Divided Loyalties

Sometimes when I watch movies, especially James Bond ones, I listen out for when the title of the movie will be mentioned. (Obviously in my opinion Roger Moore always delivered his best of all the Bonds, that raised eyebrow just convinced me from the start.) I think that sometimes it is whilst writing the narrative or some dialogue in the narrative that the title for a book or a movie emerges, just as a significant theme in a song that is repeated can lend itself as the song title. In the same way I was engaging in a conversation when the phrase of this blog entry came to mind.

I said it to the person and it had a resonating effect on me. This dear friend had said some things around looking forward to spend more time with the family. I was thinking, however, that the reason why things have come to this point is because there’s always a competing force for the attention that means the family suffers.

I also thought that it’s not just this person who suffers from divided loyalties. To some extent there is an overriding interest that takes up the heart, even if the time is otherwise taken with other activities, the mind is just going over that issue again and again. It is so often the case that someone is physically present and to some degree engaging in the activity of the time, but it’s obvious that they are elsewhere either in spirit or mind. Their mind is taken up with their own thing of desire.

As ever Jesus exposes the issue slap bang in the middle of his famous teaching on the mount where he simply says,

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24)

That which captures the heart and takes up the attention has virtual mastery over us. It’s funny really, we run away from the sense of anyone owning us or telling us what to do. We make a big deal of being autonomous, independent, free-thinking individuals when in most cases, (come on it’s presumptuous and arrogant to say all in a blog like this when you’re not that brave yet) we’re actually not that autonomous, or independent or free-thinking. Sooner or later some master will take us under his wing – especially the enticing allure of money and all it can seemingly buy and what it can mean in the sight of others. We come under its wings and before you know it moods, thoughts, decisions, temperament, life activities and relationships are determined by what masters us.

Not only that, but it’s not as if there’s choice to be mastered or not. All this liberalism and free country jargon may keep us warm in our thoughts at night, but slavery has not been abolished, just either blatantly ignored in the so-called Third-World, or made to be far more sophisticated in the so-called First-World. Slavery and mastery is wrapped up with the whole human psyche and it’s then a case of discovering which mastery will give us the best chance of not being oppressed, compressed, distressed, depressed, repressed and even negatively possessed.

That sounds a bit harsh, doesn’t it. I’m not going to make it any softer, though. Think of it this way, though. As a slave if your master is responsible for upkeep and takes that seriously to ensure that your working conditions are as conducive and constructive to your benefit as possible and you are just required to be obedient to instructions that are actually to your overall benefit, how is that a bad thing? If the Lord who has mastery over us instructs us … commands us to love each other and empowers and equips us to do that how is that a bad thing? If the Lord who has mastery over us instructs us … to find the truest sense of liberty in being like His Son by linking with Him and allowing Him to carry the bulk of the burden how is that a bad thing?

Obviously it’s a bad thing to us because we don’t appear to be in control, even if we’ve been deluding ourselves in thinking that the autonomous, independent, free-thinking position has improved our situation. It’s got to be a definition of madness to think that illusive and elusive living is somehow any better.

The divided loyalty continues though and in reality it’s not that divided at all, whenever something else other than that which is meant to be occupying the heart is there, then we’re always giving cheap second-hand service to everything else. The funny thing is, under the Lordship of the creator there’s more than enough time to look after the family. There’s more than enough time to be effective at work. There’s even enough time to pursue pastimes that help you in building relationships and the like. Indeed under this mastery all of those activities are effused with life and purpose possible because it’s rooted in acknowledging first and foremost the Lord who makes it all possible.

Until then, though, it’s the ongoing challenge of seeing where the heart is and asking this kind, forgiving and liberating Lord to help us find our hearts in Him.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

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Daily Thoughts - Celebrate Freedom: It's Good News

The Lord's Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers, (Luke 4:18)

The theme of October’s Daily Thoughts has been around Freedom and Slavery. The mission of Christ was based around giving people freedom. Since then millions of lives have been set free by getting to know and follow Him. Far from being an easy time, this has caused people to suffer greatly both from internal and external opposition. Yet one thing that remains the same for all those who have taken the journey is their story of the great inner liberty they experienced when they received this good news. Perhaps it’s time to consider the power of this good news today.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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Daily Thoughts - Beware The Dodgy Freedom Salesman

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. (2 Peter 2:19)

‘I couldn’t help it’.

You may remember the initial question of whether you were a slave or not. As you chose to carry on with your daily activities with the choices open to you in so many areas, the answer to this issue would appear to be that we were all free. Yet whether it’s nicotine addiction, temper challenges or a critical attitude there are things that overcome us leaving us with these four pitiful words.

