Acts 4 :: Spirit Courage

Acts 4 in the Message and TNIV translations

After Jesus' resurrection, he appeared to no fewer than five hundred people over a period of 40 days.  Five hundred eye-witnesses is a staggering number in any court case, but a small number if you think of it this way: the rest of the world, save five hundred or so, would have to go on someone else's word that Jesus rose from the dead, and that he was in fact Lord and Christ.

Then why were so many people convinced?  --because of the amazing transformation of the disciples.  It was standard operating procedure for the rulers and chief priests to imprison or kill leaders of various uprisings, which always scattered their followers and stopped their movement in its tracks.  But not this time.  These men, who feared for their lives and denied they even knew Jesus at the crucifixion, were now fearless even when their own lives were at stake.  Whether the gospel message was true or not, something happened.  This new Spirit Courage and Spirit Power of the disciples didn't just come out of nowhere, and people were running out of explanations other than that their story was true.

Even though we've already been talking about why we don't see the miraculous as much these days, I don't think God's plan has really changed that much.  The greatest and most irrefutable evidence of Jesus Christ, in any time or any culture, is a transformed life.  New courage.  Absence of Fear.  Love where there wasn't any before.  Strength of character where there was once weakness.  Confidence where there was once only doubt.  We all know that a person can't muster those things by willpower.  Only the Holy Spirit can transform a person, and that transformed life has always been refreshing and attractive to those around it.

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

2 Timothy 1:7 TNIV

Following Christ is not merely about belief, and even less about religious practices; it is about transformation.  It is a life characterized by the Core Virtues, which only the Holy Spirit can generate and develop.  It is the difference between "practical agnosticism" and the "baptism of the Holy Spirit."

Are we different?  Are we refreshing and winsome?  Or have we exchanged the attractiveness of the Core Virtues for the weirdness of religious practices to distinguish ourselves as Chrisitans?  Come Holy Spirit, and wash the religion off of us.  Make us the people You want us to be, with lives that bear witness to Jesus and His transforming power.

Core Virtue :: HUMILITY

I choose to esteem others above myself.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4 (TNIV)

I love the way Eugene Peterson translated this passage in The Message:

"Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourself long enough to lend a helping hand." Philippians 2:3-4 (MSG)

This is not one of my strongest competencies. Father is continually teaching me about humility and transforming me into a more humble person. By saying that we choose to esteem others above ourselves, we assume a level of hierarchy in our relationships with others. I believe Paul is helping this young church in Philippi break out of that paradigm. Our survival instincts put our needs, our wants and our desires above everything else. We reach out when our stuff isn't threatened. Paul is flipping our natural tendencies on their head. When we love each other the way Father loves us, then we don't manipulate situations and relationships to get our way or to move us forward in our ambition. We can put ourselves aside, and help others get ahead.

What an incredible presentation this would provide to those who live with us in our communities. Can you imagine being a group of people known for this kind of fruit in their lives? All of us can point to certain people who live this way and we just know that there is something special about them. But an entire church? A whole community? That could blow the minds of some of the most critical.

Other competencies related to Humility : Identity in Christ, Compassion, Giving Away My Life, Biblical Community, Love, Kindness/Goodness

Parenting this Competency:

KidsKreed :: I am putting God first, others second and myself third.

It's important that you help your kids understand that humility is putting others above themselves. For kids, it's difficult for them to process thinking from another's perspective. Developmentally they may not be there yet. Part of our training is helping them "wear other people's shoes." Spend some time with your kids asking them questions like:

What happens when a friend wants to do something that you don't want to do?

When do you put what they want ahead of what you want?

Are there times when this is easier than other times? What makes it easier to do what your friend wants?

The answers to these questions can really lead to some great discussions with your kids.

Core Virtue::Gentleness

We are thoughtful, considerate and calm in dealing with others.

