from terror to peace

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
My soul also is struck with terror,
while you, O LORD—how long?

Turn, O LORD, save my life;
deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who can give you praise?

I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eyes waste away because of grief;
they grow weak because of all my foes.

Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
they shall turn back and in a moment be put to shame.

Psalm 6; NRSVue

There’s not a one of us who doesn’t like to feel well, and not a one of us who likes to feel bad. That however does not line up with the human predicament in this life. Yes, we have those feel-good experiences, but more often than not, they are too few and too far in between. Well, I’m sure I don’t speak for everyone, but I’m guessing I speak for the majority of us, and certainly for myself. We do cherish those time of refreshing rest and as our faith grows, probably the experience of such grows along with it. Yet when it comes right down to it, I often find that I’m needing to manage my emotions, keep them under my hat, to myself, shared many times with my wife, but in the discipline more and more towards the goal of keeping them more between myself and God, asking for prayer along the way when need be.

The psalmist is experiencing almost as it were, violent attacks inside if not out. Shaken with terror, languishing, bed no place of rest. Internal suffering due to external threatening circumstances. It seems they had flesh and blood enemies. That translates directly in our day for the many who suffer at the hand of authoritarian regimes which are a law to themselves. And even where I live in the United States, too many languish in places of little or no hope, victims themselves of an unjust system.  For a person like me who lives in privilege compared to most on the planet, the enemies cited here would be spiritual. Yes, I believe in a power of evil that would undo creation, in fact, as it were, make something quite the opposite of such, all in rebellion against God. One sees evidence of such in different reigns of terror, as well as devasting war and violence, right up to the present time. But if we have eyes to see, we’ll see this evil at work in far more subtle ways. One can go back to Jesus as portrayed in the four gospels, stay in that for a good length of time, and that will help one discern this power at work in supposedly good ways in the world at the expense of what is really good. Jesus as God coming to be and restore our full humanity, helps us simply discern this as humans and then act, something akin to “the good Samaritan.” Note too in the psalm that the terror the psalmist experiences is ultimately turned back on their enemies.

I’m glad for God’s faithfulness in helping us, just as the psalmist notes. There is hope or assurance that God has all things in hand, that God sees, that God understands, that God will act, in fact is acting. All a matter of faith, yes, but in a reality that not only includes all the hard stuff, but the great answer even now in this present existence, with the promise of what’s yet to come.

do all in love (or nothing doing)

Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14; NRSVue

There seems to be a lot of hate nowadays. It’s been built up like in a pressure cooker for decades now. Some of us were to some degree oblivious to that, but no one can be anymore. The steam is coming out full force.

The problem with this as always is that lives are at stake. I can hear something like this: “You’re darned right, and the only way to love is roll up our sleeves and do something about it.” Okay, I certainly agree that lives are at stake, though we might not be precisely on the same page. But regardless, just what should be done?

If you’re talking about violence, and too many are, then you’re not following Jesus and what comes after Jesus in the New Testament. Love never resorts to violence. I am not talking about defending one’s loved ones from harm’s way. I would do something myself, short of harming, certainly of fatally harming the perpetrator. Whatever we do we’re to do it in love. As we read earlier in this letter, it doesn’t matter how good it might seem, if it’s not done in love, it’s worthless (1 Corinthians 13).

We do need to consider more specifically what love is with a description of it. One can see it most clearly in Jesus, in his life and words, in all that follows. Add to or subtract from any part of that, and you no longer have the love described here. Which to me means it isn’t real love or at least not the purest form of love.

One last thing, each of us should love no matter what we’re going through. It is a form of faith, even true (not the phony) spiritual warfare. It will help us. Above all we love in community, beginning with community in Jesus in our church gatherings and from that out to everyone. It’s not meant to be only an individual endeavor as important as that is. We’re in this together and love is becoming complete only when that’s the case.

So let’s love, and be steadfast and active always and forever in love.

the fight we’re in (and not in)

I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you but bold toward you when I am away!— I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards. Indeed, we live as humans but do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.

2 Corinthians 10:1-6

This is the beginning of one of my favorite parts of Scripture, 2 Corinthians 10-13. Some scholars have seen it almost as an addition or like a separate book from what precedes it. 2 Corinthians is one of my favorite books or letters of Scripture. I like what other scholars argue, that 10-13 actually goes well with the rest.

