Triangular Facets of the Christian Life

Innumerable times I have plunged into a book sale and sifted through mountainous piles of books then walked away having found a treasure. Now I’m coming around to the idea that instead of having found the book, the book found me. As I write I’m looking at a shelf that holds a book from the Tattered Bookstore in Denver, another from a discount store in Lancaster County, another at a Borders shop in Kansas City and yet another from Ollie’s here in our home town. Each is an unearthed treasure that uncannily proved to be just the theme or idea I needed at that time in my life.

Last weekend while the girls were at the Dare 2 Share Conference in Dayton, Diana and I went to a local mom and pop Italian eatery. The parking lot was packed so we decided to pass some time just down the road at Ollie’s. While we browsed I was found by Grounded in the Gospel. It’s a book that points out the triangular facets of the Christian life – the truth, the life, the way. Some see it as the commitments of the early church in Acts 2:42 – the apostle’s teaching, the breaking of bread and prayer, the fellowship.

I needed the clarity it gave on these balanced facets of our faith. The three are equally important and when any one is neglected or wrongly emphasized then unhealthiness ensues. So what are these facets? First we have truth that has been revealed. These teachings comprise the doctrines we study, believe and proclaim about God. Second we have the abundant life we possess in Christ. Through the regenerating and transforming work of the Spirit, we enjoy intimate communion with God. Third we have the way we live with others. These are our actions within the context of personal relationships as we live in obedience to God.

I’m thinking to write more on the idea in the coming posts. Mostly because of something I recently learned about writing. Writing isn’t always to inform someone else. Sometimes it’s for the writer. It affords me an opportunity to explore and discover what I believe about something. It is a chance to put into words what’s swimming around in my head – learning by writing. I believe the triangular facets of the Christian life are worth my exploration.

Parable of the Butterflies

The butterflies were on display at a Bed and Breakfast where the couple had stopped on their travels. On first sight they were captivated by the variety of specimens pinned to the boards. After an evening of tasty food, shopping and conversation they were drawn back to the butterflies. The colors, the designs, the shapes, the sizes created in them an interest to know more.

Arriving home days later they began a search of websites that could increase their understanding. They learned that their name is derived from the original pre-8th century word buturfliog, there are approximately 24,000 different types of butterfly species worldwide, they can see red, green, and yellow, they can range in size from a tiny 1/8 inch to a huge almost 12 inches, and the difference between the Danaus plexippus, the Lampides boeticus and the Vanessa cardui.

Books were purchased. Details were extracted. A lifetime of study began.

A second couple became intrigued with butterflies and began learning about them as well. One day they made the serendipitous discovery of a butterfly world in the backyard. They were amazed at watching the unpredictable patterns of a butterfly in flight. They marveled at the intricate design and color of slowly flapping wings. The emergence from a cocoon was breath taking. A field of butterflies took on the qualities of a master painter. Soon they begin to see butterflies in the greater context of flowers, sun, birds, trees and spring.

More than once they travelled to butterfly reserves where the Monarchs emerged. Arriving early in the morning they climbed narrow hilly paths into the dense forest to be surrounded by thousands and thousands of butterflies. What a remarkable experience it was to see them weighing down the branches of trees, perching on a hand, filling the air with color, inspiring laughter and creating a symphony of beauty.

It proved to be a lifetime of learning. Rounded out by the wonder of it all.

Onward, Forward – The Story Box

At first glance it is nothing more than an old cheap blue plastic notebook. Thumb through the pages and you’ll find the names of over 140 individuals – those who supported us during a two year odyssey in our lives. At some point Daniel took it upon himself to total those columns; $30,280, all unsolicited.

I find that old plastic blue notebook priceless. Because of the stories. Because of the names of people. Most of all, because it is a tangible reminder of God’s doings. It grounds us in what He has already done and gives us confidence of what He might do again.

Let me go afield here for and minute for some needed clarification. When I reflect upon our journey of faith and prayer, I am in no way insinuating that God gave into our selfishness. As a matter of fact some of His clearest leading was when we received a “no” to what we wanted.

None of us should expect that we can manipulate the Almighty into a Lamborghini in the driveway, a promotion to be president of the company, our children making the game winning shot to win the state championship, or an all expense paid vacation to the Bahamas.

As we seek God with our hearts, as we are guided by the mind of Christ, then we can expect that He will meet our needs, work things out for good, direct our paths, answer prayer and call others to new birth and freedom.

Living by faith is never out-dated. We all go from stage to stage, circumstance to circumstance, season of life to season of life. Each gives us a fresh wake-up call to trust in the faithfulness of God. And I can say with confidence that without faith it is impossible to please Him.

As we move onward and forward there will be some uncertainty, maybe a lot of uncertainty. There will be some doubts and doubters. There will be some risk. That’s just the nature and environment of faith. But as Elizabeth Elliot reminds us, “There is no need for faith where there is no consciousness of an element of risk.”

Not How, But Who!

There were many Scriptures, notes and stories that encouraged us on our journey. One of my favorites was by Wheaton College president Raymond Edman in his book Out of My Life. He is telling of a conversation he had with Roland Bingham the founder and director of Sudan Interior Mission (now called Serving In Missions). Dr. Edman had asked, “Of all the many answers to prayer in your lifetime of service for our Lord, which was the most wonderful or unusual?”

