by Randal Matheny

I arrived in the U.S. last Thursday morning. That evening I accompanied my father on a funeral visitation. After some three years of battling cancer, a young Christian husband and father succumbed to the disease.

Rarely do I go to a funeral without thinking of the somber preacher's advice,

"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart" (Ecclesiastes 7:2, NIV).

I am not a morbid person. I like good jokes as much as anyone. But laughter, it seems, lacks the reflective quality of sorrow. In the presence of death, I ponder my own mortality. I consider my ways. I resolve to redeem the time.

Though words often fail at funerals, grieving family members are encouraged by the presence of friends. And each of us is given opportunity to take to heart the destiny of us all.

So go to the house of mourning.

by Randal Matheny

(Note: I got carried away on my Uplift mailing list and wrote more than usual. Seemed appropriate for Forthright, too!)

Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura accepted an award from Kids Voting Minnesota, a youth education group, and stated, "Did you know that in the United States, only 50 percent of adults vote? That's pathetic."

The governor himself is a regular non-voter. One week earlier, he failed to vote in his own party's Sept. 10 primary.

Do as I say, but not as I do?

But it's not only politicians, so we should be careful not to criticize them so heavily. Perhaps they merely reflect the population at large.

If it weren't such a problem, Jesus would not warned his followers about those who teach right but live wrong.

He said, "Therefore, do everything they tell you. Obey them. But don't act as they do, because they say one thing and do another" (Matthew 23.3, SEB).

So say right and do right. That's the path to true contentment and happiness.

Jesus, again. "The people who hear the message of God and keep it are the ones who are truly happy!" (Luke 11.28).

by Randal Matheny

The deal these days is drama, dance and praise teams. Action. Movement. Excitement. This direction would seem to crowd out the simple reading of Scripture in public worship.

In the positive interest of gaining the hearing of the non-churched and keeping the attention of the faithful, fluff has won over content, style over substance.

But the commandment remains.

"Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching" (1 Timothy 4:13, NIV).

The powerful word which created the world still works to transform lives when Scripture is read and humbly obeyed.

While so many groups titillate the emotions, the Lord appeals to the understanding.

So read the Word in your gatherings. Plainly, simply. No embelishment needed.

Be prepared. Speak clearly, loudly enough for all to hear, without shouting.

Use a good version, avoid paraphrases. Don't rush, nor drag it out.

Be respectful, reverent, presentable, nothing on your person to call attention away from the holy task of reading.

Jesus honored the Jewish synagogues with his presence and participated in the public reading of Scripture (Luke 4:16). The practice of the synagogue (Acts 13:15) became the practice of the church (Colossians 4:16, Revelation 1:3). Not for cultural or social reasons, but spiritual.

So important was the practice of reading Scripture in the church's assembly that, in later times when a hierarchy developed, it became an official position.

We don't need the position, but we do need the power of the reading.

Of public readers Commodian said, "You are flowers in the congregation; you are Christ's lanterns."*

What church cannot use more beauty and fragrance, more light from God?

*Instruct. 2.26[67], cited in E. Ferguson, Encyclopedia of Early Christianity (New York: Garland, 1990), p. 777.

by Randal Matheny

For weeks after the September 11 attack, I wrote nothing. Absolutely nothing. When I finally did, it was a short verse later published in Möbius.

New York, September 2001

Two towers pierced by hatred, hearts, by pain; The twisted steel and rubble, thousands slain But serve to harden will to build anew, Repress the havoc heinous men would do, And hallow noble dreams by rage assailed, For freedom's haven hope has never failed.

A Babylonian Talmud saying, found in a Portuguese book this morning, expressed it well. I translated it into English.

"The deeper the sadness, less [speaks] the tongue."

The secular media must not be feeling sad about it. Not only are the channels alive with talk of the anniversary, but there is news and commentary about what everyone else is reporting and commenting. The whirwind to suck up and stir up every sad thought and every expression of grief, anger, and latent emotion.

We have learned, as has Mr. bin Laden and company, that Lamartine was right when he said that "The same sufferings unite a thousand times more than the same joys." Though it has not taken long for the unity to unravel. Private interests and selfish ambitions crumble national resolve in a hurry.