Be careful of some who may promote freedom only to find out that they too are confined by similar corrupting elements.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Weekend Extended Edition - Light on Identity

But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. (1 Peter 2:9)

On Thursday a group from the YMCA went to view the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool. This was part of the Christian Spiritual Development (CSD) month on the theme of slavery and freedom.

An interesting exhibit was on the strategy of the slave owners to destabilise the African slaves they had recruited by separating them from family and treating them little better than their own cattle. Hundreds of years later young people from an African-Caribbean background still struggle with a sense of identity – not just what it means to be black, or African, or Caribbean but even what it is to be a man or a woman.

The strategy of destabilising people by robbing them of their identity is not a new tactic, neither is it one that only those of African descent suffer from. The effects of the slavery of sin leave humanity itself deluded by a false notion of who they are. This has been brilliantly masked in the whole drive of ‘self-esteem’ where the focus is to look at the self first and get a good feeling about yourself before engaging with others. The problem here is the same problem that is seen in asking a broken pot to fix itself – though it may recognise it’s brokenness it evidently doesn’t have the resources to fix itself, however the pieces are readjusted. What is patently needed is the Master Potter who knows how to mould these pots as they ought to be. So when the focus is on the Potter, rather than ourselves, the healing process is likely to be substantial, meaningful and whole, rather than a shallow cover job.

Realising the great job that has been done in our lives in being brought from darkness into light, realising who we are as a result of this great transaction we are thus free to share with others what’s been done in our lives and who others can look to in hope of experiencing real enlightenment. The identity crisis is really over in the light of who God is in Christ and who we are in the light of His love.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Free From Slavery - Free To Be A Slave

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (1 Peter 2:16)

Doulos. It is not frequently used as it is an old Greek word. It means slave and this is the word that is translated as servant. Effectively we are free to become slaves. All that grief of slavery; the hassle to be released only to be a slave again? Yet freedom in Christ shows how we always serve something or someone. We are only as free as serving Someone who releases us to be the good we were created to be. This is why this freedom is no excuse for evil but to reflect the nature of the Master Liberator.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Free From Slavery - Free To Serve

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)

Some debate over whether freedom is positive or negative. Whether we are free to do whatever we want, or free from a nanny state telling us what to do. (What’s the difference?) God’s version of freedom is not about an anything-goes, do-what-you-like attitude, neither is it a jump from one strait-jacket of condemning rules to another. Rather responsible freedom leads to being a servant to others. Just to ensure that this serving in freedom is genuine it is done out of love – a (super)natural overflow from a connection with the Son of love.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Set Free - Stay Free

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. (Galatians 5:1)

Door is opened. Walk out. Look back just once. See the bars. Grey room. Misery written all over. Never going back. Keep walking. Keep remembering. Never going back. The pain. The loneliness. Never going back. Drugs, alcohol, abusive relationship, financial mistake. Never going back.

Kept walking. Kept remembering. Adding stuff to avoid going back. Work hard. Make the marriage work. Must make the bills. Must keep the family secure. It’s too much. You stop. Look around. Surroundings are familiar. Right back where you started.

The freedom gained in Christ is precious and is maintained only through focus on Him.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Whom Nelson Sets Free?

"Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34-36)

All being well Nelson Mandela will celebrate his 90th birthday on 18 July 2008. His struggle in South Africa led to the amazing transformation of a country crippled in the degrading system of apartheid to one now known as the Rainbow nation. Rightly commended for being a freedom fighter, even Nelson could not offer the key to freedom that remains elusive in economic, social, political, educational programs. This is why the Son – He who knows the deepest part of ourselves – can offer us the chance to be free indeed.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

(Look out for a book review on Mandela’s autobiography ‘Long Walk To Freedom’ coming to a blog near you soon.)

Daily Thoughts - Slaves To Sin

"Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34-36)

Apparently we live in a country where we are free to say or do almost whatever we want. It would be almost absurd to call us slaves. Jesus’ critique was to a people who thought that they weren’t slaves because of their ancestry. We can feel we’re not slaves because of the political and social liberties we have cherished for years. Jesus’ point though is that there is something deep inside everyone that enslaves us, preventing us from enjoying all that the Father has made this house – earth – for. We need someone to set us free.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Consolation of Freedom

"If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” (John 8:31, 32)

The truth that frees us is not always comfortable. The challenge and commitment involved can lead to tough areas where our characters are severely tested and they may even upset us from time to time. The words of Jesus, however, strike to the heart of that which his audience needed most. Just the thought of being released from the chains of oppression not to an outer rule, but the rule within – whether it’s the chain of the past, negative habits and attitudes, or feelings of guilt, shame and fear. This consoling thought makes the cost for freedom worth paying.

