Is that a Threat or a Promise?

30 plus years later, at the drop of a hat I can still sing so many of the songs I learned as a little girl growing up in the 80’s in Sunday School. Can you see the group of little people gathered in tiny wooden chairs that would pinch through thick white tights and frilly dress if they sat on them just wrong? Can you see the massive upright piano in the corner? Can you see the tiny swirly chair that only the pianist could sit on? Maybe there is a hot seat treat under someone’s chair as all the little voices sing together

These little ears heard those words and sang them loudly, but later, I’m not sure exactly when, these words would reverberate with a touch of threat and fear. Add in some serious behavior management anxiety and the purity of a faith walk with Jesus can be seriously clouded at an early age.  Funny isn’t it, how “The Father up above looking down in love” bit didn’t seem to resonate as strongly or stick with me as long as all the “be careful’s”. How quickly things can turn into judgment and even behavioral management “leadership by measuring stick”.  Judging or leading with a stick screams of a Christian world view dictated by threat and not promise.

Why does it seem so much easier to try to measure our faith than receive it? Why is it so easy to slip into behavior management rather than grace?

Instead, they are clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. They won’t go along with God’s way. For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God.  Romans 10: 3-4

Some of us have sensationalized the behaviors of our Christian walk in opposition to the modern world, rather than highlighted the promise of walking with Christ in it.

Why is it that the threats in the Word can seem to overshadow the promise?

Reminds me of the book of Matthew, chapter 10. Packed with instructions, Jesus commissions his disciples to go out into communities and some seriously scary situations to share what they’ve learned from hanging out with him. He gives them permission and power to be like him in the world. He does not promise it would be easy at all, and frankly it sounded pretty scary.

Again, as a young person I spent a good bit of time considering some of those fearful situations. If I talked about Jesus at school would I be unaccepted, put in dangerous situations, would people hate me? Was I up for all that? The ‘Don’t’s’ and ‘Beware’s’ jumped off the page. Somehow I missed the point that “The Kingdom of heaven (Jesus) has come near.”

So, do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. Matthew 10:26

For years this chapter and verse terrified me. I heard the threat of sins exposed but never the promise of a life transparency without fear of exposure or secrets. As a mother of four the temptation to grab one of these verses and growl them out over the heads of my children from time to time can certainly be there; but when I sit with the passage and really listen, really hear, what I hear is “The Father up above looking down in love…”. Over and over again he tells us how to live a life of freedom, how not to be afraid. Over and over again he paints the picture of the troubles and difficulties holding little weight in the face of our private relationship with Him. He promises despite all that I will live through, witness, and yes even suffer, he will be everything I need, and be ever near in this messy world. All I have to do is believe.

For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10: 10-11

Some of us have sensationalized the threat of our Christian walk in the modern world, rather than highlighted the assurance that Christ will hold up in it.

What would happen if as leaders we changed our focus from monitoring our behavior? The behavior of others? What if we paid attention to the transforming power and work of Jesus’ presence in our own very real lives, and the very real lives of those around us?