diversity in unity

Yesterday I complained about the divisions among us as Christians. They are significant and deep and do divide us in ways that are antithetical to who we are in Christ. Today I want to consider just a bit the rich diversity we find in the unity that is ours in Christ. I want to include not only individuals with all our uniqueness, but the different groups and traditions within Christianity itself.

Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Mainline Protestants, Protestant Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Anabaptists, etc. And within at least most of these categories, there are traditions in emphasizing or seeing certain things as important. Within Roman Catholicism there are the Franciscans, Jesuits, Dominicans, just to name three. That church likes to emphasize its own unity, but it has plenty of diversity, in fact I think just as much as the Protestants, etc.

Where the error lies is when we don’t recognize the body of Christ, in other words others who are in Christ. That is the sin which occurred in Corinth which Paul addressed. There may be even some serious differences among us, but we do well to recognize, acknowledge and thank God for the rich diversity we find within the body of Christ, both local as well as in all of its universal expressions.

Many denominations or movements began from a sense of need. Or even in answer to a crisis of faith. Or with the desire to fully follow Jesus. I would add with insight from God. This is such a big subject, not something I will hardly scratch the surface of in a blog post.

What is crucial in all of this is that we don’t compromise and drift from seeing our unity in Jesus, from the gospel of King Jesus. This is the ecumenicalism that is needed, not a watering down of truth and what groups believe, but an embracing of all who hold to the faith which was once for all entrusted to us, God’s people. But for that to occur, there will have to be discernment, a return to first things. To what grounds and unites us in and through Jesus.

This post certainly doesn’t answer or even address the issues which divide us. But I simply make the point that within the one body of Christ, there is rich diversity. All from God through us in Jesus for the world.

keeping my thoughts to myself

I sometimes am tempted to post on something which could be called my opinion, even strong opinion, nearing the place of conviction. I want to make a point on something, but think that somehow, someway it just seems out of place. There is only so much fight left in one, and what are we fighting for? Though I have opinions that run contrary to many in my tradition on politics, science, the Bible, etc., I find myself more and more reticent to get involved in some of those fracases, or hopefully, debates. More inclined to just leave it alone altogether.

We each have our work to do, our place to fill. Some do seem called more along the lines of making a point where one needs to be made on a given issue. I don’t mind joining in some of that at times, in fact it may be right to do so, to at least raise questions to help us all think better together. But my calling seems to be more along the lines of helping us in Jesus see where our unity lies, what is the center.

Let me add to this, some of the best, most intelligent Christians I know disagree on these hot button issues I refer to here. So I’m unwilling to disparage any of those who disagree with me on any given matter.

Sometimes it is best to keep silent. To keep our thoughts to ourselves. Or at least that is the case for me. In some matters in which we disagree we are bound to have some strong opinions, or feelings about it. The question becomes: How do we follow Jesus in this?

My conviction is to try to find where we are united, how we can better understand the differences we do have, and to see clearer as to what difference that might make. The traditions of Christianity and Judaism are both known for spirited disagreement on what are considered important matters. But ultimately for the most part at least in my mind those differences do not move us from the center of our faith. That ends up being the big question: Are we adhering to what is central, what unites us, what is nonnegotiable in and of itself, what we cannot lose.

Hopefully I’ll keep growing more in this area. Both in simply remaining quiet oftentimes, and also in how I speak when we are sharing back and forth with reference to our differences. With an emphasis on listening and I would think asking good questions. (Actually I can thankfully safely say that I think I’ve come a long way in this from years past.)

The differences will go on. But our unity in the gospel of King Jesus remains the same. We indeed have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. We must hold on to that for dear life. Together in Jesus in and for the world.

witnesses of the story

We are witnesses in and through Jesus in this world. Witnesses of what God has done for us in Jesus. Of the promise of God in him. Of his death and resurrection. As well as his ascension and the hope of his coming, or reappearing when God makes all things new in him.

