not yielding to condemnation

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, we read in Romans 8. The beginning of a wondrous chapter which all of us would do well to memorize and frequently meditate on.

My life has been full of thinking the worst of myself. My wife Deb will attest to that. Not to say I can’t be quick on a dime to defend myself. Though growth in grace and likeness to Jesus puts the damper on all such defenses. We are after all, sinners. I think I’ve been conditioned to think in an unhealthy way in regard to myself. Not from my wife! Something I may have imbibed no matter what the past for all I know. But naturally my defenses quickly arise and I bristle when others attack me. I find that often it is no attack at all, though sadly enough we do all too well at speaking ill of each other even if only in our hearts. Not good.

We in Jesus must not yield to condemnation. Jesus died for us, so no one can bring any charge against us. We have the Spirit to guide us as those who are no less than God’s very children–into all the will of God. Jesus not only died for us, but was raised to life, and is seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us. Interceding as in praying. For our lives now.

If God is for us, we’re told, who can be against us? So much in this chapter. It ends telling us in Jesus that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus.

I sometimes have to be quiet and still before God, and refuse to respond to inward, and perhaps even outward accusations, though the latter we must certainly take seriously.  Of course we always do well to pray the prayer of examen, as it’s called, as in the words of the psalmist: God, search me and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there is any offensive, wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting.” We need to be sure before God that we are not cherishing sin in our hearts. Confession, and waiting before God are always good. And confession of our sins to others we hurt or sin against. As well as talking over our struggles in a spirit of confession with a trusted spiritual mentor. It should be our goal to be pleasing to God.

And then we rest in the promise, the reality that is ours in Jesus. Through his death for our sins, and his resurrection for no less than a new life. Beginning now. With a hope that is active for all creation, indeed for the reconciliation of the world to himself. In and through Jesus. A hope that is anticipatory of God’s sure fulfillment. Which actually begins now through the Spirit’s working and groaning in us.

And so we can leave self-condemnation behind, learn to leave it completely behind–though in the nature of things, it can be a more and more type of blessing for us. That we indeed might be a blessing, sharing this love of God in Jesus with all others.

thoughts on Memorial Day from a Christian pacifist

I put this on my Facebook profile status this morning:

I take my hat off to those in the military, even as one who tries to hold to a Christian Pacifist position. Some of the most devoted servants of Christ serve in the military, doing their job, with a heart for all. God blessing and using them. But along with them, I respect the great sacrifice of all of them.

I’m not convinced that wars have to be fought, but in this fallen world, perhaps something on the military level has to be done. I am convinced that in Jesus we’re called to a different, better way, a way which in Jesus is for the world. There is no way the world in itself as is now, under the domination somehow of the prince of the power of the air will “get it.” So that the powers are used by God, although in the context the language used suggests police action, not military.

We in Jesus are always to take the way of the cross and never the way of the sword. This is in regard to all of life. The world will continue on in its way, the world system, until God according to his promises and through Jesus puts an end to all war and brings in true peace–shalom.

In the meantime I do honor all who along the lines of God’s work through the state put themselves in harm’s way, and everyone who pays the ultimate sacrifice. We pause today to remember them, the great loss of their lives, to preserve a kind of order in this world. As we look forward to the completion of the coming of God’s kingdom to bring final judgment and salvation in and through Jesus on a renewed earth, forever. And seek together in Jesus to live that vision out in this world now, through the way of the cross in him.

 

Allan R. Bevere on how the goodness of life is measured

The goodness of life is not to be measured by what we have not received, but in what God has graciously given to us, that by our blessings, we might bless those around us.

Allan R. Bevere, The Character of Our Discontent, 92.

prayer for the sixth Sunday in Easter/of Pascha

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer

knowing our limitations

Life is lived with limitations, whether or not we recognize that.  There is only so much we can do, and there are only so many things we can do well. That thought fits in well with the analogy in scripture of we in Jesus being one body, each part having its specific role. And how with reference to that we’re to think of ourselves with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God gives us.

As I get older I am better understanding the limitations I have. I want more and more to live well according to what God has given me. What God gives us to do is related to our aptitude and interest; our gift matches our calling.

We in Jesus are also called to a cross-formed existence in following him, together in love, in all of our weaknesses. I’m not by this excusing sin at all. That is not the point, and certainly would be missing the point of our calling in Jesus as one body.

What I refer to includes sin–which we are to confess, as well as lovingly confront, not to mention cover over many times. And how we haven’t yet arrived into full maturity in Christ. This takes time, and is not to be simply an individual exercise, but a joint venture.

Not only are we Christ’s Body in the world, his hands and feet for the world, but as Christ’s Body, we are members we’re told, of each other. We are of the same body, an important part of our oneness in Jesus. We are called to mutual building up of each other in love. We are to be present and active for each other. We’re to live out Christ’s love together before, and for the world.

