David Bahn – Reflections

If anyone knows about zealous protectionism, it would be Saul of Tarsus, now known as Paul. You’ll remember how he persecuted the church. He will confess this himself.

“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰ And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. – Acts 26:9-11

So I can assure you his heart is broken by these people who are so zealously seeking his death. He knows about zeal. He knows about anger. He knows about taking action and seeking others’ deaths. He will confess when he writes Timothy, “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man.” (1 Timothy 1:13)

These who are seeking his life are his brothers of deep dedication to the Jewish traditions and religion. They care about God’s house, the Jewish laws and traditions, and have a strong conviction about the way things out to be. Paul knows all about this but also knows how wrong-headed he was in his zeal. He had to be knocked to the ground, struck blind, and told by Jesus that he was heading in the wrong direction.

Zeal can be a good thing. Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” Isaiah 59:17 says, “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.” And I love Paul’s comment in Galatians 4:18, “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.” And I love James’ admonition in James 1:20, “The anger of man does not accomplish the righteous things God desires.”

Readers of this blog will notice I never speak about political candidates either for or against. I do have thoughts and sensibilities about these issues. But I don’t want to put anything in the way of my witness to Jesus Christ. Political issues can easily excite people’s zeal and block out the message of the gospel.

Jesus’ followers are urged to be zealous for love and good works. We must be careful that our zeal is tied to the grace and truth found in Jesus Christ.

What’s the difference between the Berlin Wall of Communist East Germany, and the walls around our house? One is to protect us from weather, intruders, and to define our space. The Berlin Wall was to imprison, and proclaim to all how supposedly great they were. Walls can be good. They can also be overly protective – those we build between ourselves and other people. Those we use to close off our hearts to others’ needs. Those we use to separate the privileged from the inferior.

The Jews in Paul’s day thought of the walls in the temple were to protect God’s house from sacrilege and contamination. They saw God’s house to be so sacred that no sinner ought ever go there. They thought that if a Gentile came into the temple, it would pollute their faith, and adulterate their religion.

They were adamant about this. They thought that Paul had desecrated the Temple by bringing a Gentile into the holy part of the temple. This so upset them that they were ready to have Paul executed.

How right and wrong they were! Right in that only the pure in heart and holy ones can be in God’s presence. Wrong in that they thought they could be there, but others they judged to be unfit could not. They ignored the truth of the Psalm: There is no one righteous. Not even one. (Paul quoting Psalm 14 in Romans 3:10-12)

The only one truly righteous was crucified as a common criminal. He was perfectly pure in heart and mind, body and soul. He belonged in the Temple. And when he died the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The separation between man and God was removed. Through Jesus we all have access to God. Whoever comes in humble repentance and the weakest spark of faith is welcome in God’s house.

Sometimes we may need to protect ourselves from those who would desecrate our religion, demean our Savior, or ridicule our faith. But to assume from the outset that someone is not worthy or welcome in God’s house is a dangerous and destructive thing to do.

There is a natural and understandable temptation for pastors and church leaders to think of how they can get people to come to church. The motives – if we are honest – may be mixed at best. On the good side, we want people to come to church to join us in worship of God, hear his word, receive his gifts. On the less noble side, we want people to come to church to make us successful, to validate our ministries, and to help with the work that needs accomplished.

This passage from Ezekiel 47 points us in a new and better direction. The river of God’s favor and blessings flows from the church into the world. The Temple in the Old Testament was the unique place of God’s holy presence. The church today – the gathering of God’s people around the word and sacraments – is similarly the place of God’s holy presence. Just as God was omnipresent in the days of the Old Testament, he is also present everywhere today. But he is uniquely and specifically present where two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name. And it is from the places of Jesus’ presence that Jesus’ blessings flow.

The image here is of blessings flowing from God into the world. It is not (in this particular case) an image of people coming to God or the church. We need to focus on how we people of God can convey God’s grace and blessings to the world, not how we can get more of the world into the church. The latter, taken literally, would be harmful! We want to get the church (gospel message of Jesus) into the world, not the world (and all its values) into the church.

I love how this image highlights God’s grace flowing into the world and getting deeper and wider, broader and higher. It doesn’t split into factions, or divide into smaller streams. It gathers strength as it flows and becomes an ever more powerful influence for good, blessing, healing, and enrichment wherever it flows.

God’s source of grace and blessing is inexhaustible. It never runs out. We won’t use it up by passing it on. We won’t siphon the wellspring of his love dry. Jesus offered the woman at the well, living water,  “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” We who have been blessed by the riches of God’s grace are to invite others to take the water of life without price. They won’t hear that invitation unless we take that invitation with us into the world.

