Like Vinegar Poured on Soda

‘God’s timing is perfect.’ (Habakkuk 2:3) ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1-15) ‘God will never give you more than you can handle.’ (1 Corinthians 10:13)  Have you ever heard these ‘one-liners' spoken to you when you’re in a time of pain or turmoil? If you have, you know that it’s not helpful to the situation and it sure doesn’t feel good.

“Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda is one who sings songs to the heavy hearted.” Proverbs 25:20. Anyone who has ever mixed vinegar and soda … or had a child who wanted to simulate a volcanic eruption, knows what the outcome is when you mix the two. What about giving up a jacket or coat when it’s cold? When you’re already cold, the loss of that garment only makes the cold worse. This proverb from the Bible is telling us that being upbeat and joyful when someone’s heart is heavy only makes it worse for them.

In John, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus when Lazarus, their brother, was sick and dying. Jesus got word of this, but then delayed for two days before he went to Bethany where they were. Lazarus had already died by the time He arrived. The family and friends of Lazarus were saddened and mourning at his death. The Bible then tells us that Jesus wept. Jesus met those who loved Lazarus where they were … in the moment.

Before Lazarus had died, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s son may be glorified through it.’ John 11:4 So, when Jesus said this, He already knew what was going to take place. He knew that He would tarry where He was and that Lazarus would be dead and in the grave when He arrived in Bethany. He also knew that He was going to resurrect Lazarus from the dead … yet … Jesus wept. Jesus could have shown up and ripped off a few one liners telling the family and friends of Lazarus that all was going to be fine … that God’s timing was perfect, and so on and so on. But, He didn’t. Jesus met the people where they were. He met them where they were. Jesus had compassion on them. He joined them in their sorrow. How cold and crass it would have been for Jesus to be superficial and not relate to the sorrow that Mary, Martha, and the friends of Lazarus were experiencing.

Jesus lived on Earth as God in a fleshly body. He experienced all of the emotions that we experience. Even though He knew He was going to resurrect Lazarus from the dead, He wept with the people. This is an excellent example of how we need to be with others when they are in difficult times whether it is a death of a loved one or any number of difficult things that we may experience in life in this fallen world.

It’s maturity in Christ that allows us to meet people where they are … to mourn with them and maybe even walk with them through trying times. We have to intentionally choose to meet people where they are. In this world where ‘catch phrases’ rule the air waves and social medias, so many in the Body of Christ do the same thing. One liners like the ones I mentioned before may be true or partially true, but, if spoken at the wrong time it actually may make it worse for the one on the receiving end.

Myself, I have gone through many very difficult times in the past several years. I assure you, I have been on the receiving end of some of these one liners and, just simply put, ill timed words. Maybe it’s because those who spoke didn’t understand what I was going through … very possibly. Maybe it’s because they didn’t care … again, a possibility. But, maybe their depth as a follower of Christ is superficial. Who knows? There are a number of reasons why these words were spoken to me. I assure you that as I write this, I can see the faces of those who unintentionally added to my pain. Of course I have forgiven them, but I have not forgotten these situations. I want to learn from them so that I don’t make the same mistakes. I want to be transparent and share with others so as to help those of us who are followers of Christ to grow the Body of Christ. It’s all about Jesus. 

It’s all about Jesus.

We all go through difficult times in this life. We will all have difficult seasons. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) Jesus didn’t say if we have tribulations. He said, ‘… In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 So, it’s a matter of time until we enter a season of troubles/tribulation. I know I don’t want to be the person who causes more pain to another. I want to meet people where they are … believers and especially unbelievers.

I encourage you to embrace the example of Jesus with others who are going through trying times even though you may already know that they will make it through a difficulty, in time. Shallow words hurt others just like it describes in the Proverb; ‘Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda is one who sings a song to a heavy heart.’ Myself, I don’t want to be that person. I want to be more like Jesus.

I choose to be more like Jesus.

This may take some thought and prayer on our part. Holy Spirit is always here to help us. ‘Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning that cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.’ Romans 8:26-27 Another scripture I rely on is Luke 12:12 ‘The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” When I have relied on this scripture, I assure you, God has never failed me in the words that come out of my mouth. Choose to be more like Jesus. It is a choice to allow Him to grow us to be more like Him.    

Superficial? A Wakeup Call to The Church.

Just now, my thoughts were drawn to a situation where someone, because of their insecurities, caused me to feel uncomfortable and unsafe whenever I was in their presence. (That being said, please know that God’s grace is sufficient in any situation.) I won’t describe the situation because that isn’t necessary.  What is necessary is sharing one very disturbing thing I see in much of our society…Christian societies,  The word “superficial” covers it.

 

Recently, I was reading an article and someone quoted a Christian visitor to the U.S. from abroad.  They said, “Christianity in the U.S. is a mile wide and an inch deep.”  I couldn’t agree more.  I think I may have broken out into applause when I read this.  It’s something I have felt and believed for many years.  In fact, although I love my Christian brothers and sisters, this statement is very accurate of, certainly not all, but much of the American Christian Church.

