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Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
It May Take Time
Usually my devotionals push us toward the Saturday Night Sermon, but I thought today I would take a small diversion from that practice. I have been working a lot with Forgiveness. Each Wednesday Night I have been gathering with a great group of people and we have been wrestling with what forgiveness means in our daily lives. It is a question that isn't far from many of our hearts.
Today as I was reading through some scriptures, I encountered again the story of Joseph. Here is a guy that really got the raw end of the deal. He was betrayed by his brothers, cast into a well and alienated from relationships, taken into exile from his family and friends, framed by a "desperate housewife", and tossed into a bondage of someone else's doing. It wasn't his fault! If there was anyone that had the right to bitterness, it was Joseph.
I have no doubt that throughout those years many moments of anger, bitterness, hopelessness, anxiety, and even rage invaded his heart and mind. With every wasted day in exile, he grieved lost relationships and a place at his family's table. With every day he was in bondage he would have been reminded of the wicked actions of his brothers that put him in this predicament in the first place.
Unfortunately, one of the side effects of being wounded is what I call "Closed book syndrome." If our lives are stories--much of which are yet to be written, the sin of others on our lives has a way of slamming shut the book. We then live completely determined by what happened to us. We can't see any hope of this story turning out in a good way. We are imprisoned by the past events, pain, and betrayal of others.
What we forget is that God is not done in our stories. God is the eternal author that is ever-present, even in our exile and bondage. I am deeply challenged by the story of Joseph. Late in the story, Joseph encounters his brothers. After imprisonment, Joseph had come to a place of favor (even in exile) and then his brothers come seeking his favor. Remember, if there was anyone that had a right to bitterness and unforgiveness, it was Joseph. He could have said to his brothers, "Let me treat you like you have treated me."
But...Joseph had experienced a God that wasn't done writing his story. In fact, Joseph had so allowed God to continue writing his story, he was able to find the redemptive providence of God even in exile and bondage. Listen to what Joseph says to his brothers, 19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Now, remember this statement took time. There were moments when he would have wanted them dead. But there is an openness to Joseph. There was an openness to experience the ongoing providence of God in the midst of broken moments of life. There was the openness of the story...one that reminds that no moment is so completely determinative and enveloping that it cuts off any hope of a future.
I wonder what forgiveness might look like in our lives if we took the time to wait upon God to continue to write a redemptive and hopeful future out of the exilic and bound up moments of our past.
Today as I was reading through some scriptures, I encountered again the story of Joseph. Here is a guy that really got the raw end of the deal. He was betrayed by his brothers, cast into a well and alienated from relationships, taken into exile from his family and friends, framed by a "desperate housewife", and tossed into a bondage of someone else's doing. It wasn't his fault! If there was anyone that had the right to bitterness, it was Joseph.
I have no doubt that throughout those years many moments of anger, bitterness, hopelessness, anxiety, and even rage invaded his heart and mind. With every wasted day in exile, he grieved lost relationships and a place at his family's table. With every day he was in bondage he would have been reminded of the wicked actions of his brothers that put him in this predicament in the first place.
Unfortunately, one of the side effects of being wounded is what I call "Closed book syndrome." If our lives are stories--much of which are yet to be written, the sin of others on our lives has a way of slamming shut the book. We then live completely determined by what happened to us. We can't see any hope of this story turning out in a good way. We are imprisoned by the past events, pain, and betrayal of others.
What we forget is that God is not done in our stories. God is the eternal author that is ever-present, even in our exile and bondage. I am deeply challenged by the story of Joseph. Late in the story, Joseph encounters his brothers. After imprisonment, Joseph had come to a place of favor (even in exile) and then his brothers come seeking his favor. Remember, if there was anyone that had a right to bitterness and unforgiveness, it was Joseph. He could have said to his brothers, "Let me treat you like you have treated me."