It’s really hard to transport a passage written in a different time with frankly a different ethic among Christians. Back then it would easily mean something quite different than what it seems to mean in too many quarters today. Just go to media and look at the pictures and rhetoric. Violence, violence, violence, and I’m not only referring to the destructive words, but at least symbols of action. “God and guns” are often paired together. Because of that, when we go to Paul, it’s hard to imagine that he’s much different. But in reality, he was entirely different, his gospel and teaching with the other letters of the New Testament, rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus as set forth in the four gospel accounts.

Even so, Paul’s words here do seem quite heavy handed. It was a different culture, the gospel breaking through but not yet changing a patriarchal culture, a difficult task any place and time. Just the same it was NOT cultic mind control, nor was it control of any kind. There’s a voluntariness beginning in the commitment of baptism which is basic to faith in and the following of Jesus, certainly such in community so that there’s an accountability each one to the other, the leaders having special responsibility in that.

Paul was about persuasion, clearly evident in his letters and in Acts. He used good sense (see Philemon), but he was not into psychological manipulation of others. He spoke the truth unvarnished and plainly, both in weakness and in love. It was the Spirit which made the difference through the message spoken and lived out of Christ crucified.

Instead, what we’re seeing today and for some decades now, and probably off and mostly on in history is Christians engaging in the methods and machinations of the world. Political power and control, what ends up amounting to political idolatry. What is baffling is how the Christians who talk the most about demonic possession and discerning that are the ones who are among those most caught up in what is quite the opposite of Paul. They and others follow a long line of sad examples dating back to the time of Constantine. But the church fathers who preceded that drawing from Jesus and the rest of the New Testament are quite the opposite.

Prayer. Scripture, the Word, the heart of that: the gospel. Community in Jesus, of learners, doubters, and followers together in the love of Christ which is never coercive. A grace which gives us space and enables and helps us to choose what is good, to love all others in the way of Christ. That was what Paul and those with him, the apostolic band were all about. Yes, humble participation in politics for the good of everyone especially on the local level, along with state and national, etc., surely included.

It’s necessary to say what they weren’t about. It definitely wasn’t physical coercion, following certain “super” charismatic leaders which we see Paul in confrontation with in 2 Corinthians 10-13. It’s not about some heavy handed top-down authority imposed on everyone. It’s not about thinking anyone human is so wonderful or great. All stuff Paul was encountering. No, none of that. And we could add more of what it is and isn’t.

That’s what we as Christ-followers in community and individually have to hone in on, give ourselves to. Realizing that there will be real world consequences in doing so, meaning we’ll have to walk carefully in wisdom. Our goal and passion, to be centered in Christ, to see that Christ-life growing and maturing among ourselves, and from that in good works of love often in collaboration with others in the world.

accept the topsy-turviness of life as one who is accepted

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. Job said:

“Let the day perish in which I was born,
and the night that said,
‘A male is conceived.’
Let that day be darkness!
May God above not seek it
or light shine on it.
Let gloom and deep darkness claim it.
Let clouds settle upon it;
let the blackness of the day terrify it.
That night—let thick darkness seize it!
let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
let it not come into the number of the months.
Yes, let that night be barren;
let no joyful cry be heard in it.
Let those curse it who curse the Sea,
those who are skilled to rouse up Leviathan.
Let the stars of its dawn be dark;
let it hope for light but have none;
may it not see the eyelids of the morning—
because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb
and hide trouble from my eyes.

Job 3:1-10; NRSVue

In this passage after the bottom completely falls out of Job’s life, he not only curses the day of his birth, but seems to wish the undoing of creation (scholarly essay; compare with Genesis 1:1-2:4a). I doubt that many of us have been in the extremity in which Job found himself in. But the story told might help us when we’re experiencing inevitable regret, oftentimes too hard on ourselves, but not excluding the sins and mistakes we’ve made.

Life is uneven, and there is so much in the mix, little we can actually control, outcomes- certainly not. We do well to rather than curse the darkness or even long for darkness, look for the light. But admittedly when one is in the dark hole and vortex of the storm, it’s hard not only to see straight or at all, but even harder to get out of it. One is sucked into something of a nightmare. This certainly seemed to be the case with Job. He did not yet have the perspective which he seemed to have gathered by the time the book is done.