 

I ask you:  Does it matter what someone looks like…how they dress…how they wear their hair…what they drive…what school they attend…what sub-division they live in…what town they live in…OR what church they attend, etc.?  If we judge someone capable or incapable of sharing the truth of Jesus Christ simply because of some superficial characteristic they do or don’t possess, doesn’t that make us superficial?  And, what about someone’s past?  Because they were divorced, abused, physically, mentally or sexually, born poor, not raised in a Christian home, perhaps lived in a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, adultery, fornication, or homosexuality… if indeed, a person totally surrenders their life to God, making a true conversion, why should they be kept from serving God?  If someone is kept from serving God within a church by man because of a man’s inability to look beyond the surface or ones past…isn’t this being superficial?

 

Isn’t it the Bible, God’s word, that tells us that when Jesus died on that cross, He said, “It is finished.?”  Jesus took care of everything when He sacrificed Himself on the cross.  We like to quote those words, but do we use those words in our actions?  Of course God’s timing for each of us is up to Him and He does allow things for our benefit of growth.  Please understand that I do understand that aspect of the walk of a Christ follower.  But, all too often, I see favoritism, cliques and the like within the Church.  I have seen Christians discouraged because of superficial rules and regulations that churches place on people, deeming them, “not good enough” for service.  Really…is this God’s way of doing things?

 

Unlike man, God doesn’t look at our outsides nearly as much as He looks at our insides…our heart.  1 Samuel 16:7

 

About a year and a half to two years ago, I was going through what was probably the most difficult time I’ve had in my life.  And, let me tell you, my life has been a tough ride…not that I take pride in that or cannot look around and see someone else who has had it tougher than I have.  I want to keep a healthy outlook of who I am in Christ, where He has brought me from, and where He is taking me.  A counselor of mine once commented that I had been living in survival mode most of my life.  Once I thought about it, I couldn’t disagree with the statement.  Anyway, a couple of years ago, I was attending a church while all hell broke loose in my life.  Being led of the Lord at a special service, I went forward for prayer.  I explained what had been going on and asked for prayer.  I will say that God has addressed the issue that was at hand and I am seeing miracle after miracle in this situation…a situation that, quite frankly, I had given up on. (Never give up!!)  Now … all that aside … what I had to endure from those whom I asked for prayer from was ridiculous.  The next time I saw these people at church, they looked the other way, wouldn’t even acknowledge that they saw me.  In fact, it was nearly a year or more before they would even speak to me, let alone look at me.  And, to top it off, I was the topic of gossip.  It spread from these people to others who I was directly involved with within the church.  I cannot begin to tell you how hurtful this was.  I was a victim of circumstances, both in the situation I had asked for prayer for and then the ensuing actions of those who prayed for me.  I wanted to leave.  I wanted out.  I couldn’t stand how superficial and uncaring these people were.  All of this instead of support and kindness that I needed because of the issue I had asked for prayer for in the first place.  I couldn’t understand it at the time.  God wouldn’t release me from this church, even though I begged Him.  Eighteen months later, I still don’t understand the actions of these people (although I have forgiven them), but I can see how God is using it in my life.  If we allow Him to do so, He will use the hurts or bad things in our lives for His good.                      Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20  He will grow us and make us stronger.  Hallelujah!!

 

Now, I don’t believe God condones behavior like this.  This is not His way.  This superficial-ness and shallowness in our churches needs to leave.  It needs to be done away with…amputated!! (This is only ONE example over the past many years that I share at this time.)  I don’t say this as someone who is perfect.  I say this as someone who believes that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23  This superficial-ness and shallowness within the church is crippling the church!!  I am grateful that I was able to look past these people to God.  Unfortunately, many people leave the church for this same reason.  Many will not enter a church for this reason.  Unfortunately, they don’t realize that they need to look past hurtful people within the church and look to the only One who can heal their situation(s).

 

In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Jesus sends letters to seven churches of that time which directly relate to the churches of today.  Only two of these churches were/are doing what Jesus approved/approves of…only two!!  Don’t allow yourself to fall into the category of the five that Jesus didn’t approve of. 

Church, we have got to not only wake up out of our slumber, we have got to get real!!  We have got to deliberately make the effort to get away from being superficial, cliquey and self important.  It’s not about us!!  It’s all about Jesus.  It’s about allowing the Savior of all mankind to work through us to save the lost from eternal damnation in hell.  I would love to tell you that every person in this world I like and want to be friends with, but that would be a lie.  I don’t like every person I meet, although I do make the attempt to make a connection with all.  That is the truth of life in a fallen world.  But…never…NEVER…would I want anyone, even my worst enemy, to spend eternity in hell!!  It’s God’s will that we all would repent and that none would spend eternity in hell.  2 Peter 3:9  God’s heart is that we would all repent and choose His ways.  I truly want my heart to reflect God’s heart. Shallowness and superficial-ness is not God’s heart.

 

I pray that we would all examine ourselves…examine our motives…compare them to Jesus through the Holy Spirit and scripture to see where we fall short.  Jesus didn’t die, defeat death and resurrect back to life so that we could have a superficial, shallow religion.  He died so that we could have a true, neverending, meaningful relationship with Him.  John 3:16  And, because He laid down His life for us, we should also lay down our lives for others.  1 John 3:16