We are witnesses in and through Jesus, of another story which is the story not only in which we live, but is the story overriding, and indeed taking in, or nullifying every other story by which humans live.

Take for one example a story I’m familiar with: the American Dream. Maybe it has some stock and legitimacy in parts of it. But how does it mesh with the story of God in Jesus told in scripture? How might it contrast at least in practice?

In telling the world of the good news of King Jesus, we are bringing up another story which is both unfamiliar and alien to the world. And yet a story which breathes hope, along with faith and love. A story by which we in Jesus live now. Calling humans back to the original call to steward all things as a given, while in everything seeking to be true followers of Jesus.

Everything I write on this blog, and how I live over the course of each day is directly related to this story of God in Jesus, whether I’m doing well or not. All of life, the political, in fact everything happening on earth, is indeed taken up somehow into this story. It is in the story of God itself. Maybe someday a mere footnote, so to speak.

We are witnesses in and through Jesus. Of the good news in him, of God’s working in him here and now. Of God’s promise in and through Jesus for the present life and the life to come. Of hope which is the anticipation of the fulfillment of God’s promises. God’s promise to make all things right and new in and through Jesus. Telling that story, the story in which we live, together to and for the world.

thinking well

While it is true that western thought makes thinking rightly a premium ahead of acting rightly, or with the idea that solving the world’s problems will simply mean a better education, or in essence educating the mind—there is no doubt that thinking well is important in scripture.

But how do we think in a way that is good? It is a mindset toward acclimating one’s self to the will of God for all of life. It is a thinking toward faith and obedience. What one might call pious thinking, or thinking on how to be godly in and through Jesus.

It is prayerful and faith-oriented. Indeed “by faith we understand.” How we think is related to our reflection and meditation on truth for life. Rooted in God’s revelation in Jesus and found in scripture.

Good thinking according to scripture can never be divorced from life. Though within God’s general revelation there is much thinking and pondering to be done which can only leave us in awe of the Creator. Thinking well in this way is to be grounded in God’s general revelation which itself is a large spectrum. All sorts of disciplines can be included in this. “All truth is God’s truth.” So to think well we are open to God’s revelation in general terms related to “common grace” given to all. That does not mean we accept everything purported to be truth. Discernment is needed, again a part of thinking well. Sometimes we will do best simply in acknowledging that we don’t know.

While it’s important that we don’t leave general revelation behind, our chief orientation will be in God’s special revelation which is gospel oriented and leads us to Christ. Our primary focus must be there, and in down to earth terms. Yes, for our lives to be sure, but also in terms of the world and all creation. Found in scripture, and dependent on God’s working in Christ within the church.

Scripture, tradition, reason and experience—what has been called the Wesleyan quadrilateral. I think not in terms of sola scriptura, but scriptura primera. In other words scripture does indeed come first, but what tradition as in the church has said about its reading is indeed important, if not infallible. And reason is important. While I would include experience, related to the words: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

May God help us to think well, even if others around us are not. And to be of the same mind in Christ Jesus in accord with the gospel, even when we will differ in other matters. We need to remember that we now “see through a glass darkly” (KJV) and “we know in part.” This means all our thinking must be tempered with humility. Even as we seek ongoing transformation by the renewing of our mind in understanding and doing the will of God. Together in Jesus for the world.

truth and love

John’s first small letter (2 John) brings truth and love together, which is the only way you can really understand either in a Christian context.

Truth telling might be understood as telling the unvarnished truth about someone or something as we see it. But I can’t help but think of God’s love expressed for his failing people (in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible; Hosea being a prime example). That he cared for them, in spite of themselves. And that he wanted to woo and win them to himself. And care for them as a parent lovingly cares for their children.

We certainly can’t bear the weight that God does, caring for the wayward as only he can. And yet we’re told by Jesus to be merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful. To love our enemies and pray for them, so that we will be like the Father. A tall order indeed, one to be fulfilled in and through Jesus.

