The weakest team!

“Which is the best team?”, my dad asked one of his grandsons. Of course, the 10-year-old immediately replied ‘Viking’ – the home-team. The boy followed up with a long explanation and solid arguments why the Vikings were so much better than the guests. “Then you can cheer on the Vikings, and I can cheer on the guests” granddad said as they went to watch the match. “Why?” was the grandson’s worried response. “Because the weakest team also needs someone to cheer on them!”, granddad replied.

It was probably said with a ‘twinkle in the eye’, but it also describes my dad’s basic attitude and values: He always took the side of the weakest.

When Jesus died on the cross, he was actually ‘on’ the weakest team with a rebel on each side. But he also died ‘for’ the weakest team:

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:12-13

This statement was Jesus' response to the Pharisees who criticized him for eating with tax collectors and sinners. If the Salvation Army is no longer alongside the weak, we have lost sight of an important part of our calling. That's why General Peddle reminds us to take responsibility. It involves a ‘costly compassion’ for the weak. It means that we must defend others, seek justice, express generosity and participate in redemptive actions (1). When we do this, we begin to learn what ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’ (2) means.

Then we don’t only cheer on the weakest team - we become part of the weakest team - vulnerable like Jesus became, but we also become winners of life!

‘Manna’ for today:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (3)

Blessed Easter!
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(1) ‘A Call to Costly Compassion’ is the second call under the charge to take responsibility, in General Peddle’s Call to Mission.
(2)  Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13

(3) 2 Corinthians 12:9

Did care influence God’s ‘Now’?

When I was a cadet in the “Overcomers Session” 1974-76 in London, the campaign “For God’s sake CARE” had still a strong focus in the profiling of The Salvation Army. 

In 2019, almost 45 years later The Salvation Army in Romania is celebrating 20 years of ministry. They have chosen “Love and Care” to describe what our mission is all about.

I believe love and care will influence God’s ‘Now’, and again I turn to the gospel of John for Biblical support.

Five people who loved Jesus dearly did not abandon him in his darkest hour. Among the five were Mary and John. The little group cared all the way to the foot of the cross. When Jesus saw them standing there, I am sure he cared for all five of them as he cares for all mankind. However, in the last struggle of his life he exemplified what care is all about when he turned to his mother and to John and asked them to care for one another as mother and son.

I am convinced that receiving care and giving care influenced God’s most important ‘Now’ in all eternity = Jesus’ exclamation:

“It is finished.”
John 19:30

In Norwegian we have one word for ‘finished’ that translates “it is brought to full completion” or “it is fulfilled”. Mutual love and care brought the mission to its fulfilment. Life cannot exist without love and care. I can’t care if I am not able to accept care, and I can’t love if I am not able to accept love. When love and care is released, we see God’s ‘Now’ come true and make the fulfilment of the total mission come closer.

‘Manna’ for today:

For God’s Sake, CARE!

To know that someone is praying…

NORSK
I know of many people who do not confess faith, nevertheless they are very grateful that there is someone who is ready to intercede on their behalf. Although I have an intercessor by the throne of God (1), it is so good to know that there are someone praying for me here on earth as well. 

It must have been a great encouragement for the young Timothy to know that his mentor was constantly praying for him:

I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
2 Timothy 1:3

Intercession is important in many contexts, but is a vital element for success in mentoring in a Christian context. The principles of mentoring are the same both in a secular and a spiritual sphere, but in the Christian context, there is also the transmission of experiences that are not of this world. In another letter Paul used considerable space on this subject:

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
1 Corinthians 2:6-7 (2)

Intercession is important as an expression of care, but it is also a recognition that the mission is about far more than the proclamation of doctrines and rules of conduct, it is about spreading of God’s life on earth. This can only happen in spiritual way.

‘Manna’ for today:

There is someone there praying and knowing why!

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(1) E.g.: the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Rom 8:26b-27
(2) It may be helpful to read the entire 1 Corinthians 2

Care for your stomach too!

"Care for the whole person" would be an appropriate headline for the fifth chapter in the first letter Paul wrote to Timothy. I have chosen one verse. It is an example of Paul’s care for Timothy. He did not only care for Timothy’s role as an example or for his spiritual health, but also for his physical health:

Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
1 Timothy 5:23

It is not only in his concern for Timothy Paul expresses his holistic view of a human being. I find it in many of his letters, and here is another example:

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23

More than 45 years of Bible reading has made it increasingly difficult for me to understand how Gnostic thinking could gain entry into Christian doctrine. Gnosticism represents a dualistic view of man: The soul represents something superior, while the body represents something inferior. Throughout the church history, these thoughts have surfaced from time to time. Occasional I meet people who utter statements revealing that such thoughts are alive even in our time. It is sad, because we are created in God’s image as “whole people”. He who made us, loves us as whole people, because he is body, soul and Spirit and remains “One”, and he says:

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13: 34b

Then caring for the whole person is a natural response.

‘Manna’ for today:

It is about caring for the whole person

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