Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

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The Winter of our Discontent – George MacDonald Quote

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George MacDonaldWhile reading George MacDonald’s Adela Cathcart, I ran across this quote and thought I’d share it:

“It is not the high summer alone that is God’s. The winter also is His. And into His winter He came to visit us. And all man’s winters are His – the winter of our poverty, the winter of our sorrow, the winter of our unhappiness – even ‘the winter of our discontent.”

That last phrase caught my ear. It sounded familiar so off to Google I ran to identify the source. I quickly learned two things from Wikipedia:

  1. The phrase “winter of our discontent” originated in Shakespeare’s Play Richard III
  2. Winter of our Discontent is the name of John Steinbeck’s last novel.

This paragraph was the beginning of a Christmas Day sermon by Mr. Armstrong, the curate. The rest of the sermon is worth reading but I won’t quote it here. As we approach the Christmas season, it is good to keep in mind that God is master of all of our circumstances. We can rejoice in Immanuel, God with us in the form of a baby that turned the world upside down.

I know that George MacDonald was an influence upon C. S. Lewis which is the primary reason I picked up the book. I’m excited to continue on, but thought I’d share this quote along the way.

Christianity’s Image Problem

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image

This morning I read an article entitled Christianity’s Image Problem which prompted some thoughts.

Because we live out the Christian life imperfectly, we give non-believers plenty of opportunities to criticize our hypocrisy. Matt Appling, the author of the article, brings this out in his post. Christianity has an image problem because of Christians. This is true, but I would add that even if we were to live out the Christian life perfectly, we’d still have an image problem. We would have this problem because Jesus, the focus of Christianity, had an image problem.

Jesus has an image problem because He claimed to be God and he confronted self-reliance and willful sin wherever he found it.

Did you ever notice that the only ones in the gospels who seem to be comfortable around Jesus are the hookers, tax thugs, destitute, sick and homeless? The ones that loved to be around Jesus were the ones that came from a starting point of brokenness and need. All the needy people loved and followed Jesus because he met them in their need. All the respectable, clean living, self-sufficient, moral people seem to have had an aversion to him.

Jesus’ PR problem is primarily because he is Holy God confronting a sinful world. If you are unwilling to admit that you have a sin problem then you will not like being around Jesus. If you are unwilling to admit that God has the right to delineate moral from immoral behavior, then you will not like being around Jesus. If you are unwilling to acknowledge the existence of God or the propriety of worshipping God, then you will not like being around Jesus.

Jesus has a PR problem because his nature does not line up with our desire for a genie-in-a-bottle God. We want a God who gives us what we want, when we want it and does not make any moral demands in return. Jesus is not, nor ever will be this type of God.

Jesus polarizes humanity. He demands an all-in response. Those that are unwilling to go all-in fall into two camps. The first are those who are confused by him and brush off religion as a waste of time. The second camp contains those who are angry that Jesus would demand such a choice. Apathy or anger are the two choices, neither group will score Jesus highly in the polls.

This is the core of Christianity’s image problem. We are seeking to emulate one who would not change who he is and what he came to do in order to be more popular.

Why are you provoked? A Lesson from the Apostle Paul

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Paul was provoked on behalf of the AtheniansActs 17:16 records that when the Apostle Paul arrived in Athens, “his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.”

Lots of things provoke me; I assume that is true for you also. The challenge that I get from reading about the Apostle Paul is that I am often provoked about the wrong things or about things that ultimately don’t matter.

Does it really matter that the guy in front of me in the “20 items or less” aisle has 25 items? Perhaps I am the only one, but inconsiderate or incompetent drivers frustrate me. Lots of things provoke me but most are unimportant in the long run.

The lesson I learn from Paul is that when I am provoked about something I should ask myself, “Am I provoked on my own behalf or am I provoked because of an injustice done to someone else?”

In 1 Corinthians 13:5, Paul tells us that “love is not provoked.” In other words, the one who loves does not take offense at the behavior of the one he loves. The one who loves does not look for opportunities to be offended. If I am offended or provoked because I have been inconvenienced or feel disrespected, I am not practicing love.

Paul was provoked because the Athenians’ worship of idols was misguided and futile. The Athenians were spiritually lost and Paul sought to do something about it. Paul was provoked on behalf of the Athenians, not on his own behalf. Being concerned for the people around him is a trademark of the Apostle’s behavior.

In Philippians 2:3-8, Paul identifies his inspiration for this attitude. He gets it from Jesus and encourages us to do the same. He points out in verse 5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” He then identifies the trait of humility as being the motivation for looking out for the interests of others.

Perhaps this is a good test of humility. On whose behalf do you get provoked? Is it for your own promotion or for the benefit of others?

Ouch!

Blessed are the meek – Part 2

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Ballot Box

#7 in the Sermon on the Mount series.

America will be holding a presidential election in 2012. As a result, political advertisements and discussions fill the airwaves and pixels of the news outlets. It is the way of politics to seek and to wield power and influence. It is not always the wisest voice that holds sway, it is often the loudest.

There are some who feel the church should enter the political process by competing for influence. Not long ago, I had a discussion with a man who was frustrated with our church because we do not band together with other churches to influence local elections. He felt that if we worked together, we could elect candidates favorable to the Christian viewpoint and Christian morality.

Now, I’m all for having candidates who are favorable to the Christian viewpoint. My concern is that by using the normal means of political influence, the church would be in violation of this beatitude.

Remember the Moral Majority? Every time the church has wielded political power, it has turned out badly for all. Based on how some church leaders have behaved over the years, and some of the things that have been said in the political arena, I can understand some of the skepticism of non-believers toward Christianity.

When was the last time you saw a candidate or a political pundit and thought to yourself, “now there is meekness on display.” Meekness isn’t electable. Meekness doesn’t sell airtime or internet advertisements. Meekness doesn’t wield power or influence.

Christianity turned the Roman world upside down, not through influence of elections or by a takeover of the political process, but by individual believers living out their faith in meekness and honesty.

The church’s mission is to make disciples. We are called to live out our faith and teach others why we live that way. We are not called to peddle influence or seek special protection or to organize voting blocks. My suspicion is that those in the church who would seek to influence the political process may be more concerned about their comfort than about accomplishing the task that Jesus has set us to do.

Jesus tells us that the meek will inherit the earth. As believers, we can trust that by living out our faith, by following Jesus’ command to love, by being ready to explain our faith, we can be used by God to accomplish his plan for humanity.

I am not saying that individual believers are not to be involved in politics or the political process. I am also not saying that political candidates should not be open about their faith or their motivation to pursue a particular legislative agenda. What I am saying is that it is not the role of the church and church leadership to be organizing voters or to be pursuing political power.

We are called to accomplish our mission in meekness and humility. The outcome is certain if we do. Why then should we allow ourselves to get drawn into a battle that is not ours to fight?

Jesus told Peter in Matthew 26:52, that those who take up swords will ultimately die by them. The same is true of political swords.

The meek, not the politically astute, not the people of influence, will inherit the earth. Humility wins the day.

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