David Bahn – Reflections

As I serve churches, helping them call new pastors, I often use the line, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” It gets a chuckle – which is the intent. But although I’m not from the government, I am a representative of the Texas District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. And I do have some helpful information and insights to share. Sometimes I even have advice to offer. I try to make it clear that I am there to help them, and that I may have some wisdom and insight that they would find helpful.

Most often they gladly listen and follow the advice I offer. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes church leaders think they know better and chart their own course. Some completely bypass any help from me or any other District staff. Others listen politely and simply ignore the advice. Still others take a more incremental and cautious approach.

When Gamaliel offers his advice to the Jewish leaders it is partially followed. That is true even though Luke tells us that they “took his advice.” But then, “they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.” Gamaliel’s counsel was to “keep away from these men and let them alone.” Beating them hardly seems to be keeping away from them. They apparently felt they had to do something to show how large and in charge they were.

Only they weren’t large or in charge in the face of God. Gamaliel had it right: “If this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.” They didn’t believe their actions were actually opposing God.

There are likely too many places in our lives where we are much like the Jewish leaders. We take the advice of godly and mature believers advisedly. We pick and choose what of God’s word we will obey and believe. We go part way down the path of discipleship. But we keep our eye on the escape routes along the way.

Better we should listen to all God has said, align our lives with his laws and ways, and seek his mercy and forgiveness when we fail. We have been redeemed. That should mean something when it comes to obeying the One who has redeemed us.

Her full name was Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. She had a powerful presence. When she walked into the room people noticed. It wasn’t her appearance as much as it was her state of being. She was famous, but diminutive. She spoke quietly, but directly. And people could not dismiss her when she spoke. She didn’t just talk the talk. She lived her faith. You likely knew her as Mother Teresa.

The Jewish leaders were almost entirely the opposite in their demeanor and appearance. They wore long robes with long tassels. Here’s Jesus’ description and warning about these people:

“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. ⁶ And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. ⁷ They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’ – Matthew 25:5-7

But their power is limited to intimidation and threat. They have no real power. In fact when it came time to get rid of Jesus all they could do was to convince Pilate and the crowds to execute Jesus. They couldn’t do it themselves.

They are displaying the true signs of weakness. There is a godly weakness, the kind that Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 12, “When I am weak then I am strong.” Theirs was not that kind of weakness. It was the kind that must disguise itself with hubris, arrogance, threat, and show.

I have felt weak at times. I’ve not known what to say in the face of a direct challenge to the faith or a brazen flaunting of God’s ways and commands. I’ve failed to resist temptation and given in to peer pressure when I should not. I’ve struggled to keep faith and trust God fully. These things drive me to the cross of Jesus, and an ever-growing sense of my need for God’s mercy and grace.

But weakness that hides behind bluster and brashness keeps us far from God. And though the bluster and manipulation may work for a while, it will not prevail. God’s true power is readily embraced by those who know and admit that they’re weak. But those who hide their weaknesses behind facades of bravado will experience God’s power when he brings them down from their self-made thrones.

The saddest verse in the Bible is not, “Jesus wept.” It is Judges 2:10, “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.” There are times I fear that is the case today. Every study I see replicates this same conclusion: the coming generation is leaving the church (and many the faith) at record numbers. Fewer and fewer people are finding their way into the church these days. It is an alarming reality.

It is also a clouded view of reality. I don’t mean to gloss over the alarming decline in the numbers of people not connected to the church these days. But it is not this way everywhere. The Christian church in Africa and South Asia is growing at remarkable rates. There are thousands of 7000 who have not bowed their knees to Baal.

Our vision is clouded because of our affluence and likely also because our faith has been largely a faith never tested. We have not faced persecution or resistance as did the Early Church believers. Tertullian famously said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” By that he meant that when people give up their lives rather than abandon their faith, or even more pointedly rather than cease witnessing to Jesus, they plant seeds of conviction. People begin to conclude, this Christian faith, this message of Jesus must be true and important if people are willing to die for it.