Truth and love can’t ever be separated for the Christian, nor ultimately. All truth is from God and God is love. Truth and love are revelations from God, what theologians call both general and special revelation.

In general revelation scientists explore creation and people base their lives on what they believe to be true, whether they see truth as relative or not. Even if their “truth” is that there is no truth- which is a distortion of course of this gift of truth from God. There are other means of establishing truth, reason being one important factor in that. Love is found among humanity in relationships especially, human to human being prominent. And there is love for what is good, experienced and appreciated as well.

Special revelation is found in scripture and in Jesus, and ultimately revealed in the good news in Jesus. In fact Jesus declared himself to be the way and the truth and the life. In that very truth is found love, the love of God in Jesus. A love which has expressed itself in dying for us, for the world. A love which is also Trinitarian, rooted in the eternal love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

So when we think of truth, we always need to think of love. And when we think of love, we always need to think of truth. If we separate the two, they actually both die. They can’t exist except together. So that we must never think of one apart from the other. And we must always see them joined ultimately in a person, Jesus. In whom those of the faith live. This truth and love in Jesus to us and to the world.

justifying one’s self

There’s an interesting passage in which one answers Jesus correctly on what one must do to inherit eternal life. But the man then wanted to justify himself. Asking Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus then tells him the parable of the good Samaritan. And that the point is not who is my neighbor, but am I a neighbor to those in need by helping them. We read in another place that some Pharisees justified themselves, but were not justified before God.

What ground am I standing on, is a good question when considering whether or not I’m justifying myself in any given situation or time. Justifying one’s self has the idea of defending one’s position as right. When we do this there are two fundamental problems which means we’re invariably wrong.

First, we are sinners through and through. Even as those who are followers of Jesus, we still do sin as John’s first letter makes clear. And when we’re justifying ourselves, we’re invariably sinning, failing to see our own sin, as we contrast ourselves with others. Love does not think in terms of justifying one’s self or insisting “I am right.” Love is willing to be considered a failure in the eyes of some who might cast that judgment and in so doing likely be justifying themselves.

The only ground we have to stand on is Jesus Christ and the good news of God’s coming and work in him. And that reminds me of the second problem when we justify ourselves. We are unwittingly suggesting that we are not in need of God’s grace in a given matter. When in reality it is only by the grace of God in Jesus that we are anything at all. It is grace alone in Jesus through which we stand. If we happen to be right on anything it is sheer grace, a gift from God through Christ.

We do well to humble ourselves before God and acknowledge our failure, always open to our sins, wanting to take care of the beam in our eye, before we might help someone with the speck of dust in their own eye. What we want to avoid for sure is the sin of justifying ourselves or insisting that we are in the right so that it’s a matter of defending ourselves. This is not easy at times, especially among those who want to justify themselves at our expense.

But again our justification is in Jesus alone. He is the ground on which we stand, not ourselves or us being “right.” So that any defense of ourselves would be only for Jesus and the gospel, not for our own sake or justification, even as Paul had to do in his second letter to the Corinthian church.

Yes, we have this responsibility ourselves, to by grace get rid of the heavy yoke of self-justification. We are all free in Jesus and we’re to live in that freedom in grace. And in that grace to serve one another in love. Together in Jesus and for the world.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer on the weakness and suffering of the Word (versus human ideology)

An ideology requires fanatics, who neither know nor notice opposition, and it is certainly a potent force. But the Word of God in its weakness takes the risk of meeting the scorn of men and being rejected. There are hearts which are hardened and doors which are closed to the Word. The Word recognizes opposition when it meets it, and is prepared to suffer it. It is a hard lesson, but a true one, that the gospel, unlike an ideology, reckons with impossibilities. The Word is weaker than any ideology, and this means that with only the gospel at their command the witnesses are weaker than the propagandists of an opinion. But although they are weak, they are ready to suffer with the Word…

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 207.

grace brings a society

On Scot McKnight’s Jesus Creed blog there is a series of posts going through the book of another blogging friend who like Scot is a professor and New Testament scholar, Daniel Kirk. This book looks like an excellent read.

