by James Hunt | Dec 3, 2014
Those who know me are aware that I had a dad who suffered from mental illness. There were decades of hardship and not a few difficult memories. But there exists in my repository of adolescent recollections a frosty memory that warms my soul.
It was a cold December day in Casco, a small New England town in southern Maine. My older brother and I were dressed up with snow pants and boots, a thick winter coat we could barely move in, knitted mittens and hat. I believe warm scarfs were also wrapped tightly around our necks to help keep the cold at bay. Our dad was all decked out in winter clothes as well, as he announced the mission for the day. We were going to hike out into the woods and find the perfect Christmas tree!
We were bristling with excitement and ready for the adventure. We walked out of our old, turn of the century, rambling farmhouse and onto the lane that marked a line of separation between our property and the old graveyard across the street. Moving south down the snow-packed road, we veered off into the meadow. Walking instantly became a challenge for my short stature; after all, I was but a child still not yet 10 years old.
The snow was deep, yet our excitement and sheer determination made us plow forward into the woods. If my dad had not been leading the way we would have never ventured out in such conditions. One thing that we found helpful was trying to walk in the tracks my father made in the fresh snow. Somehow it was a bit easier following the path he created.
As I recall, we found a wonderfully green and beautifully-scented evergreen tree, cut it down, and dragged it back through the snow to the house. We presented it with pride to our mother. She did a wonderful job decorating the tree.
I’ll never forget that Christmas hike. It’s a good memory that sits active among others not as pleasant. I’m grateful to be able to have this positive frame of reference of a good day – a day when not all was bad with my father.
I still need to walk in the footsteps of my Dad. No, I don’t want to trace the footprints of my earthly father; after all, he’s with Jesus. Instead, I want to walk the path marked out for me by my Heavenly Father. It’s a path that may include difficulty. But I have found that my Heavenly Father is good and all His plans for me are according to His divine purpose. I can walk through the deep snows and hardships of life knowing that my Father is never out of reach. This knowledge is a treasure I hold more dearly than even the good memories of days gone by.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV84)
by James Hunt | Nov 24, 2014
So what’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word Sodom? Many associate Sodom with sexual immorality. The biblical city of Sodom is so connected with homosexual sin there is a word in current usage describing certain types of sexual acts: Sodomy.[1]
Years ago I heard a preacher say, “If God doesn’t judge America He will have to apologize to Sodom.” Interesting evaluation of what God must do.
The truth is there is more to the sin of ancient Sodom than simply aberrant sexual behavior. As we will see below:
Ezekiel was a prophet who lived and preached to the Southern Kingdom of Judah while it was in the process of being destroyed by Babylon. The prophet writes a scathing rebuke of God’s covenant people. He points out the plethora of ways they have been unfaithful to their Lord. He likens their idolatry to spiritual prostitution; however, unlike physical prostitution where a woman receives a gift or some payment, Ezekiel points out that the people of God paid their lovers simply for the privilege of letting them play the whore. Ezekiel uses caustic and offensive language to help sinners see what their unfaithfulness looks like to the God of the Covenant.
One might think that in a passage where Ezekiel calls them out for their spiritual prostitution that he might use ancient Sodom as an example of their whoring. But he does not. Instead, he uses Sodom as an example of another kind of sin of the people. He writes the following:
“Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, plenty of food, and comfortable security, but didn’t support the poor and needy.” (Ezekiel 16:49, HCSB)
So there you go. Sodom had another sin that served as an example to illustrate to Judah another aspect of her variegated unfaithfulness. God saw the stinginess, the selfishness, the arrogance of a people totally wrapped up in their own self-pleasures and self-promotion … to the detriment of the less fortunate and marginalized among them. God’s destruction of Sodom included judgment for their sexual sin and also for their sin of lack of concern for poor. Ezekiel makes it clear that God considered His own people of the Southern Kingdom of Judah MORE guilty of the same sin Sodom committed – the other sin of Sodom – the sin of prideful unconcern for the poor and needy.
Back to modern times: Does God owe an apology to Sodom for not judging America in her moral decline? I don’t think so. God’s ways and timing exist on a plane of wisdom and understanding far above and beyond our human comprehension.
But perhaps Sodom can serve as an example in our modern times. While we are comparing the moral decline of America to ancient Sodom, perhaps we could also compare the attitude of much of the theologically conservative evangelical church in America to ancient Sodom’s other sin? While we are building our massive structures and exporting our western idealism and rugged individualism, baptized in theology, around the world perhaps we should ask ourselves how we are doing with care of the poor and marginalized among us? God condemned His Old Covenant people partly for not ministering to the needs of the physically suffering. How are we doing?