Imagine being part of a movement of God that blesses and transforms people, and brings healing to the nations!

Click on this link to my photos from our teaching time in Tanzania.

Perhaps you’ve heard me say that the trip to Tanzania is grueling. Ours was 28 hours long. A long flight to Frankfurt, a nine-hour layover there, an even longer flight to Mombasa, Tanzania, and a 90 minute layover there, then one hour on to Kilimanjaro where we spent the night. That was the 28 hour trek. We took a two-day safari while there before going on to Mwanza, then to Geita (a mere 6 hours!).

But let me be clear: the trip was an ordeal, but the time there was priceless, joy-filled, enriching, edifying, encouraging, humbling, and blessed. I’m reminded of St. Paul saying that “our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

The greatest traction around our time there was explaining, teaching, and modeling Jesus’ pattern:

• Jesus taught everyone: He increased their knowledge.
• Jesus discipled some: He increased their knowledge, and formed their Christ-like character.
• Jesus mentored/coached a few: He increased their knowledge, and formed their Christ-like character, and developed their skills.

I’ve seen personally how important this is in my service as a pastor and church leader. Knowledge is important. It is foundational. But character is even more important. Knowledge without character can become manipulative and coercive. Worse yet is skill and competence without character. Think Hitler. Stalin. Dare I say, Putin? Just because someone is gifted and well-skilled, does not mean he or she will lead in God’s direction or in God’s way.

Two attendant teachings during our time there proved to be pivotal, stimulating much conversation. Both had to do with character. The marriage teaching was very engaging. The pastors and wives grew more and more animated during PLI International Africa Coordinator, Rev. Emmanuel Makala’s presentation. We didn’t understand much of what was said because it was entirely in Swahili and we didn’t have an interpreter much of the time (he was busy listening and speaking with his wife). But he told us of one incident from last year’s conference. A pastor’s wife shared something about him with the other wives during their break-out session. When he learned of this (not our translator!), he beat her and forbad her to come to this year’s conference. As you can imagine there was quite a disturbed conversation around this – and rightly so! This is obviously a character issue – not only the issue of beating, but of marriage itself.

When I taught about stewardship, the conversation also grew intense. Thankfully I had a translator who not only conveyed my teaching to the group, but also interpreted for me the comments and questions from the group. They were most concerned about the challenge that they had to be leaders in their personal financial stewardship before they could teach this effectively to their people. This is a character issue. And our ability to teach effectively is greatly enhanced by our own personal faithfulness in this area.

I shared a bit of our personal stewardship journey, which includes an early-on decision to give 10% of our income to the church I was serving. It may seem odd to receive a salary from a church and turn around and give back 10% of it to the church. But that’s what we resolved to do. We have done it for more than 40 years now, and even when we doubled that gift for a period of time (for capital campaigns, for example), we never ran short of money because we gave too much to the church. More often it was too much spent on eating out or for a too-expensive car that got us into trouble. But those times were few because of our first commitment, and the different mind-set such a practice creates. Everything we have comes from God – whether it’s a salary from a church or proceeds from our business dealings. We return to him what he has given to us.

Especially meaningful to me was the teaching on Ezekiel 47:1-12. Blessings of grace and salvation flow from God’s Temple (the church) into the world. As it flows out it becomes larger and it enriches and transforms everything it touches. That’s what Jesus does through his people today. Perhaps I’ll share more about that tomorrow.

Perhaps you’ve heard me say that the trip to Tanzania is grueling. Ours was 28 hours long. A long flight to Frankfurt, a nine-hour layover there, an even longer flight to Mombasa, Tanzania, and a 90 minute layover there, then one hour on to Kilimanjaro where we spent the night. That was the 28 hour trek. We took a two-day safari while there before going on to Mwanza, then to Geita (a mere 6 hours!).

But let me be clear: the trip was an ordeal, but the time there was priceless, joy-filled, enriching, edifying, encouraging, humbling, and blessed. I’m reminded of St. Paul saying that “our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

The greatest traction around our time there was explaining, teaching, and modeling Jesus’ pattern:

• Jesus taught everyone: He increased their knowledge.
• Jesus discipled some: He increased their knowledge, and formed their Christ-like character.
• Jesus mentored/coached a few: He increased their knowledge, and formed their Christ-like character, and developed their skills.

I’ve seen personally how important this is in my service as a pastor and church leader. Knowledge is important. It is foundational. But character is even more important. Knowledge without character can become manipulative and coercive. Worse yet is skill and competence without character. Think Hitler. Stalin. Dare I say, Putin? Just because someone is gifted and well-skilled, does not mean he or she will lead in God’s direction or in God’s way.

