Brian Dolleman's Blog

It’s true.

Everyone makes a stink.

It’s part of life. It happens (and it will happen again).

Sometimes the stink is an attitude…

Or a religious superiority complex.

Or harsh words.

Or pride.

Or just not caring about others.

Sometimes the stink comes from having all the answers…

Or needing to be right all the time.

Stink can also come from being mopy and depressed…

Or constantly negative.

Yes, it’s true. We all make a stink from time to time.

We’ve done it before and we will do it again.

When it happens—when we make a stink—we need to deal with it the right way…

Don’t let it sit, settle, or take over.

Flush. In fact, double-flush.

Open some windows.

Turn on the fan.

Clear the air.

Proverbs 10.32 says, “The speech of a good person clears the air.”

Here’s the point: Everyone makes a stink. And when YOU do, remember to clear the air.

Some people have the uncanny ability to see the worst in everything—it’s as if they have a radar for bad.

They see a devil lurking around every corner. They are fixated on what’s wrong and what’s broken.

Others see blessing, beauty, the best… God at work, everywhere and all the time.

They notice potential and possibility.

They believe everything belongs to God.

They notice God at work: repairing, restoring, rebuilding, reviving.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5.8 NIV)

My paraphrase: We’re happy and blessed when our inside world is full of Him, because we are able to see Him everywhere in the outside world too.

Many Christians compartmentalize the secular and the sacred.

They have neat, tidy boxes. Everything fits in its proper category.

They see God in the sacred box. Pop the lid—you’ll find church and anything that can be purchased at a Christian bookstore /anything that can be labeled “Christian”. These are generally happy boxes. The devils have been kicked out. It’s all good here.

They see the secular boxes as dark and devoid of God. Pop the lid—you’ll find “secular” art, entertainment, business, etc. These are scary boxes full of devils. If they ever have to get into one of these boxes, they hold their breath until the can jump back into a happy, safe, sacred box again.

Personally, I don’t think we should be experts at identifying and crediting the devil. I think we should be full of Jesus on the inside, and able to see Him at work everywhere on the outside too.

I believe the boxes don’t help.

In fact, I think they stink.

The boxes reveal just how big or how little we see our God.

Is God really confined to our sacred boxes? Is He not at work everywhere, all the time?

Are we not able to see God’s presence in the “secular”?

I love what Titus 1.15 says, “Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure”.

God’s presence, agenda, and work is bigger than our “sacred” boxes.

We’re happy and blessed when our inside world is full of Him, because we are able to see Him everywhere in the outside world too.

Flip that thought around—it might say something like, “We stink when we’ve confined Him to a few “sacred” boxes and we fail to see Him at work everywhere, all the time.”

I want to be so full of Him that I can see Him everywhere.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

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.