Today there is a post on the gospel being inherently social. Yes, amen to that! We need to hear this message in the highly individualistic and privatistic culture in which we live.

There is no doubt that individuals have a relationship with God through Jesus which is personal. God loves each of his children in a special way. We all have a personal identity. This is important and we can’t lose sight of it.

And yet over and over again we find scripture concerned about one’s group identity, or community. The culture of scripture is closer to much more of the world today, than to the United States where I live. It was family oriented not only by design, but by necessity. And it wasn’t much about individual freedom or rights, but responsibility within the family, and from that, living well according to the norms of one’s people. Which in those days meant a union with others which if broken, was gravely serious.

Not so in our day. We break and divide over any number of things. We Protestants are known for our divisions. The political divide in the United States today seems as deep and wide as ever in U.S. history.

But the gospel brings with it a new society oriented in grace, which at its heart is inclusive of all. This becomes the priority, not only this gospel of Jesus, but also the results of it, a kingdom community consisting of all who would follow Jesus from across deep divides. Bringing together people who before were not only at odds, but out and out enemies. And introducing a new dynamic by the Spirit of a body which in love works together from its head, Christ, to care for each other, and be a witness of him to and for the world. Showing a new society in the way of Jesus, indeed a new humanity, bent in love on God and others. Being about “us” in God’s kingdom in Jesus, not about “me.” In the good will of God in Jesus.

forgiving others

One important aspect of following Jesus is the ongoing need to forgive those who have wronged us. And to keep forgiving them.

That is part of the prayer Jesus taught us as his followers to pray:

And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Or the version in Luke’s gospel:

Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

We do well to voice the Lord’s/our Father prayer, offering it as a prayer to God. And I think we do well to say out loud or under our breath, “I forgive so and so.” And on and on. And to keep doing that.

In Galatians we’re told to stop biting and devouring each other, or we may be consumed by each other. In other words being against someone and holding grudges is destructive to one’s spiritual health. Unity together as God’s people brings God’s blessing. Disunity seems to bring something of the opposite.

When I simply voice forgiveness for those who have wronged me, I am released from the hold they may have over me through God’s working in honoring and making real what I’m saying. I can let go of the grudge I have against them. What I’m suggesting is that with our step of faith in obedience comes the beginning of God’s blessing. It must not stop there.

Almost always, as Miroslav Volf has pointed out to us, when we are sinned against, we often sin back. So even if we were in the right in the matter or the victims, we end up sinning against the one who has hurt and victimized us. So that if they are aware of this, we may indeed have to ask them for their forgiveness in the pursuit of reconciliation. There may be exceptions to this rule with reference to people whose sickness may make them dangerous to others.

Of course all of this is possible only through Jesus and what he has done for us through his death on the cross. By offering himself, his body, he has broken down the walls that divide people. In and through himself, through his broken body for us. We are forgiven of our sins through his sacrificial death. And on the basis of what God has done in and through Jesus, we can forgive others. And ask for their forgiveness in the hope of at least the beginning of full reconciliation.

In a post to come I want to think through our need of asking for forgiveness. In the meantime give this video a look if you would, from a dear former pastor of ours, Pastor Ed Dobson. And how God worked in his life, and out from that into the lives of others.

review of Anna Rapa’s “Second Story: seeing what’s not being said” (part two)

…from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs…

1 Chronicles 12:32

Anna Rapa has written a kind of wisdom story in Second Story: seeing what’s not being said. In her words to me, “It’s really meant to be an object lesson or ideas with skin on. Could’ve been written as a nonfiction book, but it seemed impossible to really convey what the ideas would look like without a story.”

Anna tells the story well, real life people. One begins to identify especially with the main characters, Alex and Annie who have been anticipating marriage. Except Alex’s accident through which his life was hanging in the balance has awakened him to the importance of making his life count for God. Gone is the care free, fun loving Alex. In in his place is an Alex who wants to talk most all the time about spiritual things. And wants to share and confront others with the truth of God so that they might see their need for Christ.