We do well to confine ourselves to what we know is God’s particular calling for us. But within that to be stretched beyond our comfort zones, toward full maturity in Christ. Something again that is both individual, and at its heart, together. Yes, to our benefit, but for the benefit of the world. Blessed to be a blessing in our larger calling together, in and through Jesus.

deeply sorry

Maalie - Jim Fowler

We are sorry and sorrowing, as we remember with thanksgiving, a life and person who was taken away from us, all too soon. Jim Fowler-scientist, naturalist, birder and bird lover-extraordinaire. Jim lived life exuberantly, and had many good friends. Although I never met him, I was privileged and honored to be an online friend. Over the many months into years, which I knew him in this way, I admired his keen intellect, and few if any of us would be able to keep his pace in traveling and birding. He continued to do scientific work in the tracking of birds. I often told him that he ought to do a documentary for the BBC. It would have been excellent.

I am privileged to count some of his family as friends, also. He will be sorely missed, but I’m sure many good memories will linger. And the imprint of his life will remain.

we know in part

Knowledge is a big subject nowadays, although it likely always has been in the west, inheritors that we are of western philosophy. Called epistemology, which is the study of knowledge, I’m sure it can be quite an interesting undertaking. At my age, I’m not really too interested in spending too much time on it, except to say that I think I probably would fall out somewhere within the scope of what is called “critical realism.” Knowledge in this scope is real, not just apparent, but it is according to each one’s perspective. So that the best knowledge comes from wider perspective. And yet, while that helps, we are limited in that it is us as individuals who each seek to take in what whole there is. Colored by our own understanding and lack of that, experience, all that we are as human beings.

Scripture tells us that “we know in part.” Referring to those who have the Spirit and the mind of Christ both individually and collectively, I take it. Even with reference to the gift of knowledge given by the Spirit in the Body of Christ to some, as well as knowledge in general, particularly what we might call spiritual knowledge. We know in part.

Therefore it is easy to understand why when we have a human document, as well as divine: scripture, itself the word of God to be sure–we can understand why good, equally knowledgeable people can interpret matters differently, while agreeing over the essence of the story and truth in Jesus.

We know in part. Actually I take consolation in that. In some sense we will know fully someday, even as we are known–in Jesus. But even then, we’ll still be learning. Never equal to the all-knowing God. So that we can trust that there is one who fully knows, who understands, and does so in perfect love.

We have to go on what scripture says, on our understanding of that along with tradition–gathering what others in the church have said and are saying. God gives us what we need through his word by the Spirit.

I think we often become restless over what we do not know, instead of resting in what is made known. Not to say that all that is made known is comfortable to us, but in the end it should indeed be comforting to know that God knows. And that he gives us individually and together all we need to know now and forever.

I aspire to being a follower of Jesus

On my Facebook there is a category in the profile under “Philosophy” called “Religious Views.” For some time now I simply put “Christian”. Recently I switched that to “Follower of Jesus.” For some reasons I have a hard time considering myself a Christian. Well, in reality I am. I am one in and through Jesus with all who name the name of Jesus, and I do hold to the orthodox Christian faith. So I must explain.

I dislike red letter Bibles. Looks like at this point I’m stuck with one, until I decide to buy a more expensive edition, as I replace my translation of choice that no longer will be published, the TNIV, with the new edition of the NIV. The kind of Bible I want to purchase now is available only in red letter editions. Letters are colored red which are of the words determined to have been spoken by Jesus. They are popular. Many of us, though, think we don’t need red letters to remind us just how important those words are. Nor is such in the original. But that’s okay.

The words of Jesus are important. And that is in large part why I want to say I want to be a follower of Jesus, as opposed to Christian. Christian has come to mean holding to faith in a context other than the kingdom of God come, and revealed in Jesus. Often it is largely in an individualistic context in which one’s basic aim in life seems hardly altered. Of course it takes time for us to grow up in Jesus, and indeed such growth involves a process over a lifetime. But we too often have taken an American or worldly mindset, and sought to baptize that with our faith. Rather than having our faith baptize us, so to speak, into a completely new life. Of course water baptism does that, and faith, as we read in Romans 6, through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

It’s an entirely different world than our world, than our conventions, even crossing our sensibilities at times, dare I say many times? Jesus calls us to love God with our entire being and doing, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In him is fulfilled the call to fast in order to love, to do justice, as we walk humbly with God. And this in the biblical framework is done together with others. Which is why I simply don’t consider any reading worth my time which does not hold community in Jesus important in our call in God to mission. I’m not referring to snippets, but to works as a whole.