But...Joseph had experienced a God that wasn't done writing his story. In fact, Joseph had so allowed God to continue writing his story, he was able to find the redemptive providence of God even in exile and bondage. Listen to what Joseph says to his brothers, 19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Now, remember this statement took time. There were moments when he would have wanted them dead. But there is an openness to Joseph. There was an openness to experience the ongoing providence of God in the midst of broken moments of life. There was the openness of the story...one that reminds that no moment is so completely determinative and enveloping that it cuts off any hope of a future.
I wonder what forgiveness might look like in our lives if we took the time to wait upon God to continue to write a redemptive and hopeful future out of the exilic and bound up moments of our past.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
What's Your God Look Like
One of the most convicting statements I have ever heard is this, "People believe about your God what they see in your life." Ouch! Have you ever stopped to consider the ramifications of that statement. Many people claim to have a belief in God. But, if this statement is true, then I see all sorts of God's around me.
The gods I see people believing in, if I were to look at their actions, are the gods of greedy consumption, the gods of unfair expectations, the gods of rash anger, the gods of hurtful words, the gods of jealousy and rumors, the gods of selfish ambitions, the gods of sexual objectification...and really the list goes on.
See, the bible says we were created in the image and likeness of God. Now, theologically that is a loaded statement. But whatever that means, it means that in our very lives we are to reflect God in this world. Sin becomes a problem not so much of bad action but of distorted image. In our sin, we present a god that is not really the God of Creation, Redemption, Love, and Salvation. We present a selfish, intolerant, impatient, self-righteous God. Oops.
What would it look like for the church to show the world the God it believes in. It might mean that we go out and hang out with the lowly and the downcast like Jesus did. It might mean that we seek justice for the oppressed like God does for the Israelites in Exodus. It might mean that we live patiently in a world full of sin, refusing to point the finger of condemnation and instead present the open arms of love.
So let me ask you...how would the people close to you describe the God you believe in?
The gods I see people believing in, if I were to look at their actions, are the gods of greedy consumption, the gods of unfair expectations, the gods of rash anger, the gods of hurtful words, the gods of jealousy and rumors, the gods of selfish ambitions, the gods of sexual objectification...and really the list goes on.
See, the bible says we were created in the image and likeness of God. Now, theologically that is a loaded statement. But whatever that means, it means that in our very lives we are to reflect God in this world. Sin becomes a problem not so much of bad action but of distorted image. In our sin, we present a god that is not really the God of Creation, Redemption, Love, and Salvation. We present a selfish, intolerant, impatient, self-righteous God. Oops.
What would it look like for the church to show the world the God it believes in. It might mean that we go out and hang out with the lowly and the downcast like Jesus did. It might mean that we seek justice for the oppressed like God does for the Israelites in Exodus. It might mean that we live patiently in a world full of sin, refusing to point the finger of condemnation and instead present the open arms of love.
So let me ask you...how would the people close to you describe the God you believe in?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A Difficult Thing
Recently I was speaking with a Christian Professor named Leonard Sweet. One of the pearls of wisdom that he mentioned to me has really stuck. He said, "Why is it we are so obsessed with imitating Jesus?" "If it was possible to imitate Jesus, then we wouldn't need Jesus." Wow...that's dead on. When I speak to people, I often hear, "I just need to act more like Jesus would act." For most of us, that means pulling up the bootstraps and giving it the best go possible. Unfortunately, too often our attempts fall short.
The life of a Christian is not about simply imitation. It is the life of participation! And boy is there a difference. Imitation is an act of the will. Participation is an act of Communion and Grace. The way of Jesus in this world is not something that comes naturally for us. If it were then we wouldn't have needed the rescuing and redemption that He brought to this world. Instead, what we are called to do is live "in Christ." We are called to enter into the very being of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Paul says, "it is not I that live but Christ that lives in me." Paul is saying, "Listen church, Jesus isn't some courageous moral example!" Jesus is the One through whom God's Divine Plan is manifest! Jesus is the one that institutes in this world what it means to be completely human! Jesus is instituting for us a new way!
This new way is not achieved through our action. It is experienced and lived out as our lives are surrendered to the wonder working power of God's Spirit that makes possible the impossible. When we ask the famous question, "What would Jesus do?" Our answer, in deep humility should be, "probably not what I would do, nor am I capable of doing, but! with God all things are possible."