Consider the opposite actions and their attendant conclusions. When people force their convictions on others, and put others to death in their zeal for their cause it may frighten people into compliance. But it does not engender true faith. The Christian faith is not built on coercion, guilt, threat, or demand.

The apostles threaten no one, and are willing to face severe consequences for continuing to witness to Jesus’ death and resurrection. And in the words of Luke, “the Word of the Lord grew” (Acts 19:20). Years ago televangelist Pat Robertson formed the 700 club. It was a select group of 700 people who pledged $10 per month to support his program. Today I’m inviting people to join the 7000+ club, not with pledges to donate money, but with a resolute faith in God’s promises and desire to do whatever we may do to see to it that the next generation does not grow up knowing nothing of what God has done in Jesus of Nazareth. I wonder what it will take to see that happen. 3

We’ve come to the end of a vacation in Europe, and I’ve noticed something during our travels. There are people with various markings everywhere we look. Whether it’s tattoos, burqas, Louis Vuitton bags, or New York Yankees ball caps, everywhere we turn we see signs of various affiliations, loyalties, and convictions. More distressing even than the many burqas, hijabs, and Janeus is the presence of so many many people on our(!) Sunday morning trip to the Frankfurt Zoo. There were people everywhere. Not in church. Europe offers only a faint echo of its former religious past.

Thankfully there are also signs of Christian convictions. We saw several people wearing crosses. And surely if someone has three crosses tattooed on his neck it must mean something. Just now there is a woman reading her Bible sitting across from me in the waiting area. And we saw several Roman Catholic sisters and a few priests as well. That’s a good reminder that God does preserve his church. There surely are many more than 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal (cf. 1 Kings 19:18).

But I’ve been wondering what is the clearest marking of a follower of Jesus Christ. It certainly is not success. Success is neither a mark of faithfulness or a lack of it. It may not necessarily be a nun’s habit, or a priest’s collar; although that is a good clue to be sure. The fruit of the Holy Spirit certainly marks one as a follower of Jesus. And this may or may not be be outwardly obvious to many.

A constant faithful and unwavering faith in Jesus is the clearest sign and marking of a follower of Jesus; even in the face of trouble and opposition. Most of us don’t have to face such direct attacks as did the early disciples and apostles. Perhaps, then, our biggest challenge to remaining faithful is the kind of affluence that affords us grand travel opportunities, or constant weekend distractions. We managed to worship in our small group of travelers and our families while we were away from our regular church home. I notice from this text that the apostles continued to teach and preach in the temple where people were gathering each day to honor and worship God. Seems that too is a mark of being a Jesus follower. I you will join your brothers and sisters in Christ this Sunday to worship and honor him, and to encourage others in their walk of faith.

Please pray these psalms with me on this Lord’s Day

Psalm 13

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
² How long must I take counsel in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

³ Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
    light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
⁴ lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

⁵ But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 43

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
    against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
    deliver me!
² For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
    why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?

³ Send out your light and your truth;
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
    and to your dwelling!
⁴ Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.

Psalm 73:25-28

Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
²⁷ For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
²⁸ But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
³ who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
⁵ who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

²⁰ Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his word,
    obeying the voice of his word!
²¹ Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
    his ministers, who do his will!
²² Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Psalm 133

Behold, how good and pleasant it is
    when brothers dwell in unity!
² It is like the precious oil on the head,
    running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
    running down on the collar of his robes!
³ It is like the dew of Hermon,
    which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
    life forevermore..

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016.
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

These days it seems that certain religious enemies are more than ready to bring the blood of others upon themselves. Whether it’s those who want to impose sharia law on others, or the radical Zionists or Palestinians, there are those who brag about the blood they have shed. Add to that the horrific terror of war, or the enemies of the United States who cry, “Death to America!” There are plenty of folks willing to spill blood or even to brag about the blood they have spilled.