Such a realization can help us when we feel attacked or are shuddering or are simply faced with life as it really is, with all of its dangers and unsettling questions. We do or at least I tend to put too much of a burden on myself, much harder on myself than I believe God is. And yet the story of Job as told certainly does not lend itself to a cozy Bible bedtime story. But the good in that is it helps us see something of an answer of faith, indeed, even in our questions, but arriving to something of a settled state, not with all our questions or maybe any of them answered, but something of a settledness in an unsettling world. And in the vision and good news of God in Jesus, a desire and passion for a good, just, hopeful settledness for all.

heavenly “warfare”

I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you but bold toward you when I am away!— I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards. Indeed, we live as humans but do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.

2 Corinthians 10:1-6; NRSVue

There is afoot today a movement which emphasizes spiritual warfare, in their case seeing demons virtually everywhere, especially in their political opponents. With that is the idea of a takeover of the US and eventually the world, all in the name of Jesus. Alongside of them are those who are more than willing to use violence, in fact seem primed and pumped for that. Preceding this for decades now has been media spewing out hateful, demeaning words against political opponents with many a Christian listening for hours most every day. The tongue can be a fire straight from the pit of hell (James 3) and we’re seeing something of the result now. Violence begets violence, even from words to actions. But is that the way of Jesus?

One of my favorite sections of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 10-13 in which Paul defends his ministry against so-called super apostles who looked down on Paul for whatever reasons. As if it was a grandiose spectacular human enterprise, even some power trip rather than of Christ. Paul in this section points out to these immature Christians that Christlikeness is always in the way of the cross, God’s power coming in and through human weakness. That Christ himself exemplified this necessary weakness in the way of the cross, and that we too are weak in him as we follow on in that way of Christ.

I often have written on this blog about spiritual warfare, because to me it is an inescapable reality as we see in Scripture and from experience. But I am becoming aware that “spiritual warfare” is one of the numerous “triggers” which seems to muddy or even all but bury the gospel, God’s good news in Jesus. Like so many things, I want to retain the language because I find it steeped in Scripture, but with needed correction hopefully through clarification.

Paul makes it clear in this letter that as an apostle in the apostolic, missional work of the gospel to which he was called, he along with others fight and are in a spiritual battle (note also Ephesians 6:10-20). And he purposefully states that it is not human weapons, but weapons from God. Human weapons imply physical violence. Weapons from God implies something going on in the spiritual, even psychological dimension to bring about change. And in Paul’s case, it is both by word and deed, by the proclamation of the gospel and living according to that gospel.

I am largely at a loss to know how Paul’s words quoted above apply to us now. I certainly would never pretend to be a part of taking captive anyone’s thinking. But I will say this. We all need help, that our thoughts and from that, our actions would be in captivity only to Christ in accordance with the good news in Christ. Often and especially at certain times, we can be all but lost in something else which might even seem good to us at the time (angry words? justifying or excusing physical violence? etc.) or sometimes anything but good in our experience.

What do we need? Always and forever the true apostolic message about Christ, and the Spirit to back that up not only in the words spoken, but the lives lived. Christ is victorious, but that victory has nothing to do with the standards of the world, what the world considers victory. Completely different. Not that easy to wrap our heads around and even harder to settle ourselves into, but an inescapable part of our calling in Christ.

through the most difficult places you keep going

I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
so I shall be saved from my enemies.

The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.

Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and reeled because he was angry.
Smoke went up from his nostrils
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his covering around him,
his canopy thick clouds dark with water.
Out of the brightness before him
there broke through his clouds
hailstones and coals of fire.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice.
And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

He reached down from on high; he took me;
he drew me out of mighty waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the LORD was my support.
He brought me out into a broad place;
he delivered me because he delighted in me.

