Someone I know told me about the Boston Marathon bombing, the deaths and leg amputations, and then said, "can you say thank you Jesus?"
To which I answered, "I can always say that."
And she returned, "so appropriate in times of dead children."
Well, since I'm not an insensitive lout, I do not actually have knee-jerk reactions like that in times of trouble. It started me thinking about what I would have said, had it been up to me to speak to the parents about their boy's murder. And let me say first, that since I have no relationship with those grieving people, I would not be barging in to say, "Be sure to thank God for this - have a nice day!" Honestly! When people are blaming God for bad things that happen, they tar us believers with the same brush of their prejudice, and figure we just don't care, as God obviously doesn't, since He allowed this to happen.
Okay, so here goes:
I am deeply saddened by your son's murder, at his death at such an early age, for absolutely no possible good reason. I have not been so personally touched by such violence in my own life, and so I can only attain a small fraction of your shock and grief; but I can tell you this: God and the father of my lord, Jesus Christ, knows your grief and shares it more deeply than you can imagine. He is the author of life, and death is abhorrent to him. He is the essence of good, and evil is likewise abhorrent to him.
I often wish He would be a little more discriminating and prevent stuff like this from happening, you know, really bad stuff. But then where do you draw the line? Shall I counsel God in matters of good and evil? If God did not tolerate evil in this world, we would all be dead; but I can assure you, folks, that your son's murder will be made right in the end. God has taken a huge personal risk in making the world the way it is, and allowing it to be marred by sin, a beautiful work of art vandalized; yet the vandalism itself provides an opportunity not otherwise available to manifest the greatness of his love and grace, his judgement and mercy. He has taken this awful sin into account, with all the other sins of the world, and has paid for it with his own blood. He is going to manifest his greatness one day by making this all come out right, to his glory; I don't know how. I hope it comforts you to know that this is not the end of the story of your son.
At the Bell n Pomegranate, I want to focus on things of the Spirit and how our beliefs inform our lives in this world. So settle in with a drink of new wine, and put your two cents in with mine. Just remember this is a publick house, and I expect a certain amount of civility; but that does not rule out controversy, nor even passion.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
Spiritual Growth in a Nutshell
My best friend just asked for the link to my church's website, saying that he was "trying to introduce a little spirituality" into his life. I take this as a great compliment to me and my church, and I hope he finds some answers there.
What I want to say to him, and to all (why I'm writing it here on the blog :-) ) who may be seeking spiritual growth, is that in my opinion, the key lies in loving God. And, and this is true of Him more than any other person, to know Him is to love Him.
Now, I love this guy like a brother - in fact, I must admit that I love him more than my biological brother, but you know, modern western culture... Anyway, the Bible says "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother", and while that may be a reference to Christ, it is also reflected in many relationships among us imperfect humans, and this is a case in point. I wish I loved all my brothers in Christ as much as I love this man.
Then, there is a woman whom I love as I love my own body, whom I try to love as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, whom I try to nourish and cherish as the Lord does the church, every day, every moment. Loving her has been a fountain of life for me, a fascinating mystery.
But, as Jesus pointed out, the greatest commandment (and perhaps the most ignored) is to love I AM, the God of Israel, with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. That too, I endeavour to do every day. Though I fall short, pursuing that kind of love is the central focus, the guiding relational force, in my life.
One day, years ago, as I was walking along a city sidewalk, I saw across the street an amazingly beautiful woman walking the other way. Before I knew what I was doing, I had stopped, turned and started following after her. I caught myself as I was crossing the street, but that moment of complete abandon is a metaphor for what I try to experience with Jesus. When I see him going somewhere, I want to stop everything, forget everything, and just follow him. That is entering in as a child; it is finding the Pearl of Great Price in a field. His overwhelming love for us, while we were yet sinners, grieving and insulting him every day, inspires this loving abandon on our part, once we get to know Him. Go for it!
What I want to say to him, and to all (why I'm writing it here on the blog :-) ) who may be seeking spiritual growth, is that in my opinion, the key lies in loving God. And, and this is true of Him more than any other person, to know Him is to love Him.
Now, I love this guy like a brother - in fact, I must admit that I love him more than my biological brother, but you know, modern western culture... Anyway, the Bible says "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother", and while that may be a reference to Christ, it is also reflected in many relationships among us imperfect humans, and this is a case in point. I wish I loved all my brothers in Christ as much as I love this man.
Then, there is a woman whom I love as I love my own body, whom I try to love as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, whom I try to nourish and cherish as the Lord does the church, every day, every moment. Loving her has been a fountain of life for me, a fascinating mystery.
But, as Jesus pointed out, the greatest commandment (and perhaps the most ignored) is to love I AM, the God of Israel, with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. That too, I endeavour to do every day. Though I fall short, pursuing that kind of love is the central focus, the guiding relational force, in my life.
One day, years ago, as I was walking along a city sidewalk, I saw across the street an amazingly beautiful woman walking the other way. Before I knew what I was doing, I had stopped, turned and started following after her. I caught myself as I was crossing the street, but that moment of complete abandon is a metaphor for what I try to experience with Jesus. When I see him going somewhere, I want to stop everything, forget everything, and just follow him. That is entering in as a child; it is finding the Pearl of Great Price in a field. His overwhelming love for us, while we were yet sinners, grieving and insulting him every day, inspires this loving abandon on our part, once we get to know Him. Go for it!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Non-separation of Church and State in Germany
Last night on Market Place, NPR's radio show about business, they did a story about the "church tax" in Germany, and how many people are "leaving" their churches to avoid a 4% federal income tax that is earmarked for various German churches for support of their buildings and staff. Furthermore, with German efficiency, if you declare you are not affiliated and get yourself out of the tax, the (now government supported) pastors cannot do a funeral for you, or other "services" that church "workers" perform. This really riles up my American sensibilities on many issues.
They reported that the government passed this tax on the theory that churches were doing socially helpful things and thus merited support. This opens a host of political issues, such as just which churches are providing government-approved services. And of course, if they want the money, they need to get themselves approved. Then their members are taxed and the proceeds handed over to the appropriate church - only now, the staff is being controlled by the government; the government sets the rules for whom the church staff can render services, if they want the money. Which, of course, they do: they feel it is rightfully theirs, even though it is extorted by the force of law. Did anyone remember how God loves a cheerful giver?
This is a really great example of why we have the separation of church and state in the US. The government starts out saying they should be supported, but by giving that idea the force of law, they totally pervert it. God could send ten thousand angels to force us to pay money to the churches (or solve a host of other social problems), but He doesn't seem to want to do it. Gee, ya think maybe He has a different priority?
They reported that the government passed this tax on the theory that churches were doing socially helpful things and thus merited support. This opens a host of political issues, such as just which churches are providing government-approved services. And of course, if they want the money, they need to get themselves approved. Then their members are taxed and the proceeds handed over to the appropriate church - only now, the staff is being controlled by the government; the government sets the rules for whom the church staff can render services, if they want the money. Which, of course, they do: they feel it is rightfully theirs, even though it is extorted by the force of law. Did anyone remember how God loves a cheerful giver?
This is a really great example of why we have the separation of church and state in the US. The government starts out saying they should be supported, but by giving that idea the force of law, they totally pervert it. God could send ten thousand angels to force us to pay money to the churches (or solve a host of other social problems), but He doesn't seem to want to do it. Gee, ya think maybe He has a different priority?
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