Not the high priests and the other Jewish leaders. They want no part in having caused the death of Jesus. They accuse the apostles of wanting to bring Jesus’ blood upon themselves. This is amazing to me. They dearly desire to be rid of Jesus and the apostle’s teachings about him. They could warn the people, “We brought down Jesus. We put him to death. Be warned! We can do the same to you!”

The irony of the statement is also striking. They need the blood of Jesus to be upon them to have their sins washed away. He shed his blood to free all people from sin, Satan and death. They should be first in line to claim this blessing.

But they want nothing to do with the righteousness of Christ. It is truly an alien righteousness. It’s not ours by birth or life. It must come to us from an outside source. It comes from Jesus.

The only reason they don’t want Jesus’ blood on themselves, is that they have no awareness of their need for forgiveness from him. They are completely unwilling to acknowledge Jesus as God’s Son and Savior. They not only do not think they need him, they also perceive that he is a threat to their world and life.

Would you want Jesus’ blood on you? I certainly do. And I thank God that he died for the sins of the world and rose to justify all who believe in him. Thanks be to God.

In The Sign of Four, Holmes asks Watson: “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”

An astute thinker observed:

This may be valid in principle, but it certainly carries the risk of a fallacy: You might not have considered the truth in the first place, and if what remains in your range of vision after eliminating the impossible is very improbable you should continue searching rather than settle for it.

There is no reasonable explanation of how the apostles were released from prison. Luke offers no explanation other than an angel of the Lord brought them out and instructed them to continue to teach the people all the words of this life.

The chief priests and the Jewish leaders had already decided that God was not acting through the apostles. They were afraid of the people. They wanted to shut down the apostles. They viewed them as a threat to their power and prestige. They likely thought that the jailer had been lax. Or perhaps they thought that someone had smuggled them out despite the jailer’s vigilance. But God was not at work there.

I’ve noticed something when we’ve taught in Kenya and Tanzania. I’ve heard it also from those who share the gospel in India, Ethiopia, Uganda, and China. We may discount God’s activities in our everyday lives. But people in those places have a far different view of the spiritual realm. They look for God, see him at work and give him credit for much of what happens in their world. They realize that God is not to be dismissed, ignored, or discounted. They would have had a different reaction to the apostles’ release and continued bold teaching. They would have repented. They would have believed. Then they put into practice what they have learned. Their lives are changed by their encounters with God.

This is our calling each day as we acknowledge our sins and seek God’s mercy. But it is also God’s desire when we see things we do not understand and cannot explain. It may not be a matter of repenting from sin, as much it is a reorientation of our minds. Rather than factoring God out of life, we must look for him, acknowledge his presence, and believe in him.

Then we must act accordingly. Most of the time that will be simply to acknowledge God’s work and praise his grace. But sometimes it means a complete reorientation of our lives, a new path, and a whole new set of priorities.

The Jewish leaders did not opt for that response. Will we join them, or the apostles who acted in obedient faith, and committed themselves to obey God rather than man. They realized that when you’ve eliminated all possibilities it’s time to seek God’s kingdom ever more fervently. It may be time to put into practice what God is revealing to us as well.

I am ever more impressed with how corporate our Christian faith really is. It’s not that you cannot believe alone. Nor is it impossible to worship God in the mountains or at the seashore. What you cannot easily do in isolation, however, is encourage others in their walk of faith. You cannot see the expressions of joy or pain, distress, or peace on the faces of other when you are isolated from them. Even Zoom doesn’t cut it when it comes to really connecting with others.

A perfect example: During the Covid pandemic, we enjoyed connecting with our far-flung family through Zoom and Skype. We even discovered a way to play games through several online resources. It was at least something. But give me face to face, flesh to flesh, arms to arms hugs! We’re actually experiencing that this summer with our farthest-away family who lives in Germany. Because of their love to travel and our travel schedule this spring and summer, we have seen them face-to-face, in person three times. It is wonderful. Soul-filling. My place of happiness.