Annie is all but lost. She was glad he wanted to go to church, she was raised that way. But really caring about other’s religion or personal matters to her seemed more than a bit much.

Enter Sara, who had served as a youth worker some years back in Alex’s church youth group. The three begin to meet, and we see every bit as significant a change in Annie as had happened with Alex. Except that Annie’s change due to Sara’s sharing had come with more than Alex could have imagined. More than he was willing to take on, or accept.

Alex is busy “witnessing” to people verbally any opportunity he has. A fellow worker, Drew, Alex discovers is gay, and has cancer. Alex is always wanting to share with him his need for Jesus, but Drew is not only uninterested, but antagonistic. He has been raised in a church, and his father is upset over his lifestyle. Alex while repulsed by that himself, won’t let up in trying to help Drew come to faith, seeing Drew’s death as imminent.

In the meantime, Annie is benefiting from their times together with Sara. She had been reticent, but in desperation had committed herself to God, or reached out to him while not really wanting such help. There was something not ringing true to her in what she saw of Alex in his change. And she was not where she needed to be herself as to God and his will.

In this unfolding comes a really compelling, well told story. With wisdom and insight woven in throughout.

God begins to change Annie through study of scripture and prayer from the times with Sara. Certain parts spoke into my life, such as when Annie was trying to grapple with Jesus’ words in the first and greatest commandment to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind and strength. As is true throughout the book, how she works through this is so true to life. Annie begins to genuinely care about people. So that her friend Oliver, and her neighbors, Patti and Josie become priorities to her, simply as people. From that she does want to share the difference God is making in her life.

Alex sees every contact as a responsibility to confront others of their need, their danger if they don’t repent and believe the gospel. For him it is all about being a part of God’s work of reconciliation. For Annie it is first about loving people, praying for them, and out of that, sharing her faith when it is natural. Annie thinks it’s not always wise to speak of faith, in fact is reticent to do so unless it is a natural expression of her life, or sharing her story. Alex thinks he should always try to speak.

Out of this comes the perfect storm. Taught by Sara and really part of her own understanding and experience, Annie sees life as uncertain and not so black and white. Alex wants certainty, and sees truth at stake, or being compromised with Sara’s view that like Jesus we should tell stories from scripture, our own story as well, praying that the Spirit will give the hearer understanding. Alex can’t shake the belief that it’s up to him to help others understand the truth and their need for Jesus. Sara also has taught them that barriers to the faith for many today are largely emotional, that we help people to come to truth in their minds by being sensitive to where they are struggling in their hearts.

The story for me had an unexpected ending. It sets in stark and helpful contrast two models of evangelism and leaves us the reader grappling with which is the one most true to the witness of scripture and in the way we find in Jesus in scripture. And how we should be Christ’s ambassadors for reconciliation in this present time.

There is much more in this book. Anna covers it well, and out of her own life of nearly a decade in learning and growing in her walk in it. I believe this is an important book for this day. And Anna continues to think through this, and wants to do  so with others on her blog.

For me it was an encouragement as well as a challenge. That we should commit ourselves to this life of loving others and praying for their reconciliation to God through Christ. That we are to live out God’s calling in a way that is natural to us, to God’s gifting of us. And with love and sensitivity to others. Not abandoning the call to introduce others to Jesus. But doing so as those committed to others as true friends. Not in a commitment which is only about adding more to God’s kingdom in Jesus, or seeing more saved.

So on the one hand thinking through this in reading the book alleviated pressure on me and unnecessary guilt, while on the other hand it encouraged me to be more open and ready out of love to share the good news of Jesus with others. In God’s working.

Thanks, Anna for this valuable contribution to me, to us as Christ’s body in the world. I pray that this book may be a blessing to many in days to come.

review of Anna Rapa’s “Second Story: seeing what’s not being said” (part one)