Seeing Jesus in the temple and (somehow) knowing it was the One he had been waiting for while his beard grew long, Simeon picks Jesus up and says:
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your work; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
Then Simeon turns to Mary and Joseph and says:
“Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed – and a sword will pierce through your own soul also – so that thoughts the many hearts may be revealed.” (Lk 2)
Christianity is not ours to defend, but God’s. It is not our religion. It’s not America’s religion or Israel’s or some missionary’s. In 150 years sociologists may lecture on Christianity as the Chinese religion. If we aren’t careful we can very easily develop an inappropriate sense of ownership over the book, the history, the Man, the God that belongs to God alone. He is his own and if we take part in him it is because he owns us.
Simeon saw the salvation that God had prepared in the presence of all peoples – a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to his people Israel. It was not Simeon’s salvation or even Israel’s. It was God’s salvation he prepared over all cultures, nations, languages, and religions. Jesus is light to the Gentiles and glory for his people Israel.
That Simeon would bless the Gentiles in his prophetic declaration is offensive for the Jews who would like nothing more than the throw off the heavy and dirty hand of the Gentiles by the power of their new Messiah. But Simeon is over Israel’s religion; he has tasted the freeing truth of God’s religion. He can speak without ownership of his words because they are God’s. He says Jesus will bring the rise and fall of many in Israel. Why would he ruin the moment of exaltation in the coming of the Messiah by predicting the ruin of some in Israel? Why would he say that Jesus will be a “sign that is opposed”? Why would he terrify Mary and Joseph by telling them a sword will pierce through their soul? The specific meaning of those announcements should be worked out, but I just notice this: God owns what is happening, not any person or nation.
The story of salvation across the testaments is enormous and out of the control of any author. The fulfillments of Jesus and the revelation of his lordship is too immense, too unpredictable, too unwieldy, too complicated, too suicidal for anyone but God to control. He owns his way and works it over and, if necessary, against us.
Brothers, have the confidence that comes with being part of something far larger than you. Have the boldness that comes in seeking God’s way to the dismissal of human opinion. Disbelieve the marginalizing evaluation of “your” religion; we do not ultimately answer for it.
Brothers, take ownership of the faith so far as it concerns your will; take comfort in the faith because it stand’s in God’s.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
"Doing" and "Boundaries"
I just now saw how well Wesley's post goes with mine. He exhorted us to use our talents to the fullest and to pour them out in humility in the service of Him who gave them.
Thinking on what he said, and on the usefulness of boundaries, I realized that our areas of talent and areas of lack of talent combine to create boundaries for the fitness of our service. If we were all talented in every way, our avenue of proper service in the body of Christ would have unlimited possibilities and would so be far less clear. And since our desires naturally follow our talents, so that typically we end up doing what we are good at, with an unlimited number of talents our desires would be pulled in an unlimited number of directions. I ask, "are your desires not already too diverse?"
So, while we tend to desire the gifts we see in others, we rather should thank God for the gifts He has not given to us. They are boundaries around our whole lives that nudge us to a greater and greater degree into line with our place in Christ's body.
Thinking on what he said, and on the usefulness of boundaries, I realized that our areas of talent and areas of lack of talent combine to create boundaries for the fitness of our service. If we were all talented in every way, our avenue of proper service in the body of Christ would have unlimited possibilities and would so be far less clear. And since our desires naturally follow our talents, so that typically we end up doing what we are good at, with an unlimited number of talents our desires would be pulled in an unlimited number of directions. I ask, "are your desires not already too diverse?"
So, while we tend to desire the gifts we see in others, we rather should thank God for the gifts He has not given to us. They are boundaries around our whole lives that nudge us to a greater and greater degree into line with our place in Christ's body.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Serendipitously discovered significance of boundaries
I commend serendipity to you. “They were always making discoveries, by accident and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of.” So says Walpole about his Princes of Serendip. Going about one’s business in such a way to catch the happen-stance and valuable. Just think, how many valuable things have come to you like that?