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5

The creed gives us three aspects of gentleness:

• Thoughtful. Gentleness involves that crucial moment of thought before action. It is not impulsive or reactionary. It is the grace of stopping and thinking before rushing in.
• Considerate. Gentleness, like many of the virtues, has a relational component. It is not just about an inner quality of one's character, but about relationships with others. Gentleness is the ability to consider the impact of my words and actions on the people around me.
• Calm. Gentleness is the ability to remain calm in circumstances that are anything but calm. Gentle people calm an atmosphere, whereas non-gentle people (like me) tend to stir it up.

One of the difficulties I've had over the years with this and other Christian virtues is understanding how they relate to gender. I know I'm not alone in this: I, like many other men, have considered the virtues to be primarily feminine traits. If a man believes this, he begins to think that the process of becoming more like Christ is the process of becoming more like a woman, and that's not very appealing to men (we love women, but we don't want to be one). This misperception is often reinforced by clergy, the church's physical environment, and by well-meaning Christian women, creating a snowball effect. One day you wake up, and the church is a particularly female organization, with involvement and de facto leadership being more femine than masculine; Bible study is a women's outing; depictions of Jesus are, well, less than manly; and you're contstantly being asked to sit still, wear nice clothes, be nice, share your feelings...and be gentle. All of Christianity starts to look like one of those quilted Bible covers with lace around the edges, and the men are just waiting to shed the tie, do something physical, and drink a beer.

This is all, of course, a very warped and inaccurate view of Christ, the Christ-life, and the church. The 10 core virtues, in their true expressions, are no more or less prevalent in men or women, but are the result of remaining in Christ. And when they are visible in a person's life, those who see them don't think of how masculine or feminine they are. They think of how much like Christ that person is becoming, as either a woman or a man.

Gentleness is related to the following core beliefs: Identity in Christ, Humanity, Compassion

Gentleness is related to the following core practices: Prayer, Single-Mindedness, Biblical Community

Parenting this virtue:

Generally speaking, kids learn gentleness to the degree that they experience it. Conversely, if they are parented harshly, they generally treat others harshly. But there is a third option, and this is where the distinction between the true virtue of Gentleness and what is often mistaken for gentleness becomes important. Children who experience gentleness learn to be gentle men and women; children who experience coddling, smothering, indulgence, and other pseudo forms of gentleness learn to be selfish and take advantage of others.

Core Virtue::Kindness/Goodness

We choose to do the right things in our relationships with others.

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
1 Thessalonians 5:15

Kindness/Goodness is the art of being others-oriented in action. It's focusing our attention on what we can do to help someone else, to make someone else feel special, or comfortable, or valued. It's expressed in little things like text messages or Hallmark cards, and it's big things like sacrifices of time, money, and resources in the interest of others.

Too often, we define goodness as being not bad: if we avoid the bad things, then we're good. Not so. Goodness is proactive, seeking good for others. If we are satisfied to just avoid being bad, we won't be known as "good people." In fact, we may not even be known at all. You can be moral and very unkind--many Christians are. But if God produces kindness and goodness in us, it will express itself in the way we treat those around us, and it will be noticed.

I had a great conversation recently with a newcomer to our church. He was excited about what he had experienced at the Springs, and was very interested in bringing his kids to our Sunday gatherings. "I want my kids to be around good people," he said. I can't think of a better compliment. That's how we want to be known in our community.

This core virtue is related to the following core beliefs:Humanity, Compassion

This core virtue is related to the following core practices:Biblical Community, Giving Away My Time, Giving Away My Money, Giving Away My Faith

Parenting this virtue:
One of the great things about kindness and goodness is that they work on any scale, large or small. Kids can learn their value when even the smallest expressions of them are valued at home. Partner with your kids to express kindness and goodness to other family members. Surprise your spouse or another sibling with an unexpected kindness. Then, as the kids grow older, this virtue can be expressed outside the home, in the neighborhood and community. It makes a big difference if your kids see you taking time, energy, and resources to express kindness to neighbors and people in need.

