PJ's Journal

Over the past week, John Balyo, a morning host for wcsg out of Grand Rapids, was arrested for alleged criminal sexual conduct involving a minor.  After he was arrested there was a buzz in the local news and many began talking about it in their homes.  Last night I saw on the news that Baylo had allegedly admitted guilt to having sex with a 12 year-old boy.  There is a huge pit in my stomach as I think about how anyone could do this, much less a man that would speak against such things as rape, adultery, sexual fornication, homosexuality, and sex trafficking.  I have a son who is now 15 years old, and I can't imagine what it would have done to him to have something like that happen.  I don't understand this.  Another angst I have right now is how the Name of Christ is being trampled upon by those that now have more fuel for their fire... but part of me understands where they are coming from.  It is news such as this that sends me into a state of confusi...

" Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9 - NIV)." What is your response when people treat you wrong?  It is in our nature to defend ourselves and strike back... to repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  We just cannot let someone else "win"!  We cannot let them have the last laugh.  There is another way that we typically respond and that is to do nothing.  This response certainly does not stir up unnecessary trouble, although it certainly can lead to more, but it also does nothing to demonstrate a genuine love for our "enemy".  Jesus tells us to love our neighbor, and just in case we want to define neighbor as those we get along with, He gets more specific by telling us to love our enemy (Matthew 5:43-44).  We are called by our Savior and Lord to love even our enemy!  That is a radical calling! ...

I have to be honest with you... I have been preaching through the book of 1 Peter for some time and this week I am tackling Peter's message to wives to function within the Greco-Roman system of Household Codes in a way that brings the favor of God and may lead to the salvation of their husband. Anytime I have to teach a passage specifically geared to women, I feel a bit awkward. What qualifies me to have a voice in their life? Sure, I am their pastor, but when I try to put myself in a woman's shoes... I find that my feet do not fit. Peter encourages wives to submit themselves to their husbands within the system of Household Codes. This could not have been easy for Peter to do as a man. Does he know what it is like to be taken advantage of by a spouse that is not pulling their weight? Does he know what it is like for his dignity to be in question every single day of his life? Certainly, the view of women within Greco-Roman Household Codes was not very favorable. They w...