The Bible says to give thanks in suffering. Africans dying by the millions in inter-tribal wars, HIV plagues, and desert-forming droughts touch us only a little. Chinese oppression and persecution cause us little pause before the shelf full of imported goods. We have felt now the full impact of hatred, greed, and religion gone crazy. We now experience a sample of the staggering suffering much of the world lives with daily.

I do not say we should wallow in grief. There comes a moment to stand up, look reality in the eye, and glorify the Maker for his goodness. Something not unlike Baruch's advice,

"Jerusalem, strip off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, and put on for ever the glorious majesty that is the gift of God" (5.1).

I do not know if America was destined for greatness. I rather doubt "manifest destiny." No political nation has God's special favor. That spiritual grace is reserved for his chosen people, the church, scattered in every nation, placed among every people on earth. But I do know the United States is my home, and I am grateful for its principles, culled from the Bible, for its freedoms, recognized as divinely given, and for its faith that there exists a God in heaven who cares for his creatures.

In man he has placed eternity and invites us to discover in time the Everlasting, in suffering, the maximum pleasure, in sorrow, the incomprehensible joy, in death, the unextinguishable life.

So, against the ruins of the World Trade Center and the repairs of the Pentagon stands the Cross. Hatred killed the Son of Man. Love and Justice raised him up. And however right a military response may be on the government's part to secure the safety of its citizens, I know my part, as servant and disciple, is to raise the voice in praise of redemption and lift up every eye to the empty tomb.

One year later, there is much to say.

by Randal Matheny

[Note: The following article was written for The Voice of Truth International, with those in mind who speak English as a second language.]

Not the size of the struggle, but the strength of the mind determines whether we will be faithful to God. When trials and difficulties arise, the mind often grows weak.

As one proverb says, "If you give up when trouble comes, it shows that you have very little strength" (Prov. 24:10, NCV).

So the question is this: How can the Christian remain strong when troubles come?

The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation to the seven churches in the region of Asia (Rev. 1:4). Christians in that area were suffering persecution because of their faith. By means of a vision given to him by God, John showed these disciples that a greater battle was going on in the invisible, spiritual world.

They were few in number, with limited resources. The Roman government appeared to have the upper hand. But this battle was weighted greatly in their favor. Their spiritual advantage was far greater than what their physical disadvantage appeared to be.

In the beginning of his letter, John reminded these Christians of three important spiritual facts that would help them to remain faithful to Jesus. They will also keep our minds firm when we face trials.

1. "He is the One who loves us" (Rev. 1:5). We should never doubt God's love for us because we are suffering for the gospel. God's Son suffered the horrible death of crucifixion in order to save many people. We may be sure, therefore, that God is allowing us to suffer as Jesus did in order that many may be saved.

2. "And he is the One who has made us free from our sins with the blood of his death" (Rev. 1:5). God has also forgiven our sins. Our sufferings should never cause us to doubt that we have been pardoned and welcomed back into God's fellowship. At times, you might think that something you have done in the past still causes God to let you suffer. John wants all Christians to know that forgiveness is real, even when we undergo great trials.

3. "He made us to be a kingdom of priests who serve God his Father" (Rev. 1:6). When Jesus saved us at our baptism and added us to his church, we became a part of his kingdom. This means we obey him in everything. He is king, and we are his faithful subjects. It also means that we work to build up his kingdom. John says that we serve God. His work is to save more and more people from sin. When we suffer persecution, we must remember that our work still must be done. We cannot let our difficulties keep us from teaching others that only Jesus saves. In fact, we should expect to be persecuted. Showing the power of God when we are under trials is a part of our work.

From the very beginning of his letter of Revelation, John shows us how to remain faithful when we are persecuted. He moves our attention away from ourselves. He directs our thoughts to the person of Christ. This apostle reminds us of Jesus' love, of his forgiveness of our sins, and of his call for us to serve God in his kingdom.

If we remember these things, we will be firm and strong to the very end. No problem, no matter how large, will be able to move us away from Christ.