Thanks be to God for the modern movement of the evangelical Western Church to care for the poor and marginalized in Jesus’ name – even while holding onto to biblical orthodoxy. Some see mission and mercy as cooperating partners of the same grace given to us from the Father and expressed through the sacrifice of the Son.
May effective mission and expressed mercy expand through His New Covenant people. And in doing so, may it redound to the glory of the One who humbled Himself and became one of us – suffered and walked among us – to bring us from darkness to light and from spiritual poverty to eternal riches in Jesus.
[1] Genesis 19:5; 2 Peter 2:6-7; Jude 7
by James Hunt | Nov 10, 2014
I love a good story! Who doesn’t? We are wired for narrative (story). As a child I enjoyed sitting around campfires or hanging out with siblings and sharing stories that would captivate my attention. Furthermore, I am an avid reader. As a young person my mother introduced me to the power of a good written narrative. I entered into many a land and experience vicariously through the fancy of authors who narrated with pen and paper tales of sadness, loss, bravado, and victory.
We humans are drawn to stories of triumph out of tragedy, of gain from loss, of beauty from ashes. This is OUR story as human beings. We recognize the familiar lines when they appear in a narrative’s development. Humans strive for more and for better stretching out into the great unknown but hoped for future. We want our story to have a good ending.
But how does one go about narrating the story of God? Who has a frame of reference informed enough to tell His story?
The Gospel of John begins with the following familiar verse:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, HCSB)
So then, the beginning of God’s story starts with the Word. We see that John’s recounting of the story of God to humans begins with the person of Jesus Christ. John makes is clear that Jesus is divine.
But that’s not all, as verse 14 makes clear:
“The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, HCSB)
The story continues with a twist – Jesus is not only divine; He is also human. The story of God begins with the divine Word who takes on flesh and becomes the God-man. John gives us a bit more insight into God’s story by leading us to the ultimate narrator – to the One eminently qualified to tell the story of God. John writes:
“No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son — the One who is at the Father’s side — He has revealed Him.” (John 1:18, HCSB)
Who is the greatest narrator of God’s story? The Son of God Himself, the Word made flesh. The rest of this fourth Gospel then unfolds the story of God as narrated by Jesus’ life (ministry, miracles, and teachings), as narrated by His atoning death, and His glorious resurrection. What is the story of God? It’s best heard through the narration of Jesus. As a matter of fact, the term translated “revealed” in verse 18 above, could be translated “narrated”. If you want to know God’s story look to Jesus.
The problem is a lot of people, including many of the 11,593[1] kids in the custody of the foster system in the state of Oklahoma don’t really know the story of Jesus. If they don’t know the story of Jesus they don’t know God’s story of grace that will set them free and that will be a healing balm to their wounded souls. Who will tell them?
Maybe we should take some story-telling tips from Jesus. He showed compassion as evidenced by tangible acts of mercy (not simply, “I feel badly for you,” emotional sympathy). And in showing mercy He did not forsake His mission. For Jesus, the narrating of the story of God included showing the compassion of God as well as conveying the mission of God. These two are friends.
How does God want to use you to tell the story of Jesus to a hurting child? Perhaps you cannot foster or adopt. No worries. Not everyone can. But can you pray for families that are? Can you bring a dinner to someone who is caring for children in their home? Can you sponsor an orphaned or marginalized child in a developing country? How about exploring a new option for the Oklahoma City area, Safe Families[2]? This is an opportunities for local churches and host families to care for some of the most fractured families in our local communities. One very unique way to help others tell the story of Jesus is by coming to “The Gift Goes On”[3] shopping bazaar held at the Cube of Council Road Baptist Church on Tuesday night, November 11 from 6-9 p.m. This event has raised nearly $50,000 in the last two years for the Karis Adoption Fund[4]. The Karis fund helps Christian families in Oklahoma who are needing help with adoption funding.
For more information on ways your church or you personally can begin to tell the story of Jesus to hurting children please contact me at 405.503.4092, or, jhunt@councilroad.org.
[1] Accurate as of October 19, 2014
[2] www.safefamiliesok.org/
[3] www.facebook.com/pages/The-Gift-Goes-On/181977351989745
[4] www.karisadoptionfund.org
by James Hunt | Oct 8, 2014
Bible study is not enough. That is not to say that Bible study is unimportant! It’s just not the sum total of what it means to walk with Jesus. According to the letter of James someone who says they have faith must demonstrate it through corresponding action. In other words, James promotes the idea that the proof of genuine faith is evidenced by what we do.