The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all his ordinances were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from guilt.
Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

With the loyal you show yourself loyal;
with the blameless you show yourself blameless;
with the pure you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
For you deliver a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
It is you who light my lamp;
the LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.
By you I can outrun a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
This God—his way is perfect;
the promise of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

For who is God except the LORD?
And who is a rock besides our God?
The God who has girded me with strength
and made my way safe.
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand has supported me;
your help has made me great.
You gave me a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them
and did not turn back until they were consumed.
I struck them down so that they were unable to rise;
they fell under my feet.
For you girded me with strength for the battle;
you made my assailants sink under me.
You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and those who hated me I destroyed.
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them;
they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
I beat them fine, like dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

You delivered me from strife with the peoples;
you made me head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their strongholds.

The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation,
the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
who delivered me from my enemies;
indeed, you exalted me above my adversaries;
you delivered me from the violent.

For this I will extol you, O LORD, among the nations
and sing praises to your name.
Great triumphs he gives to his king
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.

Psalm 18; NRSVue

Yes, this is a long psalm and in the busy short syncopated shallow existence in which we too easily live, it’s just too much. Deep reading as it’s called is rare with all the information we’re constantly sifting through on our phones and in the virtual space. We need to slow down, read good books slowly and thoughtfully. It is necessary or at least understandable for us to scan and speed read what might have some bearing on our lives in whatever way. But we can’t healthily take everything in, and we certainly can’t take a lot in deeply.

We followers of Christ need to try to deepen ourselves through ongoing, prolonged times in Scripture, in silence (I probably too often insist on classical music in the background which may not always be good since I likely need more silence), in prayer, in thoughtful consideration of life, in reading good books slowly, in gathering with other Christ followers in community to discern what the Spirit is saying through and to us.

So while this is a long psalm, it’s worth its weight in gold, much gold, even in the midst of some things which are un Jesus-like. But read Revelation and the rest of the New Testament carefully. God has God’s way as we in Jesus, follow the way of nonviolent love, the way of the cross. Even in Revelation, full of symbolism, Jesus brings judgment through the sword of his mouth, his word, and with his garment dipped in blood, his own blood, the blood of the Lamb.

This psalm helps us see that we need to keep going no matter what, that God is with us in Jesus, and that God will not only see us through, but will help us have our heads held up high, not at all in our own greatness, but in the greatness and goodness which God gives us. All the praise going to God. So important for us to hold on to this and keep going.

the good malady from spiritual warfare

It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— was caught up into paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10; NRSVue

It’s not easy for us to see any good in weakness and especially any good at all in what amounts to spiritual assault. We would rather be ever triumphant, feeling on top of things, even on top of the world. But it’s not meant to be.

Paul is the exemplar for us in that. He was given much, and he knew it. But so that it wouldn’t go to his head, God sent a messenger of Satan. God sent it. Yes, a messenger of Satan. Even though we don’t take the entire Bible literally we do take the entire Bible seriously. And I take it here to mean no less than the dark force which can swallow us and take us under.

What good can come out of that? Actually, a lot. Who of us in this present existence isn’t more than challenged by this or that or something else? Maybe a steady dripping of many things. While some may be constituted to take a lot of things like water off a duck’s back, for others of us, it can take over the mind and penetrate the heart in fear and numbness.

We do well to go to the classic spiritual warfare passage, Ephesians 6:10-20. And we always should keep this 2 Corinthians passage in mind as well. Along with all of Scripture. For me, this 2 Corinthians 12 passage is an ace. When all else fails, and that will seem to be the case at times, this word remains. And by the way, it is not wrong at all for us to appeal to, even plead with God to remove the thorn in the flesh, whatever that might be, just like Paul did. But when it’s all said and done, we need to trust the Lord and the Lord’s word to us:

My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.

And then go on, not in our strength or power, but in Christ’s. Yes, in our weaknesses.

letting go of regrets

I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4; NRSVue

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have laid hold of it, but one thing I have laid hold of: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us, then, who are mature think this way, and if you think differently about anything, this, too, God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.

Philippians 3:7-16; NRSVue

There are few things which can plague us more than regret, especially when we face or understand the possible consequences or dangers due to our decision or perhaps indecision in the past. When it comes to sin, we should be regretful of the actual sin itself against others and against God and the inevitable harm such sin brings more than the consequences. If we’re sorry only because of the consequences, that’s not true Biblical repentance, it’s not genuine penitence.