Two attendant teachings during our time there proved to be pivotal, stimulating much conversation. Both had to do with character. The marriage teaching was very engaging. The pastors and wives grew more and more animated during PLI International Africa Coordinator, Rev. Emmanuel Makala’s presentation. We didn’t understand much of what was said because it was entirely in Swahili and we didn’t have an interpreter much of the time (he was busy listening and speaking with his wife). But he told us of one incident from last year’s conference. A pastor’s wife shared something about him with the other wives during their break-out session. When he learned of this (not our translator!), he beat her and forbad her to come to this year’s conference. As you can imagine there was quite a disturbed conversation around this – and rightly so! This is obviously a character issue – not only the issue of beating, but of marriage itself.

When I taught about stewardship, the conversation also grew intense. Thankfully I had a translator who not only conveyed my teaching to the group, but also interpreted for me the comments and questions from the group. They were most concerned about the challenge that they had to be leaders in their personal financial stewardship before they could teach this effectively to their people. This is a character issue. And our ability to teach effectively is greatly enhanced by our own personal faithfulness in this area.

I shared a bit of our personal stewardship journey, which includes an early-on decision to give 10% of our income to the church I was serving. It may seem odd to receive a salary from a church and turn around and give back 10% of it to the church. But that’s what we resolved to do. We have done it for more than 40 years now, and even when we doubled that gift for a period of time (for capital campaigns, for example), we never ran short of money because we gave too much to the church. More often it was too much spent on eating out or for a too-expensive car that got us into trouble. But those times were few because of our first commitment, and the different mind-set such a practice creates. Everything we have comes from God – whether it’s a salary from a church or proceeds from our business dealings. We return to him what he has given to us.

Especially meaningful to me was the teaching on Ezekiel 47:1-12. Blessings of grace and salvation flow from God’s Temple (the church) into the world. As it flows out it becomes larger and it enriches and transforms everything it touches. That’s what Jesus does through his people today. Perhaps I’ll share more about that tomorrow.

I will be abiding for the next week or two. I look forward to returning to writing my blog posts in early July. In the meantime, reflect on Jesus’ words above, “Abide in me and I in you.” What a delightful invitation and great promise of his power at work in our lives as we gain our strength from him.

“We don’t have those here.” I wish I could remember the exact context of that comment. Might have been when I tried to buy some live bait when we went fishing with our grandchildren. Could have been when I was looking for a certain kind of hardware item. But in either case, the reality was clear. What I wanted to buy was not available.

I’m reminded of this as I think of the shaven heads and vows surrounding Paul’s experience in Jerusalem. The Lutheran Study Bible [see citing below] notes:

For various reasons, the Jews periodically put themselves under a vow (cf Numbers 6:1-21). [They then quote Martin Luther] “We are not to swear in support of evil, that is, to support falsehood, or to swear when there is no need or use. But we should swear for the support of good and the advantage of our neighbor. For such swearing is truly a good work, by which God is praised, truth and right are established, falsehood is refuted, peace is made among men, obedience is rendered, and quarrels are settled” (LC I 66).

So while we don’t have those kinds of vows here, we do have occasions when we must show the sincerity of our beliefs and intentions. It’s more than putting earnest money or a deposit down when we buy or rent a house. It is like saying, “I do,” or “I promise with the help of God,” or I so promise, so help me God.” And keep these promises we must!

PS: This is being published on our 49th wedding anniversary. God’s grace has been abundant to us and we rejoice in his faithfulness to us all these years.

Above excerpt from The Lutheran Study Bible
© 2009 Concordia Publishing House
Scripture text © ESV
Material may be protected by copyright
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From wedding vows to ordination vows, promises made before God are resolute. Sadly, however, they are not inviolate. Marriages fail. Ordination vows are abandoned. But more often than not, these vows hold people together. They can bring back a wandering husband, and restore an unfaithful wife. Pastors can be reminded of their vows of faithfulness and care for God’s people and return to their calling.

All this is by the grace of God and the influence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God’s people. For it requires not only the repentance of the wayward one, but the gracious welcome of the harmed.

In the case of Paul, vows were made, and purifications were needed so that Paul could be seen to have been faithful to his Jewish heritage and roots. At the end of it all an offering was made to God to show the earnestness of their actions.

Years later the Roman Church would require people to pay an offering to redeem a loved one from purgatory. These indulgences were little better than an abusive fund-raising program. And even worse, an attack on the gospel. We do not earn our way to God by any means. It can’t be done.

