Today's gift

"It is true, of course, that what is an unspeakable gift of God for the lonely individual is easily disregarded and trodden under foot by those who have the gift every day. It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed. Therefore let him who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians praise God’s grace from the bottom of his heart. Let him thank God on his knees and declare: It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together)

For You

One by one they shuffled past my chapel seat. These friends were the best of the best and though they appeared in plain clothes, I pictured them dressed in robes of white righteousness: prayer warriors, peer leaders, Christ-proclaimers. One by one they partook.

The server quietly affirmed, “Christ’s body, broken for you.”

Then I noticed one out of place; Jack was among them. That scoundrel was making fun of chapel just yesterday. And now here he was singing with his hands in the air, tears rolling down his face, knees on the ground. He joined the line of those walking towards the communion table. What a hypocrite. Then I noticed others. Sarah rudely slandered me in front of some of my best friends last week, threatening my integrity for no good reason.

“The blood of Christ shed for you.”

Now here she was among the righteous, eating unworthily! A chill went down my spine as I looked down at my leprous hands. I realized immediately my wicked condescension. I fell into my chair, knees weak from my condition. Such daily arrogance had just culminated into judgment before the broken body of my Savior. Had I so quickly forgotten the grace of the one who redeemed me in the midst of my sin? Had I lost sight of the mercy of Him who was even now picking up my helpless, defiled body to carry me to the table where I did not belong?

“The body of Christ, broken for you.”

I barely needed his whisper in my ear: “I did not save you, Levi, that you might deserve freedom and be therefore saved from hell. I did not save Jack nor Sarah that they might be rewarded for their works with life forever in heaven. I have purchased you, Levi, with my blood that my grace, my mercy, my name might be glorified. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

“The blood of Christ, shed for you.”

Solidarity

It seems to me that solidarity is all tangled up with different opinions in what is rightfully celebrated diversity and what is inappropriate selfish racism. I find myself less concerned by the light-skinned boy staring unashamedly at the first dark-skinned person he has ever seen. I am nervous about even writing in those terms, yet I admit that is the way I think. I am what Woodley called the person who is outwardly politically correct, but inwardly racist. I cannot help but question whether that light-skinned boy is doing anything more inappropriate by staring at a dark-skinned person than by staring at the beautiful creation of Jupiter in telescope lenses for the first time. To take the analogy further, is it sinful to assume that the dark-skinned man will be able to jump higher, run faster, and sing better than I am able? What is celebrated diversity and what is evil - or at least inappropriate - racism?

In Israel, I realized how deep a racial tension can be rooted. I witnessed unchecked racism that leads to slander, violence, and even death. It seemed so obviously wrong and foolish. On the other hand, in Western Europe I witnessed pride of country like I’ve never seen in the U.S.A., and it seemed at some level good and right. Our melting pot has become so concerned with racism that we dare not cheer too loudly for our Olympic team, and I subsequently wonder if that is an unhelpful over-reaction.

I wonder if I will be able to live in the “real world” with any better perspective and understanding than my current understanding of racism. I’m afraid that I will hurt people because I don’t realize the context from which they come. I’m afraid that I will naturally be culturally, racially, politically, and socially arrogant in every aspect of my life. Is it wrong to herald the flag of a political party, because after studying I have found it to be the best manner of government? Is it wrong to assume that Africans will be able to jump, Germans will be stubborn, and the English will be snobby? How can my view of races, faiths, and lifestyles reconcile with a God who chose a particular nation to be His people? Did Paul show racism when he suggested that the gospel was to the Jew first and then to the Greek, and if so, how can that be reconciled as right?

The Holy Spirit

I was struck by the honesty of an article read for Senior Capstone this past week. The author said he did not always know how to discern God’s voice, but has kept striving to do so better. During the spring semester of 2011, I responded to the thought of eliminating songs about girls from my ipod and computer. I couldn’t have told you it was a voice from God, but it meshed with general wisdom and teaching of Scripture. In addition, I knew it wasn't the voice of my adversary. By those standards there was no good reason to not respond by deleting half of my music library. It seems to me that I often reject what is probably the Holy Spirit’s leading just because I’m not absolutely sure it’s the Holy Spirit. When these instances occur, I am merely excusing my inaction. To ignore a good thought in line with Scripture may be to ignore the Holy Spirit. Biblically, this “quenching of the Spirit” has dangerous outcomes.

I Samuel 8... and we are surprised.

Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. ¹¹ He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. ¹²Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. ¹⁵ He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. ¹⁶ Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle^[c] and donkeys he will take for his own use. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. ¹⁸ When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

getting clearer

"Absolutely clear in Cyprians account of salvation is that when a sinner attains to the heavenly vision and immortality, it is all God's doing and a work of mercy and grace. Humans cannot coerce God or force his grace to work within them or on their behalf. In spite of later Protestant polemics against the penitential system that grew out of Cyprians theology, Cyprian himself was not guilty of work-righteousness or self-salvation. Nowhere did he suggest that a person can earn salvation as a reward for good works; he only emphasized that a truly repentant sinner being saved by God's grace will necessarily demonstrate true repentance by outward acts." - Roger E. Olson

"There is no faith exhibited where there is no obedience. There is no fruit where there is no faith exhibited. There is no salvation where there is no fruit." - Tony Evans

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard." I John 2

See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"
See God's salvation plan,
Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!