Posts by: Brian Dolleman

When you find yourself in a situation where you’re wondering if you should give mercy or not…

Go with mercy.

Mercy should be our default mode.

Remember:

“Judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2.13)

Mercy triumphs!

Brian Zahnd, in his book, Beauty Will Save The World, says:

“If our churches are to be anything like a shelter from the storm, we must become famous for our mercy. But is this our reputation? If people find themselves in need of mercy, is their first thought to find an evangelical church? If not, we need to change. Why were sinners attracted to Jesus and evidently felt quite comfortable with him? The answer is simple. In Jesus they found mercy.”

Jesus is our model for mercy.

He blessed the mercy-givers…

“Blessed are those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5.7)

My version of this beatitude goes like this:

“We’re blessed when we live as people of the second chance—constantly aware of our own need for mercy—and freely giving it to others.”

Now, let’s flip it.

“When we refuse second chances and become stingy with mercy, we are least like Jesus and we stink.”

When in doubt, go with mercy.

Mercy triumphs!

“The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6.8)

Have you ever noticed how campaign ads will mention who is endorsing that particular candidate?

“Endorsed by Renton Fire Fighters”

“Endorsed by the Seattle Times”

“Endorsed by the National Rifle Association”

Here’s one I’ve never seen…

“Endorsed by Jesus Christ”

Jesus doesn’t belong to your political party.

Why?

It’s too small to hold Him.

Jesus isn’t a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent. He’s also not an American.

His government—His rule and His reign—is greater than any other.

He announced, “The Kingdom of God has arrived among you” (Matthew 12.28).

Jesus is the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19.16).

His way is greater, His rule is perfect, and His government is not flawed.

News flash: we, as American Christians, have dual citizenship.

We are Americans and we are Christians.

Hold on, that needs to be flipped around…

We are Christians (first) and we are Americans.

The way of our King of kings and Lord of lords trumps everything else.

His rule, His reign, His government, His justice, His way of setting the world right—that’s what we submit to.

The question, “Would Jesus be a Democrat or a Republican?” is a stupid one.

Looking at what Jesus did and taught, we could easily say He is pro-family and pro-life…

And we would also have to say He is pro-poor and pro-immigrant.

He paid taxes. He gave out free lunches.

He doesn’t exactly fit into the right or the left.

Jesus doesn’t belong to your political party.

His way of setting the world right—let’s call that His justice—is what we need to have an appetite for.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied” (Matthew 5.6)

It is a beautiful and blessed thing when the church represents His justice…

When we care for the single mother.

When we visit the prisoner.

When we feed the hungry.

When we provide backpacks and school supplies for underprivileged children.

It is a sweet aroma when we serve and love and give…

And it stinks when we do nothing about injustice.

In this election season, remember: Jesus isn’t running for office.

He’s already the King of kings and Lord of lords.

He doesn’t belong to your political party.

His rule, His reign, His government, His justice, His way of setting the world right—that’s what we want…

And that’s what we represent.

Sometimes good stuff, gone too far, can stink.

This often plays out in the church in the following ways:

1). The desire for “deep”

Learning is good. A hunger to grow is good.

Unfortunately, this can sometimes turn into an endless quest for deep truths.

It can become grabby, consumeristic, demanding, and obsessive.

It can distract us from the pure simplicity of the Gospel.

It can turn us inward instead of outward…

And it can stink pretty quickly.

2) The pursuit of “revival”

We certainly need to be filled with and led by the Holy Spirit.

We want that sense of “God with us” in our church meetings. We want to “feel it” – and that’s a good thing.

However, this quickly becomes twisted when we work ourselves into a frenzy in an attempt to get more of God (imagine a poorly disciplined 3 year-old trying to get some candy from their parent in the grocery store).

Somehow, we start to believe that noise, tears, sweat, and bizarre antics will provide a blessing.

Honestly, I’ve been in some of these meetings—and they stink.

3) The quest for “purity”

Purity is right and good, ’nuff said.

Sadly, we tend to drift into legalism without even realizing it.

In our quest for purity, we become Pharisees—measuring, calculating, evaluating, and judging.

Before we know it, we’re concerned about his actions, her attire, and the loose morals over there.

We keep score. We make judgements. We label, put people in categories…

And we stink.

My response to the desire for deep, pursuit of revival, and the quest for purity?

Chill out.

Calm down.

Relax.

Breathe in a bag if you have to.

Stop straining. You’re trying too hard. You’re gonna burst a blood vessel in your eye.

God’s way is different.

In His kingdom, the prize is inherited—not won.

We’re not fighting to get.

We receive.

Which means we can chill out and trust.

The bible says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”.

Meek isn’t weak or lazy or shallow.

It’s chill. And it’s trusting.

It knows it doesn’t have to force things or fight. It’s not grabby.

Blessed are those who chill out and trust—for they will receive everything they need from God. (Matthew 5.5)

Our culture is obsessed with being the best and taking the prize.

