Not accepting responsibility goes back a long way:

The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Genesis 3.12, 13, ESV)

And we saw it again in game 1 of the National League’s Division Series with Ronald Acuna, the Atlanta Braves center fielder, not running hard after he hit a long fly ball, reducing a double into a single. Speaking through a translator, Acuna insisted, “I mean, I was trying to give my best effort and those are those things that just kind of get away from you.”

No, they don’t “just kind of get away from you.” You didn’t hustle. (To his credit he played harder in the next game while saying things like, “That shouldn’t have happened,” rather than “I should have run harder.”) Acuna’s reaction reminds me of Todd Bertuzzi’s attack on Steve Moore back in 2004, described this way:

With Moore ignoring him, Bertuzzi grabbed Moore’s jersey from behind and punched him in the jaw, then deliberately slammed Moore’s head into the ice as the pair fell…Moore was taken to a hospital where he was treated for three fractured vertebrae in his neck, a grade-three concussion, vertebral ligament damage, stretching of the brachial plexus nerves, and facial lacerations.

Later, Bertuzzi said: “For the kids that watch this game, I’m truly sorry. I don’t play the game that way. And I’m not a mean-spirited person.”

Actually, you do play the game that way: we have the video to prove it!

Accepting responsibility for our actions is the first step toward correcting them, isn’t it? When teaching my sons to play ball, I would say, “OK, next time, let’s do it this way.” Response: “I did do it that way!” “No, if you had done it that way, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” (Exodus 32.22 – 24, ESV, emphasis mine)

I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down. You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. (Psalm 51.3, 4, MSG)

I wrote Thursday about starting Galatians with a small group from church and noticing that Galatians is not bringing us “a new way of being religious,” but a single worldwide family initiated by Jesus’ resurrection.

Today, I just want to mention another very important sentence in Galatians, so important it appears twice:

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (Galatians 5.6, ESV)

For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. (Galatians 6.15, ESV)

I’m sure you’re aware that circumcision was the sign of the covenant that God instituted with Abraham, first discussed in Genesis 17:

And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. (Genesis 17.9, 10, ESV)

Now Paul, a trained Pharisee, a Jew’s Jew (see Philippians 3.4 – 6), says that it doesn’t matter whether one is circumcised or not circumcised! This is radical.

Folks, if circumcision doesn’t matter, there are A LOT of things that don’t matter! When we baptize and how much water we use comes to mind. Worship and music style? Dress code? Hair length? Speaking in tongues?

Here’s what does count from the two verses above and the third time Paul declares that circumcision doesn’t count:

• Faith working through love (Galatians 5.6)
• A new creation (Galatians 6.15)
• Keeping the commandments of God (1 Corinthians 7.19)

I think God is calling us to fewer lines drawn between us and more following Jesus.

So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit…So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God. Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. (Romans 14.10 – 13, MSG)

This is being published on Sputnik Day, October 4, the 62nd anniversary of the Soviet Union’s launch of the first orbiting satellite, back in 1957. I remember it well, having just started sixth grade. Just 13 years later, I found myself tracking Sputnik’s successors from a radar site in Turkey.

Of course, Sputnik kicked off the space race, culminating in the U.S. putting men on the moon, July 20, 1969, which I wrote about five times during the 50th anniversary week.

Those were exciting times, and I’m glad that we were able to develop the technology for the Apollo moon program; technology that, by the way, laid the foundation for many of the things we enjoy today. I’m also glad that people like Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, is spending his time these days applying technology to other pressing problems.

When he and his wife, Melinda, read that huge numbers of children in the world are still dying before the age of five from diarrhea, they jumped on it. They discovered that the issue is not just lack of clean water, it’s the lack of sanitation. So the Gates challenged scientists and manufacturers to develop self-contained toilets and sewage treatment plants, devices that can run without being connected to electricity or running water. And they are succeeding!

Some people would say that the Gates are contributing to Shalom – the Hebrew word for peace – but not just the absence of conflict but human flourishing.

Shalom: peace, safety, prosperity, well-being; intactness, wholeness; peace…

Bringing sustainable sanitation to the developing world is a worthy endeavor, an astounding use of technology. It’s also an example of good things that are happening in the word that don’t make news! (That’s another whole subject!) By the way, I learned about the Gates’ sanitation work in the first episode of the Netflix 3-part series called Inside Bill’s Brain.

