What Is the Culture of Heaven?

By Brenda J. Davis

Oh, yesterday’s sermon was a good one: “Being Different Together.” Embracing differences is a huge subject for me, so I particularly enjoyed this message from pastor Joel Hunter. But it really got me thinking--again.

Most of you know it can be a real exercise in Christian love to have to embrace people who don’t share your views or understanding on things. But if you really think about it, aren’t you glad we’re not all alike? Right now would be a good time to recall how hard it is to deal with people with whom you share the same personality defects. Who would want to be around a bunch like that? Ouch!

Have you ever wondered why God made us so much alike but so different? Pastor Hunter basically feels that as Christians, we cannot fully mature without exposure to other people who are different from ourselves. Aha, so that’s why He allowed this!

For many of us, the discomfort we feel when we’re around people of other races and cultures is enough to cause us to limit our choices about where we go, work, live and worship. Indeed, fear of others’ differences can define who we accept, befriend and love.

I’ve always wanted to be who God made me to be, but for as long as I can remember differences I observed in others fascinated me. I grew up black in the South in the 60s, but prejudice, fear and hatred were not things I was taught as a child. That stuff didn’t go with my folks Christianity, so it just wasn’t tolerated around our house. I know that’s not the case for everyone.

Even Christians can in practice, if not in theory, embrace prejudice toward other believers who are of a different race or culture or (dare I say it) denomination.

Recently, I was reading Walt Larimore’s book, Bryson City Secrets, and I was shocked to read that he had to work to overcome the prejudice that had been so much a part of his upbringing in the South. I first met Dr. Walt, as he is known, and his wife, Barb, nearly 20 years ago, and he’s been a frequent contributor to SpiritLed Woman in the last few years.

Admittedly, it was his coming to a pure faith in Christ that showed him the need to change; and he did. He changed so much that I never knew this was his history. My uncovering that bit of personal information in his biographical novel made me wonder how many people would have a similar testimony.

How were you taught to handle differences among believers? Today, when you’re confronted with a culture, language, race or even worship style that is different from your own do you find yourself inching closer and closer to the door? Or do you take advantage of the chance to build a bridge or maybe learn something new?

The Scriptures tell us: “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph. 2:21-22, NIV).

Having the freedom to choose where we go and with whom is a beautiful thing, but what are we going to do about heaven?

What Does Your Worship Say?

You'd think that after following Christ for so long, I would have heard more than enough messages on the love of God. But recently, I had the privilege of attending a wonderful meeting conducted by John and Carol Arnot, pastors of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship.

One of the passages referred to was Luke 7:36-50, in which a woman encountered Jesus at a Pharisee's home and began to worship Him--washing his feet with her tears, drying them with her hair and then anointing them with expensive oil. Some of those in attendance were critical of the woman’s display of affection, so Jesus shared with them a story that explained what they were seeing and also revealed something to them about themselves.

Jesus said: ‘“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”’ (Luke 7:41-42.)

Simon offered the correct response, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more” (v.43). Then Jesus applied the truth in this story to the current situation: ‘“You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little’” (v.46).

Bible commentary writer Matthew Henry offered this insight: “The loving much was not the cause but the effect of [the woman’s] pardon, and of her comfortable sense of it; for we love God because he first loved us; he did not forgive us because we first loved him.”

The Pharisees didn’t know that the level of love they exhibited betrayed the self-righteousness and ingratitude in their hearts. But the woman had a profound understanding of what it meant to pour out her love to Jesus.

Her extravagant worship was in response to and effected by His extravagant love for her. Loving God means forever being mindful of the fact that before we knew Him or could offer a gesture of worship or the first word of praise, He perfectly and completely loved us.

Brenda J. Davis is editor of SpiritLed Woman.

NO SUBSTITUTE FOR OBEDIENCE

In my devotional time recently, I came across a teaching by A.W. Tozer, in which he shared his thoughts on why we don't readily see the answers to our prayers for revival. He wrote: "Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late - and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work.

“To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.”

Not only does Tozer’s reasoning apply to the topic of spiritual revival and renewal, I believe it has great bearing on other aspects of the Christian life as well. We know from King Saul’s troubles in 1 Samuel 15 that God is very specific as to what He requires of us, and an unwanted substitute will not be welcomed.
In seeking to have and do the will of God, the prerequisite for His favor is simple to do what He tells us to do (see 1 Sam. 15:1-23). Obedience is better. Even prayer cannot take its place.

Brenda J. Davis is editor of SpiritLed Woman.

WHEN ANSWERS AREN'T ENOUGH

Many of you have walked through times when everything you knew to be true about God didn't seem to bring you the kind of comfort you desired. I can certainly identify.

The days since my mother's passing have been exhilarating and exhausting. Along with my family, we have grieved the loss of her presence with us and celebrated all the things she exemplified through her life.

I have desired to come through this time of grief and separation in victory. To that end, I’ve poured out my heart to the Lord, worshiped Him and quoted the Scriptures aloud and in my heart.

I am doing all this and more, but it is not what I know about God right now that carries me. Victory in this life is assured because we know Him. It is by His grace that daily, in spite of our grief, our struggles and our disappointments we can go on.

I believe there are some times in our lives when we need to leave off trying so hard to “behave.” We can work so hard to show God how brave we are that we fail to avail ourselves of His comfort. Some situations require the balm of His presence without words or actions, just spiritual communion with the Father who loves us and knows us so well.

I am so thankful for God’s ability to keep me going. Paul wrote: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57). I feel I am only beginning to learn how to simply trust Him. Nothing short of that will honor my mother’s memory or bring Him glory.

Brenda J. Davis is editor of spiritledwoman.com.