Here, however, these vows, purifications, and offerings were made not for the sake of God, but for the sake of the other believers. They were being done to quell misunderstanding, confusion, and wrong ideas about Paul and his working and his teachings.

I sense a hint of the need to convince Paul of the need for this. They not only told him of the 1000s of Jewish believers who had their concerns. They also reminded Paul that the Gentile believers had been accommodated by the simple requirements: “that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 

Paul’s work among the Gentiles was being validated and honored. His care for fellow Jewish believers was also urged. And he, man of God that he was, agreed. His vows, purifications, and offerings were a blessing to the Jewish believers and evidence of his desire not to offend.

These offerings, vows, and purifications were done because of God’s favor and work in his heart, not as a means of gaining God’s favor. His whole message stressed this vital truth – one we must keep in mind whenever we seek to honor God by any means – while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, forgave our sins, and offers us eternal salvation by his grace through faith.

Diane and I are set to travel to Tanzania for PLI International. We will teach 120 pastors and spouses about missional leadership, discipleship, and multiplying missional leaders. My first presentation will be on Multiplying Disciples, Disciple-Makers, and Leaders. We will talk about the Why, Who, and How of this process. The pastors and spouses are eager to learn, and they actually put into practice what they are taught. One of the Tanzanian pastors, learning about missional communities decided to start one of his own. Less than a year later five churches were planted from that missional community!

Because of all that, there is an urgent need for training – not only theological training, but discipleship, leadership, and missional training. Our teaching is heavily centered in Scripture. Every session is founded on the Bible’s teaching. Some of it is Paul’s direct teachings, like Paul instructing Titus to appoint elders (pastors) in the congregations he had visited, in Titus 1:5-9. Others are by the example of Jesus who sent out his disciples/apostles 2 by 2.

All of this is based on the command of Jesus to make disciples of all peoples/nations/ethnic groups. Jesus also promised that his followers would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. We are evidence of the truth of Jesus’ promise. In this passage from Acts, we see it unfolding among the Jews in Jerusalem where 1000s have believed and among the Gentiles among whom Paul has been working.

To sustain this there is an ongoing need for laborers in God’s harvest. That applies most obviously and urgently to the need for pastors. I’m seeing that in my work for the Texas District where in my area of the state no fewer than 10 congregations are in some step of their search for a pastor. But this points also to the need for others to take the gospel message to new people.

Thousands of people in Jerusalem don’t become believers through the influence of 12 apostles alone. When persecution broke out in the church in its earliest days, and everyone except the apostles were scattered. Those who were scattered preached the gospel wherever they went. Something must have also been happening in Jerusalem so that 1000s were brought to faith.

We can learn a lot from these situations and happenings. May 1000s be brought to faith in our cities, communities, neighborhoods and families.

I am serving as vacancy pastor at a church in Friendswood – about a 150 mile round trip. The other night I met with a group of men from there who I am asking to be my prayer partners. I shared with them that when I was serving at St. John, I had a group of men (elders) who I called David’s Mighty Men. That was based on the account in 2 Samuel 23:8-39. These were elite warriors who helped David establish his kingdom. I have no need to establish my kingdom, but I need men who will stand by me and keep me focused, and protected from the wiles of the devil. They were great partners in mission there, and I hope that the men who have agreed to be Pastor’s Prayer Partners at Hope will be the same. I have no reason to think otherwise.

I had to think of that when I read this account of the men who meet Paul as he is on his way to Jerusalem, and is now in the city. Despite how God had blessed people through Paul’s ministry and mission efforts, and the reception he got with the elders and leaders in Jerusalem, Paul faced threats – from within the Jewish community.

We know all about jealousy, fear, and envy, and how that can erode ministry effectiveness. We know all about how people actually oppose the things of God. But we don’t think that opposition ought to come from within the church. Sadly, sometimes it does.

Sometimes that opposition comes because of misunderstanding or misinformation about what is happening, what was said, and how the ministry is being worked out. That seems to be the case here. But, nevertheless, there is need to quell the opposition, fear, and misinformation around Paul’s missionary work. To do that will require Paul’s Mighty Men to act in his behalf and defense.

Paul will not have 30 like David did. But he will have four who will stand in the gap with and for him. They will complete a vow and vouch for Paul’s faithfulness. There may not be a war in the same way as David fought, but there is a spiritual war going on. And the devil will use anything he can to derail God’s mission. Thank God for those who stand with their leaders and fellow servants to defend, protect, pray for, and encourage those servants of the gospel. They are a blessing!