Dr. Bingham replied slowly and thoughtfully, “There are many answers to prayer which I could relate. You see, there are many promises in the Scriptures, a promise of God for every kind of circumstance that may arise.

“Perhaps the most striking answer that God has used as a source of strength in my life and to the missionaries in Nigeria is one that took place some years ago. A great opportunity for advance on the mission field had been presented to the missionaries. Word had been written to us, followed by a cable, to say that $10,000 was needed immediately for the property and equipment indispensable for that advance. We had no such sum in the Toronto office nor anywhere in sight.

“To be sure, we made earnest prayer that the Lord would guide and provide, as He has promised in His Word. Just at that time I had an appointment to speak at a Bible conference in a distant city. As I journeyed by train to the conference, my mind was much occupied with the urgent need in Nigeria, with importunate prayer that the Lord would undertake for us in our perplexity.

“That evening after the conference session, I was entertained in the home of some friends before returning to Toronto by the morning train. My host said to me, ‘Brother Bingham, you brought a Bible message this evening and did not mention anything about missions.’ To this I replied that such was my assignment.

“Then he said, ‘as we have devotions before retiring, perhaps there is some need on the mission field for which we should pray.’ Then I shared with them the urgent word from Nigeria. Imagine my astonishment when he said to me, ‘That’s fine! I will give you $10,000 at once for that project!’

“You can understand that I could hardly sleep that night for sheer joy of heart. On the train as I was returning to Toronto, my heart was filled with overflowing gratitude to God for His goodness to us. As soon as I arrived in the office, I planned to cable the mission headquarters in Nigeria to go forward at once with the new project.

“Suddenly the Lord spoke very quietly to me by His Spirit. That you understand, I am sure. Not with some outer sound, but by the still small voice of the Spirit in the depths of my heart He made the inquiry: ‘Why are you so happy?’

“Dear Lord how wonderful that prayer has been answered so quickly and completely! Ten thousand dollars in one gift, in one night, and without the slightest thought on my part that these dear friends could or would make such a gift!

“Then the Lord said, ‘Do you have the money?’

“No, my Lord, our friend did not have the money in his pocket to give me, but he promised to go to the bank this morning and send it to us without delay.

“Again the Lord spoke, saying, ‘All you have is his promise?’

“Yes, my Lord, but I am sure he will mail that check this morning.”

“Then the Lord said very quietly to me, ‘Strange! Yesterday when you were on the train going to that conference you had My promise, but you were not very happy about it. Now you have a man’s promise and your heart is filled with joy and confidence!”

“That answer to prayer, and that deep searching rebuke from the Lord, is quite possibly the most striking answer to prayer I have had; at least, it has been the most instructive.”

Dr. Edman goes on to give this thoughtful insightful, “The substance of the lesson is not how prayer will be answered, but Who answers prayer. Not how, but who!

“This constitutes one of the deepest lessons of God’s people to learn. In time of problems and perplexities for which there seems to be no answer or any source of help, our natural temptation is to want to know how pray can be answered. This is a subtle way to walk by sight, and not by faith. On the contrary, if the difficulty and distress cause us to draw closer to the God of all grace and comfort, we shall come to know Him better, and leave to Him the matter of answering prayer in His own way.”

Photos taken by Daniel on his 2009 trip to Kenya and Burundi

It’s About His Faithfulness

I looked over at the clock. It was just after four in the morning, and I was wide awake. Hoping to get back to sleep, I turned over…again and again. It was no use. Finally I wore down and fell asleep just before day break. I had never experienced sleeplessness before this. Now I routinely awoke in the middle of night feeling overwhelmed, with questions racing through my mind. Am I crazy? What am I doing to my family? How are we going to pay our bills? Why am I dragging my wife through this? Is this just a flight of fancy?

I wasn’t only facing my own doubts but the doubts of others also. Often it came in the form of a blank stare and silence when we tried to explain. Occasionally it came from words of discouragement. From a mission leader, “The only reason this works for you is because of contextualization. Churches in the south understand the need. It would never work in Chicago.” From a mission’s recruiter, “You can’t eat faith!” And from a church leader, “God doesn’t work that way anymore.”

Doubt erodes faith. On the other hand, we are only kidding ourselves if we say we never have bouts with it. One lesson I have learned about faith (and doubt) is that it is not so much about my faith as it is about His faithfulness. God is the one who made the promises, and He is the one who keeps them. It rests on His character, not my ability to have a giant faith. Ups and downs are par for the course. Doubts do come. In it all He remains faithful. Our trust is in God not in ourselves.

Both God’s words and works gave us blazing beacons of His faithfulness. Psalms were particularly encouraging, “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” * As for the works, I do not have time to tell about luggage and laptop computers, squash, tomatoes and apple butter, the couple who handed us a gift early on with the words, “For your start of a walk of faith.” A complete stranger from New Orleans who sent a check, and a missionary couple from Liberia who took us to dinner and told African stories to our children. The telephone call asking if I could use a pair of shoes not knowing I was living with cracked soles. And there’s one of the most amazing of all, nine separate gifts totaling $1500 when we were within days of no way to pay our bills.

It leaves no doubt in my mind that faith is not about my ability to walk on water but about His faithfulness.

*(Psalm 9:10 as well as 3:5-5; 6:6; 25:3; 42:5; 69:15-18; 78:4-8; 111:5; 119:90)