For His Name Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Commitment to Freedom

"If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” (John 8:31, 32)

People like Gandhi, Luther King, Mandela and Mother Theresa are known for their lifelong commitment to freedom from harsh situations political, economic, racial, social or physical. What they highlight is that freedom cannot be taken for granted. What Jesus challenges His followers to do is to remain free by committing themselves to following His way – sticking with living what He tells us. What Jesus presents us with is committing to something even greater than political, racial, social or physical. He looks for us to commit to whole life freedom.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Gratitude For Deliverance From Slavery

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)

There are few more appropriate words of thanks for the Lord delivering from slavery than the words a former slave-owner penned in the light of God’s awe-inspiring work.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see
(John Newton)

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - The Journey Out

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)

Changes in life suggest some sort of journey. Various incidents on the journey reflect a need to get out of a situation – getting out of the comfort of parental coddling, getting out of the immaturity of adolescence, getting out of the boring monotony of meaningless work, getting out of painful relationships, getting out of debt, getting out of the prison of life’s harsh pressing demands. God does not guarantee a harmless passage out of life’s challenges, but He is available to lead you out of that place of pain and incarceration, to a place of real, whole freedom.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Journey From The House Of Slavery

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)

You don’t have to imagine being in dehumanising slavery for 400 years to understand how difficult it is to live free from it. It is one thing to be set free and another thing to get used to freedom. Living in freedom and enjoying it takes time. It is not unusual for the slave mentality to affect people in freedom. The key to freedom is continued focus on the Deliverer who not only sets us free but is present with us on the journey from the house of slavery.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Out Of The House Of Slavery

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)

Sometimes the Ten Commandments are scorned for just being a set of rules of do’s and don’ts. It is a negative rather than a positive. This does not take into consideration God’s heart for freedom expressed in these words. Egypt for Israel was a time of darkness, misery and oppressive slavery. They had cried out for deliverance for some 400 years. God’s words are not those of a harsh dictatorial slave-master. These are the words of a strong compassionate Liberator with words that can set free those in slavery just as much today as He did all those years ago.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - For Crying Out Loud

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. (Psalm 34:6)

When in a potentially enslaving situation and the options appear restricted. Perhaps it calls for desperate measures that reduce even the strongest personality to the brink of hopelessness and despair, the Lord has promised to be there to save from all troubles. Indeed as Lord He looks to show the path to freedom away from all troubles before they have even begun. Cry out today.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - He Set Me Free

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5)

The good news of Jesus is the reality that God sets us free. He reaches the deepest part of our hurts and inner chains to bring freedom. This is not about a feel-good factor; this is the reality for many who have as a result devoted the rest of their lives to following and serving Him. It is the reality of His liberating power that allows followers to cope even in the dark nights of the soul. It is this reality that is extended to you to experience by calling out to Him now believing He does set people free.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Crying Out For Help

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5)

The first day inside he was screaming. Banging at the walls he ranted for someone to get him out. He trashed whatever was let through and begged for help. By day three he was hoarse from shouting and sobbed desperately for release, scratching desperately at the door. Months later his spirit was crushed, a pale shadow. Withered and haunted, whatever life left was draining away.

This is the life of someone whose cries of freedom had been drowned out by the slavery of routine and ritual, addiction and abuse, crisis and fear. Yet when he cried to the Lord …

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Defining Slavery

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5)

It’s interesting seeing definitions of slavery and what it is to be a slave. It is fascinating to see images associated with slavery. Slavery, however, is not just a physical, social or economic way of oppression commonly associated with people in chains. Slavery can be seen in the deepest part of ourselves where we long to break free of a controlling thought, habit, past experience or relationship. Some people who live in apparent freedom can be trapped in the worst forms of slavery possible. That is why the cry for freedom is so apt for people from all backgrounds.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Freedom and Slavery

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5)

What is freedom? What is slavery? Hardly the questions you’re pondering over the regular morning cup of tea and yet scratching beneath the surface of day to day existence these themes are important to people from all backgrounds of life. Are you really free? How can we help others enjoy freedom? Over the month of October Daily Thoughts will share some tidbits on these topics to help explore these issues and how they affect life as you know it. In the meantime consider this – are you a slave to someone or something?

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd