the influence of friends

When I was a teenager I hung around with a guy who got drunk, stole anything and everything, and cursed up a storm. Not exactly a good role model.

But then, if I’m honest I wasn’t much better. My friend may have been a bad influence on me, but I wasn’t exactly a good role model for him either.

Does it matter who we hang around with? According to the Bible, that’s a big “Yes!” But why not see for yourself? Lots of verses follow with summaries in bold.

We become wise if we’re around the wise, but suffer harm if we hang out with fools.

Prov 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

It’s probably wisest if our closest friends are followers of the one true God.

Ps 119:63 I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.

We should be careful not to become too close to those who are not Christians—we have nothing in common.   

2 Cor 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

We should steer clear of people who encourage us to sin.

Prov 1:11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; 12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave,and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things  and fill our houses with plunder; 14 throw in your lot with us,and we will share a common purse"-- 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.

If we hang out with people who do wrong, it will corrupt us.

1 Cor 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

If we’re not careful, we will share in the sins of others—God calls us to separate ourselves from sinful influences.

Rev 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.

People can influence us in very negative ways—we’re told to avoid those negative influences and their paths.

Prov 4:114 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. 16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil;they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. 17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

Lot lived among sinners and it almost cost him his life.

Gen 13:12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

Gen 19:15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished."

Solomon’s son foolishly rejected the advice of experienced, godly men and instead listened to his buddies who hung out with him—his decision cost him the loyalty of the people.

1 Kings 12:8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.

1 Kings 12:16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: "What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse's son? To your tents, O Israel! Look after your own house, O David!" So the Israelites went home.

The early church did everything together and they were devoted and committed to the same things.

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.

It’s extremely important to meet and fellowship regularly with other Christians.

Heb 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Does it matter who we hang out with? Yes!

So...what kind of people are you hanging out with?

light vs darkness

Is it okay for a Christian to be “dark,” that is, “emo?”

Before we answer that question, let’s define the term. “Emo” refers to a subculture that is sweeping the country among American teenagers, a movement that is often referred to as being “dark.” Associated with punk music, its adherents are typically dressed in black, have pale faces, long black hair with bangs, rarely show emotions (especially laughter), and are often quite thin.

Emo boys and girls are also unique in that they are often viewed as anti-social and rebellious. Many are socially withdrawn, depressed, and view suicide and death as glamorous.1

So is it okay for a Christian to be “dark,” that is, “emo?” Let’s see what the Bible has to say about the topic. I’ve provided summaries of numerous passages, but encourage you to read the Scriptures themselves as well.

Jesus is light, brings light to this earth and rescues those of us who are in darkness.

John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Col 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 Thess 5:5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Those who are in darkness have their eyes closed to God, are evil, not forgiven of their sins, don’t know where they’re going, and are under the power of Satan.

Acts 26:17-18 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' 

John 3:19-20 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

John 12:35-36 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

1 John 2:9-11 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Those who accept the light (Jesus) should not walk in darkness.

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 

John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Rom 13:12-14 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Eph 5:8-14 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

1 John 2:9-11 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Light and darkness have nothing in common—those in the light are called to have nothing to do with those in darkness.

1 Thess 5:5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

2 Cor 6:14-17 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?  What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.”

1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Conclusion
So is it okay for a Christian to be “dark,” that is, “emo?” Based on these passages, I conclude that spiritually-speaking light and darkness have nothing in common and are actually polar opposites. One is a very good thing, while the other is a very bad thing.

While some may disagree, I don't think it's a good idea for a Christian to identify with a group of people who often behave as if they are in spiritual darkness. At the very least a "dark" Christian is a poor witness for Jesus. At the very worst, being emo may be an indication of spiritual apostasy.

1  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emo, http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=emo, http://www.emo-site.com/

grace needed

the cry of the heart

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.”

Psalm 25:16

the promise

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

of charcoal and love

My brother put his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone, looked at me with panic in his eyes and said our neighbor, Mrs. So and So, wanted to talk to dad. She apparently just saw one of his sons (that would be me) steal a bag of charcoal briquettes from her garage.

I took a deep breath, mustered my best grown-up voice and took the call: “This is Jerry Little. Can I help you?”

After describing what she had just seen, I acted outraged. “He did what?! Chris!” I yelled, “you get your #%$* in here right now! I can promise you, Mrs. So and So, he’ll be punished most severely!”

Once the conversation was over the house exploded in laughter as my friends and I savored the excitement of such a close call and my hokey impersonation of my dad.

Though still shaking inside, I acted like it didn’t faze me a bit and promptly went out into the backyard, poured the charcoal into the BBQ pit and fired it up. Looking up at our neighbor’s kitchen window I waved, smiled and went back into the house, all the while secretly praying that my ridiculous “acting” job had really fooled her.