We want to be strong and aggressive. We believe “the winner takes all”.

Reality TV contestants fight and claw their way to the top.

They’re hungry for victory and will do just about anything to grab it.

They strain, strive, posture, fight, grab, and are self-obsessed, aggressive, trash-talking competitors.

They’re stressed out. Ever notice how often reality TV contestants cry?

I feel like they all need a good “chill out” pep talk.

We live in a stressed out culture…

But God’s way is different.

In His kingdom, the prize is inherited—not won.

We’re not fighting to get.

We receive.

Which means we can chill out and trust.

The bible says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5.5 NIV)

Meek—that’s a word we don’t use very often.

It means down-to-earth, humble, modest, unassuming, and unpretentious.

Meek isn’t weak.

It’s chill. And it’s trusting.

It knows it doesn’t have to force things or fight.

It’s not grabby.

Blessed are those who chill out and trust—for they will receive everything they need from God.

If we flip that around, it might say something like this:

“Those who posture, grab, and fight their way to the top are stressed out and stink.”

Maybe you need a good “chill out” pep talk…

We do live in a stressed out culture, but God’s way is different.

In His kingdom, the prize is inherited—not won.

We’re not fighting to get.

We receive.

Which means we can chill out and trust.

Having grown up in a Christian family that prayed together every night at the dinner table and went to church an average of two times per week, I’ve heard a lot of prayers.

At least 25,000 prayers.

Some of them were my own.

Some were eloquent.

Others were cute and rhymed.

Quite a few were stuffed with filler words…

But there is one prayer I had the privilege of hearing that stands as my personal favorite.

A young man responded to the “get right with God” invitation at the end of our church service.

He came forward, and I met him at the steps of the stage to pray with him.

I explained what we were doing—then led him in one of those “repeat after me” prayers.

I’d done this before. So many times, in fact, that I had the little prayer memorized. It was a good one too.

Feeling like a bit of a spiritual superstar, I was tempted to pat myself on the back for a job well done…

But then I started to think, “this isn’t even about me and my perfected ‘get right with God’ prayer”.

So I decided to try something new.

I looked at the kid and said, “now it’s your turn—you pray with your own words—and tell God what you’re feeling”.

He shrugged his shoulders and said “OK”.

After a pause, he looked up at me and said, “I’m not very good at this…”

I smiled and encouraged him. “Just say what’s on your heart. God will love it.”

So he launched into his prayer: “God, um… thanks for forgiving me, ’cause I’ve done a lot of shitty things…”

He had a few more lines too. I don’t remember all the specifics; I just know they were as unpolished as his opening line.

I was immediately struck with two distinct feelings in that moment:

1) I was nervous that someone around us would hear the language and judge.

2) I felt like this was probably the most pure, honest, unpretentious prayer I’d ever heard. And I was sure God loved it.

Yup, that kid’s prayer with swearing in it is still my favorite.

It kinda reminds me of the first two beatitudes:

“Blessed are those who are poor at being spiritual, for the kingdom of heaven is well-suited for ordinary people.”

“Blessed are those who are mourning, grieving, hurting—and aren’t pretending everything’s OK. Because of their honesty and vulnerability, they will be comforted.”

Sometimes we get too good at doing Christianity. We become spiritual superstars and we like to pat ourselves on the back.

And sometimes we are plastic people—awesome all the time—and completely fake.

We need to be reminded…

God’s kingdom is well-suited for ordinary people, and honesty and vulnerability are a blessing.

Quoting Rick Warren: “God uses brokenness far more than he uses strength or talent. Talent makes you look good. Brokenness makes God look good.”

In the TV show Chuck (about a computer geek who inadvertently downloads critical government secrets into his brain), one of the regular characters is Dr. Devon “Captain Awesome” Woodcomb.

Dr. Devon Woodcomb is Chuck’s brother-in-law. He’s a medical doctor—a cardiac surgeon…

And he looks like a fitness model.

His nickname, “Captain Awesome,” comes from Chuck’s belief that “everything he does is awesome,” including rock climbing, hang-gliding, speaking fluent Spanish, and flossing.

Also, Dr. Devon Woodcomb uses the word “awesome” way too much.

Initially, Chuck started calling him “Captain Awesome”.

Then, over time, his nickname was shortened to the essential “Awesome”.

In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus teaches “the Beatitudes”.

That word, Beatitude, means literally, “the blessings.”

Maybe the opposite of “the blessings” would be “the stink bombs”.

Here’s one version of the second beatitude:

“Blessed are those who are mourning, grieving, hurting—and aren’t pretending everything’s OK. Because of their honesty and vulnerability, they will be comforted.”

Interesting. Now let’s flip it around…

“Plastic people who pretend everything’s awesome all the time stink.”

Here’s the point: honesty and vulnerability are blessed.

Nobody is awesome all the time.

Be willing to share your story, trials, hurts, tears, challenges, and flaws.

Don’t be fake. We don’t want to be plastic people.

And one more thing…

Try not to use the word “awesome” too much.