Core Virtue :: PATIENCE

I take a long time to overheat and endure patiently under the unavoidable pressures of life.

Those who are patient have great understanding, but the quick-tempered display folly.

Proverbs 14:29

patience |ˈpā sh əns|noun1 the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset : you can find bargains if you have the patience to sift through the dross.

I would love to write about patience today, but I don't have the time.

If you are like me, you grew up with a mother who would often say, "Patience is a virtue," when she was just wanting me to wait. While waiting does require a degree of patience, patience as a virtue is much more.

I like the definition above from the dictionary. Patience is the capacity to tolerate suffering without getting angry. For those of us who struggle with patience, it's not just that we have ants in our pants. We literally get angry when we have to wait or endure suffering of any sort. Can you imagine what might have happened, had Jesus been deficient in patience? He would have made Peter look very calm and mild-mannered.

We've all seen this, if not been there before. That child who doesn't get their way and throws a fit in the store or at the restaurant. Most adults don't throw that kind of tantrum, but we do still get angry and irritated when things don't go our way. We get this gnawing feeling inside that we have a hard time shaking. We want what we want and we want it now.

For the Christ-follower, this is a terrible way to live. We cannot fully embrace the spontaneity of a life lived to the full, if we are constantly trying to control our circumstances to meet our time tables. Some of the most memorable moments in Jesus' ministry were unplanned interruptions. I don't want to miss those, and I don't want you to miss them either.

Parenting Patience ::

KidsKreed: I am slowing down and waiting because God is in control.

Helping children learn to be patient is a standard for every parent. We are no different here. Our kids struggle with selfish impatience just like every kid. Finding ways to help our children endure waiting because God is in control is what makes us different. We don't teach our kids to wait, just because we said so, but because there is a bigger story being written than just the one that stars them.

Q&A ::

Why is it hard for us to wait for what we want?

What makes it easier to wait for what we want?

How does knowing God is in control make a difference in our waiting?

Core Virtue :: LOVE

I sacrificially and unconditionally love and forgive others.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

1 John 4:10-12 (TNIV)

Today we move from virtues related primarily to our relationship with God into virtues that directly effect our relationships with others. We are starting with a bang and setting the bar high. Love. Sacrificially. Unconditionally. Oh come on! Is this really possible. Can I really love others sacrificially and without conditions? I am not even sure this is really possible.

If we simply try to conjure up this kind of love on our own, then it is not possible. However, if we submit ourselves to the love of God and learn to walk in His Spirit, then it's not only possible, but it's a natural fruit. When we realized that God has loved us without condition, we are free to love others without condition. When we understand the depth of his sacrifice for us, we can then sacrifice for others.

Loving others is not about liking others. It's much deeper than that. Anyone can like someone who is just like them and treats them well. The test comes when someone hurts you...can you still love them? The test comes when that person is annoying...can you still love them? The test comes when they live differently than you...can you still love them?

A church that embraces walking in the Spirit and begins to display the fruit of love is a church that will make a difference in their community. A family that embraces walking in the Spirit and begins to display the fruit of love will make a difference in their neighborhood. A person who embraces walking in the Spirit and begins to display the fruit of love will make a difference in their family. I want to be this person. I want to lead this kind of family. I want to be part of this kind of church. What about you?

Parenting this Virtue

KidsKreed :: I am loving and forgiving others no matter what.

Kids take everything personally. They often struggle with other kids that aren't nice to them, don't play with them or don't include them in their games. It's important that they understand that God loves those children no matter what, and that we, too, should do the same. It may hurt and it may be difficult, but God will help us if we are willing to let him.

Our kids will be watching us. No matter how much we talk about loving others no matter what, they are listening more to our actions than our words. When we know that we have not acted in a loving manner toward others, we must confess this to our children, so they will understand that we are also on this journey toward love.