Would she call back later when my folks were around? Would she sic her husband on me? Would she call the police?

Fortunately, none of those things happened. We never heard another peep out of her. Ever. Why I don’t know. “He’ll be punished most severely”? Who talks like that?

As a godless teenager in the early 1970s, I had no idea what the second greatest commandment was, nor would I have cared if I had.

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'”1

As a follower of Jesus many years later I’m obviously aware of that commandment. Unfortunately, even though I’m aware of its importance I don’t do so hot in keeping it.

Oh, I don’t steal charcoal from my neighbors (or anything else for that matter), but it’s not like we’re really close. Truth be told, the less we see of each other the better. Just being honest.

But is that what Jesus had in mind? Just don’t steal from them? I’m guessing there’s a little more to it.

As always, I encourage you to join me in my new-found guilt. What kind of neighbor are you? And let’s not forget that Scripture makes it clear that the definition of “neighbor” is really everybody other than you. That’s right, everybody.

In other words, every single human being that we come in contact with Jesus wants us to love the same as we love ourselves.

Ugh.

So do you feel guilty yet? Good--glad to have the company!

But why stay here? What can we do to change how we treat our neighbors, both those who live next door and those we will see today, tomorrow and the next day?

Me? I’m going to start by not stealing any charcoal briquettes from them and then lying about it.

What about you?

Jesus: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

1  Matthew 22:36-39

tears

the problem

“I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.”1

the deliverance

“For you,

O LORD,

have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling.”2

1  Psalm 6:6
2  Psalm 116:8

there's no place like home

Twenty-six years. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve been in a movie theatre.

The year was 1985 and the movie was “Witness” starring Harrison Ford. For the record, I enjoyed the movie and still do via DVD. But no more trips to theatres.

Why? Where do I start?

The cost: $10, the same cost as Netflix for unlimited online viewing at home for a month, as well as multiple DVDs through the mail. Decision: No-brainer if money’s tight, and it is. And if you want some popcorn, candy or a soft drink, forget about it. You might have to take a home equity loan on the house. I could get a five-course meal in a fine restaurant for the cost of some Goobers and a Mr. Pibb at the theatre.

The distractions: Gum on the floor, a tall person in the row in front of you, people talking throughout, babies crying, teenagers necking, people getting up to leave the theatre during key parts of the movie, and, well, you get the idea. Distractions at home: None.

The inconvenience: Instead of sitting in a Lazy Boy at home and snuggled up against my wife, I have to battle traffic, find a parking place, stand in line to buy a ticket and knock an elderly woman aside in a battle for the last aisle seat.

Shall we go on? Let’s not and say we did, okay?

I’m curious: Aside from being a tad grumpy, can you tell anything else about me from the above?

How about this? I like being home.

I’m a homebody like nobody’s business. And yet recently I’ve been thinking a lot about my other home, my real home: Heaven. And truth be told, I’m yearning for it a lot these days, much as the Apostle Paul did some 2,000 years ago.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”1

Like Paul, I’m confident that when I depart this earth I’ll go to be “with Christ, which is better by far.” Unlike the Apostle, however, I’m not sure that it’s “more necessary” “that I remain in the body.”

Is my ministry bearing fruit? Am I of value to the kingdom of God here? Does the Lord still want me around down here?

As I mull over these questions and evaluate my effectiveness (or lack thereof), one over-riding thought keeps rising to the surface: I yearn to go home. My real home.  

Can anybody else relate?

“I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.”

1  Philippians 1:20-24

the king of glory

Psalm 24 really spoke to me today. Please take a minute and read it—trust me, it’s worth your time.

1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

2 for he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the waters.

3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?

Who may stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to an idol

or swear by what is false.

5 He will receive blessing from the LORD

and vindication from God his Savior.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O you gates;

be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

8 Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

the LORD mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O you gates;

lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

10 Who is he, this King of glory?

The LORD Almighty—

he is the King of glory.1

Verses 1-2

Ever wonder who made the earth? The Lord. Ever wonder who “owns” the earth? The Lord.

Verses 3-6

Can just anyone approach the sinless Lord and be blessed? No. Only those who have “clean hands and” pure” hearts, who don’t "lift up” their souls “to an idol,” and who don’t “swear by what is false.”

Translated, only those who are without sin can be blessed and approach God.

Verses 7-10

“Who is” the “King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle… The LORD Almighty—he is the King of glory” (emphasis added).

No surprise here, right? After all, “the earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” And let’s not forget that in order to approach Creator God we must be without sin.

“The LORD Almighty—he is the King of glory.”

Amen and amen.

1  Psalm 24