Jesus calls us to follow him in forgiving any brother or sister who repents after wronging us. To not do any duty of faith if any sister or brother has something against us, but first go and be reconciled to them, and then do what else is required. To love our neighbor in caring, sacrificial ways. To love even our enemies, praying for them, doing good to them, and refusing to strike back at them, after they strike us. We are to take no less than the way of the cross, a cross-shaped life of love, in our following of Jesus. Together in and for the world.

I find plenty of Christianity dull and uninteresting, I mean our take and expression of the faith. I didn’t say all, but plenty. I’m afraid this may be more a reflection on me, than on Christianity; I want to be open to that! Oh yes, I can sadly be content with much less than following Jesus. Doing this and that, which up to a point is good. But I know in my bones and in my heart that there is more. Not only more, but that that more gets to the heart of what Jesus is all about. And so what we are to be about in Jesus.

A sacramental understanding of baptism and of the Lord’s Table is important, but not enough. We need all the understanding given in scripture, and much of that is directive even in imperatives. Through God’s grace in Jesus, we’re to live in God’s love, in obedience to our Lord. Fulfilling our call as God’s people in this world in no less than God’s kingdom present and at work in Jesus. Of which we are a part.

This is why I would prefer in today’s terms to be understood, not so much as a Christian, but as a follower of Jesus. With all others in his Body. One for all, and all for one. For the world. In and through Jesus.

love’s hope

Love’s hope is no less than in God through Jesus. In Jesus’ person, words and works. In his death and resurrection through which forgiveness of sins and new life comes.

We read that love hopes all things, believes all things, or always hopes, always trusts, always perseveres. Love does not give up. Of course love in the end is cast on God. That is where our hope lies. In God alone, not in anything else. In God’s kingdom come in Jesus. In the good news of that kingdom through the grace that is in Jesus.

Sometimes it seems to us that all hope is lost. In such times we must cast all of our care and burden on the Lord. Knowing that he cares for us, and will sustain us. He will give us what we need. Even during such times, we commit our concerns to God. That God is good. That he will always do forever what is right and just. That his goodness and mercy last forever.

Sometimes we can’t find words to comfort us. In fact oftentimes. We need God himself. And we need each other, since God chooses to comfort us through each other. Indeed we in Jesus are no less than his Body in this world, his hands and feet to touch and bring his comfort, salvation and healing to the world.

This groaning hope, awaiting fulfillment of God’s promises in Jesus, is done in love. We love and hope for the very best for all. We leave the end of all things in God’s hands. We want to do well by those things, and we know we often have failed, and come short. But we are thankful to commit them into the hands of One who does not fail. And so love’s hope in and through Jesus will be fulfilled. In his goodness, justice, and love.

God is good

No matter what, we say: God is good. This is an axiom in Christianity. And it is one not always easily said. We live in a world where time and time again bad things happen. We lose loved ones, sometimes face hardships, could lose our health. Thousands and counting can be killed in earthquakes, tsunamis, and other “acts of God”, or accurately* put, acts of nature. And more thousands, often innocents are killed in wars.

And yet the confession of our faith, beginning in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament is that God indeed is good. God is good, no matter what.

Sometimes we taste of that goodness. At other times life seems to leave only a bitter and harsh taste in our mouths. And often times it just seems all so empty. Sometimes we are stricken with sadness over strained or broken relationships, hoping for reconciliation and healing. Or we can fail ourselves, leaving us at more than a loss, sometimes permanent losses. Over which we are to blame. And yet in all of that, and through all of it: God is good.

From our perspective God’s goodness is couched in terms of faith, hope and love. We don’t see everything now, nor experience it, but we trust when all may seem to be falling apart around us. We trust in a God who we believe is good. And as it seems like the world is going nowhere, and people (including ourselves) can make decisions or mistakes (indeed, sins) which can put them on a dead end track. And yet there is hope, which along with faith is born in the revelation of God’s promises fulfilled in Jesus. Not only promised, but present already, in God’s kingdom come in Jesus. And the greatest is love. We love, and so we hope all things (1 Corinthians 13). We hope the highest and best for everyone, and for this world. And we know somehow through God, all will be good in the end.

The Psalms are a great place to start to learn to think in terms of God’s goodness in a world that often is not good. And through problems and situations in our lives, which in themselves are not good. And we need all of scripture. And of course we find God’s final word in Jesus. God demonstrates his love, his goodness, preeminently and fully in his Son. And God’s kingdom is present in Jesus. Which means among us who are in Jesus. For the world. That they may see God’s goodness through us, and believe.

*That is a big subject we won’t get into here. Suffice it to say that I don’t believe God causes catastrophes as a rule, but God could stop them. God seems to give a certain amount of leeway to creation, but God’s hand is on everything always. There indeed is mystery here.