I have an ongoing spiritual debate with one of my oldest friends. She thinks I blindly accept the bible as inerrant truth and I think she's open to just about any 'enlightened' perspective that doesn't reference a scriptural passage. After a recent encounter of with her, I recalled a separate but distinctly non-spiritual confrontation that leaves me with hope for my friend. Here's what happened:
I'm a marketing consultant and I worked in the world headquarters of a Fortune 50 consumer products giant. There were rest rooms on opposite ends of the mezzanine floor in the plush HQ building. For some reason, the men's and women's rest room entrances were mirror images on opposite ends of the hallway. Men's on the right side at one end, but on the left side at the other end. Can you guess what happened?
On a particular morning when I urgently needed the facilities, I checked the door sign - Men's - and pressed ahead through two sets of doors to the well appointed rest room. Sinks and mirrors on the left, separated by a wall and....well...men's-only facilities on the right. However, as you first stepped into the rest room and encountered the sink area, you couldn't see the rest of the facilities unless you peered around the separating wall.
Despite my hurry, I had to stop dead in my tracks.
There, leaning over the sink and peering into a mirror was an attractive young executive, applying her makeup. I had very little time to deliberate. Was I absolutely sure I'd read the sign correctly? I was. In fact, I'd almost mistakenly taken the wrong turn before, so I more purposely checked the doors now. I was in the right place.
"Er, excuse me, but I think you might be in the wrong facility?" I managed.
"Well," she said tersely, "one of us is." And kept on applying her makeup--unhesitantly assuming the mistaken party to be me.
It was true. One of us had to be wrong. There was no subjective reality here.
But with no additional time to argue, I proceeded to the other side of the wall.
A few seconds later, I heard the dainty click-tap of high heels step over to the wall, and then a shocked, "Oh!" followed by a rapid retreat of click-tap, click-taps rushing out the two doors.
I know that's a long way around the bend from spiritual matters--but there is a close parallel. When I share the Gospel with my friend, it's after having done lots of Bible study and prayer, based on a relationship with God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. I already checked the sign on the door. It says, Truth.
What do you believe?
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Handling Muggers
We had a very scary and troubling week, as one of our young family members got 'mugged.' Fortunately, after suffering a vicious kick to the head in the midst of the inexcusable assault/robbery, the youngster appears to be recovering.
For us adults, it provided an object lesson in mercy and forgiveness--Jesus style. After the immediate health concerns of the attack appeared to be stabilizing, we turned our attention to discussing the perpetrators, still unaccounted for. Admittedly, there were (still are?) some protective and indignant suggestions concerning "what we'd like to do if we got our hands on those heartless thugs..."
And how satisfying it would be to give them a piece of our mind. At the very least, the thought of "prosecution to the full extent of the law..." should they be caught, was unanimously--and enthusiastically savored.
Up to that point, the line between "justified, righteous indignation" and "resentment and condemnation" was blurred--at best. Pretty natural under the circumstances. But then, realizing a sense of the supernatural--the Holy Spirit of God--we also started talking about the hearts and lives of the attackers.
No one made any excuses for them - their violent actions were categorically inexcusable. They aren't victims, our family member is the victim. But what could possibly lead someone to be that thoughtless, callous and cold? They left the scene before knowing whether their young victim was simply unconscious--or dead.
What do you do with a generation of young people who don't seem to care about the lives of those they hurt? Do you find ways to cut them off from civilized society, bury them in prisons, compartmentalize them in separate neighborhoods, track them with electronic hardware?
I only came up with one sure answer. And I got this from a guy who had plenty of reason to be indignant over the treatment he received from the bullies of his day. His name is Jesus, and he tells this parable:
Mat 13:24
"The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went his way. When the wheat had sprung up and had produced fruit, then the weeds also appeared.
So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then where have the weeds come from?
He said to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Then do you want us to go and gather them up?
But he said, No, lest while you gather up the weeds you also root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest."
There were three attackers in the assault. Right now they are clearly weeds among the wheat. Or...might even one of the three still be reachable by the power of God's love? Is there a struggling grain of wheat that might get pulled out of the soil if we simply rip out, toss and burn handfuls of other weeds?
First, let's catch them, try them and get them in jail where they belong--that's fair justice for my family member. But let's also give prison ministries--volunteers who ask nothing of taxpayers except freedom of speech--access to these same clumps of weeds, on the chance that God can still rescue a few healthy grains of wheat. Wheat that could bear fruit back in our communities if the true Gospel takes hold in a repentant heart.
Today, after my prayer for healthy recovery and healing of our family - I also pray for the hearts of the offenders, that God will heal what is broken in them and lead them to the Light--through the love of Jesus, our Savior. Otherwise they may have a destiny no different than weeds headed for the trash heap.