Core Virtue :: HOPE

I can cope with the hardships of life and with death because of the hope I have in Jesus Christ.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6:19-20

Great ancient civilizations often used the metaphor of an anchor, but only here do we find it in the New Testament. A ship that is firmly anchored is safe from drifting idly in the ocean - position and safety are secure. For the Christ-follower, our hope is a stabilizing force in our lives. Hope is not simply wishful thinking, like "I hope the Astros can win a game against the Rangers." This hope that the writer of Hebrews is referring to is the hope of a re-established relationship with God through the sacrifice of Jesus. This hope is as real to us as the promise of God was for the Jews. The hope/promise of a new relationship with the God of all gods is the hope that allows us to cope with the hardships of life and with death.

Over the past year, we have buried two grandmothers, a friend's father, and a friend's unborn baby. Death is on thing that has the tendency to strip us of our hope for tomorrow. Normally this only lasts for a while, but in extreme cases hope can be lost for much longer and can become debilitating. When I was in high school, I had a good friend lose her grandfather. She was close to him and was taking the loss very hard. One night, I took her out to our local hospital, and we went to the nursery. We spent about half an hour watching the babies move wiggle and cry and sleep. When one life ends on this earth, there is inevitably one new life beginning. I told her that there is no place where we see more hope than in newborn babies. For those of us trying to find hope in the darkness of real life, hope is the light that lets us really see. The same is true for the hardships of life.

What coping mechanisms do you use to get through dark days of real life? Are you letting the sacrifice of Jesus be the anchor that your drift-prone soul needs?

Other competencies related to Hope :: Salvation by Grace, Personal God, Giving Away My Life

KidsKreed :: I am trusting that with God the best is yet to come!

Talk to your kids about God being in control. Ask them questions about what things worry them and how that makes them feel. Assure them that Jesus cares about them and our hope is in Him, not in the circumstances we find ourselves. We are not going to be okay because things are good in our life, and we are not going to die because things are not good in our life. In spite of the circumstances, God is in control and we can trust that.

Core Virtue :: SELF-CONTROL

I have the power, through Christ, to control myself.

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Titus 2:11-13

Often, grace is a word used for when a person begins their relationship with God...that moment when they decide to say "Yes" to their invitation to follow the way of Jesus by embracing his sacrificial death and resurrection. This is a good reference for grace. But grace doesn't stop when we enter the family of God. Paul indicates here that grace teaches us, once the offer has been accepted. The word picture is not a teacher/student picture, but rather a parent/child relationship.

This training begins with a negative - saying "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions. The Message translates this part of the passage, this way: "We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life." The things that controlled our life before accepting the offer of salvation, are the things that we say no to, so that...

We can "live self-controlled, upright and godly lives" today. God's grace is not training us for the sweet-by-and-by, but for today, right now, as we wait for Christ's return. This is key to understanding the core virtues. These are all fruit of a living tree, a life lived right now, in relationship with God and with others. "I just can't control myself," ought to never be uttered by a person in relationship with Jesus. That cheapens the grace that has been given to us. If we are not controlling ourselves, it is not because we can't, but because we won't.

Jesus does not leave it up to you. We don't believe that we have the power to control ourselves. We believe that we have the power, through Christ, to control ourselves. When it feels like you can't control yourself any longer, that is precisely the point where Jesus wants to step in and train you to do so. It almost sounds like the competency should be Christ-control, rather than self-control, but that would reduce the relational aspect of a life lived in Christ. By being trained to control ourselves, we maintain a level of choice that enhances the relationship. We do because we love. We can because we have learned from Christ, to control ourselves, so we love freely.

Related Competencies include: Salvation by Grace, Identity in Christ, Stewardship, Single-Mindedness and Bible Study.

Parents::

KidsKreed :: I am controlling my thoughts and actions because God helps me.