My friends, be set free from the need to imitate. Instead, step into the divine space of God's grace that compels action in our world that shows Jesus and not our great, courageous, moral attempts.
The life of a Christian is not about simply imitation. It is the life of participation! And boy is there a difference. Imitation is an act of the will. Participation is an act of Communion and Grace. The way of Jesus in this world is not something that comes naturally for us. If it were then we wouldn't have needed the rescuing and redemption that He brought to this world. Instead, what we are called to do is live "in Christ." We are called to enter into the very being of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Paul says, "it is not I that live but Christ that lives in me." Paul is saying, "Listen church, Jesus isn't some courageous moral example!" Jesus is the One through whom God's Divine Plan is manifest! Jesus is the one that institutes in this world what it means to be completely human! Jesus is instituting for us a new way!
This new way is not achieved through our action. It is experienced and lived out as our lives are surrendered to the wonder working power of God's Spirit that makes possible the impossible. When we ask the famous question, "What would Jesus do?" Our answer, in deep humility should be, "probably not what I would do, nor am I capable of doing, but! with God all things are possible."
My friends, be set free from the need to imitate. Instead, step into the divine space of God's grace that compels action in our world that shows Jesus and not our great, courageous, moral attempts.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Wisdom of a Mother
One of my all time favorite quotes was from Mother Theresa. She was fond of saying, "I can do no great things, only little things with great love." Within that simple quote are three major components for a life well lived.
1.) Humility: The story of the Tower of Babel is a story of humankind attempting to "make a name for themselves." It is the ongoing endeavor of self-exaltation. We love to try to be something big, be something important, and do something that will change the world. We want to be remembered! So, we set out to conquer the world and leave our legacy. But, much of that is motivated by pride and ambition...more so than the good of the world. What this Mother's wisdom speaks to is the reality that we are nothing more than blades of grass that shoot up one day and wither the next. We weren't designed to conquer, save, or fix the world. We were designed to live in the world, surrendered to the design of the One on whom the world rests and has its being. We are called to take up our often small and humble tasks of fulfilling our particular role within the overall framework of God's saving plan for the world. In an orchestra when any of the instruments attempt to compete for recognition, the music ends up sounding funky and off. But when each instrument fulfills its small role...that's when beauty happens.
2.) Responsibility: Though we have suggested our role to be small and humble, we still have a role! This Mother's wisdom reminds us that though what we do might not be great or large, it is still something. In fact, the life of faithfulness is filled with those day to day, sometimes seemingly insignificant, acts of responsible living that make the biggest difference. We have the responsibility to care for the the lonely, sick, and outcast. We have the small responsibility to extend love, mercy, and compassion. We are given the humble task of forgiveness and servanthood. Though our role may never make us a name...it still requires action.
and finally,
3.) Faith: We engage the world through humble responsibility by learning to trust that God can do with that action what we never thought possible. When we live humble lives of loving action, God moves in those small moments and makes big differences. In the end...it is God's name that is exalted and not ours.
That is some pretty powerful Mother's wisdom.
1.) Humility: The story of the Tower of Babel is a story of humankind attempting to "make a name for themselves." It is the ongoing endeavor of self-exaltation. We love to try to be something big, be something important, and do something that will change the world. We want to be remembered! So, we set out to conquer the world and leave our legacy. But, much of that is motivated by pride and ambition...more so than the good of the world. What this Mother's wisdom speaks to is the reality that we are nothing more than blades of grass that shoot up one day and wither the next. We weren't designed to conquer, save, or fix the world. We were designed to live in the world, surrendered to the design of the One on whom the world rests and has its being. We are called to take up our often small and humble tasks of fulfilling our particular role within the overall framework of God's saving plan for the world. In an orchestra when any of the instruments attempt to compete for recognition, the music ends up sounding funky and off. But when each instrument fulfills its small role...that's when beauty happens.