Seek the peace [shalom] and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29.7, NIV)

I recently read Andy Stanley’s new book Irresistible, and while I’m still mulling over some of the content, I’m coming into strong agreement that we tend to make the gospel too complicated. When the early church was getting started, for the first couple centuries, there was no New Testament, and for the Gentiles that Paul and others preached to, there was no “Old Testament” either! So what did they preach? Simply the resurrection.

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4.33, ESV)

Paul, addressing the sophisticated Athenians said:

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17.30, 31, ESV, emphasis mine)

Our church has just started small groups to study Galatians from now until Advent, and the main message, boiled down, is quit adding stuff! Let’s focus on Jesus, his death and resurrection. 

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1.1 – 5, ESV, emphasis mine)

Our study guide was written by N. T. Wright, and I really like this early comment:

The gospel isn’t a system of salvation or a new way of being religious. It’s the announcement that Jesus, the crucified Messiah, is exalted as Lord of the whole world; therefore he is calling into existence a single worldwide family.

It’s not “a new way of being religious.” One of our group members has been reflecting recently on her spiritual journey. She came out of one pseudo-Christian religious system based entirely on works and keeping certain ritualistic practices only to find herself moving from one church to another trying to learn, in N.T. Wright’s words, the right “new way of being religious.”

Finally, she is realizing how much God loves her and is learning to enjoy her freedom in Christ.

I could go on and on about this, but I’d better stop for now! I’ll close with this: the Apostle Paul was very clear in Galatians in a verse one of our group members thinks is the most important verse in the book. (It’s hard to choose just one, but he might be right!)

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. (Galatians 2.21, MSG)

The next day, as he left Bethany, Jesus was feeling hungry. He noticed a leafy fig tree in the distance, so he walked over to see if there was any fruit on it, but there was none—only leaves (for it wasn’t yet the season for bearing figs). Jesus spoke to the fig tree, saying, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” And the disciples overheard him. (Mark 11.12 – 14, Passion Translation)

Jesus “spoke to” the fig tree. Peter interpreted it as a curse in verse 21, but the text doesn’t directly say so. Nevertheless, the fig tree died:

In the morning, they passed by the fig tree that Jesus spoke to and it was completely withered from the roots up. (Mark 11.20, Passion Translation)

It’s almost as if the fig tree understood what Jesus said to it and decided that if it wasn’t going to bear fruit, there was no reason for it to stick around!

Fruit is important; that’s why Jesus had so much to say about it.

I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father. He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest. The words I have spoken over you have already cleansed you. So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine. I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless. (John 15.1 – 5, Passion Translation)

Another sterling observation from Seth Godin on September 29:

It’s worth remembering that if someone knows how to do something, that means, with sufficient effort, you could probably learn it too. You might not be willing to put in the time and effort, but it’s learnable.

It reminds me about 20 years ago when I was teaching a Sunday School class with my friend Chris Morton, now serving with The Navigators in England. At the time Chris would have been about 30 years old. We were discussing a particular scripture and where it was, and one of the class members said, “Oh, you guys just know everything.”

I said, “No, actually we don’t, but we have been intentional about learning the scripture. Besides, Chris has been a believer only about five years. Today we’re teaching the book of Ruth. If you pay attention, you, too, can be knowledgeable.” (And, of course, it’s not just knowledge for its own sake; it’s putting the Word into practice.)

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. (Isaiah 28.10, KJV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1.22 – 25, NIV)

I was with the American Baptists at their annual regional gathering Thursday and Friday of last week. It’s always a fun time, especially when I’m able to connect with a few pastors whom I’ve seen over the years and who’ve bought books I’ve recommended. At least one, James Conley, from rural Delta, Colorado, has actually put some of the ideas into practice! (And, he reads this blog on most days, so, hi, James, it was good to visit with you!)

They meet in a different place every year, and this year we were at Central Baptist in the Denver Five Points district, “The Historic Heart of Denver’s African-American Community,” according to a nearby sign. The church building itself was lovely, and their people who worked with us during the Gathering couldn’t have been nicer.

That said, what struck me was that there were four congregations within 50 yards of the intersection of California and 25th streets: Central Baptist, upper left in the picture, our host; Absolute Word Church, using the old sanctuary of Central Baptist, upper right in the picture and on the backside of Central Baptist; Agape Christian Church, lower left; and a map, lower right, showing the locations of Central Baptist, Agape Christian, and Kingdom of Glory Christian Center, across the parking lot from Central Baptist.