Every mature adult has a certain level of self-control that comes by maturation. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with their spiritual lives. Kids are in a unique position because while we are training them in areas of self-control related to their faith, they are also learning natural levels of self-control. It's important that we don't let them confuse the two, or they will grow up thinking they do not need Jesus at all. God's grace teaches us to live a self-controlled life that is characterized by being upright and godly. When our child says they can't stop picking on a neighbor, it's our responsibility to point out the grace that is training us to say "no" to that and "yes" to the upright and godly response. When our child comes home with three dollars they found on the floor at school, its our responsibility to train them in the grace that says the upright and godly thing to do is to return the money. When our teenagers are pirating music on the internet, it's our responsibility to show them that God's grace calls them to a more upright and godly stance...no matter how many other kids are doing it. You get the picture, don't you.

Core Virtue::Faithfulness

I have established a good name with God and with others based on my long-term loyalty to those relationships.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and humankind.
Prov 3:3-4

Faithfulness is an old-school virtue. It's reminiscent of your grandfather, who got a gold watch for staying at the same job for 25 years, and had a party because he and your grandma were married for 50. It takes us back to a time before before the average American moved to a new town every 7 years, changed careers 3-5 times in his or her lifetime, and changed churches even more than that, if he or she attends church at all; before the divorce rate was 50%, and before American businesses viewed older workers as insurance and pension liabilities. It recalls an era when principle almost always won out over expediency. Now we live in a world where faithfulness doesn't fit.

I'm not the guy who wants to go back to Mayberry. I grew up in a version of it, a small Texas town called Stephenville, and I don't view it through rose-colored glasses. I used to wear a t-shirt to school that said, "Welcome to Stephenville, please set your clocks back 200 years." But there is no denying that the benefits we have gained from our metropolitan lifestyle have been offset by unintended consequences. We came to believe that learning to love yourself was the greatest love of all, and that you can't expect anyone to look out for you. We lost our sense of belonging, our sense of trust, even our sense of family in some cases. We came to accept living among millions of strangers instead dozens of friends, and even sitting among them in our mega churches, to which we also feel no real sense of obligation.

But faithfulness is not just a relic of times past. It is a core virtue of Christianity, one of the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. It is timeless and vital to the Christ-life. And while our grandparents may not be around to model it for us, our God--the Inventor or Perfecter of faithfulness--is still here.

So go old-school: rediscover the upside to being faithful to God, family, church, neighborhood, community, and maybe even work. Stay in the same place with the same people long enough to know and be known, love and be loved. Go long on principle instead of selling short on temporary gain. You'll be the salmon swimming against the stream of culture, but you may be surprised how good it feels.

This virtue is related to the following core beliefs: Eternity, Identity in Christ, Church

This virtue is related to the following core practices: Single-mindedness, Biblical Community, Giving Away My Life

Parenting this Virtue

KidsKreed: I am loyal to God, my family and my friends.

Perhaps more than some other virtues, faithfulness is learned over long periods of time, as children see and experience the benefits of their parents remaining faithful to God, family, church and community. By all means, make changes in your family's life with your modeling of this virtue in mind: what will our kids learn about faithfulness from this relocation, job change, church change, school change, moral decision, or family decision?

A note to divorced parents: divorce is a direct challenge to every family member's belief in and understanding of faithfulness, but it's not the end of the road. Remember that God's grace applies to this and every competency. Not only can you recover your own belief in faithfulness, you can model and teach it to your kids. Here are a couple of places to start:

1. Beware of the temptation to justify your decisions to your children by bashing your ex. They can still learn important lessons about faithfulness by how you and your ex respond to one another and to them as parents. Whenever possible, honor their mother or father.
2. Prioritize faithfulness in the kids' other areas of life, especially in the season right after divorce. If at all possible, don't make major changes like moving to a new town, new school or church. There is a little voice that tells us in such times that we would be better off to just run away and start over, but the voice is very often wrong. You and your children can learn an incredible lesson about God's faithfulness, and that of His people, but staying put and walking through a difficult season with your community around you. Most people never have this wonderful experience because they never stick around long enough.