2.) Responsibility: Though we have suggested our role to be small and humble, we still have a role! This Mother's wisdom reminds us that though what we do might not be great or large, it is still something. In fact, the life of faithfulness is filled with those day to day, sometimes seemingly insignificant, acts of responsible living that make the biggest difference. We have the responsibility to care for the the lonely, sick, and outcast. We have the small responsibility to extend love, mercy, and compassion. We are given the humble task of forgiveness and servanthood. Though our role may never make us a name...it still requires action.
and finally,
3.) Faith: We engage the world through humble responsibility by learning to trust that God can do with that action what we never thought possible. When we live humble lives of loving action, God moves in those small moments and makes big differences. In the end...it is God's name that is exalted and not ours.
That is some pretty powerful Mother's wisdom.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Gentlemen's Club
Kettle One Vodka and Cadillac. Sure, these are odd words to begin a spiritual devotional thought with, but they are relevant. As a young man in my thirties, these two companies have the most powerful advertising campaigns. Both of them show what it means to be a part of the Gentlemen's Club. Young good looking men, obviously financially successful, standing around in suits and sports coats-living the "good life." They carry around the air of significance and arrival. As a young man, their exterior forces an internal question in my life, "Have I arrived."
Isn't it amazing how apt the world is in marketing the exterior and appearance. If you own the right car, drink the right drink, and buy the right clothing, people will like you. You WILL have fun. You WILL be important. People WILL look to you.
We set out...many of us, on a journey for such external significance. If you think you are above it, check your credit card receipts. How often do you live above your means in order to maintain an air of success and arrival? We measure our lives by the outside. The one that looks like they are doing the best...gets the kudos. They are the blessed ones.
I guess that's why I love the verse in the Bible that says, "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearence, but the Lord looks at the heart." For most of us, this is an encouraging word. Most of us haven't arrived. Most of us don't have the fancy toys. We live paycheck to paycheck. Any keeping up we do, places us further and further in debt, causing anxiety and stress as we work to figure out how to pay our bills. In the eyes of the world...the Kettle One/Cadillac world is a lofty dream most of us will never reach. But God does not look upon the outward appearance to find worth and significance.
The Lord realizes that most of the stuff we dress ourselves up with, most of the posturing for esteem, and most of the displays of "arrival" are nothing but cover-ups for deeper issues. The Lord's glance looks past the adornments of the world and right to the heart. It is the heart of man that God is most concerned with. It is the very core of human existence. It is the place in which God has hidden God's desires for each of us. It is the outflow of humility, righteousness, mercy, compassion, and love. It is in the heart that God peers for the possibility of fulfilling our divine calling.
Our worth and value is not wrapped up in our outward appearance but in the grand design of God for our lives. God doesn't only invite those that have arrived to take part in God's Kingdom of Grace, but those of us that are unimpressive, those that don't fit the World's vision of value. We are the "unlikely guests" called to take our places in dream of God for this world.
Isn't it amazing how apt the world is in marketing the exterior and appearance. If you own the right car, drink the right drink, and buy the right clothing, people will like you. You WILL have fun. You WILL be important. People WILL look to you.
We set out...many of us, on a journey for such external significance. If you think you are above it, check your credit card receipts. How often do you live above your means in order to maintain an air of success and arrival? We measure our lives by the outside. The one that looks like they are doing the best...gets the kudos. They are the blessed ones.
I guess that's why I love the verse in the Bible that says, "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearence, but the Lord looks at the heart." For most of us, this is an encouraging word. Most of us haven't arrived. Most of us don't have the fancy toys. We live paycheck to paycheck. Any keeping up we do, places us further and further in debt, causing anxiety and stress as we work to figure out how to pay our bills. In the eyes of the world...the Kettle One/Cadillac world is a lofty dream most of us will never reach. But God does not look upon the outward appearance to find worth and significance.
The Lord realizes that most of the stuff we dress ourselves up with, most of the posturing for esteem, and most of the displays of "arrival" are nothing but cover-ups for deeper issues. The Lord's glance looks past the adornments of the world and right to the heart. It is the heart of man that God is most concerned with. It is the very core of human existence. It is the place in which God has hidden God's desires for each of us. It is the outflow of humility, righteousness, mercy, compassion, and love. It is in the heart that God peers for the possibility of fulfilling our divine calling.
