What Do You Mean I’m a Mutt?

Years ago I had a pastor ask me what denomination I was raised in.  I explained I was raised in a Christian home and we attended Methodist then American Baptist, then after college I went to a non-denominational church, then a Four Square Church, then a Church of God. He laughed and said, “Oh, so you’re a mutt. Then we’ve got some work to do.”  I was very offended and had actually enjoyed the exposures to different ways of worship and expressions of faith. As I struggled with this judgment God showed me that I was just what He wanted me to be.  During that next week I heard the phase “spiritual mutt” several times - all in a positive light.  Some very well-known pastors and teachers even called themselves mutts.  Needless to say, I didn’t spend much time with that other pastor again.

The idea of a spiritual mutt is not knew to God, so He wasn’t shaken like I was. Pure breeds are like the Israelites in the Old Testament, or Jews as they are called in the New Testament. Mutts are Gentiles (aka - everyone else).  Each having their purpose and God given design. As I was preparing for this blog God gave these acronyms: 

MUTT = Multi Use Testimony Telling. Salvation shared to all through personal stories of how Jesus touched them.     

PURE = Purposed Use Relationship Evangelism. Jew sharing with Jew that the Messiah had come.

We see the design and usefulness highlighted for each group in how the four gospels were written.  The Book of Matthew was written for the Jewish people and The Book of John was written to the Gentiles. Each group would need to see Jesus from their own perspective so a way was created. Also, Jesus set up two different men to lead each group – Peter for the Jews and Paul for the Gentiles. Trouble comes when people decide that their way is the best and dismiss others or worse, make statements that insinuate the others aren’t really Christians.  This problem is not new but actually started happening as recorded in the New Testament letters to the first churches. 1^st Corinthians chapter 1 (written by Paul) gives us a small glimpse into the life of the new church.  Verse 10 reads, “I appeal to you brother and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another and that there be no division among you but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

God loves us all and has created a way for all to come home to Him.  Jesus died for all sinners; Jew and Gentile. Through Him we are all born again into His breed. HIS = Holy in Spirit. If you look back at verse 2 you’ll find this term HIS used. “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Crist Jesus and called to be HIS Holy people, together with those everywhere who call on the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ…”

No longer are we Jew or Gentile, Pure or Mutt, but we are HIS. Born, not of manmade worship styles or religious definitions, but born of God in Spirit. This is the only breed to be.  

**Lord, I thank you that you made me who I am and that you called me to be yours according to your plan.  I’m so happy to know you personally, beyond denominations and any religious label.  Forgive me for anytime I may have judged someone’s way of loving you. Please help me see other people as my brothers and sisters.**

“I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)

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Divine Solutions for Confused Lives

Wanting to know what the future holds is a common struggle. But if we knew, would we really relax and let it play out or would we try to orchestrate the events to make it happen and end up ruining the outcome in the process? I think the latter.  That’s why we’re not God. God certainly knows what He’s doing even when everything we see seems confusing.

In 2004 I was at an event where a speaker explored the book of Esther. The speaker was Naomi Cox from NEWIM (Network of Evangelical Women in Ministry). Naomi had these main points:

1. What a difference a day makes (Faith)
2. Protocol in the Palace (Waiting)
3. Seek the Heart not the Kingdom (Favor)
4. Honor Qualifies the Servant (Invitation)

In the book of Esther we watch her going from a poor Jewish girl being raised by her uncle, to the Queen, to a most certain death, to commanding decrees of the land. We also see some other people with note worthy stories like Esther’s uncle and one of the kings advisors. They also have highs and lows and confusing events to endure. But, only those that keep their actions honorable and seek God’s direction make it to a happy end. And the happy end is what we are all after, right?  Naomi helps us get there by providing a pathway based on the four points found in Esther’s story. Let’s explore these with her… (to really get the most out of this short study you’ll need to read the Book of Esther.  It has 10 short chapters.  I read the whole thing in 20 minutes. Depending on how you think you can read it now then come back to the blog to se thee meaning of the points, or read the blog then read the book to see the meaning of the points.) 

What a difference a day makes (Faith)

As we read through the story we see several times that the course for our players can change very quickly. Reacting to circumstances instead of pausing and letting faith work is the culprit for those that suffer living in a circumstantial life. Faith bound people pause and know they are held in God’s control and He will work out the situation to spite what they physically see. Like the photo on this blog.  Its not natural, its funny, and it’s confusing… How did the squirrel even get on the bird?  How did the bird take off? Did the bird agree to this arrangement? We don’t know the answers but God does. Faith means you know God knows and even though the outcome may be days away - a new day is coming. We should be ready because He might do it in a way we wouldn’t have considered and it might be tomorrow.

Protocol in the Palace (Waiting)

Throughout the story we see Esther strictly following the protocol of the palace whether it be in the courts, with the other wives, or how she speaks to the King. Some might see her as bending in weakness to the standards of men but we should look upon her behavior as strength.  It takes great personal discipline to show self-control and honor the standards of men when you know who you are in God’s eyes and you trust that God is in control. We also see this example from the life of Jesus.  He was God, after all, but He became human and suffered, as we do, with all temptations.  He could have zapped dead those that bothered Him but instead He submitted to the path His Father designed even in the face of man’s laws.  Esther and Jesus only broke away from man’s way when they were told by God it was time. Until then, they waited.

Seek the Heart not the Kingdom (Favor)

Esther’s goal was not to have the kingdom a Queen would be due but to be the person the King wanted to spend time with. She was even offered half of the kingdom twice and, instead, asked for mercy on behalf of others.  She gained the favor of the King because she put aside a greedy self serving attitude and the King was impressed. We also see that a counselor of the King set out to be mean and greedy and paid the price of the King’s wrath. When we worry about the future and try to make things happen for our own gain we put ourselves in God’s place as Lord of our lives. With this self-serving plan, we will find a high cost at the end instead of the favor of the King.

Honor Qualifies the Servant (Invitation)

The Queen hid her Jewish heritage from the King because she would have not been considered worthy to be Queen. Esther was placed in positions along the way to be considered for the open Queen slot so she could save her people later. The future for her people looked pretty bleak and she knew she had to talk to the King. In the story we learn that no one could just walk in and see the King; you had to be invited. As Esther honored the King in her daily behavior she honored God’s plan as well. Living a life of honor showed the King that she was qualified to be Queen and she was invited into the inner court, which led to Esther saving her people and completing God’s plan.  

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, one who does not need to be ashamed, and one who correctly handles the word of truth." 2nd Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

**Lord, I want to honor you with my life. Even though I worry sometimes, I really do believe you are in control and have the best planned. Give me the strength to see beyond the circumstances to trust in you no matter what I see. Forgive me for trying to make my own way work to get a kingdom for myself.  I only want to please you and work to see your plan completed.  Use me as you need to and speak to my heart as I seek yours.**

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