Core Virtue :: PEACE

I am free from anxiety because things are right between God, myself and others.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Well, it's late and this typist is a little tired. As I went to turn off the computer, I saw that Cameron had not posted today. I must have missed my turn. I thought about waiting until morning, but as I read through the creed for today, something hit me. I just finished watching the season finale of 24. In case you don't watch this show, it is about a special counter-terrorist agent named Jack Bauer. Jack Bauer defends his country at any cost. In many ways, I want to be Jack Bauer. He is what we call in west Texas, a "bad-ass." But Jack also has a dark side. He has secrets and wounds that haunt his soul. This forces him to walk a very blurry line between right and wrong.

Many of us carry secrets and wounds too. These areas of our lives cause inner chaos within us. They make an otherwise clear line between right and wrong, blurry. When things are not right between myself and God, my chaos produces anxiety in me. I worry more. I manipulate others more. I dwell on the negative more. When things are not right between myself and others, I become bitter. I critique more. I slander more. I lie more. The lines become more blurry between right and wrong.

This anxiety also can be the root issue of health problems for many people - high blood pressure, depression, sleep disorders, eating disorders, etc. Nothing seems to work right when we lack peace. One of the fastest growing sections in our bookstores is the self-help section, and I think most people scanning those shelves are looking for peace. Unfortunately for them, they will not find an all-satisfying peace there. The peace that we need is only found in God - the peace that passes all understanding. That peace will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ. That peace will keep the lines of right and wrong clear...even if they exist in grayscale. This peace satisfies at our deepest core.

How do I get this kind of peace? It starts with a commitment to walking in the Spirit of Life. As we are following Christ and walking in His Spirit, this peace will be the fruit of that journey. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Other competencies related to Peace :: Personal God, Single-Mindedness

Parenting This Virtue ::

KidsKreed :: I am worry-free because God is in control.

Kids have a natural tendency to worry. Sunday, I asked our kids what they worry about. I got answers like, "I worry that an asteroid is going to hit the earth." I also got answers like, "I worry that my brother's not coming home from Iraq." Kids are sensitive and they need to be assured that when we seem like everything is out of control, we don't have to worry because God is in control. If this is an area that your child particularly struggles with, spend some time this week helping them memorize the two verses for the week - Philippians 4:6-7. Let them know that God has given them those words to help them be worry-free. You'll find your soul refreshed as well.

Core Virtue::JOY

I have inner contentment and purpose in spite of my circumstances.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

-Jesus to his disciples in John 15:11

True joy does not exist outside of Christ. Joy is based on the fact that there is a bigger picture than my current circumstances. There is a God who loves me and is involved in my life. There is a purpose to my life larger than any crisis. There is an eternity, not just a lifetime.

Joy without Christ is lunacy and naivitee, like having a tea party on the deck of the Titanic. We can't expect a person who does not follow Christ to have joy (and when we do, we do him a disservice). Without Christ he or she can be:

1. happy about his good circumstances;
2. willfully ignorant of his bad cirumstances;
3. falsely confident in his own abilities to change his circumstances;

but he can't have true joy. The Spirit of God must produce it in us, as we become increasingly certain of His love, Providence, and our security in Him.

This virtue is related to the following core beliefs: Personal God, Eternity

This virtue is related to the following core practices: Single-Mindedness, Prayer, Bible Study, Worship

This virtue may seem very similar to Peace, which is tomorrow's core virtue, but we'll see there is a significant difference.

Parenting this virtue:

Children watch their parents respond to crises, and the impression stays with them for a long time. As God produces this virtue in you, your children will notice. In times of crisis, communicate with them. Remember, too, that Joy is not naive. You can be honest about your concerns, but let them know where your confidence lies, and where their confidence can also be.