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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Who Are You When No One Is Looking?"
March 13, 2008
Have you ever said something and then immediately wished you could take
it back? Have you ever done something and then wondered why you did
it? The truth is that so much of what we say and do is automatic. We get
on a topic and words just seem to flow out even before we think. Just ask
Geraldine Ferraro. We make a decision that seems right one night and
when morning comes we ask ourselves what we were thinking. Eliot
Spitzer knows all about that.
In the media frenzy surrounding these two high profile politicians, I was
reminded of the scriptural story of the woman caught in adultery and
Jesus' response. Jesus looked at the angry mob and simply said, "He who
is without sin should cast the first stone." As the group confronted their
own failings, they each dropped their stones and walked away. The point
of that story is that we need to be mindful of our own actions and make
sure we are without reproach before we try to hold others accountable for
their sins. We need to leave the judging to God.
As I said earlier the biggest problem in facing our own guilt is that so
much of what we say and do happens before we really think about it. We
let our emotions, our past experiences, our habitual behavior rule our day
to day life. Bill Hybils, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in
suburban Chicago, wrote a short book entitled, "Who are you when no
one is looking?" The book suggests that many of us try to put forward a
positive image in our public life. We play by the rules and say all the right
things. But too often when no one is around we let our real self shine
through. Our insecurities, our anger, our prejudice, our hatred all rise to
make us someone we do not want the world to see.
The good news is that if we recognize this and turn to Christ, he tells us
we can become a new creation. He promises that if we spend time in His
Word and in prayer, we will be renewed inside and out. The Scriptures tell
us that His love will flow through us and make us more caring and
compassionate people. His forgiveness will set us free to be more
forgiving of ourselves and others. We will begin to live life differently.
This is what happened to people like Mother Theresa, Jimmy Carter, Billy
Graham and Martin Luther King Jr. They weren't born with any greater
gift of compassion than you or I was. The difference in their lives was an
encounter with Christ that changed them.
I know that is what I want. The other night I was overjoyed to find out
that it actually does happen more naturally in my life now. A few weeks
ago I was at a basketball game and our team was really beating the other
team. At half time our coach took the kids aside and talked to them about
playing the game with honor and not embarrassing the other side. I echoed
the coach’s words. I also told them that win or lose I was always proud
of them.
As I was leaving, a gentleman called out to me. He was associated with
the other team. He simply wanted to say that he appreciated what I had
said to the kids. He said too often in sports it is all about winning at all
costs. He was pleased to hear we were preaching a different message to
the kids, a message about respect and fair play. I got in my car and tears
came to my eyes. What I said came from my heart. It wasn't an act. I
didn't expect anyone to hear it. I just praised God that this was one of
those moments where God was able to shine through me. I pray that your
walk with Christ will deepen and that before long you and I will both be
the people God wants us to be, even when no one is looking.
God Bless! See you in church. Cal.
March 13, 2008
Have you ever said something and then immediately wished you could take
it back? Have you ever done something and then wondered why you did
it? The truth is that so much of what we say and do is automatic. We get
on a topic and words just seem to flow out even before we think. Just ask
Geraldine Ferraro. We make a decision that seems right one night and
when morning comes we ask ourselves what we were thinking. Eliot
Spitzer knows all about that.
In the media frenzy surrounding these two high profile politicians, I was
reminded of the scriptural story of the woman caught in adultery and
Jesus' response. Jesus looked at the angry mob and simply said, "He who
is without sin should cast the first stone." As the group confronted their
own failings, they each dropped their stones and walked away. The point
of that story is that we need to be mindful of our own actions and make
sure we are without reproach before we try to hold others accountable for
their sins. We need to leave the judging to God.
As I said earlier the biggest problem in facing our own guilt is that so
much of what we say and do happens before we really think about it. We
let our emotions, our past experiences, our habitual behavior rule our day
to day life. Bill Hybils, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in
suburban Chicago, wrote a short book entitled, "Who are you when no
one is looking?" The book suggests that many of us try to put forward a
positive image in our public life. We play by the rules and say all the right
things. But too often when no one is around we let our real self shine
through. Our insecurities, our anger, our prejudice, our hatred all rise to
make us someone we do not want the world to see.
The good news is that if we recognize this and turn to Christ, he tells us
we can become a new creation. He promises that if we spend time in His
Word and in prayer, we will be renewed inside and out. The Scriptures tell
us that His love will flow through us and make us more caring and
compassionate people. His forgiveness will set us free to be more
forgiving of ourselves and others. We will begin to live life differently.
This is what happened to people like Mother Theresa, Jimmy Carter, Billy
Graham and Martin Luther King Jr. They weren't born with any greater
gift of compassion than you or I was. The difference in their lives was an
encounter with Christ that changed them.
I know that is what I want. The other night I was overjoyed to find out
that it actually does happen more naturally in my life now. A few weeks
ago I was at a basketball game and our team was really beating the other
team. At half time our coach took the kids aside and talked to them about
playing the game with honor and not embarrassing the other side. I echoed
the coach’s words. I also told them that win or lose I was always proud
of them.
As I was leaving, a gentleman called out to me. He was associated with
the other team. He simply wanted to say that he appreciated what I had
said to the kids. He said too often in sports it is all about winning at all
costs. He was pleased to hear we were preaching a different message to
the kids, a message about respect and fair play. I got in my car and tears
came to my eyes. What I said came from my heart. It wasn't an act. I
didn't expect anyone to hear it. I just praised God that this was one of
those moments where God was able to shine through me. I pray that your
walk with Christ will deepen and that before long you and I will both be
the people God wants us to be, even when no one is looking.
God Bless! See you in church. Cal.
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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