A person that is in right relationship with God will show evidence of that reality in practical ways. For example, in James 1:27 we are told that when we care for orphans and widows and seek to live a holy life we are demonstrating the genuine character of our faith (pure and undefiled religion).
One of the major points of the letter of James is that if you hear God’s Word but you don’t do what it says…it’s not enough.
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:22, NLT)
It’s possible to hear God’s Word, affirm that it is true, and maybe even have a deeply emotional response but then walked away unchanged. To see a need and feel really bad about the pain of others but not actually do something about it is not compassion. Each time it is said of Jesus that He had compassion on someone you see Him doing something about their need.
James 1:27 teaches us that we are to “look after orphans and widows.” This does not mean that we look after them with curiosity alone – keeping our distance though we are made aware of their plight; rather, the sense of this command is that we are to discover what their needs are and run to them to relieve their suffering!
I used to turn away. I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the suffering of the millions of children in this world – poor children who were malnourished, ill-treated, homeless, dying of curable diseases, worm-ridden, bloated-bellied, and orphaned. After all…what can one person do?
God has brought me from apathy to empathy…from primarily an inwardly focused spiritual journey to an externally focused journey. God has led me to become the difference in the life of a child … and do so motivated by the Gospel and the glory of God in Jesus’ name!
I remember seeing the commercials on T.V. some years back – perhaps you’ll remember them: The white-bearded, friendly looking gentleman kneeling beside a poor orphan with squalid conditions on display in the backdrop. I remember cynically turning the channel thinking to myself something like, “Sure, buddy. You’re just using this child as a tool to play on my emotions in an attempt to get my money and use a bunch of it for yourself!”
Though I believe we need to know about the organizations we support I have been given the gift of a changed heart on this issue. No longer does my cynicism shut the door to the cry of the poor and abused orphan. I now weep with the orphan and find myself in the company of Jesus who weeps for them as well.
Bible study is indispensable but it’s not enough. We should be rooted in Scripture and bearing fruit through practical service to the marginalized among us. Would you like ideas on how to begin to introduce your church to the idea of caring for orphans? I’d love to share with you some of the ideas we’ve discovered and implemented over the years at Council Road Baptist Church. Feel free to contact me at jhunt@councilroad.org or call (405) 503-4092.
by James Hunt | Sep 24, 2014
Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt into the Sinai desert. They were free from a tyrannical monarch and came under God’s rule. When God gave the Law, He commanded His people to appear at “the house of the Lord” to corporately acknowledge Him three times a year. In Exodus 23:14-19 Israelites are told to observe three festivals in His honor. Men, in particular, are to make a point of being present on these three occasions. Of course, families accompanied the men.
Fast forward hundreds of years, and the people were spread out in the Land of Promise. The faithful would make the pilgrimages three times a year up to the place of God’s presence in Jerusalem. These journeys were sometimes long and arduous; yet, the anticipation of the festive celebrations that awaited them in Jerusalem motivated them along the way. If we could listen to them as they drew closer to the festival we might be surprised to hear them singing some familiar words and phrases. The book of Psalms records some of these songs. The “Songs of Ascent – Psalms 120-134 … were chanted or sung by religious pilgrims as they made their way up to Jerusalem during the three major religious festivals.”[1]
I don’t know about you but when I get ready to take a trip with my family it’s quite an ordeal. Each year I take a pilgrimage from Oklahoma to south Florida to visit my wife’s side of the family. It’s quite a stressful thing for us to traverse over 1,400 miles with three dogs, four kids and a bearded dragon lizard. By the time we actually near our destination, I can assure you we’re ready to rest.
Psalm 131, one of the Songs of Ascent, is a call to rest for weary pilgrims. There is no doubt this psalm is meant to prepare worshippers for coming into the presence of the Almighty.
Psalm 131
A Davidic song of ascents
1 Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty.
I do not get involved with things too great or too difficult for me.
2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself like a little weaned child with its mother;
I am like a little child.
3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord, both now and forever. [2]
Our minds may swim with deep thoughts and race with the concerns of life; however, sometimes it’s good to simply carve out some space for lightheartedness and rest. Sometimes it’s good to become humble and quiet like a little child resting in the presence of his mother – childishly daydreaming. Perhaps in the presence of the Almighty, this is a good posture to have. Maybe this childlike spirit of hope is a necessary preparation for true worship. What do you think?
[1] IVP Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Old Testament, pg.518
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Ps 131). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.