I said four churches within 50 yards of that intersection. About 150 yards from the intersection, behind Central Baptist, is a city park where the homeless seem to gather, maybe 50 or more people, mostly white, by the way, the days I was there. Hence signs at the entrances to Central Baptist, too small to be seen in the picture:

No Trespassing

There wasn’t a No Trespassing sign at the Denver Public Library facility also sharing the parking lot with Central Baptist. In fact, it appeared that a lot of homeless were using the computers.

I’ve titled this blog “Observations” for a reason. These are just things I saw. All four churches might be doing all they can for the needy in their vicinity. If I were a leader in one of those churches, I don’t know specifically what I would be doing or encouraging our people to do. But what I saw in the few hours I was there seemed a bit incongruous.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25.34 – 40, ESV)

Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. (James 1.27, MSG)

I saw something new in Mark’s account of the Triumphal Entry:

Now, as they were approaching Jerusalem, they arrived at the place of the stables near Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead and said to them, “As soon as you enter the village ahead, you will find a donkey’s colt tethered there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it to me. And if anyone asks, ‘Why are you taking it?’ tell them, ‘The master needs it and will send it back to you soon.’” (Mark 11.1 – 3, Passion Translation)

Bruce Simmons, the Passion translator, wrote a note mentioning that this is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus needs something:

Only once in the Gospels do we see Jesus ever needing anything. In this case he needed a donkey. More than one commentator has seen a picture here of how the Lord “needs” every believer to be his representative in the world. (Passion Translation note on Mark 11.3)

It reminds me that the only thing Jesus declared a shortage of was people:

When he saw the vast crowds of people, Jesus’ heart was deeply moved with compassion, because they seemed weary and helpless, like wandering sheep without a shepherd. He turned to his disciples and said, “The harvest is huge and ripe! But there are not enough harvesters to bring it all in.” (Matthew 9.36, 37, Passion Translation)

Back to the donkey. Pressed into service, do you think anyone noticed the donkey? It wasn’t his job to be noticed! It was his job to display Jesus. 

And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. (Jeremiah 45.5, ESV)

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John the Baptist as quoted in John 3.30, ESV)

I recently had lunch with a friend who was bemoaning the fact that some of the men in his small group seem to have trouble getting into the discipline (and joy) of daily time with God. It’s an ongoing challenge to those of us who give ourselves to discipling people. The skill isn’t hard, but starting is hard.

I’ve suggested a number of reasons, including Matthew Kelly’s observation that maybe people don’t want transformation, and therefore, they avoid spending time in the Word.

But it could be that the men honestly feel like they don’t have time. “I’m working so hard at work…I’ve got three kids at home…life is just crazy right now…when it smooths out, then I’ll have time to spend with God. Some day I’ll do it. Some day I’ll have more time.

I’m reminded of (and challenged by) by S.D. Gordon’s often-quoted observation:

The great people of the earth today are the people who pray! I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor those who explain prayer; but I mean those who actually take the time to pray. They have not time. It must be taken from something else. That something else is important, very important and pressing, but still, less important and pressing than prayer. There are people who put prayer first, and group the other items in life’s schedule around and after prayer. (emphasis mine)

And there’s the issue: we find time to do what we think is important.

And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. (Proverbs 8.32 – 35, ESV)

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2.1 – 5, ESV)

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1.35, ESV)

I’m always fascinated by the story of the blind man in Mark 10 (also Luke 18).

When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth was passing by, he began to shout “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me now in my affliction. Heal me!” Those in the crowd were indignant and scolded him for making so much of a disturbance, but he kept shouting with all his might, “Son of David, have mercy on me now and heal me!” (Mark 10.47, 48, Passion Translation)

This time I noticed the ruckus that he made. “He began to shout…” and he was scolded “for making so much of a disturbance, but he kept shouting with all his might…”

Now Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to do something very important! But he stopped.

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him to come to me.” So they went to the blind man and said, “Have courage! Get up! Jesus is calling for you!” So he threw off his beggars’ cloak, jumped up, and made his way to Jesus. Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The man replied, “My Master, please, let me see again!” Jesus responded, “Your faith heals you. Go in peace, with your sight restored.” All at once, the man’s eyes opened and he could see again, and he began at once to follow Jesus, walking down the road with him. (Mark 10.49 – 52, Passion Translation)

What do I want so badly that I’m willing to make a little noise either literally or metaphorically? Do I cry out for the lost or straying people in my life? Am I begging for more influence? For men to invest time in so they can become disciple-makers? Or do I think I have everything I need already?

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! (1 Chronicles 4.10, NIV)

We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged. (2 Corinthians 10.15, ESV)

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3.17, ESV)