Here’s one that happened to me recently. Here goes some running sentences in the literary present:
I’m sitting down with my journal out of emotional compulsion no plans no good thoughts, what to write. I just want to express something meaningful, and not just to me. I always write like this, to no one and everyone – who will read this? I want it to be meaningful to them too. Yes, I want to meet them where they are at and speak something useful to them. I want to write to persuade everyone in the whole world. But what? It must be objective and fair and not say too much besides. But sometimes we need to hear unfair things to shock us. But unfair things also sound bigoted. Stop. Just write. Write what? I don’t want to limit this; I want this to meet any person anywhere with any set of beliefs in any emotional condition with any background when read on any occasion. Why are you thinking all this about a journal entry, no one will ever read it. You will. And what will I think then? I don’t want to be embarrassed to read what I wrote. Well make sure then that you don’t write something stupid you’ll hugely disagree with later. Wait, am I right now deciding what to write based on the tastes of my not-yet self? What a strange thing. Look, it’s been 10 minutes, am I going to write or what? I can’t think of anything…
That actually happened. If you missed the main point in that, here it is: I didn’t know what to write because I wanted it to connect well with the person reading it (me or other) and I didn’t know how to fit my audience because I didn’t know who they were or if they existed.
Ok, now that I write this out it’s all sounded very very strange. But it taught me something nonetheless. Here it is: the imagination dies without boundaries.
It is boundaries that enliven and make possible the imagination. In the absence of boundaries, the imagination has no limits, thus nowhere even to start, and therefore no chance of progressing. When I was trying to write my journal entry I wanted these boundaries: the condition of my audience. Would someone read this after losing a loved one? When young? Old? Man? Woman? Angry? Me when I know a lot more about this subject? Way in the future when I will sound archaic? Because I could not answer the question I could have no boundaries. I couldn’t progress because progress means forward and I couldn’t tell which way that was. The man on earth has two main boundaries: gravity and the ground. Gravity keeps him from going too high; the ground keeps him from going too low. If it weren’t for gravity he may fly off to the sun if he wants, and to China without the ground. (What China would be without the ground, I don’t know.) The man floating in outer space does not have these boundaries, but which man is immobile?
This was a serendipitous discovery made in the course of failing to write a journal entry. I didn’t know where to start because I didn’t have any boundaries. Without boundaries, my imagination shriveled, not grew.
Some material examples of this principle:
Actually, let’s end with Lewis:
“But you can not go on ‘explaining away’ for ever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You can not go on ’seeing through’ things forever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too? It is no use trying to ’see through’ first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To ’see through’ all things is the same as not to see.” From Abolition of Man
So I commend serendipity to you, and boundaries. Now that I’ve set some boundaries on this discussion, what does your imagination tell you about the implications of this principle?
I swear the next thing I write on here will be devotional.
Here’s one that happened to me recently. Here goes some running sentences in the literary present:
I’m sitting down with my journal out of emotional compulsion no plans no good thoughts, what to write. I just want to express something meaningful, and not just to me. I always write like this, to no one and everyone – who will read this? I want it to be meaningful to them too. Yes, I want to meet them where they are at and speak something useful to them. I want to write to persuade everyone in the whole world. But what? It must be objective and fair and not say too much besides. But sometimes we need to hear unfair things to shock us. But unfair things also sound bigoted. Stop. Just write. Write what? I don’t want to limit this; I want this to meet any person anywhere with any set of beliefs in any emotional condition with any background when read on any occasion. Why are you thinking all this about a journal entry, no one will ever read it. You will. And what will I think then? I don’t want to be embarrassed to read what I wrote. Well make sure then that you don’t write something stupid you’ll hugely disagree with later. Wait, am I right now deciding what to write based on the tastes of my not-yet self? What a strange thing. Look, it’s been 10 minutes, am I going to write or what? I can’t think of anything…
That actually happened. If you missed the main point in that, here it is: I didn’t know what to write because I wanted it to connect well with the person reading it (me or other) and I didn’t know how to fit my audience because I didn’t know who they were or if they existed.
Ok, now that I write this out it’s all sounded very very strange. But it taught me something nonetheless. Here it is: the imagination dies without boundaries.
It is boundaries that enliven and make possible the imagination. In the absence of boundaries, the imagination has no limits, thus nowhere even to start, and therefore no chance of progressing. When I was trying to write my journal entry I wanted these boundaries: the condition of my audience. Would someone read this after losing a loved one? When young? Old? Man? Woman? Angry? Me when I know a lot more about this subject? Way in the future when I will sound archaic? Because I could not answer the question I could have no boundaries. I couldn’t progress because progress means forward and I couldn’t tell which way that was. The man on earth has two main boundaries: gravity and the ground. Gravity keeps him from going too high; the ground keeps him from going too low. If it weren’t for gravity he may fly off to the sun if he wants, and to China without the ground. (What China would be without the ground, I don’t know.) The man floating in outer space does not have these boundaries, but which man is immobile?
This was a serendipitous discovery made in the course of failing to write a journal entry. I didn’t know where to start because I didn’t have any boundaries. Without boundaries, my imagination shriveled, not grew.