Our worth and value is not wrapped up in our outward appearance but in the grand design of God for our lives. God doesn't only invite those that have arrived to take part in God's Kingdom of Grace, but those of us that are unimpressive, those that don't fit the World's vision of value. We are the "unlikely guests" called to take our places in dream of God for this world.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Special for Special Sake
The word "election" carries with it a lot of theological baggage. God has "elected" some to experience God's blessings. God has chosen. For Calvinists this means that God has chosen before the foundations of the earth-some for salvation and others for damnation. For other theological traditions, it simply means that God has looked down from Heaven and plucked those who He has determined to offer the gift of salvation. And still for others, election means that God has chosen all of humanity and it becomes our responsibility to choose if we will accept God's offer. So which one is right? Well...that's not the point of this devotional.
The point is that no theological tradition can escape the word "election." It is deeply rooted in the Scriptures and goes all the way back to Noah, the one God elected to save humanity. Then God "elects" Abraham, through whom all nations on earth shall be blessed. After that...God chooses Israel to be a chosen nation, a peculiar possession, a royal priesthood. God's election of Israel had with it the inherent mission of serving the rest of the world by being faithful to God. They were elected to be special...but their special calling was to serve as a blessing to the rest of the world.
The problem...the human tendency is to forget why we are special. Israel forgot that they had been chosen, elected, made special to serve others. Instead, they had often determined that they were special for special sake. They flaunted their election as though it was only for them and that it made them better than all other nations. They had forgotten the deep responsibility to steward their calling, their election to the glory of God.
This is not an uncommon reality. Too often the Christian church does this very same thing. We get saved, realize God has chosen us, spend a little time in awe...and then we allow our new special status to set us apart, to make us better than others. We flaunt our salvation. We are the saints...they are the sinners. We are the "us" and they are the "them." We are condescending in our conversations with non-believers and arrogant about our faith. We have forgotten that central to our choosing is the responsibility to go out and be a blessing to others. We have forgotten that our election is part of God's bigger plan for all the earth. God has elected us and given us a voice before the throne that we might speak up (intercede)on behalf of the voiceless. We have been chosen to experience abundance that we might pour out that gift in the lives of those with nothing. We are not special for special sake. We have been made special for Christ's sake. We have been elected for the sake of others.
Let us not handle our election as if God had placed it "Into the Wrong Hands."
The point is that no theological tradition can escape the word "election." It is deeply rooted in the Scriptures and goes all the way back to Noah, the one God elected to save humanity. Then God "elects" Abraham, through whom all nations on earth shall be blessed. After that...God chooses Israel to be a chosen nation, a peculiar possession, a royal priesthood. God's election of Israel had with it the inherent mission of serving the rest of the world by being faithful to God. They were elected to be special...but their special calling was to serve as a blessing to the rest of the world.
The problem...the human tendency is to forget why we are special. Israel forgot that they had been chosen, elected, made special to serve others. Instead, they had often determined that they were special for special sake. They flaunted their election as though it was only for them and that it made them better than all other nations. They had forgotten the deep responsibility to steward their calling, their election to the glory of God.
This is not an uncommon reality. Too often the Christian church does this very same thing. We get saved, realize God has chosen us, spend a little time in awe...and then we allow our new special status to set us apart, to make us better than others. We flaunt our salvation. We are the saints...they are the sinners. We are the "us" and they are the "them." We are condescending in our conversations with non-believers and arrogant about our faith. We have forgotten that central to our choosing is the responsibility to go out and be a blessing to others. We have forgotten that our election is part of God's bigger plan for all the earth. God has elected us and given us a voice before the throne that we might speak up (intercede)on behalf of the voiceless. We have been chosen to experience abundance that we might pour out that gift in the lives of those with nothing. We are not special for special sake. We have been made special for Christ's sake. We have been elected for the sake of others.
Let us not handle our election as if God had placed it "Into the Wrong Hands."
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