And consider this--if we'd be allowed to share the Gospel more freely on this side of prison walls; in schools, at universities, maybe depicted more fairly in movies and TV shows...maybe we'd nip more weeds in the bud.
What do you believe?
For us adults, it provided an object lesson in mercy and forgiveness--Jesus style. After the immediate health concerns of the attack appeared to be stabilizing, we turned our attention to discussing the perpetrators, still unaccounted for. Admittedly, there were (still are?) some protective and indignant suggestions concerning "what we'd like to do if we got our hands on those heartless thugs..."
And how satisfying it would be to give them a piece of our mind. At the very least, the thought of "prosecution to the full extent of the law..." should they be caught, was unanimously--and enthusiastically savored.
Up to that point, the line between "justified, righteous indignation" and "resentment and condemnation" was blurred--at best. Pretty natural under the circumstances. But then, realizing a sense of the supernatural--the Holy Spirit of God--we also started talking about the hearts and lives of the attackers.
No one made any excuses for them - their violent actions were categorically inexcusable. They aren't victims, our family member is the victim. But what could possibly lead someone to be that thoughtless, callous and cold? They left the scene before knowing whether their young victim was simply unconscious--or dead.
What do you do with a generation of young people who don't seem to care about the lives of those they hurt? Do you find ways to cut them off from civilized society, bury them in prisons, compartmentalize them in separate neighborhoods, track them with electronic hardware?
I only came up with one sure answer. And I got this from a guy who had plenty of reason to be indignant over the treatment he received from the bullies of his day. His name is Jesus, and he tells this parable:
Mat 13:24
"The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went his way. When the wheat had sprung up and had produced fruit, then the weeds also appeared.
So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then where have the weeds come from?
He said to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Then do you want us to go and gather them up?
But he said, No, lest while you gather up the weeds you also root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest."
There were three attackers in the assault. Right now they are clearly weeds among the wheat. Or...might even one of the three still be reachable by the power of God's love? Is there a struggling grain of wheat that might get pulled out of the soil if we simply rip out, toss and burn handfuls of other weeds?
First, let's catch them, try them and get them in jail where they belong--that's fair justice for my family member. But let's also give prison ministries--volunteers who ask nothing of taxpayers except freedom of speech--access to these same clumps of weeds, on the chance that God can still rescue a few healthy grains of wheat. Wheat that could bear fruit back in our communities if the true Gospel takes hold in a repentant heart.
Today, after my prayer for healthy recovery and healing of our family - I also pray for the hearts of the offenders, that God will heal what is broken in them and lead them to the Light--through the love of Jesus, our Savior. Otherwise they may have a destiny no different than weeds headed for the trash heap.
And consider this--if we'd be allowed to share the Gospel more freely on this side of prison walls; in schools, at universities, maybe depicted more fairly in movies and TV shows...maybe we'd nip more weeds in the bud.
What do you believe?
Designer Gods
I continue to encounter people who offer a version of this:
- "Well, that's not how I picture God...."
- "I don't think I could believe in a God who____"
- "If that's what God is, then I'm not so sure I want to..."
- "My idea of God is personal."
This 'putting the cart before the horse' approach to spirituality assumes that we define God. I'd like Him to be a little kinder here, more proactive there, miraculous, timely, responsive...or else.
Or else?
"Or I might just pick up my belief system and take it somewhere else. I can vote with my prayers you know."
That is the designer god mentality. I'll conceive of god in my own image - or find a pre-packaged spirituality that's close, and saves me the work.
Christianity is different. We believe God is. In fact, He calls himself, "I am." He's done His best to explain His nature to us--so that we can understand Him better, and enter into a relationship with Him. Not so we vote for Him.
God is not insecure. He loves you enough to be accessible and approachable. A supreme being doesn't have to do that. It's His option, not our design feature.
The prophet Isaiah recorded this insight from God:
Isa 44:6 So says the Lord, the King of Israel, and His redeemer Lord of Hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and besides Me there is no God.
Isa 44:24 So says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb, I am the Lord who makes all things; who stretches out the heavens alone; who spreads out the earth.
There are thousands of insights like this in the Bible -- ways to learn how God is. But you might also be pleasantly surprised by how much His Words speak of Love, forgiveness, mercy, Grace, abundant blessings and compassion--for us. The very people who keep trying to re-imagine him as we would have him be.
Rather than anguishing over how you would set out to 'design' the perfect God for your life (and for the rest of us to join with you...), try turning the tables to read the Bible and learn more about how you can meet God as He is - through His Son, Jesus - our Saviour.
What do you believe?
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