In the realm of God’s mission, the presence of others is even more important. In other words, it’s one (good) thing to enjoy one another’s company. But there is a greater blessing to be had in the courage we gain from the band of brothers and sisters who join us in the mission of God. For in that fellowship we gain the courage to press on toward the call of God to make disciples of all nations. In that fellowship we are bolstered in our resolve to “Go and … speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

That calls for a Holy Spirit inspired commitment to God’s mission, and a commitment on our part to, “spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

I occasionally figure out what my dear wife wants by virtue of the hints she drops. To be fair, when she’s dropping hints, it’s often the case that my actions should be obvious and it’s pretty easy to figure out what she is expressing. This is about me, not her. Sometimes the directions are clear: Can you take out the garbage please? I try to oblige without complaint.

In the case of the directions given to the apostles on this occasion, there are two conflicting directives. They are both clear. And they are both in contradiction to each other. God tells them to, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” They immediately comply. At daybreak they went to the temple and begin to teach about Jesus.

But then comes the rub. The chief priests find out that the apostles are teaching about Jesus and remind them that they had forbidden them to teach in Jesus’ name.

There is a direct conflict between the two. To whom would they listen? What directive would they obey? Which one would they ignore. In this case the choice was clear. We must obey God rather than man.

Thankfully, I’ve never had to make that choice. I can’t claim that I’ve never sidestepped or (sadly!) ignored one of God’s directives. But I’ve not had to decide whether I do what a government official demands or what God has clearly commanded. That day may come-the way things are going with our government and society’s abandonment of God’s moral moorings. It’s as though we’re tilting toward forced speech, rather than freedom of speech.

When that time comes – if it does in my lifetime – I hope that I have the courage of Peter and the apostles. I hope that God will give me the courage and discernment to obey God rather than man. When it’s that clear, I will certainly need that courage. When it’s not as clear, I will need the Holy Spirit’s discernment. In any case, I am thankful to God for his grace in giving me the opportunity to witness to his truth and the calling to honor him in my obedience.

We were enjoying steam engine train ride on a recent trip. The countryside was gloriously beautiful. The vistas were remarkable. The weather was wonderful. Then a particularly annoying person interfered with our view. She decided to stand on the side of the railroad car and take a video for 20 minutes of the most beautiful portion of the trip. She obscured the view of those on the far side of the railroad car, and gave the people in the seat facing her a not-so-lovely view of the south side of her north-facing body. Her demeanor and generally obnoxious presence was particularly annoying.

I took it as a lesson in the love and grace of God. He loves us all – obnoxious or gracious. He embraces the lovely and the rude. Sometimes it’s the obnoxious person who spoils our view. Sometimes it is the person in the mirror who is more obnoxious than we realize.

Today, however, when I read this portion of Acts, I realize there is an even greater lesson for me. For obnoxious people may be annoying. But there is a whole next level of annoying obnoxiousness. It is displayed by the high priest and his cohort against the apostles. He is not just obnoxious. He is obstreperous. He is not just obstreperous, he is adamantly opposed to the message of Jesus, and will do whatever is necessary to shut down the growth of the early church.

Satan won’t succeed. For the Apostles are freed from prison by divine intervention. And not only this, God sends the apostles right back into the temple to preach the message of Jesus! All this, knowing that the opposition to this message will not relent and there will be more trouble for the apostles. When challenged again, Peter offers this remarkable witness: We must obey God rather than man.

I wonder whether my most annoying person is a gift from God to remind me that there are greater obstacles to preaching the gospel. I’m taking this as a lesson to do whatever I can to prevent Satan from distracting me from God’s call to love him first, and to love my neighbor (even obstreperous neighbors) as myself. This calls me beyond annoyances and petty frustrations to reflect the love and grace of Christ to all.