Obvious sin and wrongdoing is certainly included, but my focus on this post is more on weaknesses, we could say due to sin in lacking trust in God or whatnot, but human weaknesses by which we made decisions that put us unnecessarily at risk maybe even to help someone else. That is precisely what happened to me some years back. I won’t go into the details of it, though if I ever wrote a memoir, I might do so. Or even for that matter, not understanding things we do now, and wanting to take back this or that decision, sometimes major decisions. Life is full of this, as we more and more come to understand firsthand in this life.

The psalmist above cried out to God, and God relieved the psalmist of their fears. We might think that’s too simple, but prayer matters because God is God. We can test that axiom and we’ll find it so. I’ve been helped again and again and again that way.

And Paul, after recounting how he excelled in something which actually was mistaken, his religious endeavor for what turns out to be actual loss rather than true gain, came to see that nothing else matters in comparison with the pursuit of Christ and Christ himself, knowing him and living in close fellowship with him and in him. No matter what else, nothing compares with that.

But instead of regretting his past, Paul was determined to press on, to pursue the upward calling of God in Christ. And Paul made it clear that this should be the goal of all Christ-followers, of the community of Jesus. That actually leaves no room for regret of the past. As Paul says, forgetting what is behind and pressing toward what is before.

For me this all takes discipline. I consider avoiding regret as a part of spiritual warfare. From a human point of view such regret and stewing does no good at all. But as humans it can be hard to let some things go. We certainly should learn from past mistakes and do better. But fretting over that not only does no good, but actually is harmful to that one and no help to anyone else.

Prayer and focus on Christ and God’s goal and reign in him can help us let go of inevitable past regrets we surely all have. Pray, forget what’s behind and press on ahead.

no Sunday School picnic (and a huge blind spot)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power; put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for our struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm. Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness and lace up your sandals in preparation for the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

Ephesians 6:10-20; NRSVue

And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

Ephesians 6:10-20; The Message

There’s absolutely no question that there’s a cosmic force and battle which has its feet on earth entrenched in systems, systemic evil, as well as on a personal level. Any follower of Christ will understand the personal aspect, but all one has to do is open their eyes to see how this plays out in society in a whole host of ways. It only takes just a little imagination along with a Bible at hand, and one can begin to understand how some form of idolatry along with the lack of love for neighbor is a given in so many places, often in ways that seem innocent as in “that’s just the way it is,” but sometimes even religious as in thoughts like, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

At times it will be so close to home, hit us personally right where it hurts. And that can take some time and space and prayer to break away from long enough to see how the problem is baked into things as they are on this earth. And I’m finding that one of the most dangerous aspects of this is when religious people, my reference, Christians, make the system or some system to be absolute. When you do that, you play right into the hands of the principalities and powers who are pulling the strings. But that goes on, and you see the fruit.

The sooner we face things as they are, the better. Until then, not so good.

not letting our hearts be troubled

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

John 14:1, 27; NRSVue

There are just so many reasons why our hearts can be troubled or distressed. There’s really no end to that list, and we can be sure that the devil is in the details of that. There is something at work in opposition to all good and to active faith in Christ. We learn that all too soon.

Jesus’s words to his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion still ring for us today, and they ring true. Yes, it’s good to have the entire context, and the link gives you that, but I want to focus a bit on the two sayings in which Jesus gives this directive.

First of all, we, I include us in this, because this narrative is meant to be applied for us, meant for the readers in whatever situation we find ourselves in, we’re told not to let our hearts be troubled. We’re not to be passive in letting this happen to us. That suggests that we need to be active in doing something, instead. And here’s where the entire passage can help us. Jesus points out that he is the way, truth and life, that anyone who has truly seen him has seen the Father, and that they’ll receive the Holy Spirit from him and the Father. And all of this in the midst of the greatest trial, which of course he must endure.

It is quite hard to resist becoming troubled, again over so many issues, personal and otherwise. But that’s what we’re told to do. We must not be passive, but active, believing or trusting in God and in Christ. And holding on to the truth that Christ’s peace is meant for us no matter what. Yes, no matter what.

All of this is present in Christ, but not automatic. God will meet us in that, in our sincere, even if seemingly weak effort. God will help us. But to receive that help, it’s up to us.