Some material examples of this principle:
- Games
Basketball games without sidelines, fouls, or clocks is not a basketball game. The rules of chess are what make the game. - Physical motion
Without something to push off of, you can’t move. - Art
Photographs don’t compete with drawings because they have two different sets of boundaries. The boundaries of art are amazingly complex, but whatever they are they make great art great.
- Words
Words must have boundaries on meaning. Without boundaries, communication is impossible. - Fictional stories
Without boundaries on plot, setting, characters etc., a story cannot happen. - Math
High math is probably the best of all examples to show how well-used, skillfully-navigated sets of boundaries lead to progress. - Journal entries.
Actually, let’s end with Lewis:
“But you can not go on ‘explaining away’ for ever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You can not go on ’seeing through’ things forever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too? It is no use trying to ’see through’ first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To ’see through’ all things is the same as not to see.” From Abolition of Man
So I commend serendipity to you, and boundaries. Now that I’ve set some boundaries on this discussion, what does your imagination tell you about the implications of this principle?
I swear the next thing I write on here will be devotional.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
'Doing' in keeping with gifting
I’ve discussed with some of you recently my interest in Jesus’ parable about the talents (or ‘bags of gold’ as translated by the TNIV) as recorded by Matthew in 25:14-28. The whole scenario intrigues me. A wealthy master in the fictional story summons his servants, spreads his wealth amongst them, and then promptly ‘makes like a baby and heads out’. Several things strike me about the narrative’s development as being particularly noteworthy and applicable. First is the basis for the uneven allocation—namely the ability of each servant. Verse 15 says: ‘To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability.’ A second fascinating piece is the fact that the master in the story establishes no strictures or requirements as to how each servant should go about the investment process. He ‘entrusts’ his wealth and then leaves (vs 15c). It comes across almost as if he could care less as to how they use the money so long as a profit is gained. He adds responsibility in keeping with their innate/intrinsic ability and expects them to act accordingly. Hmm. Third and last, it is implied that each steward has as his singular aim the advancement of his master’s honor, glory, and estate. Don’t forget the severity of each’s judgment. To the two who served well: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness’ (vs 23). These two merited the commendation of their master and were granted greater responsibility and the unmitigated joy accompanying association with their owner. To the fool however, it was said, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ This servant’s shocking end? He, called by his owner a ‘worthless servant’, is cast out into darkness where weeping and gnashing of teeth persist (also in unmitigated fashion).
Staggering, is it not? So the question with which I have been plagued of late and which I now cast upon your conscience for consideration is ‘how are you leveraging your gifts and corresponding entrustments for the Master’s good?’ (I got the ‘leveraging’ term from JR). Our pagan culture may be impressed with mere abilities, but Jesus is not, for he has given them to us. He has given them to us for a purpose: his advancement; not for our own consumption. You have been bought with a price, so glorify God with your body. Are you attractive? Intelligent? Studious? Technologically astute? Musical? Ambitious? Gregarious? Quick-witted? If you have some of these qualities (or all) and are tempted to be impressed and consequently self-satisfied…get over yourself. God hasn’t bestowed these things that we might be counted commendable by the world. What does it profit, brothers, to gain the world’s recognition if in the process we forfeit our souls? No, he’s gifted us so that we might wield them for kingdom purposes, for his cause. So, we would do well, I think, to assess our abilities (and to help one another see them), accept responsibilities fitting for those capabilities, and begin to wage war against Satan’s kingdom with a vigorous intentionality.
‘Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire”’ (Heb 12:28).
Staggering, is it not? So the question with which I have been plagued of late and which I now cast upon your conscience for consideration is ‘how are you leveraging your gifts and corresponding entrustments for the Master’s good?’ (I got the ‘leveraging’ term from JR). Our pagan culture may be impressed with mere abilities, but Jesus is not, for he has given them to us. He has given them to us for a purpose: his advancement; not for our own consumption. You have been bought with a price, so glorify God with your body. Are you attractive? Intelligent? Studious? Technologically astute? Musical? Ambitious? Gregarious? Quick-witted? If you have some of these qualities (or all) and are tempted to be impressed and consequently self-satisfied…get over yourself. God hasn’t bestowed these things that we might be counted commendable by the world. What does it profit, brothers, to gain the world’s recognition if in the process we forfeit our souls? No, he’s gifted us so that we might wield them for kingdom purposes, for his cause. So, we would do well, I think, to assess our abilities (and to help one another see them), accept responsibilities fitting for those capabilities, and begin to wage war against Satan’s kingdom with a vigorous intentionality.
‘Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire”’ (Heb 12:28).
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