helps us display that reality from a heart set free by the One who has ransomed our souls from the wanton abandonment of God’s ways.

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5:22-24 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  – Philippians 2:3-4

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. – Romans 12:3

I’ve always gotten a kick out of Numbers 12:3: Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth. It’s in the Bible, so I’m certain it’s true. But did Moses write this of himself?!? Doesn’t seem very humble to me. But I digress. Humility is a virtue so very closely related to gentleness. And it is essential to Christian growth and relationships. Without humility we can neither be impacted by others nor have an edifying impact on others. 

Bruce asked me, “What do you think Diane is feeling right now?” [Some of you may know this story, but it’s such a powerful example that I repeat it here.]

“I feel like a kid caught daydreaming in class.”

“That’s OK,” he said. And he continued the conversation with Diane, picking up where they had left off. We were in the counselor’s office investing in our marriage through some deep dive counseling. In a matter of a few sentences, he asked again, “Dave, what do you think Diane is feeling right now?”

I was ready! “She is feeling like…” I filled in the blanks, though I have no memory of what I said at that moment.

“OK,” he responded; or something similar to that non-comital phrase. He continued talking with Diane for a while longer. Then he turned to me a third time, “Dave, what do you think Diane is feeling right now?”

I was stunned, and said, “I don’t know.”

In that moment of humility, Diane tells me her walls came down. I had access to her heart like never before.

Humility does that. It opens a way into another’s heart. No wonder Jesus has such an impact in people’s lives!

Humility’s outward expression is gentleness. No blustering. No bravado. No right answers. No formulaic propositions. Gentleness trusts God, the Holy Spirit, and truth. Gentleness trusts that God will have his way in the hearts of the humble. Humility does not suppose that it has all the answers. Humility searches for common ground at the foot of the cross. It is so very important.

If I really want to speak into your life, I will do well to do so gently. This is true for husband and wife, for friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and even Jesus-followers who want to make a heart impact for the gospel in the lives of others.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. – Galatians 6:1

Gentleness and humility accompany those who recognize their deep brokenness, need for mercy, and potential for falling prey to the devil’s charms. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. And a great encouragement to me is that the older I get, the more aware I become of my own brokenness, need for mercy, and potential for falling prey to Satan’s pull – or the pull of my own sinful flesh. Maybe you can identify with that. If all that makes us more gentle, more aware of our need for the mercy of God, the forgiveness of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, that’s a good thing. It’s also evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in us. Thanks be to God! 

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5:22-24 

Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. – James 1:20

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil. – Ephesians 4:26-27

“You’re an angry young man,” she said matter-of-factly. I really didn’t know what she meant. I didn’t think I was angry. Years later I began to understand just what this CPE supervisor meant. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an in-the-hospital (or other clinical setting) educational program for those who wish to gain skills in pastoral care. It also happens to offer the participants an opportunity to learn about themselves. I think I was too angry to learn much about myself at that time. You might not have thought it of me. But well-hidden anger turned many of the wheels of my life in those years. 

I’m sure I left quite an impression on my fellow CPE participants. But the most long-lasting impact I had was in the quiet moments, praying with patients, listening to their stories, gently handling their hearts. In other words, when the Holy Spirit was most actively influencing my interactions, good things were happening. 

I’ve tried being big, strong, gritty, and insistent. I can get my way in some situations. But my way – in that mode – is seldom God’s way. And as I think of God’s desires, I seldom see a reason to employ things other than a gentle spirit. This is especially true in one-on-one encounters. Truth is a strong ally of gentleness. And truth sets us free. Truth with its partner grace saves. And this is the work of the Holy Spirit.

All that said, there are times when gentleness is not called for. Jesus gave us one when he overturned the moneychanger’s tables in the temple courts. Paul gets pretty close when he talks about the circumcision party, suggesting a slip of the knife toward them would be welcome (Galatians 5:12). It’s interesting that this verse is in the same chapter as these verses on the fruit of the Spirit! When it comes time to stand firm, to protect the weak and vulnerable, to prevent harm to another we may need to assert ourselves. It may not be gentle in that moment. 

But those are the exception and must not set the rule. For anger gives the devil a foothold. Held to and nurtured it not only gives ulcers, it allows our more base instincts freer reign. Thankfully that angry young man has grown up a bit, and he sees now that a gentle spirit is not only God’s gift, but a powerful tool of blessing to others.

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5:22-24 

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of  God with lofty speech or wisdom. ² For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, ⁴ and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

He spoke with understated urgency. And he started by having us write a Bible verse on a 3X5 index card: “You are precious and honored in my sight and I love you” (Isaiah 43:4). He spoke for nearly 40 minutes. Never really raised his voice. Was not impressive in his delivery. But he was profoundly powerful in expressing the truth of God’s love us us. I don’t have the index card any longer. But I still remember the message – some 25 years later. 

Maybe you don’t do like I do. Get angry. Get big. Get gruff and loud. Sadly I reserve that for the people closest to me. And it never does anything more than achieve resentful compliance. Often it only hurts the one on whom I vent. 

I once delivered a blistering sermon titled, “Why Business as Usual is No Longer an Option in the Church.” I utilized some disturbing statistics about the trends of church attendance, membership, and youth involvement from a paper by that name. I hit hard in my message. People came out of the service that Sunday saying, “You really stepped on our toes today.” I took it as a complement. Three weeks later, however, everyone’s toes were recovered. It was back to business as usual. 

But I remember so vividly the message of that pastor who spoke of God’s love. I recall clearly the day more than 40 years ago that the pastor preached on John 6:37 where Jesus says, “Everyone whom my Father has given me shall come to me, and whoever will come to me I shall not cast out.” A young mom came out of the service and told the pastor how much she appreciated that, how much she needed to hear that. And I recall the message of my seminary professor, “Every Christian Counts” which was oil on the water at a time of conflict at our school. It was a message of gentle kindness that we dearly needed.

Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. Sometimes a stern warning may be needed. If a child is running into the street, yelling may well be appropriate. But to do the work of the Holy Spirit we must not interpose our anger and brash bluster upon others. God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice. And when it comes to touching our hearts with his love, the message may be quiet and gentle. But the impact will be profoundly good. 

Gentle now, dear reader. Gentle. Let the Holy Spirit have his way with you, and through you with others. 

For your personal reflection and edification on this Lord’s Day. All verses are from the English Standard Version Bible.

Psalm 7:17
I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,
and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

Psalm 37:3-6
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

Psalm 67
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Psalm 97:1-5
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.

Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.